To feel annoyed about BT openreach

[abr1de]

I am sitting working in my kitchen, my car on the drive, so obviously IN.

My dog is, fortunately inside (she is a puppy still): most of the morning we let her play in the garden. Suddenly I look outside and see two BT/Openreach men walking through my garden to get to the telegraph pole where their wire is.

They left the garden gate wide open. If my pup had been in the garden she'd have been out like a shot and on to the road.

Aren't they supposed to knock on the door if they want access to your garden? Occasionally I pop out for ten minutes and leave her in the garden alone, if I'm just posting a letter, for example.

I think you're within your rights to be a bit annoyed. I'm sure if you politely ask them to close it behind them, they will.

I believe, like British Gas, they have a right to access (may be wrong about that) but they're mostly OK chaps (IME) so will probably be very apologetic.

You are NEVER being unreasonable to be annoyed with BT. End of.

I work for a utility company and any person who requires access to your property to carry out works must have sent you a notice of entry at least 7 days prior, plus they must knock on your door, show ID if requested, and if they can't do any of the above you are well within your rights to call the police.

Obviously, if they are in an Openreach Van and have Openreach all over their clothing then they must be from there - but I'd ask for ID, take down their names and ID numbers, and then ask for their supervisor's name and phone number. You should legally have recieved notice that these people were going to entering your property - they are, in effect, trespassing if they don't.

Hope this helps!

Thank you--he's claiming that the knocked on my door 'five times' but I think I would have heard him unless he was tapping very lightly.

Anyway, no damage or dog loss has occurred and I have asked him to knock loudly if he comes back.

It just gave me such a shock to see a very large man walking through my garden.