UFB installation contractor left a big mess. Who's responsible?

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › UFB installation contractor left a big mess. Who's responsible?

scuwp

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Topic # 146948 3-Jun-2014 19:54

So UFB is being installed in my neighbourhood, however the contractor has made a hell of a mess of the grass verges, marked and damaged some fences, and even damaged some retaining walls with their equipment. We have got off quite lightly by comparison to some although I am looking at a couple of hours work and a few $$ to put everything back how it was.

Should that be my responsibility?

I have contacted Ultrafast and am waiting for reply. I thought there would be something on the website or on the web in general but nothing that I can see, so thought I would chuck it out there for discussion or experience from areas completed.

Do they contract someone else to come along and restore everything to a reasonable standard after, or is this it?

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Reply # 1058810 3-Jun-2014 20:01

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I would be delighted to have a mess like that, because I could get UFB

(not due in our street until 2019)

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DarthKermit

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Reply # 1058811 3-Jun-2014 20:04

When we had UFB installed in our street a couple of years ago, the letter drop in the letter box stated that they would re-instate our street to its previous standard. Did you get a similar letter?

(Edit: typo.)

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Coil

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Reply # 1058813 3-Jun-2014 20:05

DarthKermit: When we had UFB installed in our street a couple of years ago, the letter drop in the letter box stated that they would re-instate in street to its previous standard. Did you get a similar letter?

Usually the case. They probably have not completed the work and OP is jumping the gun.

scuwp

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Reply # 1058815 3-Jun-2014 20:11

TimA:
DarthKermit: When we had UFB installed in our street a couple of years ago, the letter drop in the letter box stated that they would re-instate in street to its previous standard. Did you get a similar letter?

Usually the case. They probably have not completed the work and OP is jumping the gun.

Yep I was wondering that. I hope that is the case.

We did have a lovely young lass knock at the door to give out an information pack however she didn't have a clue about the reinstatement or damage. She did comment that she was getting a lot of complaints compared to other streets, and noticed herself the untidy work.

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richms

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Reply # 1058848 3-Jun-2014 20:50

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You get 1000s of $ worth of fiber install which will signifigantly advantage you for sales of the property in the near future and you are complaining about a bit of damage you have to cleanup?

#firstworldproblems

Richard rich.ms

Cbfd

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Reply # 1058850 3-Jun-2014 20:53

Usually once an area is done they send in another crew to re instate everything - usually happens a couple of weeks after they been theough

timmmay

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Reply # 1058863 3-Jun-2014 21:03

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richms: You get 1000s of $ worth of fiber install which will signifigantly advantage you for sales of the property in the near future and you are complaining about a bit of damage you have to cleanup?

I think it's a fair complaint. The contractors did damage by being careless, that will cost people money to repair, I think it's reasonable they either fix it or pay to have it fixed.

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mattwnz

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Reply # 1058880 3-Jun-2014 21:09

scuwp:
TimA:
DarthKermit: When we had UFB installed in our street a couple of years ago, the letter drop in the letter box stated that they would re-instate in street to its previous standard. Did you get a similar letter?

Usually the case. They probably have not completed the work and OP is jumping the gun.

Yep I was wondering that. I hope that is the case.

We did have a lovely young lass knock at the door to give out an information pack however she didn't have a clue about the reinstatement or damage. She did comment that she was getting a lot of complaints compared to other streets, and noticed herself the untidy work.

A letter to the right person should fix it for you, if it isn't fixed up eventually. It would be the same with anything, if someone damages something of yours, they are expected to put it right.

scuwp

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Reply # 1058932 3-Jun-2014 22:09

richms: You get 1000s of $ worth of fiber install which will signifigantly advantage you for sales of the property in the near future and you are complaining about a bit of damage you have to cleanup?

#firstworldproblems

It could be a trillion dollars, it is worthless if the customer doesn't want or need it, and is irrelevant if the property is not for sale. I would suggest it will be a negligible advantage at best when marketing a property for sale anyway, at least for the short and medium term.

Regardless I don't believe damage to private property is justified.

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scuwp

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Reply # 1058934 3-Jun-2014 22:11

Cbfd: Usually once an area is done they send in another crew to re instate everything - usually happens a couple of weeks after they been theough

Thanks. I thought that may be the case but it is not actually stated anywhere. Will give it a few weeks for the work to be complete and see what transpires.

We got off lightly, a property around the corner had their rather expensive brick retaining wall smashed - going to be few thousand $$$ worth there.

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richms

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Reply # 1058936 3-Jun-2014 22:13

Depends on the damage. Some damage resulting from adjacent work is unavoidable and not something that they should have to repair. Driving a digger thru a fence is something they would have to repair.

The people I know who have complained are upset about the footpath not having a uniform finish now and the grass area being a little uneven out the front of their house now, one had their ricketty old fence start to lean as it was being abused as a retaining wall somewhat as well. None of those should be fixed IMO. IMO cival works on the street should not have to reinstate things that happen on the property if they were not being negligent or careless. Digging will often end up making things move and when you choose home ownership its just something you have to deal with IMO.

Richard rich.ms