I'm so frustrated right now I could scream....

jujube

jujube

SF VIP
Location
I think I'm in Florida, but I'm not sure any more.
Sometime this morning, I looked out in the front yard and there were red arrows spraypainted on the grass and little red flags posted. I went out and looked at the flags and there was a company name and a phone number. I called the phone number and the company said they had been contacted by AT&T for a "phone drop" and sent out to map out the Duke Energy main line into our house. They gave me a number in Louisiana to call. No surprise, the number isn't answered, can't leave a number.

We're not getting an AT&T phone drop. We don't have AT&T. We don't want AT&T. AT&T has been in the neighborhood for the last couple of months, laying down "fiber", tearing everything up and causing all sorts of problems. I spit on AT&T and I hope their office gets infested with bed bugs.

The big problem is that the spray painted arrows cross over the new waterline that we spent thousands of dollars a few months ago getting put in from the street to the house. So, needless to say, we want NO digging in our yard.

So, I take on the guaranteed-to-be-a-total-disaster call to AT&T. Of course, you can't get a human until you tell them what you want. What I WANT isn't understood by the "automated operator". After yelling AGENT! about ten times, I get an agent (after a lengthy wait, of course). I explain my problem. He can't help me but he'll transfer me. Click. Disconnect.

Call back, get another agent (after the required dance of the hours). He, at least this time, DOES transfer me to another department. I ask for the direct number; no, can't do that, he HAS to transfer me. The lady there takes my name, address and telephone number, listens to my problem, says she will check on it, "please hold". Of course, CLICK! DISCONNECT! And, you won't be surprised, she has not called me back.

I have to start all over again. I need a drink. Or a psychiatric appointment.

I swear, I'm going to sit out in the yard with a gun and shoot the first person who shows up with digging equipment. Just kidding, of course. I'll just turn the hose on them. I just wish I had a pitbull trained to attack.

Up until now, I have been calm and polite on the phone. I don't think I have any "polite" left in my soul. The Wrath of the Dragon Lady is on the way.

Please say a prayer for me. I'm headed back to the phone.
 
jujube said:
Sometime this morning, I looked out in the front yard and there were red arrows spraypainted on the grass and little red flags posted. I went out and looked at the flags and there was a company name and a phone number. I called the phone number and the company said they had been contacted by AT&T for a "phone drop" and sent out to map out the Duke Energy main line into our house. They gave me a number in Louisiana to call. No surprise, the number isn't answered, can't leave a number.

We're not getting an AT&T phone drop. We don't have AT&T. We don't want AT&T. AT&T has been in the neighborhood for the last couple of months, laying down "fiber", tearing everything up and causing all sorts of problems. I spit on AT&T and I hope their office gets infested with bed bugs.

The big problem is that the spray painted arrows cross over the new waterline that we spent thousands of dollars a few months ago getting put in from the street to the house. So, needless to say, we want NO digging in our yard.

So, I take on the guaranteed-to-be-a-total-disaster call to AT&T. Of course, you can't get a human until you tell them what you want. What I WANT isn't understood by the "automated operator". After yelling AGENT! about ten times, I get an agent (after a lengthy wait, of course). I explain my problem. He can't help me but he'll transfer me. Click. Disconnect.

Call back, get another agent (after the required dance of the hours). He, at least this time, DOES transfer me to another department. I ask for the direct number; no, can't do that, he HAS to transfer me. The lady there takes my name, address and telephone number, listens to my problem, says she will check on it, "please hold". Of course, CLICK! DISCONNECT! And, you won't be surprised, she has not called me back.

I have to start all over again. I need a drink. Or a psychiatric appointment.

I swear, I'm going to sit out in the yard with a gun and shoot the first person who shows up with digging equipment. Just kidding, of course. I'll just turn the hose on them. I just wish I had a pitbull trained to attack.

Up until now, I have been calm and polite on the phone. I don't think I have any "polite" left in my soul. The Wrath of the Dragon Lady is on the way.

Please say a prayer for me. I'm headed back to the phone.
Click to expand...
I don't blame you; I'd be furious too. :mad:
 
I would sue right now, never mind threatening to sue. It sounds to me like AT&T has committed a crime (trespassing? vandalism?) Or do the laws of your community give them immunity to do anything they want? What's next? Spray painting your house?
 
