Along our property line, my neighbor’s trees interfere with the electrical lines and DTE always comes out once a year to clear the tree branches. So last night I came home from work to a big mess. Where they cut the branches, logs from the trees, etc, they let them fall....right on top of my property. I have tree branches on top of my garage (the one we just built), branches hanging from the sides of the garage, branches hanging from the privacy fence (which they broke) on top of the chain-link fence, on top of my dogs houses (poor thing cannot even use them), some still dangling from the tree itself. You cannot even walk to check for damage on my garage that is how bad it is. I am talking large 20 foot branches...
These trees are in my neighbor’s yard, and they did trim his trees also, but they just left the cut up branches neatly in a pile. I feel like I should toss them over the fences, but I am trying to be neighborly....
I called DTE last night (45 minutes on hold) and the first lady said that it is the homeowner’s responsibility to clean up now (due to budget issues) and I told her no, these tree trimmers did damage to my property and I want someone to come out and fix this. She hung up on me!!!!! Ok, I was very, very po’d, by then. The second lady (on hold again for 20 minutes) said that she felt bad, and that I needed to file a claim. I told her this has happened before when they came last time to trim these trees and they broke 3 panels of my privacy fence, which was never fixed (filed a claim on this issue also, and after many phone calls-they never fixed) She has a DTE supervisor coming out to look at the damage.
DTE needs to realize that this is winter time and that homeowners cannot cut up these large branches (especially if you do not have a chain saw or a way to dispose of them in the winter)!!
I took pictures and I would like the company name that does the work for DTE, Does anyone know who that is?
1-13-12
Thanks Everyone....My stepdad just stopped by our house and he said the contractor and DTE supervisor are cleaning up the mess now. They have 12 guys and a chipper truck...
Wait for the DTE supervisor.
He will know the name of the company that did the work--or he can find out.
Just keep on it. Keep following up.
To "toss them over the fence" seems impossible because of the size you've described.
Because the DTE did the cutting and it caused damage I would think the responsibility lies with the DTE to take care of this and pay for the damages. Be sure to file a claim. I would also let your homeowner's insurance know what's going on. Document, document, document.
I would continue the calls to the supervisor. I would also find the appropriate county office to discuss this tree trimming with. I'm sure there's someone who can comment on what the utilities are supposed to do vs what the actually do. They may be much more inclined to get it fixed if they have someone else on their case.
I hate tree trimming. PEPCO makes a mess, too, but at least they also come through with a wood chipper and clean up the branches.
Call your home owners insurance company and let them deal with it.
It sucks that people won't accept responsibility for their actions or inactions.
It's not the neighbors fault the tree trimmers did a lousy job unless they hired them. If the electric company hired them - it's their responsibility to get them to fix their mess.
I would call my insurance company and let them deal with them.
I would think it's DTE's responsibility, so I hope you get the information you need. I mean really, it's not going to cost them hardly anything except an hour of a crew's time to take care of cleaning this up. I know it's a pain, but I would have called right back after being hung up on and demanded a manager. I'd also get your neighbors to call in and let them know you're pissed!
take pictures. keep up the phone calls. call your local elected representatives (that's what they got elected to do, represent you.) call the local newspaper and see if they might be interested in running a story on it. call the town council or the county commissioners. let DTE know you're doing it. this is NOT okay.
getting hung up on would especially frost my nuggets.
let us know how it works out!
khairete
S.
This may be a case of choosing your battle. I think most local government utility companies (and their contractors) have a "homeowner picks up branches we leave" type of policy (yes, it's unfair, but in tight budget times it's to be expected). If you want better action on the damage to your fence, unfortunately you might need to let the debris issue go and find someone with a chain saw you can pay to take it away. I would definitely take many photos, from many angles, of the damage to your fence; if the branches that hit it and damaged it are still in place where they struck it -- leave them there until that supervisor sees them in person! It sounds like you did not file a claim the earlier time that your fence was damaged and it's likely they will not do anything about that this time around (you are probably past the date when you could have filed a claim) but be sure to file a claim this time and pursue it hard. Good luck with this. Meanwhile, though the tree is the neighbor's, the neighbor did not do the cutting or leave the debris in your yard or damage your fence -- please try to cool down the anger toward the neighbor on this and focus it on DTE and the contractor, where it belongs. If the tree(s) in question are an ongoing problem between you and the neighbor, that's a separate issue.
I am not certian exactly who to call in this but the first people that come to mind are your HOA if you have one. If you do not have one then I agree to have your homeowners insurance company work for you - you pay them to handle things just like this!
I don't think its your neighbor's responsibility.
Can you call your homeowner's insurance and find out if they'll cover cost of clearing messes off yoru property caused by the city/county?
There are two things in play, technically it is the homeowners responsibility to keep the branches out of the easement, which is where the lines are ran. They are actually doing you a favor and cutting them. The other is you have every right to cut off all branches that come across the property line because when they cross they become your property and responsibility.
I am just surprised that some enterprising tree service didn't come along after them offering to clean it up for like 25 to 50 dollars, not sure how big a mess. They could have made a killing.
They should have insurance for the damage but be prepared that it will not cover replacing the panels if they are older.
DTE or the company they contract always cleans up the mess. I am shocked that they didn't. We have never once had this problem with them so if I were you I would keep on top of DTE to clean this up.
Call DTE for a supervisor directly. They are the responsible party for the cleaning up and any damages. You might tell them you will be contacting your attorney.
