cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Repeated failing of infrastructure - Help!

Tuono
Newbie
Posts: 4
Thanks: 1
Registered: ‎06-08-2022

Repeated failing of infrastructure - Help!

Hello, I'm not sure if anyone could advise me on any steps to sorting our problem.

I and 3 other residences on a former farm are reliant on a copper multicore cable laid across fields, which is continually failing for us all.
The reasons that it is failing are:
> ~ 20 years ago, BT subcontractors replaced the overhead line across the fields with a supposed underground cable, but due  to a very wet winter, this cable was not 'ploughed in', hence it has been trodden into the ground by animals/tractors etc and never installed properly.

>  Recently a new road has been under construction which has resulted in further damage to the cable because it is only just under the soil.

Openreach have been out about 4 times in the past 2 weeks to repair it but 2 of us are still disconnected!
Nobody can really vouch for the integrity of the cable along it's full length due to it's arduous past.

As OpenReach seem inaccessible except via an ISP, my question is, which is the best way to get a proper cable installation done for us all - 2 Plusnet, 1 BT and 1 Sky customers!
Also, is there any way to question Openreach if they already have plans to replace the cable.  Is via ISP the best way?

Any suggestions most gratefully received!!  Thank you

7 REPLIES 7
Protech
Aspiring Pro
Posts: 166
Thanks: 76
Fixes: 5
Registered: ‎26-09-2017

Re: Repeated failing of infrastructure - Help!

This maybe a starting point?
https://www.openreach.com/help-and-support/when-to-get-in-touch-with-openreach/complaints-policy
You can check out but you can never leave ( easily)
Tuono
Newbie
Posts: 4
Thanks: 1
Registered: ‎06-08-2022

Re: Repeated failing of infrastructure - Help!

Thanks for that.  Unfortunately, they'll only accept complaints directly about health and safety etc  😕

Dan_the_Van
Aspiring Hero
Posts: 2,484
Thanks: 1,117
Fixes: 73
Registered: ‎25-06-2007

Re: Repeated failing of infrastructure - Help!

Tuono
Newbie
Posts: 4
Thanks: 1
Registered: ‎06-08-2022

Re: Repeated failing of infrastructure - Help!

Thanks, but no.  I was fobbed off with the reason that H&S meant more about work done that was left in a state that could harm someone.  I'll keep trying via Plusnet I think.  Thanks again for your suggestion though Smiley

Gandalf
Community Gaffer
Community Gaffer
Posts: 26,563
Thanks: 10,265
Fixes: 1,599
Registered: ‎21-04-2017

Re: Repeated failing of infrastructure - Help!

Hi there,

I'm really sorry to see this and thanks for your post!

I've raised a damage report to Openreach for an engineer to investigate further. The engineer should be going out within 24 hours and we'll update you when we know more.

Let me know how it goes. 

From 31st October 2022, I no longer have a regular presence here as I’ve moved on to a new role.
Anoush Mortazavi
Plusnet
Tuono
Newbie
Posts: 4
Thanks: 1
Registered: ‎06-08-2022

Re: Repeated failing of infrastructure - Help!

Thank you very much for that. 
An engineer phoned and is looking into it.
I do hope that a 'proper' installation will be carried out by running the cable across the fields underground in ducting, and therefore also making it future proof so that one day the copper can easily be replaced with fibre 🤞 

Gandalf
Community Gaffer
Community Gaffer
Posts: 26,563
Thanks: 10,265
Fixes: 1,599
Registered: ‎21-04-2017

Re: Repeated failing of infrastructure - Help!

Cool. No problem, I can see an engineer's suggested that 250 metres of cable will need to be rerouted and the job is in hand with a surveyor. Once the survey's been done, they'll pass it to a planner for the final bits before the work is begun. 

From 31st October 2022, I no longer have a regular presence here as I’ve moved on to a new role.
Anoush Mortazavi
Plusnet