Surveyors, real or dodgy?

[Giles1]

Anyone heard of a company called Magia in Scotland? Had a couple of guys wandering about the river banks this afternoon complete with hi-viz ,helmets,poles etc supposedly doing a flood risk survey of some sort for an environment agency. Should have asked more questions, but they seemed clueless as to who they were working for other than a company called Magia. Tried SEPA to see if its for them,but they are shut down because of Covid and a cyber attack. Tried google, no joy.

 

[Highland Mule]

Ask them to confirm they have permission from the landowner, then when they say yes, point out that's you and they don't? I usually follow with a request for the risk assessments and then tell them I'll have comments back in a week and they can go away until then.

Unless they are very polite, of course, in which case I might just let them get on with things.

 

[C.J]

Gavia ?

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

In England they would carry a letter of appointment setting out their right to be on site and with contact details for the person in the EA running the survey contract. Without it I'd kick them off (and I worked for EA management).

I don't know the rules in Scotland for certain.

They could be working for a private company commissioning their own flood risk assessment in which case they've no access rights except by your agreement (which I'd demand payment for as the company wanting the assessment will benefit financially from it).

 

[Giles1]

If they're back tomorrow it'll be the full interrogation ,maybe without the electrodes though. In Scotland I don't believe they would need access permission,grey area. Phone and electric companies don't ask when inspecting poles and or changing them, but if clearing overhanging trees we get notice and a heap of permissions forms.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

If they're back tomorrow it'll be the full interrogation ,maybe without the electrodes though. In Scotland I don't believe they would need access permission,grey area. Phone and electric companies don't ask when inspecting poles and or changing them, but if clearing overhanging trees we get notice and a heap of permissions forms.

Phone and electric companies have their own rights of access so are not comparable. If either sends in a contracted in surveyor that person will carry a "letter of introduction" seeing out why they're there, who is running their contract and what powers they are accessing the land under.

I'm fully aware of the Scottish "right to roam" but that's only for recreational use, not commercial.

 

[Bald Rick]

Anyone heard of a company called Magia in Scotland? Had a couple of guys wandering about the river banks this afternoon complete with hi-viz ,helmets,poles etc supposedly doing a flood risk survey of some sort for an environment agency. Should have asked more questions, but they seemed clueless as to who they were working for other than a company called Magia. Tried SEPA to see if its for them,but they are shut down because of Covid and a cyber attack. Tried google, no joy.

Magia - Find and update company information - GOV.UK

Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity

find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk

Plenty of “Magia” but most dissolved

 

[Highland Mule]

If they're back tomorrow it'll be the full interrogation ,maybe without the electrodes though. In Scotland I don't believe they would need access permission,grey area. Phone and electric companies don't ask when inspecting poles and or changing them, but if clearing overhanging trees we get notice and a heap of permissions forms.

Of course they need permission to work on your land. From you - as they need to understand the risks that your work poses to them and you have responsibility for their safety (to an extent, but there is enough wriggle room there to refuse them, demand access to their paperwork and ultimately charge them for your review of it - I work on £100 an hour for utilities). I’ve stopped jobs before for a duration of my choice too, on the basis that I wouldn’t allow them to work in a field whilst I had cattle in it unless they were prepared to pay my fee to move or supervise.

 

[Exfarmer]

Anyone heard of a company called Magia in Scotland? Had a couple of guys wandering about the river banks this afternoon complete with hi-viz ,helmets,poles etc supposedly doing a flood risk survey of some sort for an environment agency. Should have asked more questions, but they seemed clueless as to who they were working for other than a company called Magia. Tried SEPA to see if its for them,but they are shut down because of Covid and a cyber attack. Tried google, no joy.

I would be very concerned they are poachers, I would call the police, they love wildlife crime

 

[Giles1]

If a company pays wayleaves,are they not entitled to access as part of the agreement? Not poachers, definitely some kind of survey gear, far too brazen and they parked up in someones driveway within the village mistaking it for a public car park according to that owner who also questioned them. Got the same answers as me.There are far too many folk exercising their "rights" these days, met a couple in a brand new car heading down our drive the other day, "just having a wee drive about" they said. "Can we finish our Mars bar before we go?" Fine I said ,and to my son who was with me, "bet they leave the wrapper". They did.

 

[Highland Mule]

If a company pays wayleaves,are they not entitled to access as part of the agreement?

Perhaps, but not as and when they want. As I wrote before, if they are working on your land then you have some responsibility for their safety - so they should come and see you for agreement each time before they go onto it.

I keep all my gates locked because I know that the utilities' risk assessments will not permit employees to climb fences/ gates. The only way to access my land within the terms of their own company rules is to come and find me and for me to let them in through a gateway.

 

[steveR]

Perhaps, but not as and when they want. As I wrote before, if they are working on your land then you have some responsibility for their safety - so they should come and see you for agreement each time before they go onto it.

I keep all my gates locked because I know that the utilities' risk assessments will not permit employees to climb fences/ gates. The only way to access my land within the terms of their own company rules is to come and find me and for me to let them in through a gateway.

My personal experience is that the "public" Utilities are not too bad at calling and asking for an OK. Openreach are twits though....

I dfo like the idea of charging them for moving stock etc...

 

[Highland Mule]

My personal experience is that the "public" Utilities are not too bad at calling and asking for an OK. Openreach are twits though....

I dfo like the idea of charging them for moving stock etc...

I have one utility that will not be allowed on without supervision from now on, after they smashed a padlock to gain access and then denied the event happened later. Life will be made awkward to them from now on.

 

[Dry Rot]

The old asbestos-cement water main used to run through my farm and it was always bursting. I let them on every time until the day they left gates open and broke fences. After that, it was £100 a time. One year I didn't get paid. I told them they would not be allowed on until I WAS paid!

Then, the almost routine knock on the door. "There's a burst. Can we get the team down to repair it?", Me: a flat "No". It took a few seconds for that to register! "The team," was ecstatic for the enforced holiday and when I appeared I got a cheer. I gather the boss was not too popular! So, no, they do not get automatic access in Scotland.

After that, they re-routed the main with a new plastic pipe, so no more bursts. Pity as it was about the only thing that made a profit. As for the smashed padlock, aren't people stupid to lie? A lie is never forgotten and it always comes around and bites the liar in the ass as all trust evaporates.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

If a company pays wayleaves,are they not entitled to access as part of the agreement?

Yes, in full accord with the terms of the wayleave. These usually state that reasonable advance notice will be given except in emergency. A survey is definitely not an emergency.