This internet user is very unhappy with the poor installation of fibre by Chorus. Photo / Supplied
This internet user is very unhappy with the poor installation of fibre by Chorus. Photo / Supplied
Man says pet chewed exposed wires as more complaints of shoddy UFB installation flood in.
Newly installed fibre broadband wires were chewed by a pet dog after installers nailed the cables to the dog enclosure, an internet user says.
It's just one of several claims made after the Herald reported on shoddy fibre broadband installations, which saw cables run along fences and across driveways, and prompted an apology from the infrastructure provider.
Allan Hearn of Waiuku said his dog managed to chew through the fibre-optic cables installed on his property.
Allan Hearn's dog at the Hearn household in Waiuku chewed through an exposed fibre broadband cable installed by Chorus. Photo / Supplied
"The fibre cable is just nailed to the fence through our dog enclosure. Guess what? I get home to no phone, TV or broadband as the dog chewed through the cable.
"Three days later a tech came out and joined the cable and told me not to say anything to anyone, but still left it exposed."
Mr Hearn then covered the cable with wood to prevent a repeat.
He wasn't the only ultra-fast broadband customer stressed from poor cable installation.
"Cabling at our house runs above ground beside the back fence," wrote Anthony Keesing. "When I questioned this, I was told the cabling is very strong and I should try hitting it with a spade if I doubted it."
Ken McFarlane of Porirua said: "It's not just happening in Auckland, it's here in Wellington also.
"I complained to Chorus and they sent a team out to check our install. Wires are coming out of the ground . . ."
Sue Bailey said she was left disappointed after her wall was broken down so her UFB connection could be installed.
"Our electrician put the wires from the building to our boundary wall deep down and rather than digging under the wall, Chorus chose to break the wall down and join up the easy way. Nothing has been rectified despite repeated calls over several months."
This electrician put the wires from the building to our boundary wall deep down and rather than digging under the wall. Photo / Supplied
Communications Minister Amy Adams told the Herald she could understand the frustration.
She said Chorus was obligated to arrange the installations.
"It is my expectation that all work carried out should be of a high quality."
In response to the new complaints, a spokesman for Chorus, Nathan Beaumont, said: "As much as we would like to be perfect, on a handful of occasions we get it wrong but when we do get it wrong we will work to make things right."
It was common practice for fibre cables to be fixed externally, and they were not always buried, he said.
This homeowner is very unhappy with the poor installation of fibre by Chorus. Photo / Supplied
"Ducting can be mounted on a fence, driveway edge or retaining wall ... The important factor is the installation method is agreed by Chorus and the consumer before any work begins."
