Moved a BT master socket

[Gavin John Hyde]

Had a call this morning, customer come back from visiting family and during the recent up and down weather it appears rain has got in and damaged the BT master socket. they had no phone/broadband I moved it from one corner to underneath the built in shelving in lounge. outside the wall where the BT cable comes in is mud, debris plants etc.. the water had pooled in the area and found a way in as the hole is very low down and not sealed. the floor inside is below ground level by around a foot inside.
Called me as the open reach engineer was going off on one telling them they will have to pay for the call out as quote 'somebody has moved this and its not allowed, it is open reach property' you know the usual script they stick too.
I actually moved it to the other side of room around 18 months ago and have now moved it back owing to redecorating.
they said nobody has touched it (its in exactly the place originally fitted and same plastic fittings)... in any case its the cable and hole openreach/bt drilled that allowed water to get in!
They are refusing to pay the call out charge that the engineer is trying to bill them, they have told the person on the phone that if they issue a bill then they will issue small claims proceedings for the water damage caused by BT drilling a hole in a stupid place and allowing water to enter the property damaging the plaster and wall etc.. apparently somebody will call them back on Monday to discuss it.

Anybody else had issues with the openreach lot being a pain in the backside!?

I have moved loads of bt points and dont see what the problem is myself... it wasnt my handywork that caused the issue but the inability of a bloke to drill a hole and seal it!

 

[westward10]

It is Openreach property you have no right to move it.

 

[Wilko]

But we love you anyway

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

It is Openreach property you have no right to move it.

yes technically openreach property but at the same time i bet im not the only one on here to have ever moved one. its the phone equivalent of the seal fairy and fuses

 

[westward10]

Would you move a gas meter or electicical service head.

 

[pirate]

I certainly wouldn't move a gas meter or service head as that requires skills I don't possess...but a BT master socket? Done dozens of them...no-one's going to die, and the wiring isn't exactly difficult. The last time the engineer came to fix my broadband I had to take the socket off the wall, and the back box, fish out the master socket from the cavity and reterminate everything before he arrived (the master was a horrid, yellowed box and Mrs Pirate wanted it hidden and a polished brass box installed instead). The chap took one look at the old box and went to his van and fitted a brand new one...and the broadband was improved too.

 

[Pete999]

Would you move a gas meter or electicical service head.

Not really but a BT master socket ain't going to be that dramatic

 

[westward10]

Not really but a BT master socket ain't going to be that dramatic

I agree Pete but the scenario is the same it is someone else's property and because it is low risk people feel it is okay to do it, it is not.

 

[Octopus]

I never tamper with the incoming master socket ......... and if the customer wants it moved ........... they arrange it with BT.

 

[westward10]

I certainly wouldn't move a gas meter or service head as that requires skills I don't possess...but a BT master socket? Done dozens of them...no-one's going to die, and the wiring isn't exactly difficult. The last time the engineer came to fix my broadband I had to take the socket off the wall, and the back box, fish out the master socket from the cavity and reterminate everything before he arrived (the master was a horrid, yellowed box and Mrs Pirate wanted it hidden and a polished brass box installed instead). The chap took one look at the old box and went to his van and fitted a brand new one...and the broadband was improved too.

It has nothing to do with having the skills or the difficulty of moving it, it ain't yours to move.