Where did TV license inspector get my name from?

Todoquetengo

Hi

Just got a letter to tell me to pay the tv license with my name on it. We intend to pay it but just wondering where they got my name from. There are 3 of us in the apartment - ESB bill is in my name and the NTL bill is in another of the girl's names. We are only here six months and we are renting so wondering why the letter came addressed to me? Is ESB passing on my details to the license inspector

kippy

Hmmmmmmmmmm.
Very strange....
Is there any chance an inspector came while you were away and your flatmates gave your name?
Or a possibility that they went to the landlord first and he gave your name?
Kippy

omb0wyn5ehpij9

kippy wrote: »

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Or a possibility that they went to the landlord first and he gave your name?

That's what i was thinking

Todoquetengo

kippy wrote: »

Hmmmmmmmmmm.
Very strange....
Is there any chance an inspector came while you were away and your flatmates gave your name?
Or a possibility that they went to the landlord first and he gave your name?
Kippy

No def not, they'd have said, the landlord lives in drogheda and we are in Dublin so can't see how they would have contacted him, we have a lease thoguh but then all three of us are on it so doesn't really explain it either

Wishbone Ash

Election Register.

Todoquetengo

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Election Register.

I'm not registerd to vote at this address!

My friend thinks they track it by the post received to this address, not sure how that would work though..

Kimbot

Do you reveive much post there in your name??

kippy

Have you had a TV license before?
Are you 100% sure the landlord didnt have the license the year before and got caught for it again until he gave them your name as a contact in the address?
I dont think theres any other legal way they could have gotten you name.

And again, are you 100% certain the lads in the house didnt give your name when the inspector called? I have heard this happen umpteen times.
Kippy

TequilaMockingBird

I would imagine the landlord used to pay, or had (as in the previous tenants buggered off without paying it) to pay the previous license, then got a renewal reminder for for it, and passed on your name. Luck of the draw.

Todoquetengo

kippy wrote: »

Have you had a TV license before?
Are you 100% sure the landlord didnt have the license the year before and got caught for it again until he gave them your name as a contact in the address?
I dont think theres any other legal way they could have gotten you name.

And again, are you 100% certain the lads in the house didnt give your name when the inspector called? I have heard this happen umpteen times.
Kippy

I'm 100% certain he didn't do it, doubt the guy even knows my name, we rent through a letting agent.

I do get a good bit of post, my bank stuff comes here too, and there is no way the others gave my name. They are all paying the license equally so it's not like they would have gained.

Spoke to one of my friends there and she has moved in with her boyf who just bought a house, the house is in his name and all the bills but the tv license came in her name, she reckons it's cause she gets more post!

Would love to know how i could follow it up??

Abi

An post, I assume. They run conjunction with the TV licence crowd.

Ever see one of their letters to warn you that yours is due?

Kimbot

Todoquetengo wrote: »

I'm 100% certain he didn't do it, doubt the guy even knows my name, we rent through a letting agent.

I do get a good bit of post, my bank stuff comes here too, and there is no way the others gave my name. They are all paying the license equally so it's not like they would have gained.

Spoke to one of my friends there and she has moved in with her boyf who just bought a house, the house is in his name and all the bills but the tv license came in her name, she reckons it's cause she gets more post!

Would love to know how i could follow it up??

The letting agent might have given the info out??

Piste

How does the TV license inspector even know whether you have a tv or not?

LadyE

NTL/Sky give it to them.

Same happened with my sister..

Ponster

Or the place where you bought the TV...

Todoquetengo

LadyE wrote: »

NTL/Sky give it to them.

Same happened with my sister..

but the ntl bill is not in my name, it's in my flatmate's name.

And under data protection they shoudlnt be passing on anyone's details to a separate company.

Perhaps it is An Post if they are collecting the license as well

LadyE

Ponster wrote: »

Or the place where you bought the TV...

That too!

dub45

afaik when you purchase a tv the seller is obliged to pass on your details.

Although in this article in wikipedia it says it is no longer enforced:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland#cite_note-2

Todoquetengo

dub45 wrote: »

afaik when you purchase a tv the seller is obliged to pass on your details.

Although in this article in wikipedia it says it is no longer enforced:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland#cite_note-2

I bought the TV in Tesco and did not give my address

corkgal1981

Hi, Im a postal clerk so maybe I can help although this isnt my area of expertise! Sky etc have absolutely nothing to do with it - its true that they can't give out information but apart from that it just doesnt concern them in any way. Tv licence dept would have your address on file because the previous apartment occupant would have had a licence. This is going to drive you crazy now BUT in actual fact there is no need for apartments to have individual licences, one is sufficient for 1 building, regardless of number of tvs, BUT if an apartment has had its own licence once then it has to be continuously renewed. Not sure , how they have your name but its likely that they have your flatmates names too, its just that only one name (well sometimes 2) should be on a licence & they probably picked you randomly.

Capt'n Midnight

years ago it was an post who had the details.

four of us living in the house only two got mail and guess who's name was on the bill ?

none of us were on the electrol register or anything else ,

corkgal1981

Yep, TV Licence is a dept in An Post

Abi

Of course its not the cable or sat companies. You man not have either. Its not the electoral because not everyone is registered. Its not where you bought the tv, because you could just be gifting it to someone, and it wasn't yore ma that ratted you up either.

