Electricity companies damaging ground

[Romeogolf]

This recent storm has brought down a telegraph pole on a block of land I farm. The pole In question has been looking unsafe for a long time now, and it is of no surprise to me that the wind brought it down. The electricity company contacted me in June last year to gain access, but as the fields surrounding the pole were in OSR with no margin I suggested they came after i had cut it. This was agreed, and as I was combining I telephoned my contact to encourage their visit. Time passed, and my patience reduced until I had to get the cultivator over the ground. Months later, sprayed off and ready for a first wheat which sadly won’t come now on that block, the pole gives way and they demand access this morning to connect the neighbouring houses and businesses.
I reluctantly let them in, and gave them instructions on where they could take their Unimog and digger.
I walked the dogs up there late afternoon, and the mess they’ve made it incredible. Serious wheelings down to 12 inches, most of them 90 degrees to the tramlines and not all around the headland.
I appreciate they have a job to do, but these ruts will now hold water, I will have to cultivate these areas again undoubtably bringing up more unwanted seeds, ruining the structure, but my biggest frustration is that I gave them every opportunity to sort this in the summer. Has anyone else had an issue like this? Where do I stand? I’m not in the business of claiming for things without due reason, but I am not impressed about footing the bill for putting my fields back to how they should be.

 

[Exfarmer]

Engage an agent, he will be paid by the utility

 

[Ted M]

Take plenty of photos and put a claim in.
They're more than happy to take the pi55 if the boots on the other foot.
We had several very dodgy looking poles which they were contacted about on more than one occasion over a 3-4 year period.
Inevitably I brushed against one and down it came.
Despite the fact that their poles were in a shocking state of repair we ended up with a bill of 3.5k to replace one pole.
I quibbled the hours they claimed for (46 for a job that took 6 max for 4 men) and they immediately knocked £500 off, the nfu reduced it by another £500.
Less than 12 months previously they had checked another line in the wet across a grass field and left ruts 10 inches deep across the direction of travel we mow at.
Because I hadn't complained and had no photographic evidence they failed to take it into account even though we had sorted their mess at our expense.
It won't happen again...

 

[yellowbelly]

All utilities are as bad as one another
We're currently 'blessed' with the water board putting a pipeline in
I thought the fencing boys were making a big enough mess...

....but it was nowt compared with what the 'big guns' can do.....

Got some real 'video nasties' but they won't upload on here.
Just hope they're as good with the compo as they are at making a mess.

 

[Steevo]

All these utility companies are just the same!!

Loadsa mess, big money jobs, yet always in a hurry, no respect and leave behind such a mess. Wouldn't be so bad if they made it right again after, yet they seem to want to quibble and quibble.

 

[puppet]

All utilities are as bad as one another
We're currently 'blessed' with the water board putting a pipeline in
I thought the fencing boys were making a big enough mess...

....but it was nowt compared with what the 'big guns' can do.....

Got some real 'video nasties' but they won't upload on here.
Just hope they're as good with the compo as they are at making a mess.

Have they taken enough topsoil off? Keep a diary of every contact you have, phone call etc. Charge £40/hour.

 

[yellowbelly]

Have they taken enough topsoil off? Keep a diary of every contact you have, phone call etc. Charge £40/hour.

Yeah, we're all over it. That's why I've got loads of photos/videos. Our agent is keeping tabs on everything.

Nearly everybody whose land it crosses is using the same agent, so when he stops them on one farm, he stops them everywhere else too.

They are their own worst enemy - they worked (or tried to) on a day when we had 2" of rain. He shut them down for about 10 days after that. We only let them start again after they'd agreed some extra payment - now's the time to negotiate, not when they've gone

 

[Clive]

Engage an agent, he will be paid by the utility

what can they do that you can’t ? Then bill for your own time at agents rates

 

[Clive]

Have they taken enough topsoil off? Keep a diary of every contact you have, phone call etc. Charge £40/hour.

try finding an agent that will only charge £40/ hr - I bill at £150 when dealing with them .... they pay

 

[Anymulewilldo]

what can they do that you can’t ? Then bill for your own time at agents rates

The things they know too claim for that us mere mortals would never have thought of! Plus the utility companies know we have jobs to do and most of us can be put off by them procrastinating and sending us around in rings. The agent is paid to sort it, not too soft it while trying too farm as well. I've always thought our agent well worth the fee. He's a ruthless little bugger but he always gets a decent compensation package worked out plus they pay his costs!

