Green box doors left open

[ian@huth]

NTL shouldn't have to look at the problem of doors being open on green boxes. They should make sure that the boxes are sturdy enough and have adequate locks which would prevent most of the problems. Some of the smaller boxes are so flimsy that it doesn't take much effort to completely destroy them. Perhaps the boxes could be wired up to send a signal back to HQ if doors are left open, shouldn't be too difficult to do.

Open boxes can result in damage which we customers ultimately have to pay for. Loss of service can result with affected customers joining the call centres queues and maybe demanding compensation. Again customers have to bear the cost. Illicit connections could be made in the open boxes with resulting arguments about such things as the size of a customers phone bill maybe running into hundreds of pounds for calls to premium rate numbers.

Prevention is better than cure.

[jonifen]

Of course prevention is better than cure, but the short-term costs that would be incurred by such a project would be massive. Going into the long term they would probably balance eachother out so it would be a worthy investment. Some of the BT boxes I've seen around look proper solid yet the NTL/Telewest boxes just look no stronger than a cheap computer case.

I think NTL need to have a quick scan around - perhaps ask for some information from the contractors who fix the problems out in the field (give them something for doing so over the period of a week or two - maybe a day extra holiday for the year or something) and find where the worst condition boxes are, and do them first and see how it goes.

Something monitoring the boxes to see if they've been opened etc is a great idea - its been done with computers, so I see no reason why it cannot be done with something like that too.

[sweaty]

Originally Posted by jonifen

Of course prevention is better than cure, but the short-term costs that would be incurred by such a project would be massive. Going into the long term they would probably balance eachother out so it would be a worthy investment. Some of the BT boxes I've seen around look proper solid yet the NTL/Telewest boxes just look no stronger than a cheap computer case.

I think NTL need to have a quick scan around - perhaps ask for some information from the contractors who fix the problems out in the field (give them something for doing so over the period of a week or two - maybe a day extra holiday for the year or something) and find where the worst condition boxes are, and do them first and see how it goes.

Something monitoring the boxes to see if they've been opened etc is a great idea - its been done with computers, so I see no reason why it cannot be done with something like that too.

I know BT boxes look more solid as they are in fact from the GPO days and i've seen cars comes off far worse when hitting one but even the newer ones are better quality than the ali foil ones that NTL use. they have also set up trials with monitoring cab boxes both for security and illicit access reasons. an engineer has to type in a security code via a mobile call to let BT security know they are entering a cab. from what i'm aware of the NTL contractors are given (if they are lucky) a damage number to report problems on. This normally consists of leaving a message and nothing more. compare the 2 and its a bit like chalk and cheese.

[bdav]

Originally Posted by Paul

Giving the keys to Cabs out to members of the public could lead to more problems than it solves. What if a key gets dropped and someone picks it up, opens a cab and wrecks it or has a play with the cables.
A better idea is a responsive, properly run and easily accessible open/ damaged cab report function. Maybe they should put a phone number on the outside of the cabs so people can ring in if they are left open? Coupled with a web based reporting function the number of open and damaged boxes could be reduced drastically.

Yale Lock???


Just let people slam them shut.

[nathan123]

i lost my internet for nearly a week recently because someone had gotten in to our green box and yanked loads of wires out - i was not happy because they didnt compensate us for it, and it wasnt our fault - it had also been shut when they finished messing about inside

[fudge]

I have replied before about my green box being open and my wires pulled out , and reading this post this is an ongoing problem that ntl are turning there backs to, dont tell me it will cost to do something about this , ntl will get there money back in the long run by not haveing to keep sending out engineers to fix problems . When i reported my box open for the second time in a week i was told by cs if it happens again we will have to inform the police that your area has vandles. Oh that will solve the problem then, i think not.

Come on ntl this is an issue that needs addresing all over the country by the sounds of it, you want new customers and keep them so why are you not sorting this problem out. or do you not care that your paying customers are haveing this problem.