Will try again..

Abigayle wrote: »

An post. They run conjunction with the TV licence crowd.

Ever see one of their letters to warn you that yours is due?

kippy

I can see how the TV Licence crew got the address.....its the residents name that is the strange one for me.
Kippy

dotsman

corkgal1981 wrote: »

This is going to drive you crazy now BUT in actual fact there is no need for apartments to have individual licences, one is sufficient for 1 building, regardless of number of tvs, BUT if an apartment has had its own licence once then it has to be continuously renewed. Not sure , how they have your name but its likely that they have your flatmates names too, its just that only one name (well sometimes 2) should be on a licence & they probably picked you randomly.

Is this true (and is there any official website to back it up that I can quote)?

I've always wondered about it and just assumed that they didn't bother with apartments because they wouldn't be able to enforce it (ie, access to the complex, access to the block would be too difficult, whereas for a house, they can walk straight up to your door etc)

MizzLolly

Todoquetengo wrote: »

I'm not registerd to vote at this address!

My friend thinks they track it by the post received to this address, not sure how that would work though..

I was actually just talking to a guy this evening who was driving around Austrailia for a few months. A speeding ticket from Austrailia came in the post a few days ago to his correct address.... which is really odd because when he registered for a rented car he gave a fake address! :eek:



We're all being watched.... :cool:

marcsignal

More than likely An Post. I got a warning letter addressed to 'The Occupant' of the flat I was living in in Dublin shortly before I moved out a few years ago, and ignored it. When I moved out I paid An Post to forward my mail to a friends house before I came to Germany.

3 weeks later they called to my mates place looking for me, and nobbled him for not having a TV Licence while they were there!! :eek:

There's another name for TV Licence inspectors, emmm.....what is it now ?? Oh Yeah !!

A SHOWER of BASTARDS !!! That's it !! :mad:

hairymolly

MizzLolly wrote: »

I was actually just talking to a guy this evening who was driving around Austrailia for a few months. A speeding ticket from Austrailia came in the post a few days ago to his correct address.... which is really odd because when he registered for a rented car he gave a fake address!



We're all being watched.... :cool:

:mad: dito that. Our house was just built when we got our bill. Whats going to happen when it all goes digital? A fortune is being spent on billboards to expect the inspector in holiday homes, as if, and the people of Ireland voted NO ....makes no sense in this century to be fined big time for ... dont get me going:D

RATM

I think I might know how they got your name, at least this is how it happened to me.

After 18 months of living in my current place my landlord decides to go and register with the Private Residential Tenancies Board. AFAIK all private landlords have to do this, its just some were faster than others off the mark in getting around to it.
Anyway one Monday I got a letter ( in my name )from the Private Residential Tenancies Board explaining that my landlord had done this, I had a right to know and if I had any more Q's to ring them on the number supplied.
Two days later a letter from the TV License Inspectors dropped in my door requesting that I make a declaration on the status of my TV License.

Coincidence??? After 18 months of living there and not a peep from the TV License crew? I doubt it.....:eek:

corkgal1981

dotsman wrote: »

Is this true (and is there any official website to back it up that I can quote)?

Yep, afraid its true, the laws here havent been canged to allow for the fact that we have apartments in Ireland now. Most larger countries would require everyone in apartment to have their own licence but as I said you only need it here if its been purchased for your apartment already. Doubt the website goes into too much detail but you could check it out.

Mossy Monk

Piste wrote: »

How does the TV license inspector even know whether you have a tv or not?

They have undercover agents who sneakily ask people about programmes on the night before. Very elaborate scheme.

Abi

MizzLolly wrote: »

I was actually just talking to a guy this evening who was driving around Austrailia for a few months. A speeding ticket from Austrailia came in the post a few days ago to his correct address.... which is really odd because when he registered for a rented car he gave a fake address! :eek: We're all being watched.... :cool:

He must have given a fake drivers licence aswell then, because his real address would be on that..




[Mrs Gilhooly] Now, Im not in the habit of repeating myself [/Mrs Gilhooly]

But its fucking..

AN POST

robinph

Todoquetengo wrote: »

I bought the TV in Tesco and did not give my address

Got a Tesco Club Card?

MysticalSoul

A few years ago the licence department were driving me bananas, as I moved from Cork to Dublin, and paid An Post to have all mail forwarded to my Dublin address for 6 months I think. The TV Licence in Cork was in my name, and the one in Dublin was in someone else's name, even though we both paid for it. I wrote to them explaining the situation, and telling them I had been in touch with the people in Cork too, who had a TV LIcence, which they assured me they had transferred from their old address to that address, and despite me writing to them giving them all this information, they kept on sending me out warning letters, and when I rang them up, their explanation was that there was a protocol they had to follow, when I suggested that as I have provided them with all the details, and if an Inspector has to go out to check, it would be much less bothersome, and less work for them too, if they just arranged for an inspector to call out. I was so worried at the time, thinking I was going to get a Summons or something

Mossy Monk

robinph wrote: »

Got a Tesco Club Card?

