Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Nov 25, 2013 1:55 pm Hi all, People who knocked down a house (so obviously got overhead phone line removed and disconnected), then built your home, how did you then get the phone line reconnected, and how much did you pay? So with new home builds, Telstra states 'whenever practical, underground (rather than aerial) lead-in cables must be installed, except in some particular locations or circumstances that prevent this from happening' even in established suburbs. Who has been through this? When you ring Telstra to get this organised, they outsource this work to external contractors. We received 2 quotes back, both in the range of $2k. Great - just what we need, another unforeseen cost! FYI we have no trenching/conduit from the house to the nature strip because this wasn't provisioned for by the builder. Therefore this is also included in that quote. Love to hear other people's experiences. My Hamptons build (completed): viewtopic.php?f=31&t=63370 Moved in Wednesday 11th Dec 2013 Front landscaping completed June 2016 Re: Question for knockdown/rebuilders re: phone line 2Nov 26, 2013 11:10 am Can't believe no one has been through this, doing my head in!!! My Hamptons build (completed): viewtopic.php?f=31&t=63370 Moved in Wednesday 11th Dec 2013 Front landscaping completed June 2016 Re: Question for knockdown/rebuilders re: phone line 3Nov 26, 2013 12:34 pm I simply paid their standard $299 fee to disconnect the cable and then once more to reconnect it after I had replaced my roof, so approx $600 in total. Re: Question for knockdown/rebuilders re: phone line 4Nov 26, 2013 12:46 pm Haha, sbryzak - did they reconnect aerial telephone line or did they have to do underground? BUT I should add that I have had some progress. I spoke to someone helpful within Telstra! A miracle I know. It looks like I am right and I should NOT have to pay for a pit to be removed and a new one installed, as that's Telstra infrastructure. I should only be responsible for the lead-in cable which goes from our new home to the boundary (lining up with old pit). Most builders will include this - especially in new estates, but ours didn't so we have to pay to get it done, still, will more likely be only a few hundred. My Hamptons build (completed): viewtopic.php?f=31&t=63370 Moved in Wednesday 11th Dec 2013 Front landscaping completed June 2016 Re: Question for knockdown/rebuilders re: phone line 5Nov 26, 2013 1:51 pm Ok so I've been through this and can tell you that my experience with Telstra was enough to drive me insane. Lived in the property for 13 years, had multiple phone lines running into the property - we had a pit already so provisioning was underground. Cable broadband also came via the pit. Fast forward to the demolition last December, Telstra pit is left there intact and demolition proceeds. New house is built, builder is to organise conduit from the house to the existing pit with draw wire so we can get Telstra to connect up phone and cable broadband. Problems started from there - conduit was run close to the pit and left sticking out of the ground. Nobody would run it into the pit. Why? The Telstra pits are constructed with some asbestos in the pit walls (not the lid). Telstra have a blanket ban on doing anything with the pits at all. I spent countless hours over several weeks on the phone and went through every person in every department to no avail. Telstra would NOT connect, couldn't even give an ETA as to when they would. None of their subbies are allowed to touch them because of the blanket ban on them. Argh! Most Telstra would offer was a temporary mobile service until such time as they were prepared to touch the pit and provide a hard wired phone. They would not do the same for internet. As I work from home on occasion this was not acceptable. I ended up giving up. Optus have an overhead cable running past, so I got phone and cable broadband via them instead. Have now been in the house over a month. Was working from home last week and a couple of guys rolled up in a truck. They wandered over to the pit so I walked out to chat with them. They were subbies to Telstra and were there to run the conduit into the pit. lol. I told them it didn't really matter any more as I'd given up with Telstra. They rolled their eyes and said "Bloody Telstra are hopeless. All they needed to do was lift the lid. There's a hole free to run the conduit into already. It could have been connected no problem. The ban only impacts having to make new holes into the pits." Ugh. Anyway Optus charged zero installation fee. Zero set up fee. Just went onto a monthly plan with no additional costs. Completed a knock down and rebuild in northern Melbourne. Handover completed 27/09/2013 and now moved in. Re: Question for knockdown/rebuilders re: phone line 6Nov 26, 2013 2:07 pm Bluesuede Anyway Optus charged zero installation fee. Zero set up fee. Just went onto a monthly plan with no additional costs. Oh my goodness Bluesuede. I can only imagine, as I am going through it now. Thanks so much for replying. We are suffering the same issue because of the asbestos issue. So meanwhile Telstra techies have been working with those asbestos pits for years and now all of a sudden, no one can touch them. As you say the asbestos is in the walls, opening the lid is unlikely to give you asbestos poisoning unless the walls have eroded or something. My understanding is, your very first line connection/physical line HAS to be organised through Telstra. Even if you don't want to stay with Telstra as a customer, you get a temporary 3 month connection just so the work can get done, then you cancel. It was my