TV License on Res

digiman

I am sure that anyone who is living on Res has got an email or heard something about this? And if you have not all it is basically that the tv license inspectors are coming around the first week of semester 2 to check for tv licenses.
Does anyone know any way of not having to pay this, and how come Res do not have a license that covers the whole of Res, I think its very unfair to expext students to pay this.
I can't imagine that there is anyone living on Res at the minute that has paid for one but I suppose we are going to have to:mad:

Tiriel

I'm living in UCD res and don't have license.. and know that most others don't either! Do they actually go to campus accommocdation checking?

digiman

They are supposed to be coming around from the 6th of Feb to check, I have lived on res a couple of years and there was never any mention of a tv license then.

Tiriel

oh no that's not so good! were ye given a warning or something so? think it'll be the same out here?!:o

28064212

Regulations from Oasis

There is no facility for campus residences to have a licence to cover all the flats. In fact, technically (I think) every single flat should have a licence since its not just whether you have a tv or not, its whether you have the 'equipment' eg a cable connection.

Why do you think it's unfair to expect students to pay it? I'm just surprised it never came up before

digiman

They sent an email to everyone telling us in advance but I still don't see why Res don't have a tv licencse that covers all the accomodation, like an hotel, after all they do provide the tv connections. Hopefully the SU will kick up a fuss about it and we won't have to pay the €155 for another 4 months of tv viewing, after all we have to pay the license for a year even though we only live there for about 8 months

28064212

A hotel is different since there's no kind of permanent lodging involved. You can transfer your TV licence to wherever you move afterwards, so the 8 months argument won't hold much water

Tiriel

but what if you share with 6 people.. who keeps the license?;)

digiman

28064212 wrote:

You can transfer your TV licence to wherever you move afterwards, so the 8 months argument won't hold much water

I actually paid the license for the last house that I was living in so maybe I might try to get it transfered, althought I think it is going to be up around February or March anyway! It might get us throught this inspection anyway.

28064212

From what I can gather, it's a shared responsibility. It's not the landlord's or the tv owner who are liable, but the residents

gizmo

However, if the building in which the equipment is kept (i.e., the house, etc.) is sub-divided into flats, apartments, separate living quarters, then a separate television licence must be held for each of these quarters. In other words, an individual licence must be held for each separate flat, apartment, etc.

Pretty much covered there isn't it. Heard about this the other day from one of my mates and it seems to be the first year they've done it. We over at Shanowen pay it as part of our €13 per week utility bill, I do believe the exact figure is 90c p/w of it.

It is however rather unfair to charge everyone seeing that the connections are in the apartment when you move in. While I'm sure its not a widespread issue I'd say there are still one or two apartments that mightnt have a TV but whose living rooms still have the connections so according to the Oasis rules they are still obliged to pay it, not very fair imho.

digiman

Faceless Man wrote:

It is however rather unfair to charge everyone seeing that the connections are in the apartment when you move in. While I'm sure its not a widespread issue I'd say there are still one or two apartments that mightnt have a TV but whose living rooms still have the connections so according to the Oasis rules they are still obliged to pay it, not very fair imho.

Some of the very expensive apartments (the ones over the pool) have a tv in their room which is provided by Res, I wonder do they have to pay it or are Res paying it as it is an hotel type accomodation during the summer as well.

28064212

The students would be considered tenants, therefore they would have to pay it. The regulations state "irrespective of who owns the television (i.e., if the television belongs to you or the landlord)". In the summer, it's rented to 'guests', so Campus Residences would be liable. Or so I imagine

gizmo

Indeed, its a rather complex affair me thinks. I mean tbh, its not like Res should be considered a fixed abode. Then again the regulations cover Rented Accomodation but then make no reference to the sharing of the licence between house mates. Let me guess, Campus Res has not been very good at giving the adequate information to the students and merely screamed for more money? How unsurprising...:rolleyes:

28064212

Well, it's nothing to do with Campus Res.

Oasis wrote:

If you are a tenant living in rented accommodation with a television you must have a television licence. This applies irrespective of who owns the television (i.e., if the television belongs to you or the landlord). The law states that anyone resident on a premises in possession of a television set must have a television licence.

Wait does that mean each person should have their own licence? Doesn't seem likely. Must look up the actual laws. After the exams

gizmo

So in this instance its a case of TV rather than recieving equipment? Hrm, sounds a wee bit better I guess...

The timing of it is still unfair though, having to pay €155 for 4 months? And yes I do realise they are transferable but as I mentioned before whats the procedure if you share with 4 other people I wonder...

StupidLikeAFox

hide the tv?

gizmo

Yea we were talking about this the other day. Do TV Inspectors have the right to come into your property to look for the unit or do they need a warrant.

The funny thing about this is that you're usually not told when the inspector is coming around so you never know when to hide the 'ol TV if thats what you're going to do. Hence its rather strange that Campus Res have told you guys when the inspections are going to be carried out...

