To think a Solicitor might be able to help with this or am I wasting my time?

[girlfriend44]

I have been housing a BT openreach signal box on my house wall for many years. (wayleave agreements for anyone who dosent know)
BT are supposed to have an agreement with you if you have their property on your land as our people who supply electricity pylons etc.

It turns out through investigation that there was never an agreement in place for a box to be on my property all these years.

Openreach have offered me about £200 for all those years ive had the box plus agreeing to keep it on the house going forward?

You are not allowed to remove the box yourself otherwise you can be charged with malicious damage in order to get the £200 you have to agree to keep the box up there forever.
Everything is on their side and the payment is crazy, not to mention if i hadnt investigated it would never have come to light.

They agree the payments are low but say thats the most they will offer. I can fill in a form and get the payment and be done with ti.
OR
Would it be worth me contacting a solicitor to see if they can negotiate a higher payment or am I wasting my time.

Anyone had similar or know?

No they didn't get any permission ever at any time Openreach told me.

Op they didn’t just stick it on your property though without permission, it clearly pre dates you. They don’t pay back rent. And if you’re difficult. They will Just move it, they’ve a shit ton of engineers who can pop along and do that very quickly. It’s really not a big deal to them. Because the critical point here is they don’t need to have it there. The 200 quid is convenience only. If you don’t want it or want more they will just move it, they will not be sitting wringing their hands wanting it on your property

Well I've changed my mind. Off you pop to a Solicitor then, don't forget your cheque book.

Or a No Win No Fee firm, great move, fill your boots.

You don't know what your on about. They can't just turn up and remove it. They don't remove it. Another firm do that you have to a tually ask for it to be removed.

Op now you’re being silly, openreach only became a thing in 2006, they wouldn’t know. It would d have been bt in the dim and distant

I did say earlier ask permission, wha are you saying you’re going to refuse access and hold it hostage?

I'm enjoying this, must go and get myself some popcorn! 😆

It's like poking someone with a stick to provoke a reaction...... we just don't need the stick.

They must have had permission, unless the house was empty someone would have noticed them putting it up. The paperwork has probably just been lost.

Op. In case it helps. As much as I doubt any no win no fee would take this on there are very bad ones out there who will

so to clarify what no win no fee is. They charge a set amount per hour, often giving an estimation of total costs. Hourly fees can be 200-300 pounds an hour. If you win, and the win is less than the fee. You owe them the fee. As you won and there’s a fee.

so say they win an extra 200 for you. You get 400. Even you win 50 quid. And the offer is 250. You won and you then owe their fee; their fee could be several thousand. The fee is not limited to the win. The fee is rhe fee. There is no guarantee that the fee is limited to the win. Does that make sense?

i only say it, as you’ve no chance here so no decent law firm will help you. But an unscrupulous no win no fee might.

no win no fee is what it says on the tin. You win. You pay rhe fee. The win and the fee are not connected. For you to win, they just need to get more than 200. Whatever over 200 you win, goes to their fee. And if it doesn’t cover the whole fee, which it never will. You will be in the hole for thousands.

be careful. Best case find some poor sod of a solicitor who will offer 30 mins free advice, they will tell you what we are telling you. Take the money if you try to go to court or negotiate they will just request to remove and not engage

No they didn't get any permission ever at any time Openreach told me.

No, Openreach told you that they had no record of a wayleave agreement.

Back when the relevant owner gave permission, the relevant part of BT did not just wander in and afix without that permission 🤣

They had permission, they just didn’t create or keep the paperwork. Leading you to an unearned and undeserved £200. And yet Miss Greedy wants more 🤣

Out of curiosity how much money do you feel entitled to here? Lots of advice telling you Wayleaves rent is very low etc but you seem determined to ignore that.

Girlfriend44
I bought my house 9yrs ago & the OpenReach junction box was on my driveway. Tbh, I didn't even notice it when I bought it. House was a new build so there must be something somewhere saying I'm happy with this arrangement. No idea because I genuinely don't care. It doesn't affect me one iota! Doesn't interrupt my day, doesn't hinder me, I couldn't give a stuff that it's there. 💁🏼

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