Chorus want to charge me $2,630 for a copper connection at a new property

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Chorus want to charge me $2,630 for a copper connection at a new property

icepicknz

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#196701 9-Jun-2016 19:37

Hey guys,

I bought a new property not covered by UFB. I've built a house and run conduit to the boundry, within 2m of chorus underground copper.
I have done a new connection request and chorus have come back to me saying if I want a telephone or internet I must pay $2,630 for them to connect it.
I had even asked them ahead of time what needed to be done to ensure connection, they just said run conduit to the boundry if possible and wouldnt send anyone to scope the work before hand.

I am within 2m of a chorus copper run under the ground, but little did the house builders know that the plinth for the next door property (which is 45m away) is where chorus want to connect me to.

My understanding was that before any lot or title could be provisioned, that a $2k 'levy' was paid to chorus to ensure telecommunications was available to an address. So it is my understanding that Chorus should provide a connection as for (1) i have run conduit to within 2m of a chorus cable and (2) a levy has been paid to do a 'connection' to the property.

The property has no signal for vodafone other than outside and even then its patchy, so 111 calls certainly wont work inside the house, 2Degrees is the same, spark is the only one that has just opened up a new tower, however I dont want to leave vodafone and pay an Early termination fee, nor do i want to have to rely on a single means for emergencies.

Does anyone know who to complain to about this issue?

Many thanks
Barry

Barry Murphy
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PhantomNVD

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#1568920 9-Jun-2016 19:41

I had same issue... I ended up 'trialling' Skinny Broadband and am still with them 3 months later... Screw funding chorus copper development when they're bound to drop it in a few years anyway!

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=49&topicid=192170

icepicknz

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#1568923 9-Jun-2016 19:45

But i have copper network running outside my boundry.

Normally they would run a copper cable from the pole to the next pole and thats where my conduit is, however they say "health and safety" restricts them from doing so due to low hanging power lines and H&S changes have stopped them doing that. You drive down the road and so many houses the cable runs just below the power cables. Why must I now pay $2600 to install my phone line because Chorus call H&S risk.

Should I climb the pole and run the cable myself with a risk of being zapped when there are more professional people that could do it.

Barry Murphy
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toejam316

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#1568928 9-Jun-2016 19:52

icepicknz:
But i have copper network running outside my boundry.

Normally they would run a copper cable from the pole to the next pole and thats where my conduit is, however they say "health and safety" restricts them from doing so due to low hanging power lines and H&S changes have stopped them doing that. You drive down the road and so many houses the cable runs just below the power cables. Why must I now pay $2600 to install my phone line because Chorus call H&S risk.

Should I climb the pole and run the cable myself with a risk of being zapped when there are more professional people that could do it.

Due to minimum approach distances there isn't a single contractor working for Chorus who is legally allowed to install it, if what you're saying is true. Just to clarify, you're saying they want to charge you $2,630, which will be to install a new terminal, but there's a terminal on the other boundary of YOUR property? Because if so you can just hand trench in new conduit and go from there.

Otherwise, that's the reality you're looking down, as I don't believe it'll fly if you were to trench in your service lead along the roadside. Definitely look into wireless alternatives if that price sounds excessive for you, but before you commit, work out how much per month you'll be spending on Wireless vs Copper services until UFB becomes available (if it's scheduled to become available at all), and roll the connection charge into that. The numbers may work in Copper's favour, or they may not.

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icepicknz

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#1568930 9-Jun-2016 19:58

Yup, there is a plinth on the opposite boundary, I asked them to run it over the ground and i'd dig it in, but no they cant run temporary cables, and no this wasnt provided as an option for me to dig a trench and then they'd do it.

I'd have to cover the trench really quickly due to it running across a soil driveway and the need to get cars in and out.

I contacted chorus prior to the house being there and prior to the trench diggers being there and asked what i needed to do, they said just to get a conduit to the boundry!

I am considering digging up the cable 2m from my conduit, pulling it to the surface and then forcing a connection by damage

Barry Murphy
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Vibe Communications LTD - Business ISP and Wholesale Carrier

Any comments made by myself don't reflect the views of my employer, they are mine and mine alone

icepicknz

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#1568983 9-Jun-2016 20:55

Does the TSO still apply?

https://www.chorus.co.nz/file/69417/177999.pdf

One such objective is social inclusion. Requiring basic telecommunications services to be made available on affordable terms ensures that people can remain connected to their community.

And while the TSO is primarily focused on the supply of telecommunications services to users who are uneconomic to serve, it also contributes to other social objectives such as public safety, primarily through provisions that relate to 111 calling services.

Barry Murphy
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Vibe Communications LTD - Business ISP and Wholesale Carrier

Any comments made by myself don't reflect the views of my employer, they are mine and mine alone

Talkiet

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#1568994 9-Jun-2016 21:08

icepicknz:

I am considering digging up the cable 2m from my conduit, pulling it to the surface and then forcing a connection by damage

Clearly a joke made out of frustration, especially given you work in the industry!

