Removing an electrical cable on customers property... that doesn't belong to the customer!

[HappyHippyDad]

Afternoon all,

I have just been to do a quote for an elderly lady to remove a cable from under a stone driveway.

Her neighbours jacked up her car and moved it off her driveway, then made a channel in her driveway, then laid their cable across her driveway to their garage.

They gave her notice of doing this which she refused. The neighbour signed the letter and then added underneath his black belt in karate title just to bully her a little more (an old lady!). Grrrrrr!

She's taking them to court.

My question is, where do I stand about removing this cable on her property. I wont be able to isolate it as it will be on the neighbours property, so basically I can't do it? Plus, the cable is not her property and it's feeding the neighbours shed.

Cheers guys.

 

[Octopus]

They gave her notice of doing this which she refused. The neighbour signed the letter and then added underneath his black belt in karate title just to bully her a little more (an old lady!). Grrrrrr!

What do you mean "gave her notice" - surely all this would be dealt with by means of a way leave

Wayleave.co.uk - Advice on wayleave - http://www.wayleave.co.uk/wayleave-advice.htm


why on earth does some scumbag think they can do this?

 

[DPG]

not the point, DPG. we can all be interested and advise accordingly, but in the end it's a legal matter.

Yes, sorry - I meant assuming legal matters are sorted.

 

[DPG]

not the point, DPG. we can all be interested and advise accordingly, but in the end it's a legal matter.

Yes, sorry - I meant assuming legal matters are sorted.

 

[davesparks]

Branch joint it and give the old lady free power, or hire a spiking gun and blow the fuse.

 

[pirate]

"I say lawn.... what I mean is half weeds, half mismatched gravel bit of land they want to call a garden..."
Yes, littlespark, that's a perfect description we all recognise!
also confirms the contagious nature of gravel

If there is a title condition allowing access for servicing cables etc it has to be very specific if it can also allow the placement of new services. Very few do this, in my experience, and while trespass laws are notoriously tricky, if the alleged trespass is carried out for gain, rather than just to traverse from one place to another (which is minimal and not trespass) then an offence has been committed...
well, in Scotland that is...

Scumbags often use bully-boy tactics like this, and tried it on with my parents some years ago with a drain...
eventually we got them to pay a large sum in compensation when they found their sh*t backing up!

 

[Octopus]

If you damaged this cable, would you then be held responsible for criminal damage?

The law is an ---!

 

[pirate]

No Murdoch, if the cable shouldn't be there, and you accidentally damaged it during removal, you might be liable in compensation, but not criminal damage as there was no intent.

 

[Pete999]

Afternoon all,

I have just been to do a quote for an elderly lady to remove a cable from under a stone driveway.

Her neighbours jacked up her car and moved it off her driveway, then made a channel in her driveway, then laid their cable across her driveway to their garage.

They gave her notice of doing this which she refused. The neighbour signed the letter and then added underneath his black belt in karate title just to bully her a little more (an old lady!). Grrrrrr!

She's taking them to court.

My question is, where do I stand about removing this cable on her property. I wont be able to isolate it as it will be on the neighbours property, so basically I can't do it? Plus, the cable is not her property and it's feeding the neighbours shed.

Cheers guys.

Scrotts

 

[littlespark]

What if old lady wants her driveway dug up for monoblock and conveniently forgets about this cable.

I wonder if the cable installation is up to regs anyway. Is it notifiable to an outbuilding?
It’ll be twin&earth, wrong size and connected directly to the supply side of their meter.

 

[Squid]

As I said free power...............

 

[Dave OCD]

This cable needs to have an unfortunate fault develop, damaged beyond repair.

 

[123]

Afternoon all,

I have just been to do a quote for an elderly lady to remove a cable from under a stone driveway.

Her neighbours jacked up her car and moved it off her driveway, then made a channel in her driveway, then laid their cable across her driveway to their garage.

They gave her notice of doing this which she refused. The neighbour signed the letter and then added underneath his black belt in karate title just to bully her a little more (an old lady!). Grrrrrr!

She's taking them to court.

My question is, where do I stand about removing this cable on her property. I wont be able to isolate it as it will be on the neighbours property, so basically I can't do it? Plus, the cable is not her property and it's feeding the neighbours shed.

Cheers guys.

How did they manage that?

I'd be wary of every story having 2 sides to it. Let the courts do what they do, and don't waste too much time on it...even if it rules in your customers favour and your customers neighbour has to pay...chances are you won't be the one tasked with the job

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Any further info, is it a shared drive etc etc out of interest?

No, it's not shared. She owns her driveway. They do have a back gate that leads out on to her driveway. They then have to walk over her driveway to reach there own.

 

[Wilko]

No, it's not shared. She owns her driveway. They do have a back gate that leads out on to her driveway. They then have to walk over her driveway to reach there own.

We don't know, but this is perhaps a hint as per @pirate post as to what is permitted. The fellow is clearly charmer so perhaps a big fat quote for electrics and stand well back. I would not quote for ground works and she can hire a few big labourers to do that bit perhaps ... If it does turn out to be an abuse, she will be due all costs.

 

[Taylortwocities]

No, it's not shared. She owns her driveway. They do have a back gate that leads out on to her driveway. They then have to walk over her driveway to reach there own.

That hints that the neighbour has some rights of access to the driveway. But that may be limited to foot access, repairs etc. Only the courts can sort this. Anything else is pure speculation.