OK what would you do?

[avebury]

I have the joy of having a power pole in my backyard. A lady on the street one block south recently got AT&T DSL Service. Of course they dropped the line in backyard (despite the fact that the VACANT lot next door has the power pole that delivers the electrical lines to her house and is a whole lot closer then my house).

My problem - AT&T left the line on the ground. They also did not contact OKIE which is the company that comes out and marks underground lines (there is a as line and a sewer line in that location). Now I don't want to mess around with the line every time I go to mow my lawn. I have talked to the lady who was clueless that the cable is also on the ground of her backyard. I told the lady that the line will most likely be cut when I mow my lawn if it is left like it is. She is supposed to call AT&T tomorrow. I am giving her a chance to get the problem fixed

I have also been trying to call AT&T myself but I am not a customer which makes it really difficult for me to get find someone to hear the problem and arrange a technician to come out and fix the problem. I am frustrated because I have not been able to get a hold of anybody at AT&T that will get a problem ticket written up.

I am at the point where, if that line is still on the ground the first time I mow my backyard I will aim for it and let AT&T fix it afterwards. I figure that it may be about 2-3 weeks before I will need to mow my backyard (and of course, wouldn't you know it, it is in the part of my backyard where the grass grows the fastest) which is more then enough time for the lady to get AT&T to fix the cable.

If I have to mow the cable what are the chances that it could ruin my mower?

[Betsy Ross]

1. As satisfying as the fantasy is

you would probably fuck up your mower.

[avebury]

3. I came up with a possible solution.

Find a pole and tie it to the fence. Bring the cable back up the pole until it is at a point taller than me (I am only 5' 1&quot and then bring it over and tie it to the raised pole and then drop it along the fence. It would then be off the ground and left to the mercy of the fates.

[Incitatus]

2. They often send someone else out to bury the line

It's cheaper than paying the technician to do it

[avebury]

4. If they don't call OKIE and get the exact location of the natural gas line

it could get interesting.

[Incitatus]

5. It could be about depth

If gas lines have to be say 3 feet deep and they won't bury the cable more than a foot deep

[In_The_Wind]

6. imo: the mower would be beyond repair.

I doubt that the problem will remain.

Did you call your local zone enforcement officer?

[Kali]

7. keep hitting 0 till you get a human at AT&T

or call your local version of State Corporation Commission (regulators that oversee utilities) and file a complaint. sounds unsafe.


(nevermind I have a chip on my shoulder about how they maintain their right-of-ways )

[avebury]

8. I had not thought about calling the Corporation Commission.

I work for the state and the Corporation Commission is located in the building across the street. I could actually just walk across the street and have a chat with them if it is not fixed soon.

[Gorp]

9. Call AT&T and pick the option to "Sign Up" as a new customer. That will get a human on the line.

Then play dumb about hitting the "sign up" option and explain the problem and early in the conversation mention the lawnmower thing. They'll route you through. If you can express quickly enough that they'll have to come restring a line, that means money to them so it will get their attention. It's the same reason for hitting the "sign up" option - potential revenue.