Tiriel

maybe it's a scaremongering technique just to make you get the licence.. and there's really no inspection?! I'd say hold out, because if there is an inspection then you still get a set no. of days in which you have to get a licence.. so if they don't call.. then happy days

gizmo

Hrm, well the only thing that Campus Res would have to lose by not telling ye about he inspections is the raft of angry emails and phone calls, according to the above laws they're not responsible in any way for you guys not having your licences.

Theres a grace period if you're caught without one? I thought it was an on-the-spot fine of €634? That is unless the Inspector is feeling nice on the day...:D

Tiriel

no I'm sure there's a grace period because I had just moved into a house before and an inspector called, and they just gave me a warning and a postcard.. on which I had to fill in the number of the licence I had to buy within a set amount of time.. So unless it has changed since then.. that was a couple of years ago

gizmo

*shrug*

I wouldn't know tbh. I'm just speculating in terms of the Campus Res issue. Like I said, I didnt have to do it last year while in College Park and its been taken care of by the office here in Shanowen this year...happy days!

phreak

Faceless Man wrote:

Pretty much covered there isn't it. Heard about this the other day from one of my mates and it seems to be the first year they've done it. We over at Shanowen pay it as part of our €13 per week utility bill, I do believe the exact figure is 90c p/w of it.

no we don't Simon... that 90c is for NTL

markpb

Faceless Man wrote:

Theres a grace period if you're caught without one? I thought it was an on-the-spot fine of €634? That is unless the Inspector is feeling nice on the day...:D

From experience (where An Post screwed up their records really badly) an inspector turns up and asks you to show them the license. If you don't have one they give you a telling off and make you promise to be a good boy and get one soon. If you still don't have one after two months, they send you a threatening letter. Another similar letter arrives about two months later again. I guess they might think about taking you to court (which is what the letter threatens) if you still haven't done anything by then.

Res telling people you can transfer the license is just a cop out because it's a shared license to begin with - they just don't want students whining at them.

28064212

markpb wrote:

Res telling people you can transfer the license is just a cop out because it's a shared license to begin with - they just don't want students whining at them.

Res never said anything about it. All they did was pass on a message from An Post. It would be utterly useless to say anything to Res about this

gizmo

Oh yea, NTL would make more sense I guess...

Jesus if thats how they deal with people with no licences then how the hell are
people stupid enough to get stuck with that fine at the end of it! :rolleyes:

Tony Danza

Just don't get one. If your there when the inspector calls, say you don't have one. They'll tell you to get one in a month or so, don't bother getting one, you'll get a couple of letters about how there going to fine you, then you've moved out.

If your not there when the inspector calls, they'll give you a letter saying your not down on the records as having one, and to tell them if you do have one, in which case you still don't get one, you'll get another few letters and then you've moved out.

I've rented about 4 houses since being in college and never paid for tv license but got letters about getting one all the time. They hardly ever bring people to court, those ads on the telly are just bullshít. Then again on saying that, res would be a handy place to pick up a few fines. Personally I just wouldn't bother getting a license and see what happens (probably nothing).

rugbug86

apparantly someone is telling people just to not open the door to the inspectors! which would also make sense.

its stupid - there should be one license per house on res.

and in college park, because Res provide the TV's, they have to provide the license. its the same in renting houses - if a landlord provides the TV, they're liable for the license.

StupidLikeAFox

wouldnt ya think the res would be able to afford to pay the license for one house considering all the money they get from all the residents? What would it work out at, about a third of ONE WEEKS rent, for the whole year?

lau1247

can you try to move all the tv including your flatmate into your room when the inspector come..
I think you only pay one licence even though you have more than one tv..

Then after you pay (sharing obviously) move it out..
If they come back to inspect again,
Just tell em that there was no room to put those tv like you did at the start of the yr..
So therefore you split them around temporarily..
Might work, who knows..
Just a suggestion

28064212

lau1247 wrote:

can you try to move all the tv including your flatmate into your room when the inspector come..
I think you only pay one licence even though you have more than one tv..

Then after you pay (sharing obviously) move it out..
If they come back to inspect again,
Just tell em that there was no room to put those tv like you did at the start of the yr..
So therefore you split them around temporarily..
Might work, who knows..
Just a suggestion

Wow. I'm not sure what you're trying to say, or even that you know what you're trying to say. In any event, most apartments only have one TV, we would be trying to avoid paying any TV licence

lau1247

"If the equipment capable of receiving a television signal (i.e., a television set, a personal computer), etc. is held in a household (i.e., apartment, flat, house), then one television licence will cover multiple pieces of equipment. In other words, if you have a television set in your living room and kitchen, one television licence covers both sets.

However, if the building in which the equipment is kept (i.e., the house, etc.) is sub-divided into flats, apartments, separate living quarters, then a separate television licence must be held for each of these quarters. In other words, an individual licence must be held for each separate flat, apartment, etc."


