Telly Licence inspector

WindSock

Well I see the ads on telly a bit these days. I've never had a visit or even heard of any one who has had a visit from these smug men the ad portrays. Anyone have any stories? Why do we need a licence for the tv anyways? Are certain people not allowed to have them?

Mossy Monk

boreds wrote:

Why do we need a licence for the tv anyways?

it is law, thats why you must have one

dermo88

I was in the UK, and got visited once. On principle, I dislike them, and what they do. But he asked about a particular troublemaker, and I smirked.

"Well, I don't particularly like what you do, but its your job. On balance, hes a bigger problem than you are (wifebeater), and he'll be back with his drug dealing scumbag mates around 8pm"

Said scumbag left two weeks later

The following year, he came back, and I had two weeks left to go in England and my licence had expired 6 weeks before, before going to Malaysia and working there.

Waited until he left, cycled after him, drenched him with condoms filled with water. Cycled home.

I got value for my GBP120, and he did'nt come back either!

Kazooie

You need one so that RTE can entertain us with *cough* top shows like The late Late and You're a star. And then they expect us to watch ads as well. If they come around I'm gonna say I just watch tv3.:D

Redundo

Living in a mostly student occupied housing estate the inspectors are round pretty regularly. Definately no chance of getting away with it for a full year.

WhiteWashMan

ah, the weekly debate on tv licences.

yes ou need to have one, yes its the law, yes it may not be worth the money you pay for it, but see the first two points.

TheNog

About 4-5 years ago my 2 yr old son and I were in the front garden playing. I went inside to answer the phone and must've been a couple minutes later the doorbell rang. There was a man holding my son's hand. I thought this is a bit strange, why is this man holding my son by the hand??Well it turned out my clever son had fetched an empty box from the garage,used it to climb over the wall into the neighbours and wandered off. The man found him across the green area of the estate we lived in. I was so relieved and thank him profusely. Ten minutes later the doorbell rings again and I opened it to the same man. I thought " Oh GOd where is Adam". This time the man held up an ID card and said:

Him - (seeing the look on my face says) I don't have ur son but I am a Tv Licence Inspector

Me - Ah sh**e

Fair play to him he gave me till the end of month to buy one.

Hobbes

The system is all automated that you won't get a visit from them unless.

1. You stop paying.
2. You just moved in for the first time and haven't paid yet.
3. You just bought a TV for the first time and they took your name and address in the shop.

Based on what they are attempting to do recently regarding the laws, for example TV license if you own a computer or mobile phone, any serious push to get cash is going to be met with resistance to the point it might actually kill off this dodo type taxation.

Mossy Monk

Kazooie wrote:

If they come around I'm gonna say I just watch tv3.:D

do you even know what the license is for?

Pherekydes

I moved house a few years back, and the very first morning in the new house the Licence Inspector called! I showed him the one we had, it being for the old gaff, and he suggested we transfer it to the new addy ASAP. I moved house again since but no repeat call, so I guess it was random.



(I just wanted to use the word 'random' )

connundrum

boreds wrote:

I've never had a visit or even heard of any one who has had a visit from these smug men the ad portrays.

Talk about tempting fate, you deserve to be visited now

I wonder how long you could get away with it by simply denying that you live in that house when they call to the door ie. I'm just a visitor and don't know who owns the TV or is the lease holder

WindSock

WhiteWashMan wrote:

ah, the weekly debate on tv licences.

yes ou need to have one, yes its the law, yes it may not be worth the money you pay for it, but see the first two points.

I know you're supposed to have one. Just wasn't too sure why. Drivers licence I understand, but tv licence? Do I need to have a test? Do they ask me questions about programmes like who presented the news last wednesday and how come fatty from lost is still as fatty etc.
Surely it should be called tv registration or something else if it's a tax or am I just being too pedantic?

aidan_walsh

Its a license to own equipment designed for recieving televsion signals.

WindSock

aidan_walsh wrote:

Its a license to own equipment designed for recieving televsion signals.

Is that still relevant today with Digital?

aidan_walsh

Are digital signals somehow different in that they don't require being changed from one form to another before they can be viewed?

Karoma

boreds wrote:

I know you're supposed to have one. Just wasn't too sure why. Drivers licence I understand, but tv licence? Do I need to have a test? Do they ask me questions about programmes like who presented the news last wednesday and how come fatty from lost is still as fatty etc.
Surely it should be called tv registration or something else if it's a tax or am I just being too pedantic?

"pedantic" is not the word best suited to describing what you just typed...
http://www.google.ie/search?hl=en&q=define%3Alicense&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

WindSock

Karoma wrote:

"pedantic" is not the word best suited to describing what you just typed...

Yeah but I liked the sound of the word and when I heard it being used before I thought it sounded clever because I didn't know fully what it meant

Anyway...''a legal document giving official permission to do something ''

From that link. Why would a person need permission to own a telly is what i'm getting at.

rannerap

my house has never had one,i asked my mam the other day did we have one and she said no im not paying for it if someone knocks at the door about it tell them to **** off and dont let them in!

WindSock

aidan_walsh wrote:

Are digital signals somehow different in that they don't require being changed from one form to another before they can be viewed?