 

[Farmer Fin]

It’s quite simple really. We had them replace a broken pole a few weeks ago. They drove across a ploughed field from 3 different sides. Took loads of pics and sent them to them with a notice to claim compensation. All they asked was for a vat invoice and paid up. I would imagine they have a value where below they just pay and above they quibble.

 

[Clive]

The things they know too claim for that us mere mortals would never have thought of! Plus the utility companies know we have jobs to do and most of us can be put off by them procrastinating and sending us around in rings. The agent is paid to sort it, not too soft it while trying too farm as well. I've always thought our agent well worth the fee. He's a ruthless little bugger but he always gets a decent compensation package worked out plus they pay his costs!

“Mere mortals” ? I think you are seriously over estimatIng a lot of agents and underestimatIng most farmers

if you don’t know your costs you shouldn’t be running a business frankly


they may pay his costs but they would pay you that money instead. It‘s really painfully straight forward to claim

 

[Clive]

It’s quite simple really. We had them replace a broken pole a few weeks ago. They drove across a ploughed field from 3 different sides. Took loads of pics and sent them to them with a notice to claim compensation. All they asked was for a vat invoice and paid up. I would imagine they have a value where below they just pay and above they quibble.

it really is a simple as creating invoice including your time (at agent rates) to deal with the claim, crop loss, all costs of remedial action ( at commercial rates) to return to pre damaged state

why anyone would need a red corduroy wearing agent to do that I have no idea ?

 

[ARW]

We have had this with the recent pylon painting jerks, 3 or 4 vehicles down the farm track 4-6 times each everyday since December. they treat it like a rally stage, it would of been alright if they came for a day did the work then left, but they just drive around all day

 

[Anymulewilldo]

“Mere mortals” ? I think you are seriously over estimatIng a lot of agents and underestimatIng most farmers

if you don’t know your costs you shouldn’t be running a business frankly


they may pay his costs but they would pay you that money instead. It‘s really painfully straight forward to claim

Steady there bud. I was suggesting that I would never have thought to claim for the drop in yield for hay production for the next 3 years on a 1 in 4 bank like the agent did.

Before you start making accusations about someone being fit too run a business I suggest you just settle down

 

[Steevo]

Yeah, we're all over it. That's why I've got loads of photos/videos. Our agent is keeping tabs on everything.

Nearly everybody whose land it crosses is using the same agent, so when he stops them on one farm, he stops them everywhere else too.

They are their own worst enemy - they worked (or tried to) on a day when we had 2" of rain. He shut them down for about 10 days after that. We only let them start again after they'd agreed some extra payment - now's the time to negotiate, not when they've gone

Handy having one agent doing all landowners!

 

[Romeogolf]

Thankyou for your replies. I am not adverse to getting stuck into utility companies when it is required however I wanted to get some confirmation that others would act in a similar fashion. Looking at it today I realise the extent of their damage, and will certainly be seeking remedial compensation especially as I don’t believe they even tried to keep damage minimal.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Thankyou for your replies. I am not adverse to getting stuck into utility companies when it is required however I wanted to get some confirmation that others would act in a similar fashion. Looking at it today I realise the extent of their damage, and will certainly be seeking remedial compensation especially as I don’t believe they even tried to keep damage minimal.

All that mess, just for 1 pole.

 

[yellowbelly]

Handy having one agent doing all landowners!

Yeah, the firm we're using wouldn't normally do our work but it seemed like a good idea for us all to be 'singing from the same hymn sheet'

 

[michael N123]

What where the fencing lads thinking