The situation sucks, but it seems like a reasonable ask to me...

Cheers - N

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jjnz1

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#1568995 9-Jun-2016 21:09

I have just (4 months ago) connected a holiday house in Motuoapa Taupo with new copper, to Vodafone VDSL.

I had originally been quoted around $3k to get a copper connection from the nearest telecoms bollard to the house. Total underground copper run was 12m to the garage.

In the end we installed the green telecoms conduit, and gel filled cable, from the bollard to the house via the external garage.

This included a 12m trench 600mm deep.

I took lots of photos before I covered up the trench.

The Chorus/Downers? guy was very impressed and thankful that he didn't have to run any cable. All he had to do was terminate the demark point on the garage.

Total cost to me was a few hundred dollars. Chorus/Downers? didn't charge any extra, even though they completed the job over two visits. (first to tell me they couldn't connect me for free, and second to actually connect me).

Was very painless. I say get out your spade!

toejam316

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#1569004 9-Jun-2016 21:20

icepicknz:
Yup, there is a plinth on the opposite boundary, I asked them to run it over the ground and i'd dig it in, but no they cant run temporary cables, and no this wasnt provided as an option for me to dig a trench and then they'd do it.

I'd have to cover the trench really quickly due to it running across a soil driveway and the need to get cars in and out.

I contacted chorus prior to the house being there and prior to the trench diggers being there and asked what i needed to do, they said just to get a conduit to the boundry!

I am considering digging up the cable 2m from my conduit, pulling it to the surface and then forcing a connection by damage

How heavy are the cars? If they're not heavy, a couple of sturdy planks make a good temporary way to get across, otherwise, dig the hole and slap the conduit in quick, even if it's oversized conduit (which you can then use to thread the 20mm through). As long as there's a continuous duct to the correct point on the boundary (the closer to the pillar the better), you SHOULD be okay. The only exception is if the terminal is completely at capacity. If you can, get in touch with the field technician, designer or build manager and ask if there's any reason you can't do above, and they'll probably say that's fine.

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hyperman

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#1569006 9-Jun-2016 21:23

jjnz1:

I have just (4 months ago) connected a holiday house in Motuoapa Taupo with new copper, to Vodafone VDSL.

I had originally been quoted around $3k to get a copper connection from the nearest telecoms bollard to the house. Total underground copper run was 12m to the garage.

In the end we installed the green telecoms conduit, and gel filled cable, from the bollard to the house via the external garage.

This included a 12m trench 600mm deep.

I took lots of photos before I covered up the trench.

The Chorus/Downers? guy was very impressed and thankful that he didn't have to run any cable. All he had to do was terminate the demark point on the garage.

Total cost to me was a few hundred dollars. Chorus/Downers? didn't charge any extra, even though they completed the job over two visits. (first to tell me they couldn't connect me for free, and second to actually connect me).

Was very painless. I say get out your spade!

@ $250/m I know what I would be doing

The views expressed by me are not necessarily those of my employer

toejam316

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#1569048 9-Jun-2016 22:27

hyperman:
jjnz1:

I have just (4 months ago) connected a holiday house in Motuoapa Taupo with new copper, to Vodafone VDSL.

I had originally been quoted around $3k to get a copper connection from the nearest telecoms bollard to the house. Total underground copper run was 12m to the garage.

In the end we installed the green telecoms conduit, and gel filled cable, from the bollard to the house via the external garage.

This included a 12m trench 600mm deep.

I took lots of photos before I covered up the trench.

The Chorus/Downers? guy was very impressed and thankful that he didn't have to run any cable. All he had to do was terminate the demark point on the garage.

Total cost to me was a few hundred dollars. Chorus/Downers? didn't charge any extra, even though they completed the job over two visits. (first to tell me they couldn't connect me for free, and second to actually connect me).

Was very painless. I say get out your spade!

@ $250/m I know what I would be doing

Starting a hand trenching business and undercutting Chorus by $10 a meter?

Join Quic Broadband with my referral - no sign up fee and gives me account credit

Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.

DarthKermit

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#1569108 10-Jun-2016 07:22

I dug me an 11 metre long trench, 500 mm deep and installed my own green conduit for our UFB install. I shoulda sent Downer's an invoice for all my hard work.

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DarkShadow

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#1569138 10-Jun-2016 08:52

icepicknz:

Does the TSO still apply?

https://www.chorus.co.nz/file/69417/177999.pdf

One such objective is social inclusion. Requiring basic telecommunications services to be made available on affordable terms ensures that people can remain connected to their community. And while the TSO is primarily focused on the supply of telecommunications services to users who are uneconomic to serve, it also contributes to other social objectives such as public safety, primarily through provisions that relate to 111 calling services.

TSO only applies to locations that already have a connection in 2001, new houses are not applicable.