Unsatified with bt line install

saver2000

Hi,

I've just had a BT line installed in my new build.

My next door neighbour (house is mirror image of mine) had their line go from the pole to the highest point on the side of the roof down the side of the house and through the side of the wall to where the extension wiring is.

I was hoping they would do the same with mine except there are a number of issues I have with the install.

* The line goes from the pole to my side of the roof (semi-detached) but it joins the roof 2/3 of the way down (not the highest point). As such the line goes across my bedroom and bathroom windows at the front. I didn't realise this until afterwards as I was inside.

* The engineer said they couldn't go through the side wall (because of the pipework for the boiler) and there was "nowhere" else they could go so they've gone down the side, across the front of the house at eye level then down and near the door.

* Line is tacked to the side of the eves and follows the eves down the roofline which really stands out.

I am not sure what I can do really, if I complain I sure they will just say what the engineer said, that there is "no other way". Also even if I could convince them to change it there would be a little mess. I can't believe it looks so amateurish, I could do a better job myself even though I'm not an electrician.

Neil_Jones

How its connected and how you want it to be connected are two different things.  Key thing is its connected.  Decision has to be made by the engineer at the time as to how best to do it based on health and safety, accessibility and timescale of the job.

EssexExile

saver2000 said:

Hi,

I've just had a BT line installed in my new build.

My next door neighbour (house is mirror image of mine) had their line go from the pole to the highest point on the side of the roof down the side of the house and through the side of the wall to where the extension wiring is.

I was hoping they would do the same with mine except there are a number of issues I have with the install.

* The line goes from the pole to my side of the roof (semi-detached) but it joins the roof 2/3 of the way down (not the highest point). As such the line goes across my bedroom and bathroom windows at the front. I didn't realise this until afterwards as I was inside.

* The engineer said they couldn't go through the side wall (because of the pipework for the boiler) and there was "nowhere" else they could go so they've gone down the side, across the front of the house at eye level then down and near the door.

* Line is tacked to the side of the eves and follows the eves down the roofline which really stands out.

I am not sure what I can do really, if I complain I sure they will just say what the engineer said, that there is "no other way". Also even if I could convince them to change it there would be a little mess. I can't believe it looks so amateurish, I could do a better job myself even though I'm not an electrician.

On the first part I've put in bold, did you discuss your hopes before they started? On the second part, I'd re-do it myself in that case.

unforeseen

EssexExile said:

saver2000 said:

Hi,

I've just had a BT line installed in my new build.

My next door neighbour (house is mirror image of mine) had their line go from the pole to the highest point on the side of the roof down the side of the house and through the side of the wall to where the extension wiring is.

I was hoping they would do the same with mine except there are a number of issues I have with the install.

* The line goes from the pole to my side of the roof (semi-detached) but it joins the roof 2/3 of the way down (not the highest point). As such the line goes across my bedroom and bathroom windows at the front. I didn't realise this until afterwards as I was inside.

* The engineer said they couldn't go through the side wall (because of the pipework for the boiler) and there was "nowhere" else they could go so they've gone down the side, across the front of the house at eye level then down and near the door.

* Line is tacked to the side of the eves and follows the eves down the roofline which really stands out.

I am not sure what I can do really, if I complain I sure they will just say what the engineer said, that there is "no other way". Also even if I could convince them to change it there would be a little mess. I can't believe it looks so amateurish, I could do a better job myself even though I'm not an electrician.

On the first part I've put in bold, did you discuss your hopes before they started? On the second part, I'd re-do it myself in that case.

And hope you don't screw it up and have to call out BT to repair something the customer should not be touching. 

Greatgimp

Assuming you have enough cable and not need a jerry-made extension.

saver2000

Sorry, I'll explain a bit more.

The engineer did discuss the options before and we agreed to go from the pole on my side, however he went away and when the other engineer came with the boom I got a different engineer who knocked and just said "right, we are going with option B" (go from the pole my neighbours side)

I assume they would just go to the heighest point on my gable end, which would mean going over the roof of mine and neighbours property. The engineer said he would need to attach a ladder to the wall

However, it was attached to my gable end quite far down low (you can reach the arm standing on a small step ladder)

As such, the actual line goes past my bedroom window and bathroom window (I can reach the cable quite easily)

It looks quite odd and would certainly prevent the window cleaner being able to clean the windows.

The other issue is the entry point.

He claimed he couldn't go through the side wall because of the pipe work (pipes are not going through the wall and it's quite clear what is what). He claimed he couldn't go through the other wall because he only had 800mm and 1000mm drill bits and there wasn't enough room to work with, so he decided he would go through the wall adjacent to the door diagonally.

Unfortuately, he hit something anyway and the drill slipped and left a big hole in the plaster around the door.

After about half an hour of just saying "I don't know what to do". I phoned the builder who spoke with him for a bit, he then tried again and managed to get through.

Unfortuately, the cable has been routed at eye level around to the door, then goes down. As such it is really obvious and looks quite bad (house is new build)

My brother also reckons he probably shouldn't have drilled through the flood barrier.

I've now used up 2 full days off leave (1st appointment 1 guy turned up in a minivan with literally no tools)

I am thinking I will phone up the provider and ask a different engineer for a second opinion. The guy clearly didn't know what he was doing (builder said if he had drilled through the other side of the door he would have hit some metal framing where the car port is)

I was naive in assuming an engineer that runs cables for a living would have some knowledge house construction so he doesn't make a mess of things each time.

[Deleted User]

Didn't the builders arrange for underground ducking for landline/cable?

JJ_Egan

Providers engineer as you say will be Open Reach .

unforeseen

I assume they would just go to the heighest point on my gable end, which would mean going over the roof of mine and neighbours property. 

That is why that option was not followed up.