PeppermintPatty said:
I donā€™t blame you for being mad. Iā€™d be furious also. Maybe pour yourself a drink if you havenā€™t already.
Click to expand...
I would but I don't have a drop of anything alcoholic in the house right now. Bummer.

I know I'm making a mountain out of a molehill, but sometimes I just lose it. I'm normally a calm person, but not today. I don't know why this has me so upset. The Spousal Equivalent, who usually would be raging over this, is quite calm. I guess it's my time to get my knickers in a twist.
 
jujube said:
The big problem is that the spray painted arrows cross over the new waterline that we spent thousands of dollars a few months ago getting put in from the street to the house. So, needless to say, we want NO digging in our yard.
Click to expand...
Have you called 811 to request the utility people hurry out and mark your water line, per googling they mark both private and public lines, I've never called that number so I don't personally know how it works.
 
Here's the info I get from googling:
How to Protect Water Lines and Property
  1. Call 811 Before Digging: Before contractors start, contact 811 to have public utility lines marked.
  2. Mark Private Lines: Call 811 to specifically mark private, non-utility-owned lines, such as water or septic lines, which are often overlooked.
  3. Identify Your Easement: Locate the boundaries of your easement, so you know exactly where they are allowed to work.
  4. Supervise Work: Ensure contractors are not digging deep near your service lines, as they are required to honor utility marks.
  5. Use Private Utility Locator: Consider hiring a private utility locator to mark your water lines clearly.
  6. Report Issues Immediately: If you see unburied cables, exposed wires, or have concerns, contact the AT&T Buried Wire Center at 800-924-9420.
If AT&T contractors dig outside of the designated easement on your property, you have the right to forbid them from continuing that work.
 
Sunny said:
I would sue right now, never mind threatening to sue. It sounds to me like AT&T has committed a crime (trespassing? vandalism?) Or do the laws of your community give them immunity to do anything they want? What's next? Spray painting your house?
Click to expand...
I don't think she would have a case. They have the right under Utility Easement Access (Which most properties have) to mark out lines and even be on the property for that purpose without getting the owner permission. However, if they damage anything, that is another matter, and they can be held liable. They pull permits for this sort of thing, but there are limits. If the sign says "No digging without owner permission", it would at least give them pause to call a supervisor and determine what course of action they should take. The logical one would be to contact the owner.
 
jujube said:
I would but I don't have a drop of anything alcoholic in the house right now. Bummer.

I know I'm making a mountain out of a molehill, but sometimes I just lose it. I'm normally a calm person, but not today. I don't know why this has me so upset. The Spousal Equivalent, who usually would be raging over this, is quite calm. I guess it's my time to get my knickers in a twist.
Click to expand...
You come across online as a very calm and stable person. You always have well thought out posts. In fact, Iā€™ve never seen you the least bit upset before. Not that I blame you. Like I said before, Iā€™d be furious also.
 
bobcat said:
I would put a sign in the ground where the red arrows begin to encroach on your property with the following:
If you dig even one teaspoon of soil on my property without my permission, I will sue -- signed The Owner
(And take a picture of the sign for evidence)
Click to expand...
Get several cans of red spray paint and paint arrows going in diffeent directions all over the yard and be sure the otiginal ones can't be traced. Pull out every flag and lay them in a neat pile. Do not destroy anything. Don't worry about the grass. Be sure uou break no town or county laws and tell NO ONE you did this. Do it at night. Only do this on YOUR land.
 
Red flags in a yard indicate the presence of underground electric powerlines, cables, conduit, or lighting cables. They are placed by utility locators after an 811 call to mark the area for safety before excavation begins.

You may see (NO - will likely see) different colors of flags as the project moves along, since (by law) all utilities have to be marked before digging.

Even though a different company than AT&T installed underground fiberoptic cables in my area over a year ago, every yard had multi-colored flags, and to my knowledge, no water lines were damaged. That's the whole point of marking the area.

Residents or owners who remove utillity marker flags can be found in violation of the law.
 
If there is an easement, you are probably SOL. And I would bet there is one because if not, they do not have your legal permission to dig or place anything on your property.
 
jujube said:
Sometime this morning, I looked out in the front yard and there were red arrows spraypainted on the grass and little red flags posted. I went out and looked at the flags and there was a company name and a phone number. I called the phone number and the company said they had been contacted by AT&T for a "phone drop" and sent out to map out the Duke Energy main line into our house. They gave me a number in Louisiana to call. No surprise, the number isn't answered, can't leave a number.

