AT&T destroyed my backyard

[twinrider1]

Switch to MCI.

 

[benzylic]

Switch to MCI.

That won't solve anything

 

[jupiter57]

Did the OP leave out any details?

Like how he has been calling AT&T 3 times a day for the past month because his DSL was only getting 5.9 Mbps instead of the 6 Mbps he's paying for?
:\

 

[Ichinisan]

TTIWWP

 

[TerryMathews]

They can. Technically you shouldn't be planting over the easement. They generally don't care and will likely restore it as it was before.

This. If you have a utility warmth easement, then technically you planet your trees and shrubs on the PUCO's land.

 

[Leros]

Did the OP leave out any details?

Like how he has been calling AT&T 3 times a day for the past month because his DSL was only getting 5.9 Mbps instead of the 6 Mbps he's paying for?
:\

I don't even use AT&T service, although my house is wired for it. Apparently my neighbors' lines run through my backyard, which is why they were servicing them.

Everywhere I've lived before had an alley behind every house where cables were run. They only cable that would be in the yard would be a short run from the alley to the house. The neighborhood I live in now doesn't have alleys, so all the cables run through people's yards.

 

[weadjust]

I have a TVA high power transmission line across my backyard. A tree trimming co. came through and took down a couple of panels of privacy fence and brought trucks into the yard to remove a couple of trees. They put the fence back better than before raked the yard and I got them to cut a couple of big trees that weren't near the power line for a $100 bucks. I was pleased and it saved me about a $1000 I would have had to spend to get rid of those trees.

 

[Newbian]

I guess they littered and left some extra cables in the hole.

Feel free to remove them.

 

[vailr]

It looks like they have a cable that runs through the entire length of my yard.

Wouldn't any utility easement tend to be located at or near the perimeter of the property line? If their buried cable is not at the perimeter of the property, then maybe it needs to be re-located.
As long as you know exactly where the easement is located, then you'd know not to plant a tree near there, that has roots that could eventually reach the buried cable. Or otherwise interfere with a utility's occasional need for backhoe access, such as with a fence or planting bed.

 

[Engineer]

Pics of yard?

 

[brianmanahan]

You could well be the biggest a**hole I have ever encounterd on any forum anywhere.

without a doubt

 

[Leros]

Wouldn't any utility easement tend to be located at or near the perimeter of the property line? If their buried cable is not at the perimeter of the property, then maybe it needs to be re-located.
As long as you know exactly where the easement is located, then you'd know not to plant a tree near there, that has roots that could eventually reach the buried cable. Or otherwise interfere with a utility's occasional need for backhoe access, such as with a fence or planting bed.

The cables seem to run the entire length of the yard about 4 feet from the back fence. The house was already landscaped when I moved in.

 

[HeXen]

I came home from work yesterday to find a note on my door from AT&T saying that they had to do some maintenance in my backyard. There is currently a 20ft x 4ft hole in my backyard that goes down about 4 feet. They exposed some cables that I guess they're working on.

They dug up two small trees and a bunch of shrubs. These appear to have been removed from the property. They destroyed the border around my planting bed. They also took apart my fence in order to gain access because I had a locked gate. The gate is currently lying broken on my side lawn.

I haven't been able to get a hold of anybody from AT&T yet, but I'm fairly angry. I'm quite appalled that they can just break into my fenced in yard and dig half of it up, destroying the landscaping in the process.

Anybody else have this sort of experience?

lol, funny, that's what i do for a living. We subcontract for AT&T, so good luck getting much from them cause it's the contractors or the field coordinator for ATT that you shoudl talk to.

Keep in mind also if the area they dug up is not the easement...if it is, then there is nothing you can do. Likely the case they had trouble in a main line and had to excavate to fix it, that is often in the easement...don't worry, it's in the contract that they have to repair the yard, but nothing else before then will be done.

I don't even use AT&T service, although my house is wired for it. Apparently my neighbors' lines run through my backyard, which is why they were servicing them.

Everywhere I've lived before had an alley behind every house where cables were run. They only cable that would be in the yard would be a short run from the alley to the house. The neighborhood I live in now doesn't have alleys, so all the cables run through people's yards.

Those are drop lines, usually 2 to 6 pair copper, 22 awg. Cable companies do the same thing...get used to it.

and don't worry, they'll fix your yard if not they lose 10%. Don't expect to get anywhere with AT&T through their 800 number. We get angry customers all the time, happens. I usually say "well, you'll have that". I mean what do you expect us to do exactly?