[nathan123]

we have about 6 of these boxes spread out over 4 or 5 streets - the very large ones right outside our pub are constantly open, and the one on my street is broken and has no lock in it at all. people keep getting in it and pulling wires out - plus they keep putting rubbish in there. and im almost certain an NTL engineer left the large box near the pub open - so if they cant even learn to shut them what chance do we have

[SLM]

Originally Posted by fudge

I have replied before about my green box being open and my wires pulled out , and reading this post this is an ongoing problem that ntl are turning there backs to, dont tell me it will cost to do something about this , ntl will get there money back in the long run by not having to keep sending out engineers to fix problems . When i reported my box open for the second time in a week i was told by cs if it happens again we will have to inform the police that your area has vandals. Oh that will solve the problem then, i think not.

Come on ntl this is an issue that needs addressing all over the country by the sounds of it, you want new customers and keep them so why are you not sorting this problem out. or do you not care that your paying customers are having this problem.

So are you happy about having higher bills in the long run, I am not, its cheaper to send an engineer out than replacing with a better box, vandalized boxes only seem to happen in less desirable areas!

[fudge]

Rubbish


Thats you saying im ok , sod the rest

[jonifen]

Originally Posted by SLM

So are you happy about having higher bills in the long run, I am not, its cheaper to send an engineer out than replacing with a better box, vandalized boxes only seem to happen in less desirable areas!

Please define one of these "less desirable areas" you mention... are you talking about council estates??
Seeing as the majority of NTL customers could come from council estates... if these boxes are so often vandalised and they all need engineers to fix their problems, surely it would be better to fix the box with a better and stronger model and eliminate such happenings to re-occur in the future?

It's all very well continually fixing something - it keeps NTL's engineers in jobs, but it certainly wont keep customers if they keep losing their services through NTL's inability to install adequate housing for their equipment out on the streets!!

[sweaty]

Ok an example. BT box at end of my estate. council estate, mostly now private ( does this count) Been there since 1974, sat on, drawn on ,p##ssed on etc. ive worked in it, solid as a rock. Few licks of paint...very rarely! but its never open and on the odd occasion, its been shut within hours. NTL, newest cabinet in ex C&W area 2001, fell off when i opened it, won't shut , had to tape it together. NUFF SAID

[jonifen]

Originally Posted by sweaty

fell off when i opened it, won't shut , had to tape it together. NUFF SAID

Sounds like you're heavy handed
Just kidding... to be fair, just looking at a locked up NTL box, you could say they're not as strong as the BT boxes. It doesnt look good for these boxes to be taped shut, but nice one for doing that sweaty... I'm just wondering how many engineers would tape the box shut in the same situation, or if they'd grunt and just lean the door against it instead (like the guy who fixed our TV a while back). He said he'd report it, perhaps he did but its still broken.

[bdav]

THe one down my road looks like a minature house, and quite reqularly have I seen NTL engineers using it. Have NTL taken over some of the boxes?

[jonifen]

Originally Posted by bdav

THe one down my road looks like a minature house, and quite reqularly have I seen NTL engineers using it. Have NTL taken over some of the boxes?

Possibly... perhaps its like a remote brew room where the engineers go for lunch

Probably not though, its probably just a main area unit which supplies to all the smaller ones

[spike7451]

Originally Posted by nathan123

we have about 6 of these boxes spread out over 4 or 5 streets - the very large ones right outside our pub are constantly open, and the one on my street is broken and has no lock in it at all. people keep getting in it and pulling wires out - plus they keep putting rubbish in there. and im almost certain an NTL engineer left the large box near the pub open - so if they cant even learn to shut them what chance do we have

Easy to lock them....EXCEPT whaen some vandel has wrecked the lock!!!!
__________________

Originally Posted by jonifen

Sounds like you're heavy handed
Just kidding... to be fair, just looking at a locked up NTL box, you could say they're not as strong as the BT boxes. It doesnt look good for these boxes to be taped shut, but nice one for doing that sweaty... I'm just wondering how many engineers would tape the box shut in the same situation, or if they'd grunt and just lean the door against it instead (like the guy who fixed our TV a while back). He said he'd report it, perhaps he did but its still broken.

And easy to report...Unless ,like here, they've made the guy who looked after the cabs REDUNDENT!!!!!
Spike
Oh,& i do report them to my Line Manager & try to secure them!!!