We recently had a client seeking advice when they were faced with a whopping bill from Telstra for almost $15,000.00 after they accidently cut a Telstra cable while undertaking some home renovations.
We thought it was a good time to provide you all with a reminder – if you are doing any works on your property which could affect Telstra’s lines or cables – you should undertake a search with ‘Dial Before You Dig’ (DBYD) prior to undertaking any works.
DBYD is a national enquiry service of which Telstra is a member of, which can assist you in planning your works to ensure you don’t accidently damage any of Telstra’s cables and end up with a large bill for rectification of any damage you have caused.
The DBYD service can be accessed by calling 1100 or online via their website: www.1100.com.au – you can discuss with their team your proposed works and they will in turn contact their members (such as Telstra) to obtain copies of the plans and information regarding any underground facilities or services on your property so that you can plan your works.
Generally, it is free to lodge a DBYD enquiry so there really is no reason why you shouldn’t apply – it could save you thousands of dollars in the long run. The turn-around time for a response is between 2-5 working days so it is important that you don’t leave your enquiry to the last minute.
If you require legal advice in relation to a bill received from Telstra or another provider in regard to rectification works, or if you need legal advice in relation to any other property matter, please feel free to telephone one of our friendly Gold Coast lawyers on 07 5563 8970.
