Have any of you cut an ATT line in your yard before?

If so, what happened? I have seen online people saying they sent demand letters to their house and even involved attorneys.

I replaced a fence, i had to move one of the posts right next to the old one. Barely cut a supply line, they have already dug up two of my posts and are working to repair the line....I dont even have ATT because their service is terrible in my area.

Always call Dig Test to locate utility lines before digging

Get ready to pay $s.

But hopefully they let it slide.

Have you dealt with this before?

If the line is not active do not worry about it and the line is only going through to your house.

If someone ever tries to hook up service, the tech will repair or replace the line since it is on their side of the DMARC.

That being said, the dirt is already moved so I would repair it and seal it the best that you can. If they repair/replace the wire they can dig up your year to repair the wire or bury a new one. You will be nicer to your lawn.

I contracted with SWBell, SBC, and then AT&T (left as AT&T are a bunch of bast***s). My clients were the end users (business side) so I was their advocate.

How many pairs of cable are in the line? if it's a 3 or 4 pair cable, it's probably the cable from the box to someone's house. I'd just splice the cable together, wrap in in tape, and burry it. If it's actually in use, and there is enough signal degradation, the other homeowner will call AT&T and they'll run a new line. If you are talking about a 25, 50 or 100 pair cable, that's going to be the line to one of their boxes. Like others have said, call it in and hope you don't get bent over. If you had the lines marked before you started digging, they may be nice about it.

It is a 50 pair cable. They have already located it and tech said he was hoping he could just splice it.

I knew there were cables, and no i didnt have them come out to mark them because you have 18 inch variance of where they mark.

The wire was in the very bottom of the hole, so i never saw it.

I guess I can only hope and wait for something to show up in the mail.

If you didn’t call for a locate, get ready to pay. And you knew there were cables in the vicinity? Also, there’s no such thing as barely cutting a cable. You’re lucky it wasn’t a fiber optic cable.

Yes. The line couldn't have been more than an inch or two below the surface when I used an axe to cut a root that couldn't have been more than an inch in diameter. Maybe it was because it was obvious I wasn't digging but I was never charged for the repair.

You would think there would be some requirement that lines be buried at a minimum depth so that people can dig flower beds and such without having to worry about cutting a line.

I was a cable repairman for years with ATT (formerly Southwestern Bell). If you dug without a locate, then I would prepare yourself for a letter and phonecall.

If it was a service drop to your house then no big deal. If it was a multi wire cable then you will most likely receive a bill.

I've seen cases where telephone lines were strung along the ROW of remote county roads without any attempt ever having been made to bury them. I guess the local telephone company believes in just letting Mother Nature bury them over time.

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate it.

You can always call Dig Test and tell them it's an emergency and they will be out within 1 hour

The guys who located love emergency locates it more money for them

The top few companies who call in the most located request per year get treated to end of year dinner party.

I have hit a few, but alway had called Dig Test first, so far never paid anything

There are alot of dead lines in the ground as well

I might have to use that next time. I probably have 500ft plus of more fence to replace in the next year.

Locates for a fence replacement aren’t considered an emergency. Dig Tess requires 48 hours notice.

Wrong again

Tell them you want an Emergency Locate, and they will read you something about ask you if it qualifies as an emergency and you say yes, and they send out the forces

Done it more time than I can count

So you’re lying to bypass the 48 hour notice. Your so special.

I’m not so sure that calling the 811 (whatever that number is) number before you dig requires them to find cable, fiber optic, or any other non essential service lines. Every time I’ve called them they have told me they are only responsible for power lines, gas, and water.

I’m not about to start calling every possible service company to come out an locate their lines, I would never get a project done if I had to wait on those asshats.

Wrong again

they ask you a question like does it involve or endanger health, property or life.

To me hitting a line endangers both my life and my property and health

I have seen guys fry off their eyebrows and lashes from hitting an electrical line that was buried like 4 inches under ground.

I don't play, I play it safe..........

The times I have called 811, they have been able to locate the cable line going to my house as well as the gas line.

Depends on age of gas line, pre 1980's they didn't put tracer lines on them on them so they can't be located on the customer side, In DFW they have a different company who does the gas locate and they will only locate them in easement for gas lines

The other company who do the electric, fiber, telecommunications they will go on private property.

Don't call 1 800 DIG TEST it's a party chat line I am sure geared toward sex, about 15 years ago it was really raunchy.

Make sure you call 1 800 DIG TESS, which is actually Texas 811

Just a FYI........