Can I request that they skip me for Fibre?

[ProfA]

So here is the story:

They are installing fibre (not sure who the provider is) in my neighbourhood. But I already have Openserve fibre via the Telephone poles for two years. So don't need or want this fibre connection. The way this new fibre is being installed is that they are digging trenches in the road and basically connecting each home from the road.

The problem I have is that they dig at your water meter to get from the road to your front gate. Every 2 out of 3 houses gets their main water pipe hit which results in thousands of litres of water wastage. They don't even pretend to be careful. And the fixes are almost never permanent as MANY people complain of leaks a few weeks after they have left. They lift your paving/driveway to lay the cables. And then obviously do not put things back the way they were when they are done. I know outside your property is the municipality's property, but your gate/wall is YOUR property. They don't even have the decency to ask if they may drill holes into it to mount their connection boxes.

When they dig the trenches in the road, they also have no problem in leaving heaps of earth and big chunks of tar in the road which has damaged a few cars wheels and also broken one guy's, I know of, windscreen as a look piece of tar was picked up and flung by a car passing in the opposite direction. They also couldn't be bothered to at least move the earth and chunks of tar out of people's driveways so they can at least get in and out of their property. No problem for the guys with big bakkies. But for those of us with cars that are quite low, you have to spend your evenings with a spade moving the heaps yourself or damaging your car trying to get in and out of your property.

So my question is, may I instruct them not to dig from the road to my property as I do not want and will never make use of their Fibre connection?

 

[Sinbad]

Just about any fibre provider is better and cheaper than openserve. Consider that fact before you make a rash decision...

 

[ProfA]

Just about any fibre provider is better and cheaper than openserve. Consider that fact before you make a rash decision...

Out of principle, I will never use them. They are the most inconsiderate bunch of pricks. I am happy (relatively) with Openserve and would much rather use Openserve than have my water pipe hit, paving, I paid a pretty penny for, damaged or risk any other associated damage of them digging to my home. I wont use them.

May I tell them to move along? Is it my right?

 

[Sinbad]

Out of principle, I will never use them. They are the most inconsiderate bunch of pricks. I am happy (relatively) with Openserve and would much rather use Openserve than have my water pipe hit, paving, I paid a pretty penny for, damaged or risk any other associated damage of them digging to my home. I wont use them.

May I tell them to move along? Is it my right?

I suspect not. The piece of land between the road and your boundary wall doesn't belong to you.

 

[ProfA]

I suspect not. The piece of land between the road and your boundary wall doesn't belong to you.

But my wall does. What is the use of laying the cables when someone is going to break and remove their connection box in the night?

 

[ArmatageShanks]

Based on what you are saying it would seem the workers need some supervision, so might I suggest go and get a khaki outfit, a hat and a sambok, then wait for then to come to your property and supervise.

 

[AlmightyBender]

I guess you have the right for them to not touch your wall, but this is a shortsighted move. An analogy for your logic here is that it is the same logic as the anti-vaccination crowd.

Fibre is a public utility with increased positive externalises the higher the footprint. So just let them do their thing.

 

[Venomous]

But my wall does. What is the use of laying the cables when someone is going to break and remove their connection box in the night?

Tell them you do not want their service they are not to install cables for you. You also do not want their equipment on your property walls. Also tell them you will not give them access to the inside of your property. Insist that they dig under your driveway if you wish. My one customer did that. And they complied. Its slower and more costly so that's why they try avoid going under and rather just dig up.
Then take it from there.

Insist on speaking to a site supervisor

 

[VooDooC]

When Vumatel did our Fiber connections, they did damage some stuff on our sidewalk. They reimbursed us for all the damages, got people out to fix it and they did a pretty good job with that and they gave us free installation for the trouble they caused.

 

[ProfA]

Based on what you are saying it would seem the workers need some supervision, so might I suggest go and get a khaki outfit, a hat and a sambok, then wait for then to come to your property and supervise.

They do the work while I am at work. But the time I drive past them after work, all you see if thousands of litres of water flowing down the road, and them taking long naps in front of people's property leaving their rubbish behind of course for the home owner to clean up.

 

[ProfA]

I guess you have the right for them to not touch your wall, but this is a shortsighted move. An analogy for your logic here is that it is the same logic as the anti-vaccination crowd.

Fibre is a public utility with increased positive externalises the higher the footprint. So just let them do their thing.

I have fibre already. How is it short-sighted to want to prevent damage to my property for something I already have?

 

[ProfA]

When Vumatel did our Fiber connections, they did damage some stuff on our sidewalk. They reimbursed us for all the damages, got people out to fix it and they did a pretty good job with that and they gave us free installation for the trouble they caused.

These guys are definitely not the same type. They do not even have the decency to inform people beforehand of what is happening. Yes, they "fix" stuff they have broken, but the "fix" is half-arsed at best, and like I said earlier, most people whose water pipes were hit, have continued water leaks afterwards.

 

[pinball wizard]

So my question is, may I instruct them not to dig from the road to my property as I do not want and will never make use of their Fibre connection?

So the answer is no. The road reserve, colloquially referred to as a pavement, is council property, and the company digging it up has the wayleave from said council which gives them permission to dig it up.

 

[ArmatageShanks]

They do the work while I am at work. But the time I drive past them after work, all you see if thousands of litres of water flowing down the road, and them taking long naps in front of people's property leaving their rubbish behind of course for the home owner to clean up.

Report them, take some pics, send to the local news paper.

 

[ProfA]

Tell them you do not want their service they are not to install cables for you. You also do not want their equipment on your property walls. Also tell them you will not give them access to the inside of your property. Insist that they dig under your driveway if you wish. My one customer did that. And they complied. Its slower and more costly so that's why they try avoid going under and rather just dig up.
Then take it from there.

Insist on speaking to a site supervisor

Will try this. Have not seen a supervisor yet though.

 

[pinball wizard]

As an aside I have Openserve at my house, personally I would love to have Vuma or my own network instead.

 

[ProfA]

Report them, take some pics, send to the local news paper.

Report them to who? Will take pics and send to the paper though. Not sure what that would help, but its worth a shot I suppose.

 

[maumau]

These guys are definitely not the same type. They do not even have the decency to inform people beforehand of what is happening. Yes, they "fix" stuff they have broken, but the "fix" is half-arsed at best, and like I said earlier, most people whose water pipes were hit, have continued water leaks afterwards.

Who are they? Not openserve, not vumatel.

 

[pinball wizard]

Who are they? Not openserve, not vumatel.

Yeah, OP tell us who.

 

[ProfA]

As an aside I have Openserve at my house, personally I would love to have Vuma or my own network instead.

And you will have no problem with them damaging your driveway/pavement outside your home, hitting your water pipe which will cause dirt and air locks to enter your homes water supply, them making driving in your neighbourhood very dangerous as they leave the dirt and tar bricks in the road?