$560 for broadband connection?

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mudguard

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#37381 12-Jul-2009 18:44

I am moving into an apartment this week. It's three years old but never been lived in. There are no previous numbers for the apartment obviously, there are wired jacks in the place. But telecom will need the above amount to send a man out to "wire it up".

Now for the layman, what exactly is s/he going to do? I can't imagine they'll be crawling around under the floor with cable. xnet is pretty much the same, about $400 or so.

I'm kind of resigned to paying it, mobile broadband in Orewa is pretty shady, and doesn't offer much data. There's three of us, and we'll use 10gb at the absolute most.

I think my point is it seems odd to charge so much, particularly as any subsequent tenants will only have to pay the $50 reconnection fee, certainly an assest for the landlord, whom I'm pretty sure won't want to pay for it.

Any thoughts? And if I have to pay for this connection, can I undo whatever they did when I leave?

coffeebaron

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#234416 12-Jul-2009 19:48

If there's no physical cable from exchange entering your apartment (the jack-points may go to know where), then yes those are the kind of costs you can expect.
However, if there is an actual connection to the exchange, or roadside cabinet / junction etc; then it should be a $150 connection fee.
This is to trace your cable pair and jumper it up.

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richms

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#234467 12-Jul-2009 22:05

Phone cabling is not an essential service so the landlorg is under no obligation to pay for it.

If you were concerned about getting internet then you should have checked it was available before taking the place IMO..

Richard rich.ms

mudguard

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#234535 13-Jul-2009 08:28

richms: Phone cabling is not an essential service so the landlorg is under no obligation to pay for it.

If you were concerned about getting internet then you should have checked it was available before taking the place IMO..

I'm quite aware that they're under no obligation to pay for the install. But as I said, in the 17 odd places I've moved into in the last decade, I've never moved into somewhere with no physical connection.

That said, once the install fee is paid, no subsequent tenant will have to pay it again. So it is an assest for the landlord. Perhaps we'll just have to use vodems to spite him!

tardtasticx

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#234551 13-Jul-2009 09:33

You stated it was an appartment? Is this meaning like an appartment complex with many other appartments in the same 'building'? Surly it should have been connected to the exchange by now then? Someone must have already done that IMO.

tonyhughes

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#234561 13-Jul-2009 09:44

tardtasticx: it should have been connected to the exchange by now then? Someone must have already done that IMO.

Did you read the original post? No one has ever lived in there before.

Ohter individual apartments may be connected up, but not all apartment complexes will have a centralised phone system or demarc / patch panel.

To the OP, you can spite whoever you want (Landlord, Telecom, Santa), but at the end of the day, no one will care if you don't get a connection to the PSTN, and end up paying more for worse mobile service.

Politely ask your landlord in writing, and explain that it is a one off cost for the dwelling itself. Perhaps offer to go halves (if you think he is going to say no to the whole lot, at least half your cost, show some goodwill, and he/she might come to the party).

There could be all manner of work Chorus need to do to get you connected, including physical wiring and connections in the exchange, a cabinet, your apartment, roadside etc.

So far it all sounds pretty reasonable to me.

mudguard: can I undo whatever they did when I leave?

To find out perhaps a struggling family on a low income moves in after you, and cannot afford to connect the phone because you wanted to spite [landlord/telecom/santa] by removing permanent wiring that is of no value to you to remove, but in fact all you would do is place financial burden on some other tenant who has nothing to do with your original issue?

mudguard

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#234714 13-Jul-2009 14:15

tonyhughes:

mudguard: can I undo whatever they did when I leave?

To find out perhaps a struggling family on a low income moves in after you, and cannot afford to connect the phone because you wanted to spite [landlord/telecom/santa] by removing permanent wiring that is of no value to you to remove, but in fact all you would do is place financial burden on some other tenant who has nothing to do with your original issue?

The financial burden would be their's if we don't connect either, and their socio-economic situation is not of any concern of mine. I'm bringing a new washing machine in, I won't leave that in there.

I think the frustration is Telecom tell me directly that xyz needs to be done, and the agent (and this is perhaps the problem, believing a real estate agent, but to be fair, she has been excellent to deal with) tells me another.

I will hit the phones once more...
Edit.
And it's sorted, $160. Pleased as punch now. Seems the previous operator I was dealing with had the wrong address or suburb.

Anyway. All is well.

bazzer

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#234773 13-Jul-2009 15:45

But if you leave the washing machine, you're worse off (i.e. minus a washing machine). In the other scenario, you don't gain anything. It's just a stink thing to do. Luckily you won't have to be that person anymore :)

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Ragnor

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#234811 13-Jul-2009 17:16

Find out exactly what is required and talk it over with the landlord or bodycorp seems the logical thing to do.

Presumably there are other people in this complex perhaps have a chat to them and get the down low...

mudguard

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#234830 13-Jul-2009 17:58

All sorted, I'm not sure what was happening with Telecom, but a lovely woman there has sorted it all out and couldn't be happier. Guess that's what you get for trying to do something online.

matt45

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#234859 13-Jul-2009 19:23

when you called up the first time did u actually give the address? or just say i want a phoneline to a house that is brand new and never been wired? if it was the later then that is why you got quoted $500.

mudguard

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#234863 13-Jul-2009 19:26

Originally it was email, they had the full address as I applied online as I had an account for several years prior. They just asked what the previous Telecom number was, I said that I had no idea, it was a complete apartment that had not been lived in.

Tohe

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#234945 13-Jul-2009 21:54

mudguard:
richms: Phone cabling is not an essential service so the landlorg is under no obligation to pay for it.

If you were concerned about getting internet then you should have checked it was available before taking the place IMO..

I'm quite aware that they're under no obligation to pay for the install. But as I said, in the 17 odd places I've moved into in the last decade, I've never moved into somewhere with no physical connection.

That said, once the install fee is paid, no subsequent tenant will have to pay it again. So it is an assest for the landlord. Perhaps we'll just have to use vodems to spite him!

Assest?... I assume you meant asset??

webwat

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#237729 22-Jul-2009 00:28

Apartment in Orewa? Must be the Nautilus building; I would expect the building manager would be able to confirm for you whether the building is pre-wired. It should also have some leftover fibre into the basement if you wanted to start your own service to the building... something to chat with the other tenants about!

Time to find a new industry!

mudguard

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#237745 22-Jul-2009 07:19

Not the nautilus. Either way, it's all sorted, called up telecom, just a regular install for $160 ish. So pleased as punch.