Moved a BT master socket

Gavin John Hyde · Jun 2, 2018

Had a call this morning, customer come back from visiting family and during the recent up and down weather it appears rain has got in and damaged the BT master socket. they had no phone/broadband I moved it from one corner to underneath the built in shelving in lounge. outside the wall where the BT cable comes in is mud, debris plants etc.. the water had pooled in the area and found a way in as the hole is very low down and not sealed. the floor inside is below ground level by around a foot inside.
Called me as the open reach engineer was going off on one telling them they will have to pay for the call out as quote 'somebody has moved this and its not allowed, it is open reach property' you know the usual script they stick too.
I actually moved it to the other side of room around 18 months ago and have now moved it back owing to redecorating.
they said nobody has touched it (its in exactly the place originally fitted and same plastic fittings)... in any case its the cable and hole openreach/bt drilled that allowed water to get in!
They are refusing to pay the call out charge that the engineer is trying to bill them, they have told the person on the phone that if they issue a bill then they will issue small claims proceedings for the water damage caused by BT drilling a hole in a stupid place and allowing water to enter the property damaging the plaster and wall etc.. apparently somebody will call them back on Monday to discuss it.

Anybody else had issues with the openreach lot being a pain in the backside!?

I have moved loads of bt points and dont see what the problem is myself... it wasnt my handywork that caused the issue but the inability of a bloke to drill a hole and seal it!

westward10 · Jun 2, 2018

Dillb said:
Why is it I can purchase a master or slave phone socket from a wholesaler then?

I can purchase an electrical service head.

Dillb · Jun 2, 2018

westward10 said:
So you wouldn't consult your gas provider in a similar situation.

Of course I would as I dont the first idea about gas regs. As I would also consult a stuctural engineer as i wouldnt know about supporting walls etc.

Dillb · Jun 2, 2018

westward10 said:
I can purchase an electrical service head.

So youd be happy to swap one while its still live?

pirate · Jun 2, 2018

It's not the same, clearly. I am aware what ignorant means, and I lack neither knowledge nor awareness....when it comes to a BT socket.
I lack knowledge when it comes to a gas meter, but not awareness, therefore I am not ignorant in that scenario either...I make a judgement.

westward10 · Jun 2, 2018

Dillb said:
So youd be happy to swap one while its still live?

I wouldn't consider it I am merely stating I could purchase one. People seem to gave a disregard for telecoms services because it is deemed low risk but the fact remains it is not your privilege to move it.

Dillb · Jun 2, 2018

Having worked for many years in shopfitting, the amount of times BT have turned up in the first week of the job when walls havent even been constructed is alot. All they do is fit the outlet/s with a very long length of cable and ask us to route it for them as they wont be re visiting.

westward10 · Jun 2, 2018

pirate said:
It's not the same, clearly. I am aware what ignorant means, and I lack neither knowledge nor awareness....when it comes to a BT socket.
I lack knowledge when it comes to a gas meter, but not awareness, therefore I am not ignorant in that scenario either...I make a judgement.

Your judgement being you can alter something you have no right to interfere with.

pirate · Jun 2, 2018

It's not your "privilege" to exceed the speed limit either, or to park in an inappropriate place. No-one is denying your stance, merely defending the alternative stance that is that is not unreasonable to re-site a very low-risk item, notwithstanding legal "ownership".
OK, it's "wrong" to interfere, but life must go on...
I had no "right" to attend my neighbours property last week when they were on holiday to make a gate secure...but I committed no offence that would have resulted in a conviction. I would call on negotiorum gestio in my defence, and the Court would dismiss it de minimis anyway...as I said, it'dsthe "degree", and that is a judgement for the individual. Trust me, unless you cause trouble or damage by moving a BT socket, you areunlikely to face prosecution. On the other hand, if you move the gas meter...well, that's a whole different scenario, in my opinion.
Now, I see my glass is empty...so if you will forgive me, gentlemen and ladies, I will pour my nightcap and retire for the night, wishing you all a good rest and a happy awakening.

