M J Quinn Damaged My Property

[Andrew4444]

Hi all,

M J Quinn sub-contractor damaged my property when installing full fibre recently. 

External rendering was broken, and shoddily filled with mastic, and a hole in an external wall was left unfilled.  

But the worst damage was a burn to the bottom step of an almost new stair carpet, adjacent to where he'd been working.  The damage is consistent with a hot drill bit coming into contact with the carpet.   We noticed it immediately after the 'engineer' had gone, and reported it straight away to Openreach.

Openreach have passed the claim to M J Quinn.  

Despite the fact that the damage to the carpet can only have been caused by the 'engineer', M J Quinn are refusing to accept responsibility for the carpet, demanding "proof".  I've provided photos of all the damage, but of course I don't have film of the engineer dropping his drill on the carpet, just a photo of the damage it caused - you don't expect to have to supervise someone to ensure they do their job competently.  

Any ideas to whom I might escallate this?  There doesn't seem to be an Ombudsman for Openreach of M J Quinn.

Many thanks in adavance. 

[imjolly]

there is no connection from this community forum to openreach

were you getting BT broadband installed?

[Kimberlin]

@Andrew4444  Perhaps consider taking them to the Small Claims Court. You’ll need to research it and Citizens Advice might be able to guide you. You can submit a claim for up to £10k using this process.

https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money

[Andrew4444]

Hi,

Many thanks for the quick reply. 

It was a full fibre installation for a PlusNet broadband service. 

I did see an earlier post on this community re. damage to property by M J Quinn, but didn't realize that this community is for BT Broadband only, and doesn't include BT Openreach (which, I believe, provides the infra used by most broadband service providers).

Thank-you anyway for replying. 

[Andrew4444]

Hi,
Thanks for the suggestion. It's a few hundred pounds' worth of damage. I'm not sure I have the energy to go to the Small Claims Court which, of course, is what M J Quinn will be hoping.

[Kimberlin]

@Andrew4444  Clearly, if you can afford to just write off a few hundred pounds in damage, then I wouldn't worry about it any more. Obviously, you have to back up your allegation against the Company. If you're not prepared to do that, then yes, they've won. I wish you well.

[gg30340]

Your contract is with PlusNet to supply and install broadband.

Your contract is not with who PlusNet contract to install the broadband on their behalf.  Their contractor is Openreach and they have sub contracted Quinn to do the job. You do not have any contract with either of them.

You complaint should be directed to PlusNet and it is up to PlusNet to resolve the problem.

It may be that PlusNet will need to contact Openreach who in turn will need to contact Quinn to establish their side of the story but none of that should concern you or be up to you to chase them up.

After you have complained to PlusNet, if the problem is not resolved to your satisfaction or within eight weeks you can request a Deadlock letter and then take the issue to the Ombudsman.

[Andrew4444]

Thank-you, that's helpful. I'll pursue that route.
(Although it seems odd, then, that Openreach has a public web page where you can report poor workmanship, damage to property, etc. Whatever, it would make sense for it to be PlusNet who pursues Openreach, who do whatever they choose re. their sub-contractor.).
Thank-you once again for a helpful answer!

[iniltous]

The fact that Openreach isnt contactable for consumer issues is by design (Ofcom the regulators design) , CP’s (Communication Providers like Sky , Vodafone, Talk Talk , as well as BT ) were asked if Openreach should be in touch with consumers in some circumstances, Sky , VF etc said absolutely not, only BT said it had some merit .

There  are some issues that clearly don’t involve CP’s , a telegraph pole leaning over at a dangerous angle or a cabinet with doors open to the elements for example have nothing to do with any individual CP , what’s more the person reporting it , won’t necessarily be a customer of a CP of Openreach , that’s why OR have a way  to report these type of things , but if it’s an individual problem to a single account , it’s the CP not Openreach that’s the consumers point of contact .