 

[Anubis]

while its established they can do this, seems pretty shitty to not at least let you know first

 

[Mixolydian]

while its established they can do this, seems pretty shitty to not at least let you know first

Well he was at work, so...

 

[WHAMPOM]

The cables seem to run the entire length of the yard about 4 feet from the back fence. The house was already landscaped when I moved in.

So you are just a renter. Too bad you are not the property owner and have a full discloser of your property rights, title, easements and right-of-ways from the realtor.

 

[Anubis]

Well he was at work, so...

pretty sure its been planned, they could have sent him a letter

 

[NetGuySC]

I would document what has happened and wait and see how satisfied you are with how they leave it. If they have an easement, which I am sure they do if there are cables underground there then you are sol. Apparently the cables needed repair and they only way to get to them was to dig up your yard.
I bet they leave your yard in descent condition.

 

[Mixolydian]

pretty sure its been planned, they could have sent him a letter

How do you know it was planned? If there was an outage reported they'd go out to fix it ASAP.

 

[HeXen]

while its established they can do this, seems pretty shitty to not at least let you know first

You're talking about a large corp and a sudden issue that needs fixed. Now proposed plans to update an infrastructure do receive notice with the bill...however, few notice it.
Locates flagged on the ground is a big clue as it requires a couple of working days ahead of time unless it's emergency locates.
No one would allocate the time and resources necessary to hunt home owners down. Talking to renter's is pointless of course.

When a line goes down, time is money. Whats to be expected really...are we supposed to fix it with magic? Pixie dust perhaps?

Sounds to me, line went down, emergency locates were called, contractors on call were called for immediate excavation and now they are awaiting the splicer's to finish their job...really, it's not a big deal. It's grass and dirt, but people act like it's their living room.

 

[edro]

Switch to MCI.

lol

 

[Thegonagle]

Unfortunately, it's up to you to know about public utility easements within and around the borders of your property.

As far as I understand it, its always in your best interest to plan for reasonable and appropriate access for utility workers and their equipment, in the inevitable case that the service needs maintenance or repair. That means double checking where you put the fence, hedges, or your favorite perennials.

Simple courtesy dictates that they make contact with you first, and that they're respectful of your private property, but the law isn't really on your side; if they need access, especially to make emergency repairs or diagnoses to a "critical" service (think natural gas or phone/internet to multiple neighbors, etc.), they have the right to enter, and you don't have the right to stop them.

Hopefully, the workers are good to you and put things back approximately how they found them, but if they have an easement, they ultimately get their access.

EDIT: Oh, you're a renter? I got nothing here...

 

[Hugo Drax]

I came home from work yesterday to find a note on my door from AT&T saying that they had to do some maintenance in my backyard. There is currently a 20ft x 4ft hole in my backyard that goes down about 4 feet. They exposed some cables that I guess they're working on.

They dug up two small trees and a bunch of shrubs. These appear to have been removed from the property. They destroyed the border around my planting bed. They also took apart my fence in order to gain access because I had a locked gate. The gate is currently lying broken on my side lawn.

I haven't been able to get a hold of anybody from AT&T yet, but I'm fairly angry. I'm quite appalled that they can just break into my fenced in yard and dig half of it up, destroying the landscaping in the process.

Anybody else have this sort of experience?

Well the good news is now you can get U-verse service.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I used to work for the T, seriously this will work. During normal business hours call into the customer service queue and genuinely compliment them for work well done. Ask constantly ask to be transferred to next step up in management. They will do it to get ass kiss credit. When you make it to Director or Manager of level unload you dissatisfaction. Managers at that level can never say no.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Wow that really sucks, the least they could do is warn you and tell you they'll fix it up after. I'd complain about it and even look at getting a lawyer, but if it turns out they have all rights to do that, then you'll have to basically make sure not to put any trees/shrubs there knowing they can go any time. Sucks though.

I have an easement in my backyard as well but it's all above ground cables. High voltage electrical, low voltage electrical (transformer fed from HV), cable TV and phone. The hydro company sent me a letter one day saying they had to come trim my trees and it would not cost me anything. When they came by they did a good job and did not leave any mess. Lot of people hate above ground, but know what, it makes maintenance way less messy. In a perfect world all cables should be in a large network of walkable manholes, but that would cost way too much.

I'd also be curious to see a pic of these cables.

Here's hoping they at least come back to fix the landscaping though. If you need to rent equipment or hire someone this could run you in the 10k range, that's not something you want to spend just because some assholes caused damage.