I really don't know, I just presumed from what you first said that having a licence to recieve tv signals has something to do with the broadcasting over the airwaves. I'm not sure how the digital signals work, but I thought it would be different to analogue, therefore being outdated.

Wibbs

Hobbes wrote:

Based on what they are attempting to do recently regarding the laws, for example TV license if you own a computer or mobile phone, any serious push to get cash is going to be met with resistance to the point it might actually kill off this dodo type taxation.

We live in hope.

thelordofcheese

Redundo wrote:

Definately no chance of getting away with it for a full year.

Oddly enough i got away with it for about 3 or so years way back when i was in Uni.

I always wondered why we never got a visit, could i have lived with the shame?

kaimera

Got snared yesterday for a damn bill.

Musta taken the name of one of the guys from the bins outside cos he called when noone was around but left a card with a proper name on it.

Bah, 18 months without a visit.

biko

boreds wrote:

Well I see the ads on telly a bit these days. I've never had a visit or even heard of any one who has had a visit from these smug men the ad portrays. Anyone have any stories? Why do we need a licence for the tv anyways? Are certain people not allowed to have them?

Location: With my Mother

end of

Plissken1

Hobbes wrote:

The system is all automated that you won't get a visit from them unless.

1. You stop paying.
2. You just moved in for the first time and haven't paid yet.
3. You just bought a TV for the first time and they took your name and address in the shop.

Based on what they are attempting to do recently regarding the laws, for example TV license if you own a computer or mobile phone, any serious push to get cash is going to be met with resistance to the point it might actually kill off this dodo type taxation.

I have never had a visit, I have owned my property for 3 years now. I dont have a licence, actually, I have never had one EVER. The thought of the money being used to pay the likes of Gerry Ryan would just make me ill anyway.

event

dermo88 wrote:

The following year, he came back, and I had two weeks left to go in England and my licence had expired 6 weeks before, before going to Malaysia and working there.

Waited until he left, cycled after him, drenched him with condoms filled with water. Cycled home.

I got value for my GBP120, and he did'nt come back either!

thats a very ****ty thing to do, the man was just doing his job

um7y1h83ge06nx

When in college "certain people" used to give fake names when the TV licence inspector called around. Letters came telling this non-existent person to pay or else. Then threats about being taken to court etc.

Nothing came of it in the end.

Linford

If you are trying avoid the TV licence man and live in an apartment be aware that when they ring your apartment through the intercom they will say that they are from An Post and only when you let them in or go down to them will they say they are the TV licence inspector.

mikemac

No doubt some legal eagle will shoot this idea down but I’ve been told this works

TV license inspector calls to the door and asks your name.
Give your name in Irish-nothing wrong here as you’re fully entitled to do this. I went to college in Galway and absolutely loads of people have the Irish version of their names.
If the inspector asks you to spell your name, say no way as they work for An Post so they are supposed to understand Irish names and addresses.

If you get a letter in future and youR name is misspelled, maybe a fada is missing, then you can ignore the letter as that’s not your name and so you can throw it away.

It might be a terrible idea but sounds clever to me.
I wonder would it work with speeding tickets.

Hobbes

Wouldn't work. They would only then turn up with a Gardai who would then say something like "Is this the man?" to the inspector and they summons you that way.

TBH thats an urban legend. I have heard the same story when giving your name to the police and I doubt very much the gardai would go "oh my mistake, I missed a fada your free to go".

Hobbes

Plissken1 wrote:

I have never had a visit, I have owned my property for 3 years now. I dont have a licence, actually, I have never had one EVER. The thought of the money being used to pay the likes of Gerry Ryan would just make me ill anyway.

The fact you have never had one ever is probably the reason why no one has showed up. Once your not yet on their system your totally ignored.

A place I worked for gave a demo to RTE people on the business. Due to the nature of the business they were not allowed on the factory floors so they were given a TV show instead of the place. A few weeks later the company got a bill for the tv license.

hshortt

You can always increase the value you get by getting more TVs, you only need one licence per household covers all the TVs you have there.

Additionally, (I don't know this is just a thought) will the Digital TV Switchover in 2012 change the license requirements? It'll probably be updated by then but I think the current one covers analogue only, is that right?

Cheers
Howard

Stephen

I think its fairly loosely defined as covering anything capable of receiving a television signal.

muckwarrior

Hobbes wrote:

They would only then turn up with a Gardai who would then say something like "Is this the man?" to the inspector and they summons you that way.

Realistically though, what are the chances of the Gardaí actually getting involved? Surely they have better thing to be doing, especially if you live in dublin.

jjbrien

Hobbes wrote:

The fact you have never had one ever is probably the reason why no one has showed up. Once your not yet on their system your totally ignored.

A place I worked for gave a demo to RTE people on the business. Due to the nature of the business they were not allowed on the factory floors so they were given a TV show instead of the place. A few weeks later the company got a bill for the tv license.

Well not quite the case its one licence per tv in your house. But since there is a tv licence registered at that address you will not get a visit.