We're not getting an AT&T phone drop. We don't have AT&T. We don't want AT&T. AT&T has been in the neighborhood for the last couple of months, laying down "fiber", tearing everything up and causing all sorts of problems. I spit on AT&T and I hope their office gets infested with bed bugs.

The big problem is that the spray painted arrows cross over the new waterline that we spent thousands of dollars a few months ago getting put in from the street to the house. So, needless to say, we want NO digging in our yard.

So, I take on the guaranteed-to-be-a-total-disaster call to AT&T. Of course, you can't get a human until you tell them what you want. What I WANT isn't understood by the "automated operator". After yelling AGENT! about ten times, I get an agent (after a lengthy wait, of course). I explain my problem. He can't help me but he'll transfer me. Click. Disconnect.

Call back, get another agent (after the required dance of the hours). He, at least this time, DOES transfer me to another department. I ask for the direct number; no, can't do that, he HAS to transfer me. The lady there takes my name, address and telephone number, listens to my problem, says she will check on it, "please hold". Of course, CLICK! DISCONNECT! And, you won't be surprised, she has not called me back.

I have to start all over again. I need a drink. Or a psychiatric appointment.

I swear, I'm going to sit out in the yard with a gun and shoot the first person who shows up with digging equipment. Just kidding, of course. I'll just turn the hose on them. I just wish I had a pitbull trained to attack.

Up until now, I have been calm and polite on the phone. I don't think I have any "polite" left in my soul. The Wrath of the Dragon Lady is on the way.

Please say a prayer for me. I'm headed back to the phone.
Click to expand...
A man was out walking around a couple of months back while my neighbor and I were talking. We asked and he said he was scouting for ? to lay lines for phone lines. Oh nol
 
jujube said:
Sometime this morning, I looked out in the front yard and there were red arrows spraypainted on the grass and little red flags posted. I went out and looked at the flags and there was a company name and a phone number. I called the phone number and the company said they had been contacted by AT&T for a "phone drop" and sent out to map out the Duke Energy main line into our house. They gave me a number in Louisiana to call. No surprise, the number isn't answered, can't leave a number.

We're not getting an AT&T phone drop. We don't have AT&T. We don't want AT&T. AT&T has been in the neighborhood for the last couple of months, laying down "fiber", tearing everything up and causing all sorts of problems. I spit on AT&T and I hope their office gets infested with bed bugs.

The big problem is that the spray painted arrows cross over the new waterline that we spent thousands of dollars a few months ago getting put in from the street to the house. So, needless to say, we want NO digging in our yard.

So, I take on the guaranteed-to-be-a-total-disaster call to AT&T. Of course, you can't get a human until you tell them what you want. What I WANT isn't understood by the "automated operator". After yelling AGENT! about ten times, I get an agent (after a lengthy wait, of course). I explain my problem. He can't help me but he'll transfer me. Click. Disconnect.

Call back, get another agent (after the required dance of the hours). He, at least this time, DOES transfer me to another department. I ask for the direct number; no, can't do that, he HAS to transfer me. The lady there takes my name, address and telephone number, listens to my problem, says she will check on it, "please hold". Of course, CLICK! DISCONNECT! And, you won't be surprised, she has not called me back.

I have to start all over again. I need a drink. Or a psychiatric appointment.

I swear, I'm going to sit out in the yard with a gun and shoot the first person who shows up with digging equipment. Just kidding, of course. I'll just turn the hose on them. I just wish I had a pitbull trained to attack.

Up until now, I have been calm and polite on the phone. I don't think I have any "polite" left in my soul. The Wrath of the Dragon Lady is on the way.

Please say a prayer for me. I'm headed back to the phone.
Click to expand...
Can you take the flags up and put little signs saying, "NO DIGGING!" ?

Edit: I see other replies about the flags.
 
If it's an easement, you have no recourse. If they hit your water line, they will have to pay to repair it.

They laid fiber optic on my road two years ago. One morning we got up to no water. They hit the line. The contractors were liable for the costs to repair.
 
Sunny said:
I would sue right now, never mind threatening to sue. It sounds to me like AT&T has committed a crime (trespassing? vandalism?) Or do the laws of your community give them immunity to do anything they want? What's next? Spray painting your house?
Click to expand...
Sue? Really?

what is there to Sue about? The utilities have an easement, and if you put things in the easement, then thatā€™s your problem.
 
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