So... to update (in case anyone's still interested) - my fibre was finally installed & enabled yesterday (18th September). This was 7 months & 26 days from initial booking to final install. I've learned a lot along the way. Here's some pointers for those of you about to embark on this journey:
1) Log everything. Every phone call, everyone you speak to, what they tell you. Chorus & Downer appear not to be able to communicate. As an example, the technicians who came yesterday were expecting to have to perform a full interior install; this had already been done 3 months ago & was awaiting an exterior fault to be fixed (fibre to house). I had to explain to them what had already been done & show them the exterior & ONT boxes.
2) Downer will randomly try to close the job without telling you. Yesterday's appointment was booked a month ago. When I rang to enquire when they would be coming yesterday morning (I'd booked half a day off work), they told me the job had been completed. They conceded this was a mistake by a 'junior supervisor' & no-one was available. After a call to a senior manager, someone became available. Be prepared to complain.
3) The installation scoping experts don't seem to agree. If you're unhappy with what you're told (see my original post), ask for a second, third opinion. The installation I now have is what I was originally told was impossible (& prompted this initial post). Various options included trenching, installing my own pole just for my fibre connection etc. All of these came with considerable cost. None were required. I now have what I originally asked for (which may be why its taken 8 months!).
4) Expect significant delays. Permissions expire & system inefficiency is not your friend. The permission to use the Wellington Electricity pole to access my house was originally granted then lapsed due to the delays in getting as second scoper to tell me I didn't need a ditch (at my expense). It took another 3 months to get this reinstated.
5) Downer are not very good at explaining what they are doing & why they are doing it. I'm moderately tech-savvy (that's why I'm here!) but their use of jargon was mostly impenetrable to me. I suggest you read-up about what is required before embarking on this journey so you can meet them on even terms.
6) The actual installation guys are awesome. Both the external team (7 people, 3 vans at one point) & the internal guys were very good & efficient (point 5 above aside). The organisation around them is atrocious as is their communication & the need to communicate everything through a single (Auckland) number who, while meaning well, had very little idea what I was talking about.
Anyway, I now have fibre. It works faster than I'd ever hoped (& the MyRepublic tech guy was also fantastic). The image says it all:
alexps: The installation I now have is what I was originally told was impossible (& prompted this initial post).
Sounds familiar. Back on page 1 I posted this:
Behodar: My house is on hilly terrain and the digging requires council consent. We ended up doing a temporary aerial install to get it all going, and they're going to move it underground later.
It now has been moved underground, but not following the convoluted route that required consent. Nope, it's now doing a straight line from the road, under my driveway, and to the side of the house. That was always my preference but it was apparently impossible in January!
quickymart: I must have been lucky - mine was completed within a day, on the day I requested.
That's good to hear; I guess sometimes it does just work. To be fair to Downer/Chorus I live in a really stupid place hanging off the side of a cliff face. But then again, so does a lot of Wellington.
alexps: The installation I now have is what I was originally told was impossible (& prompted this initial post).
Sounds familiar. Back on page 1 I posted this:
Behodar: My house is on hilly terrain and the digging requires council consent. We ended up doing a temporary aerial install to get it all going, and they're going to move it underground later.
It now has been moved underground, but not following the convoluted route that required consent. Nope, it's now doing a straight line from the road, under my driveway, and to the side of the house. That was always my preference but it was apparently impossible in January!
Amazing how things have changed since January.. its almost like someone was just stating opinion as fact. But I guess that is the definition of an 'expert'. Hope it goes well.
quickymart: I must have been lucky - mine was completed within a day, on the day I requested.
That's good to hear; I guess sometimes it does just work. To be fair to Downer/Chorus I live in a really stupid place hanging off the side of a cliff face. But then again, so does a lot of Wellington.
I had Visionstream do my install, no complaints :)
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