The above is a quote from oasis website
Multiple tv still consider as one as long as they are within the flat..
So therefore get one guy to own up that they own the tv..
Pay for that licence..
And rather than everyone pay for different licence each.. you only pay one..
Kinda see my point?? Probably not.. if not then just hide the tv

gizmo

For Res you only need one licence per apartment, not per room or per TV as the guidelines say.

As has been said before its only the Deluxe apartments in College Park that come with a TV, anyone here live there and get the warning? But you're right, if Res own the TV then they should be responsible for the licence.

As for the situation with other landlords you can be sure that the cost of the licence is, in most cases, included in some form of rent or utility payments, nothing is free as they say...:)

StupidLikeAFox

Why not trick them. The day before move every television in res into one guys flat, one premises, one license, no matter how many TVs

"Uh yeah, i collect TVs, its a hobby"

rugbug86

ColHol wrote:

Why not trick them. The day before move every television in res into one guys flat, one premises, one license, no matter how many TVs

"Uh yeah, i collect TVs, its a hobby"

or just don't answer the door...

and as far as i know its not the actuall tv thats the problem, its the ability to have a tv. so if you have the NTL connections, you'll be stung.

cover them with a plug socket box for the day is what i say! and just hide the tv behind the bin in the kitchen - nobody would be brave ehough to look there!

gizmo

Wait a sec...

If the licence is per NTL socket, then the Inspector will know that EVERY apartment is going to have one, hence EVERY apartment is liable and must have a licence.

Case closed?

Ferror

Faceless Man wrote:

Wait a sec...

If the licence is per NTL socket, then the Inspector will know that EVERY apartment is going to have one, hence EVERY apartment is liable and must have a licence.

Case closed?

No you are not paying a fee for every socket you have, that'd be rather silly!

Taken from dcmnr.gov.ie website: "The position is that a television set constitutes apparatus for wireless telegraphy as defined in the Wireless Telegraphy Acts, 1926 to 1988. Under these Acts, it is an offence to possess apparatus for wireless telegraphy except under and in accordance with a licence. Accordingly, a television set must be licensed regardless of its capability to receive RTÉ or any other broadcasting service."

So it seems you must have a tv or other device capable of recieving a signal...

So keep the tv in a friends house for a while?

hmmmm (or be sneaky and buy a tv tuner card for your pc)

eoin_ie

Just after hearing (on the grapevine) that if you don't answer your door (or phone), there won't be a problem. It's up to you to answer your door to the inspectors.

Prezatch

Would they not just be given a "master swipe card" by Res? Like the room inspection res people

28064212

eoin_ie wrote:

Just after hearing (on the grapevine) that if you don't answer your door (or phone), there won't be a problem. It's up to you to answer your door to the inspectors.

JoeyD wrote:

Would they not just be given a "master swipe card" by Res? Like the room inspection res people

I would imagine that they only need to be given permission by res since we're not leasing

markpb

28064212 wrote:

I would imagine that they only need to be given permission by res since we're not leasing

I could well be wrong but your license says you must give permission to staff of the college or contractors of Campus res for the purposes of maintaince and facility work on the rooms. I doubt an An Post inspector falls into those grounds but then again, I doubt C/R will bother with that.

NutJob

digiman wrote:

I am sure that anyone who is living on Res has got an email or heard something about this? And if you have not all it is basically that the tv license inspectors are coming around the first week of semester 2 to check for tv licenses.
Does anyone know any way of not having to pay this, and how come Res do not have a license that covers the whole of Res, I think its very unfair to expext students to pay this.
I can't imagine that there is anyone living on Res at the minute that has paid for one but I suppose we are going to have to:mad:

Yes dont have a TV

28064212

markpb wrote:

I could well be wrong but your license says you must give permission to staff of the college or contractors of Campus res for the purposes of maintaince and facility work on the rooms. I doubt an An Post inspector falls into those grounds but then again, I doubt C/R will bother with that.

Campus Res staff would probably accompany them around. I'd be very surprised if attempting to not let them in worked.

eoin_ie

The inspectors have knocked on my door six times in the past 2 weeks and I haven't answered once. Any idea when they're going to stop calling around?

thewools

eoin_ie wrote:

The inspectors have knocked on my door six times in the past 2 weeks and I haven't answered once. Any idea when they're going to stop calling around?

They will keep coming back until they can prove that u do / do not have aTV.

They have to come back over the next few weeks again to make sure that the people who were caught without a license and had a TV in the house paid within a weeks notice!

Best thing is to do is to hide the TV (say in bathroom - someones car etc) We hid our in one of the boys bathroom - not bad for a 32" widescreen - he then came in, had a quick look round, asked if we had a TV in any of the rooms etc (answer "Nooooooo" of course). He then said everything is ok here - wont be coming back again!! Went on to next house THE END......:D

UP a few yoyos for rag week anyways.....