understanding that Optus, TPG, Internet, iiNet etc CANNOT do anything until you have a Telstra line connection. That's all irrelevant to me because I actually have home phone, ADSL2, Foxtel & mobile with Telstra and am planning to stay with them. Yet from what you're saying, you didn't have to? Anyway you're right, the whole thing is such a massive head **** that you do just want to give up. But like you, I need phone line and internet as I also work from home. DAMN YOU Telstra. My situation is worse though because for some reason the pit can't even be used (I don't know why????) and they have to put a new pit. What I don't know is, is that just the 3rd party saying that to make the most $$. Either way, not my problem to pay for, but it is my problem in terms of waiting times. My Hamptons build (completed): viewtopic.php?f=31&t=63370 Moved in Wednesday 11th Dec 2013 Front landscaping completed June 2016 Re: Question for knockdown/rebuilders re: phone line 7Nov 26, 2013 2:14 pm I had planned to stay with Telstra as well but circumstances dictated otherwise. Do you have an overhead Optus cable running past your place? You don't have to stick with Telstra if you do. You can just have cable broadband supplied with VOIP phone as part of the bundle. No need for any Telstra supplied infrastructure. They are supposed to be replacing the asbestos pits with new ones but you aren't supposed to be paying for it! Completed a knock down and rebuild in northern Melbourne. Handover completed 27/09/2013 and now moved in. Re: Question for knockdown/rebuilders re: phone line 8Nov 26, 2013 2:18 pm I wasn't rapt to have to go to an overhead supply but.. meh.. it beats having nothing and meant I could work from home the day I moved in rather than waiting on Telstra's "we will give you phone and broadband at some time in your distant future but won't tell you when" Completed a knock down and rebuild in northern Melbourne. Handover completed 27/09/2013 and now moved in. Re: Question for knockdown/rebuilders re: phone line 9Nov 26, 2013 2:20 pm Hey again, As far as I know, no. We cannot get cable in our area. FWIW I may ring Optus and see what they have to say. According to their website where you enter your current address, it says 'Yes! Optus services are available at your address' but that's not very specific. May require a phone call. Agree! Everyone else is getting their asbestos pits removed and replaced for free, but I have to pay? Not only that but can you imagine if I hadn't queried and just paid it! Just wrong ... My Hamptons build (completed): viewtopic.php?f=31&t=63370 Moved in Wednesday 11th Dec 2013 Front landscaping completed June 2016 Re: Question for knockdown/rebuilders re: phone line 10Nov 26, 2013 2:26 pm I'd give Optus a call. It took one 5 minute phone call with them to get supply of phone and Internet sorted out and scheduled versus weeks worth of frustrating phone calls with Tel$tra to get nowhere. Completed a knock down and rebuild in northern Melbourne. Handover completed 27/09/2013 and now moved in. Re: Question for knockdown/rebuilders re: phone line 11Nov 26, 2013 2:30 pm STOP PRESS!! We can get Optus overhead cable! Well, blow me down. Blueseude you are an absolute genius. At least I know we have an option. As you say, having an overhead cable to a new home isn't ideal especially aesthetically, but what are you going to do if Telstra makes things this difficult? My Hamptons build (completed): viewtopic.php?f=31&t=63370 Moved in Wednesday 11th Dec 2013 Front landscaping completed June 2016 Re: Question for knockdown/rebuilders re: phone line 12Nov 26, 2013 2:36 pm Great news!! If I can help anyone extricate themselves from the soul death that is navigating through the endless loop of Telstra's phone support staff, I'm happy And hey - I got a free set top box for my tv included as well with the deal that does movies on demand and also plays content stored on my NAS Completed a knock down and rebuild in northern Melbourne. Handover completed 27/09/2013 and now moved in. Re: Question for knockdown/rebuilders re: phone line 13Nov 26, 2013 3:49 pm I've signed with Optus cable, hahahahaha! Sorry, I just did not think it would be this easy. Touch wood though, I'll be more relieved when it's in and working. We have Foxtel (through Telstra) which I am about to cancel, and want to see if I can get a better deal with Foxtel direct. Now that I will be a 'new customer' then hopefully I am eligible for a good deal. My Hamptons build (completed): viewtopic.php?f=31&t=63370 Moved in Wednesday 11th Dec 2013 Front landscaping completed June 2016 Re: Question for knockdown/rebuilders re: phone line 14Nov 26, 2013 4:35 pm cinder I've signed with Optus cable, hahahahaha! Sorry, I just did not think it would be this easy. Touch wood though, I'll be more relieved when it's in and working. lol I know the feeling! After ALL the frustration with Telstra i couldn't believe it could be so easy and actually happen! But they were on time, installed quickly and working without a hitch - phone and internet! Completed a knock down and rebuild in northern Melbourne. Handover completed 27/09/2013 and now moved in. Hi We have finally decided to complete a KDR on our corner plot in NE Melbourne suburbs. Given its a corner plot approx. 400 sqm just a standard design may not fit the… 0 8563 if the original house is in good condition most of what you listed could be added in stages without the need for KDR and costs and disruption of having to live elsewhere… 1 13678 multiple occ properties are always billed by trades at a premium, rarely per sqm for the lot. You either have trades you know whoe will do by sqm or youre going to get… 1 2229 |