pirate · Jun 2, 2018

It's not your "privilege" to exceed the speed limit either, or to park in an inappropriate place. No-one is denying your stance, merely defending the alternative stance that is that is not unreasonable to re-site a very low-risk item, notwithstanding legal "ownership".
OK, it's "wrong" to interfere, but life must go on...
I had no "right" to attend my neighbour's property last week when they were on holiday, to make a gate secure...but I committed no offence that would have resulted in a conviction. I would call on negotiorum gestio in my defence, and the Court would dismiss it de minimis anyway...as I said, it's the "degree", and that is a judgement for the individual. Trust me, unless you cause trouble or damage by moving a BT socket, you are unlikely to face prosecution. On the other hand, if you move the gas meter...well, that's a whole different scenario, in my opinion.
Now, I see my glass is empty...so if you will forgive me, gentlemen and ladies, I will pour my nightcap and retire for the night, wishing you all a good rest and a happy awakening.

buzzlightyear · Jun 2, 2018

a line from telecoms from post to the master box that where it stay move it ,and theirs a fault BT is not oblige to repair it .

Toneyz · Jun 3, 2018

I think it still is a criminal offence to interfere with the public telecommunication network.

elsparko · Jun 3, 2018

how dare you move british telecoms property? im ringing the police

elsparko · Jun 3, 2018

pirate said:
It's not your "privilege" to exceed the speed limit either, or to park in an inappropriate place. No-one is denying your stance, merely defending the alternative stance that is that is not unreasonable to re-site a very low-risk item, notwithstanding legal "ownership".
OK, it's "wrong" to interfere, but life must go on...
I had no "right" to attend my neighbour's property last week when they were on holiday, to make a gate secure...but I committed no offence that would have resulted in a conviction. I would call on negotiorum gestio in my defence, and the Court would dismiss it de minimis anyway...as I said, it's the "degree", and that is a judgement for the individual. Trust me, unless you cause trouble or damage by moving a BT socket, you are unlikely to face prosecution. On the other hand, if you move the gas meter...well, that's a whole different scenario, in my opinion.
Now, I see my glass is empty...so if you will forgive me, gentlemen and ladies, I will pour my nightcap and retire for the night, wishing you all a good rest and a happy awakening.

speeding is a privilege , cant tell you how many warnings ive recieved, only got points when i was really taking the ---- LOL

rsgaz · Jun 3, 2018

To those who have cut a live BT cable when moving a master, did you ring and slit the cable, then cut the wires individually, or just chop the cable with your regular wire cutters/shears, thereby causing a split second short circuit at the exchange?

pirate said:
very low-risk item,

Touch an old ISDN line at -96v DC and then tell me it's very low risk!! Believe me, it's not pleasant!!

telectrix · Jun 3, 2018

sure that 96

[ElectriciansForums.net] Moved a BT master socket

is the a.c.voltage to ringbell.

rsgaz · Jun 3, 2018

telectrix said:
96 is the a.c.voltage to ringbell.

75v AC, 25Hz is the ringing voltage on a 'normal' line. I picked an ISDN line as an extreme example/scenario because it's always -96v DC.

Squid · Jun 3, 2018

elsparko said:
how dare you move british telecoms property? im ringing the police

Grass and anyways you are in Scotland you trouble maker ;o)))))

Squid · Jun 3, 2018

rsgaz said:
To those who have cut a live BT cable when moving a master, did you ring and slit the cable, then cut the wires individually, or just chop the cable with your regular wire cutters/shears, thereby causing a split second short circuit at the exchange?

Touch an old ISDN line at -96v DC and then tell me it's very low risk!! Believe me, it's not pleasant!!

Not "many" people will have an ISDN line at home and when moving a master socket treat it the same as a live cable, cut very carefully or remove the ends from the socket and tape up until you re krone.

Squid · Jun 3, 2018

westward10 said:
Your judgement being you can alter something you have no right to interfere with.

Have you ever been out with a married woman, someone else's yours doesn't count...........

elsparko · Jun 3, 2018

SWD said:
Have you ever been out with a married woman, someone else's yours doesn't count...........

apples and oranges lol, i wouldnt ring up the womans husband/partner afterwards to tell them

elsparko · Jun 3, 2018

SWD said:
Grass and anyways you are in Scotland you trouble maker ;o)))))

i am the judge jury and executioner

Squid · Jun 3, 2018

elsparko said:
i am the judge jury and toothless Irn Bru.......

;o))))

elsparko · Jun 3, 2018

SWD said:
;o))))

not for long, ill have a set like jimmy carr

Gavin John Hyde · Jun 3, 2018

bloody heck.. started this thread and its turned into a right contentious issue.... people disagreeing with one and other... Its just a phone socket not the local exchange...