The creation of the devil. Hiss hiss.

mikemac

MizzLolly wrote: »

I was actually just talking to a guy this evening who was driving around Austrailia for a few months. A speeding ticket from Austrailia came in the post a few days ago to his correct address.... which is really odd because when he registered for a rented car he gave a fake address! :eek:

We're all being watched.... :cool:

They probably took a photocopy of his licence and that'll have his real address.
Also, if he used a credit card then they can get the address that way

Wompa1

Ok, Ok Thats enough I admit it!, It was me ok I told the TV License inspector your name..I'm not proud but they were brutal! They slit my eyes lids and poured bleach in the wounds

skywalker

Abigayle wrote: »

An post, I assume. They run conjunction with the TV licence crowd.

Ever see one of their letters to warn you that yours is due?

Is it legal for them to be passing around your details between different depts? I would've thought that contravines some privacy law or other.

Stephen

sigh

its been said already on this thread about 10000 times.

An Post themselves actually collect the licence fee, so they're not giving your address to anyone.

Also...

corkgal1981 wrote:

Most larger countries would require everyone in apartment to have their own licence but as I said you only need it here if its been purchased for your apartment already

Most larger countries don't have retarded TV licence systems in the first place :mad:

big b

..

tricky D

This has been covered here recently. The postman sits down every few months and figures who's paying and who's not. That's all.

corkgal1981

skywalker wrote: »

Is it legal for them to be passing around your details between different depts? I would've thought that contravines some privacy law or other.

Seriously people! An Post = TV Licence Dept, TV Licence Dept = An Post.
Is it really that confusing?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Abi

skywalker wrote: »

Is it legal for them to be passing around your details between different depts?

Only to the licencing dept afaik. It is an pity they dont liaise with their re-direction and mail-withholding depts. Although I have a current licence for my current address, I have a re-direction on an old address and they were looking for another fee off me for there also.


Corkgal, forget it. I've tried.

Todoquetengo

Abigayle wrote: »

Corkgal, forget it. I've tried.

You've answered it for me at least, I get it!! So thanks

slipss

Just a quick question I've always wondered about, maybe someone knows the awnser.

Say the TV license inspector comes around and knocks on your door and says "here I see you don't have a tv license, whats the deal?" Well can't you just say "I don't have a television". Then he goes "can I come in and check?" So you say "No." Isn't that pretty much the end of it? Because the way I see it, the only way they can actually prove you have a television is to come in and see it, and the only way they (or anyone else) can legally come into your home without your permision is with a warant signed by a judge. So I mean, whats the deal there, have tv license inspectors been granted higher powers than the gardai?

Alun

Stephen wrote: »

Most larger countries don't have retarded TV licence systems in the first place :mad:

The vast majority of European countries have them actually ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_license

Abi

Todoquetengo wrote: »

You've answered it for me at least, I get it!! So thanks

Thank God theres one! :pac:

slipss wrote: »

Just a quick question I've always wondered about, maybe someone knows the awnser.

Say the TV license inspector comes around and knocks on your door and says "here I see you don't have a tv license, whats the deal?" Well can't you just say "I don't have a television". Then he goes "can I come in and check?" So you say "No." Isn't that pretty much the end of it? Because the way I see it, the only way they can actually prove you have a television is to come in and see it, and the only way they (or anyone else) can legally come into your home without your permision is with a warant signed by a judge. So I mean, whats the deal there, have tv license inspectors been granted higher powers than the gardai?

Well other than the usual give-away signs like an aerial or dish etc, we are to live in fear of this theory:

They work by detecting the electromagnetic signature that your television gives off. They are so accurate that they can tell you where in the house the TV is, and they can indeed see the channel you are watching.

OoOh switch off your prons! :eek:

Pharcyde

I've been in my current apartment for two years and have had several letters about getting a license to "The Occupier".

Last month I registered for ROS (Revenue Online) and within two days I had the same letter addressed with my name requiring me to confirm that I didn't have a TV.

I blame the Freemasons!

thelordofcheese

Abigayle wrote: »

Well other than the usual give-away signs like an aerial or dish etc, we are to live in fear of this theory:

They work by detecting the electromagnetic signature that your television gives off. They are so accurate that they can tell you where in the house the TV is, and they can indeed see the channel you are watching.

OoOh switch off your prons! :eek:

I really do think that's a load of bollox, just scaremongering to convince people they can tell if you have a Tv. In reality i'd be very surprised if it amounted to anything more than a giant database with addresses in one column, the tennant (if known) in another and the final one being "have they paid Pat Kenneys varnish money this year (Yes/No)"

"Detecting the electromagnetic signature" my arse, I suppose they invert the flux capacitor and channel it through the main deflector dish of the TARDIS while they were at it.

Ruu_Old

Could YOU live with the shame?:eek:

MarkR

Oddly, the last couple of times I've had Mr TV License man pop around the telly went a bit crackly before he knocked. I think I was using cable at the time.

He was clearly in my tv fiddling with my tubes... :eek: