can utility workers enter your backyard anytime they want?

[holden j caufield]

The telephone box is in our backyard and everytime they come to fix someone's line they end up messing our line up. It's happened about a dozen times in the last year. I'm inclined to now lock the damn thing or get a big ass dog to roam around the yard. What are my options

 

[Schadenfroh]

Yes, Bell South ran cable thru my backyard to my neighbor?s home, left a spool of wire in my yard for a month and it killed the grass, put up a portable switching station next to the master bedroom (with cable going to it, on the ground, from three directions). Called up Bell South after I came home to find this and they said that it is perfectly legal for them to do it. I told them that the hell it was and told them to get all of their crap out of my yard. It took them a month to get all of this junk out of my yard and to actually run the cable along the power poles like a civilized company would do.

I am not even a Bell South customer.

 

[DaTT]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
Yes, Bell South ran cable thru my backyard to my neighbor?s home, left a spool of wire in my yard for a month and it killed the grass, put up a portable switching station next to the master bedroom (with cable going to it, on the ground, from three directions). Called up Bell South after I came home to find this and they said that it is perfectly legal for them to do it. I told them that the hell it was and told them to get all of their crap out of my yard. It took them a month to get all of this junk out of my yard and to actually run the cable along the power poles like a civilized company would do.

I am not even a Bell South customer.

I would've started cutting stuff.

 

[Itchrelief]

Does your lot have an easement for the telephone box? If so, you may be limited in your ability to completely block off access to the box.

 

[Minerva]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
Yes, Bell South ran cable thru my backyard to my neighbor?s home, left a spool of wire in my yard for a month and it killed the grass, put up a portable switching station next to the master bedroom (with cable going to it, on the ground, from three directions). Called up Bell South after I came home to find this and they said that it is perfectly legal for them to do it. I told them that the hell it was and told them to get all of their crap out of my yard. It took them a month to get all of this junk out of my yard and to actually run the cable along the power poles like a civilized company would do.

I am not even a Bell South customer.

What kind of cable was it?

I have friends that collect stuff like this and when I need some wire I give them a ring and they hook me up! -M

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
Yes, Bell South ran cable thru my backyard to my neighbor?s home, left a spool of wire in my yard for a month and it killed the grass, put up a portable switching station next to the master bedroom (with cable going to it, on the ground, from three directions). Called up Bell South after I came home to find this and they said that it is perfectly legal for them to do it. I told them that the hell it was and told them to get all of their crap out of my yard. It took them a month to get all of this junk out of my yard and to actually run the cable along the power poles like a civilized company would do.

I am not even a Bell South customer.

I would've started cutting stuff.

I'm sure that would have worked out well for you.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: Minerva
What kind of cable was it?

It was the type of telephone cable that runs along the telephone/power poles. Same stuff that was running like canals thru my yard (to and from that portable switching station thingy) was on that spool, I guess they ran the wire along my yard and did not bother to load the cable spool back on the truck. They eventually came and got it, but not before the grass died and I had to resod it.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: Minerva
What kind of cable was it?

It was the type of telephone cable that runs along the telephone/power poles. Same stuff that was running like canals thru my yard (to and from that portable switching station thingy) was on that spool, I guess they ran the wire along my yard and did not bother to load the cable spool back on the truck. They eventually came and got it, but not before the grass died and I had to resod it.

Aren't you like... 20? You own a house?

 

[Minerva]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: Minerva
What kind of cable was it?

It was the type of telephone cable that runs along the telephone/power poles. Same stuff that was running like canals thru my yard (to and from that portable switching station thingy) was on that spool, I guess they ran the wire along my yard and did not bother to load the cable spool back on the truck. They eventually came and got it, but not before the grass died and I had to resod it.

Ooh that's awesome stuff for outdoor low voltage stuff. Filled with beeswax. Practially self healing. Great for running a rotator lead up a tower with a beam on it, for example. -M

 

[BoomerD]

Coimcast dug up our yard a couple of years ago, and made a horrible mess. We contracted a gardener to come repair it, then sent them the bill. Of course, they refused to pay it, until we filed suit in small claims court...they contacted us, and paid immediately, with profuse appologies.

 

[Minerva]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Coimcast dug up our yard a couple of years ago, and made a horrible mess. We contracted a gardener to come repair it, then sent them the bill. Of course, they refused to pay it, until we filed suit in small claims court...they contacted us, and paid immediately, with profuse appologies.

I miss Judge Wapner. -M

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: Minerva
What kind of cable was it?

It was the type of telephone cable that runs along the telephone/power poles. Same stuff that was running like canals thru my dad's yard (to and from that portable switching station thingy) was on that spool, I guess they ran the wire along my dad's yard and did not bother to load the cable spool back on the truck. They eventually came and got it, but not before the grass died and my dad had to resod it.

FIXED 😛

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Minerva

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Coimcast dug up our yard a couple of years ago, and made a horrible mess. We contracted a gardener to come repair it, then sent them the bill. Of course, they refused to pay it, until we filed suit in small claims court...they contacted us, and paid immediately, with profuse appologies.

I miss Judge Wapner. -M

heh-heh...never had the chance to go that far...Maybe Judge Joe would have been more fun!

BTW, it varies from city to city, (or county to county) but YES, usually, utility workers CAN enter your property to work on or improve their services. They are generally granted a blanket utility easment. You CAN usually stop them from entering your property, but most often, they just return with the sheriff, who explains things to you in a different manor...then they do their work anyway...

 

[DaWhim]

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
Yes, Bell South ran cable thru my backyard to my neighbor?s home, left a spool of wire in my yard for a month and it killed the grass, put up a portable switching station next to the master bedroom (with cable going to it, on the ground, from three directions). Called up Bell South after I came home to find this and they said that it is perfectly legal for them to do it. I told them that the hell it was and told them to get all of their crap out of my yard. It took them a month to get all of this junk out of my yard and to actually run the cable along the power poles like a civilized company would do.

I am not even a Bell South customer.

I would've started cutting stuff.

cutting stuffs? don't bother. just plug the cable wire to the electric outlet :evil:

 

[holden j caufield]

I guess I'm gonna get a big dog then.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: holden j caufield
I guess I'm gonna get a big dog then.

What? And risk it killing the neighbor's rare Himalayan Tabby?