Re: O/T Underground Cable

Posted by jdemaris on March 22, 2007 at 06:09:05 from (66.218.12.237):

In Reply to: O/T Underground Cable posted by Shane in IN on March 22, 2007 at 04:58:04:

I've cut through underground Verizon phone lines three times in the past 20 years. They run all over the place in my fields - sometimes only a foot deep. Every time - all the farms and homes beyond me lost their phone service - maybe a dozen of them. The first time I cut the line, I was moldboard-plowing. When the phone company came to fix - I told them to map out my fields and install some warning signs. This way, I'd have some idea where the underground lines are. The lines were put in around 1960. Well, they refused. So, I told them - that in the future, I'm not going to worry about it - if they won't post signs.
The second time, I hit a line with my backhoe - and I had NO idea there were any lines anywhere near where I was digging. They zig-zag all over my property. Verizon told me I should of called first. I replied "what, are you guys nuts?" I"ve got 70 acres or property here - much of which gets worked. What am I supposed to do - call them every day of the week? Again, they refused to install signs - and I refused to pay.
Last Spring, I was grading a farm-road up through my woods with a bull-dozer - and - I couldn't believe my eyes. I hit - what looked like a piece of black plastic water pipe - maybe 1" diam. It had probably been buried 6" deep. I got thinking, "what the heck is an old water-line doing in the middle of the woods?" Well, it was NOT a water-line - it was a Verizon phone-cable again. Looked like it had 30-60 little copper-conductors inside it. An hour later - a phone guy shows up - visibly angry at me. He says it must be fixed right away - and . . . Verizon does not allow underground splices anymore. New policy. So, either the entire run must be replaced - or - little "toll-booth" above-ground splice-boxes installed. Keep in mind, it was pouring rain - and my fields were so wet - would never thing about driving over them with anything and rutting them all up. But Verizon had no concern at all. Since all phone-service beyond me was now dead - I offered to help. I did all the backhoe work while two guys fixed the line. Meanwhile, a contractor and crew shows up - with a backhoe, a ditch-witch, and four guys. They stood and watched for a couple of hours - doing NO work. They stood there, drinking coffe and taking on cell phones.
Three months later - I'd had forgotten the whole thing - and the following bill arrives:

8/14/06 CMR Claims Department, PO Box 60770, Oklahoma City, OK, 73146. Description of
damage - 34 Hill Road, Worcester, NY, date of damage - 5/15/06. Total due - $1,996.61.
Payment - requested to be sent to Verizon, PO Box 1096, Cockeysville, MD, 21030-6096.
Bill # 212CP18BC0806
Damage Claim # NYPR061736
Bill shown as thus:
Labor - $1,027
Administrative Cost - $198.39
Sales Tax - $82.22
Motor Vehicle Cost - $64.04
Contractor Costs - $571.98
Loss of use - local copper exchange loop - $52.50

I was pretty ticked off. And, contractor costs ??? They have the nerve to bill me $571 for a bunch of guys haning out drinking coffee?? I should of sent THEM a bill for my backhoe work. I contacted them - and they sent me a copy of the New York Statue that - they alleged - holds me repsonsible. In brief:

"All excavators must call DigSafely. New York at 1-800-962-7962
at least two (2) working days prior to the start of excavation, but
not more than ten.
[ For a full explanation, take a look at our page entitled, . ]
[ The complete list of responsibilities for excavators is contained
within .] "

I then got my hands on the entire text and read carefully. The law does NOT apply to homeowners working their own property. It applies to "third-parties" e.g. contractors. I called my farm-insurance company and they sent over a claims-adjuster. At first - the adjuster told me I was wrong - and he then pulled out his lap-top computer to show me the full text of the law (which I'd already carefully read). Seems I read it more closely then he did. I pointed out a few things to the adjuster - and he said "I'll be d*mned, you're right." He told me NOT to pay, and if they harass me anymore - to have Verizon contact the insurance-company's legal dept.

I sent Verizon a letter - and informed them I would not pay them one cent - and if I hear anymore from them - I will proceed to send them a bill for my backhoe time - 6 hours billed at $200 per hour, plus $50 per hour for my labor time.

I never got a reply.

Replies:

• Re: O/T Underground Cable mike a. tenn. 06:27:56 03/22/07 (3)
  • Re: O/T Underground Cable jdemaris 07:38:50 03/22/07 (2)
    • Re: O/T Underground Cable in-too-deep 08:42:31 03/22/07 (1)
      • Re: O/T Underground Cable ALLEY-OOP 13:29:53 03/22/07 (0)

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