Sam Vimes

muckwarrior wrote:

Realistically though, what are the chances of the Gardaí actually getting involved? Surely they have better thing to be doing, especially if you live in dublin.

well no drug dealers tend to shoot them so they prefer to go after the easy targets. that's why people selling boot leg dvds and drugs in town can do it in plan sight without fear but buskers are regularly told to move or be arrested

Mossy Monk

hshortt wrote:

is that right?

no it's not

you dont even need to have a tv
if you have a vcr but no tv then you need a tv license

ScumLord

My familys lived in the same house for the past 20 years and they only called once there about 2 years ago. I answered the door and said we'd just moved in or I didn't live here, I can't really remember all I remember is it started with, uummm... He just said get one soon and off he went haven't heard any word yet. I'll be damned if I'm gonna pay RTE to polute the airwaves with fairly chity.

Peteee

Hobbes wrote:

The system is all automated

Completely automated, you mean they have robots driving around the TV detectors now...what an age we live in!

simu

Linford wrote:

If you are trying avoid the TV licence man and live in an apartment be aware that when they ring your apartment through the intercom they will say that they are from An Post and only when you let them in or go down to them will they say they are the TV licence inspector.

Heh - an Post attempting to deliver a parcel to an apartment? Highly implausible, in my part of the country at least.

I don't mind the license itself but the ads are annoying. Look! It's Mr. License Man on his bold quest to fight injustice and shame the license-shirkers! My hero! Swoon.

/pukes

s&mbarbie

dammit...one of those guys just turned up at my door!

WindSock

What happened? Did you give him a bunch of flowers?

s&mbarbie

bribery! wish i'd thought of that!...hell i dont know if we have one, i moved in 6 months ago and the flatmates are out...why the hell did i get out of the shower to answer the door?...gotta start ignoring the doorbell...stupid licence..don't even watch rte

deecom

Well i got a letter at the start of the year, and you had to sign it and send it back in 14 days, it went along the lines of do have a television? are you sure you dont have a television?? It was like if you didn't have one you were some strange person from another planet! So sign it said no, (i dont have one so can't wait for the guy to call round, i'll make him tea and cake) and much to my disappointment no sign of him yet. I'll wait and see i guess. Nearly going to buy a bloody tv now so i can live with the shame!!!:)

connundrum

hshortt wrote:

You can always increase the value you get by getting more TVs, you only need one licence per household covers all the TVs you have there.

I remember this being discussed before and..

www.anpost.ie wrote:

Under the current Wireless Telegraphy Legislation it is a prosecutable offence to be found in possession of an unlicensed television set. Fines for an unlicensed television set can be up to €635 for a first offence. There are a number of ways to buy or renew a licence so you can choose which of them suits you best.

That would suggest one licence per set, not per household. But I am open to being corrected

brianthebard

hshortt wrote:

Additionally, (I don't know this is just a thought) will the Digital TV Switchover in 2012 change the license requirements? It'll probably be updated by then but I think the current one covers analogue only, is that right?

Cheers
Howard

What's a digital TV switchover??

connundrum

brianthebard wrote:

What's a digital TV switchover??

Maybe?

Patricide

Question, i have a portable in my room. To my knowlege my dad pays the licence for it. When i go off to college next year and bring it up with me will i get boned?

robinph

connundrum wrote:

That would suggest one licence per set, not per household. But I am open to being corrected

Yet the rte site talks about households, businesses and buildings.

Deliverance

Let's look at this logically 99% of folks own and view a TV or radio, yes you need a license for a radio to. A license inspector calls to your door he is armed with what? Answer: a question, "do you have a TV", your good self being an honest citezen who obviously has no TV answers "no good sir I have no TV". Said inspector says "can I come in", "No" is the answer because obviously it is inconvenient.

If the said inspector in anyway tries to use any means by bullying, sneakiness etc towards the naive and so on, then he / she is in breach of rights of the average joe. (speaking from a friends experience on that one, conviction quashed because of devious means of entry).

The 'smug' adds are clever in a way as they always show the inspector in a situation where the TV is in obvious view or is obviously heard. An inspector only has power where he has this obvious evidence of real TV license abuse ie none payment for viewing priveledges. Other than that he / she cannot proceed further unless they have evidence clear.

But of course all of us good folks who enjoy lots of programming pay our licenses as it really enhances our programming pleasure, like the late late and eurostar. And let's not mention 'Tubridy' shudder.

And let's be fair the blind get a % reduction on their TV license fee you can't say fairer than that!

Thrill

deecom wrote:

Well i got a letter at the start of the year, and you had to sign it and send it back in 14 days, it went along the lines of do have a television? are you sure you dont have a television?? It was like if you didn't have one you were some strange person from another planet! So sign it said no, (i dont have one so can't wait for the guy to call round, i'll make him tea and cake) and much to my disappointment no sign of him yet. I'll wait and see i guess. Nearly going to buy a bloody tv now so i can live with the shame!!!:)

If you have a radio then hide it when he calls. I believe that you need to have a T.V. license if you own one.

Deliverance

Oh and the popularity of the so called anarchistic Podge and Rodge show, totally 'owned' by RTE. Anarchistic puppets made 'muppets' methinks. Based on their portrayal of being caught with no license.

My rant for the day.