Chorus property destruction

ixtlan

I was stunned when I heard this. My sister bought a new house. Since she was with Chorus on analogue she decided to stay with them and go with the digital package. They came, installed and went away. All seemed well, until she and her boyfriend tried to set up a portable in another room. Would not work...

He went up to look at what they had done in the attic. Now, this being a new house, it has a distributed co-ax system in the attic going to several TV points in different rooms, and he had looked at this before they came to make sure nothing was in their way. The Chorus guys had cut every distribution cable.... removing at least 6 feet from every one, and they had taken away the wire.

The boyfriend then called chorus, and demanded to know if it was their policy to destroy the distribution network. A long pause followed, and then "I can't answer that question, you'll have to talk to the complaints officer". However the complaints officer is only available 9-5 Monday to Friday (they want to "inspect" the work), when my sister and her boyfriend are at work.

I'm absolutely apalled at this! Surely this is willful property destruction?! Especially since the digital signal is encoded and can't be "stolen". That distribution network is mostly for terrestrial channels. I'm recommending a trip to the small claims court though I think they are reluctant to deal with the hassle.

Ix

BrianD

A disgrace! Forget the complaints officer ... write to them and tell them to replace the cabling which is her property immediately. If Chorus have a problem with the signal being distributed internally within a house then they should inform the customer (afaik with a digital system and one box every TV point will be tuned to the same channel so multiroom viewing is not possible).

bucks73

I had a similar problem with them also. I had Chorus MMDS Digital and changed to Sky Digital about 2 and a half years ago.

When I discontinued the service they told me an engineer would be by some day to collect the receiver and aerial. Weeks later while cutting the grass I noticed some metal on the lawn and it turned out to be some sort of bracket. When I looked up I saw that the aerial was gone from the chimney and the cable was hanging down from the roof. The engineer must have come while I was at work, gone up onto the roof, taken off the aerial, threw the brackets onto the lawn and cut the cable and threw it out over the roof.

Anyway a couple of weeks later I get another call from them saying that they want to pick up the recevier. I told them that if they wanted it they would have to call on a Saturday afternoon as I am working Monday to Friday and golf on Saturday mornings. So the girl said she would send someone that Saturday afternoon. Of course noone turned up and the next day the receiver was in the bin.

Only last week a salesman from them called to the house and I was laughing at his arguments. He said "we have utv and channel4" and I told him I have itv, C4, C5, BBC3, BBC4 and all the regional BBCs. He said "you can only have it one room". I told him I have it in 3 and that their own digital system only works in one room also. Their analogue cable can be piped separately into each room.

Off he went with his tail between his legs.

I would never ever ever deal with that crowd again.

spongebob

Originally posted by ixtlan
I'm absolutely apalled at this! Surely this is willful property destruction?! Especially since the digital signal is encoded and can't be "stolen". That distribution network is mostly for terrestrial channels. I'm recommending a trip to the small claims court though I think they are reluctant to deal with the hassle.

Digital Cameras are great, photos please. They'll need them in court which costs E10 by the way and involves a chat with the clerk and no solicitors. Its a simple vandalism and restitution case.

Get an electrician to cost the repair of the cables and replastering. If they remove an aerial they must repair the chimney. (make good )

Small claims is capped at E1270

M

BrianD

Perhaps you should put a written complaint to Chorus noting that you must receive an answer within 7 days. If you get a reply let us know what they say!