Disconnecting And Reconnecting Phoneline For Tree Surgeon

[taichiperson]

As above - we need to have some work done on trees on our property. The surgeon tells us that we have to arrange for the company (I'm with Talktalk) to have it disconnected while they work and reconnected afterwards. Does anyone have any advice or had something similar done? It will also affect our nearest neighbour who has been informed. I'm not sure what ompany thy are with and am waiting to find out.

[bhg481]

Whoever you have your telephone with, other than Virgin, the lines are maintained by BT Outreach. Just keep your neighbours informed and let TalkTalk know about your neighbours so that they can arrange for both lines to be dealt with.

[taichiperson]

We have contacted BT and they insist that Talktalk are the ones we need to ask. I'm still trying to get through to someone who will not simply disconnect us (without reconnecting!)

[bhg481]

Sorry, I seem to have misled you. I wasn't suggesting that you contact BT, I was pointing out that, whoever provides you with telephone service, BT Outreach are responsible for the lines; you contact TalkTalk and TalkTalk contact BT Outreach to get the job done. I was trying to say that you should let TalkTalk know that your neighbour may be affected, so that they can mention it to BT Outreach.

[andy-hughes]

It's BT Openreach - I think Outreach would be something else entirely!!!

[bhg481]

Andyhughes is right - thanks andy.

[andy-hughes]

bhg - It's a pleasure, I worked for BT for forty-three years, including Openreach, from it's inception until last May when they finally got sick of me, and I was able to go.

[taichiperson]

Just an update - yes we did have to contact BT Openreach, although that was only because our neighbours are with BT. We were told it would cost over £300 just for them to come and look at it and they would not commit to a cost for taking the line down and then reconnecting. Also they need notice of 28 working days before carrying out any work - we're snookered as the tree guy is coming next Saturday.

[sunny-dave]

BT Openreach are thieves, robbers and incompetents (sorry Andy - I don't mean the employees, but the corporate ethos when it comes to monetising and exploiting their monopoly).

In your position I'd go for "oooops - we seem to have broken your wire, please can you fix it" - it will always be cheaper than booking in advance.

[taichiperson]

The guy who's ding the work has disconnected (and reconnected) lines himself in the past - we asked BT if that was a possibility, and were told we are advised not to... but the 'oops' option seems a good approach.

[taichiperson]

Yet another update - we managed to do the work without taking the line down, what a relief. However we still need some more trimming done, and hope all goes well with that.