So TV Inspectors actually do exist...

BravoSierra

Redirect this as required. I searched under 'TV Liscence' and could not figure out a suitable forum.

The TV Inspector just knocked on my door. He asked that I tend to my liscence in the coming weeks. I expected an 'on the spot' fine.

I do not watch Irish television. In fact, I dislike it. Can anyone point me in the right direction to become exempt from this charge? Can I not have Chorus block my Irish channels?

I accept that I have to pay it this time. I'm thinking about the future.

Jesus Wept

BravoSierra wrote: »

Can anyone point me in the right direction to become exempt from this charge?

1. Get rid of your telly.
2. Be over 70 years of age.
3. You could make yourself blind. On the plus side - you would then be entitled to a free tv licence, however on the other hand, you'd lose the use of your eyes - and not just for watching the telly, all the time.

Here are some other legal loopholes.

4. You could consider getting someone with severe physical/mental difficulties to come live with you, because if you are receiving a Carer's Allowance, you get a free tv licence.

Gone West

no if you have cable installations or antenna or a tv you must pay it.

javaboy

As the law stands at the moment, any device capable of receiving a TV signal needs a TV licence. Even if it's broken but repairable you need to pay. I imagine even having Early To Bed 1 and Early To Bed 2 blocked would amount to the same thing as having a "repairable" TV.

In summary, you have to pay.

In$omniac

There is nowt you can do but pay or dump your tv, both the tv license and motor tax are 2 payments I cannot justify paying

N_Raid

There is no way to be exempt. It doesn't matter what channels you watch or even if you watch TV at all. As long as you have a device capable of receiving a TV signal you have to pay for a TV licence

sdanseo

This would make a great court case, if you could prove you didnt watch RTÉ there'd be no reason for paying it.

Nehaxak

You could also take it to the European courts. At the very least you can make a complaint against RTE to the EU on the grounds that they are advertising while also pulling in a license fee. This is not allowed to be done under the European law and so RTE are fined every single year because of this but they still advertise and still break the European law because the fines are so low and meaningless to them.

Would prefer to see the fine raised to 50 million Euro for the first offense and triple in size for every year thereafter that they continue to advertise and break the EU law.

If they raise the fines to 50 million Euro+ I might even vote yes in the next referendum

javaboy

sdonn_1 wrote: »

This would make a great court case, if you could prove you didnt watch RTÉ there'd be no reason for paying it.

No it wouldn't make a great court case because that's not the way the law is written. You're not paying to watch RTÉ. You're paying a licence to own a device which can receive a TV signal.
It would however make a reasonable case for having the law changed.

dr.bollocko

Live in a caravan for the rest of your life. No fixed abode. That'll sort the ****ers.

LolaLuv

Ha! One came to my place, too. No sense of humor whatsoever. Came back 10 minutes later and apologized for having the wrong address.

Wishbone Ash

Nehaxak wrote: »

make a complaint against RTE to the EU on the grounds that they are advertising while also pulling in a license fee

RTE are not 'pulling in the licence fee'. It doesn't go directly to them.

And, as has been said, the licence fee is for having the TV set. It's irrelevant what one watches on it.

RTE are losing money from advertising so expect more TV inspections, I'd say.
Could the TV licence go up again too?

I can't believe Europe let them away with a fine every year. Surely repeated offences warrent stiffer punishment

BravoSierra

Nehaxak wrote: »

they are advertising while also pulling in a license fee. This is not allowed to be done under the European law and so RTE are fined every single year because of this but they still advertise and still break the European law because the fines are so low and meaningless to them.

Intriguing. I imagine I'd either need a voluntary solicitor or would have to incur hefty fees myself to reprimand them.

Wibbs

Throw out your telly. Get a big PC monitor and watch youtube. Sorted.

BravoSierra

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

RTE are not 'pulling in the licence fee'. It doesn't go directly to them.

And, as has been said, the licence fee is for having the TV set. It's irrelevant what one watches on it.

But what does the money go towards? In what way does me owning a set cost the government so that I in return must recompensate them?

furtzy

Nehaxak wrote: »

You could also take it to the European courts. At the very least you can make a complaint against RTE to the EU on the grounds that they are advertising while also pulling in a license fee. This is not allowed to be done under the European law and so RTE are fined every single year because of this but they still advertise and still break the European law because the fines are so low and meaningless to them.

Would prefer to see the fine raised to 50 million Euro for the first offense and triple in size for every year thereafter that they continue to advertise and break the EU law.

If they raise the fines to 50 million Euro+ I might even vote yes in the next referendum

Several EU countries operate licence fee + advertising. Care to post a link to this EU law?

dr.bollocko

Nehaxak wrote: »

Would prefer to see the fine raised to 50 million Euro for the first offense and triple in size for every year thereafter that they continue to advertise and break the EU law.

That's a load of bravo sierra there if you don't mind me saying.
And if you'd just hand me my hat there on my way out that'd be just darling.

Jesus Wept

Nehaxak wrote: »

You could also take it to the European courts. At the very least you can make a complaint against RTE to the EU on the grounds that they are advertising while also pulling in a license fee. This is not allowed to be done under the European law and so RTE are fined every single year because of this but they still advertise and still break the European law because the fines are so low and meaningless to them.

Would prefer to see the fine raised to 50 million Euro for the first offense and triple in size for every year thereafter that they continue to advertise and break the EU law.

If they raise the fines to 50 million Euro+ I might even vote yes in the next referendum

Never heard of this, that's mental?!

And yet they can fine people who don't have a licence.... fúck that.

mayordenis

Question I payed the 170 earlier in the year - but I have got no correspondance since - I have no idea when I need to pay again or proof that I have paid - where can I get such?

Latchy

Well strangley enough I once lived in a flat and because i was just sleeping there most of the time when not working, had no need or time for a tv .So I keep getting there repeat demands to pay for a a tv licence ,a tv i never had nor used , again , again ,again for approx a year .So one day i phoned them up and explained to this fcukwith ( nothing personell ) that A .- I didnt have a tv nor would i pay for the shyte if i had to ( i was just being a nusience becauser of their annoying letters ) Fine ,or so I though but NO, These people were /are convinced that I , Joe public was lying ( doesnt everybody ) ? of course not , but you see what hassle you can have in just trying to tell the truth ? .I am sure their are thousends more like me who have at one time had various froms of hassle such as I described from officialdom .

BravoSierra

mayordenis wrote: »

Question I payed the 170 earlier in the year - but I have got no correspondance since - I have no idea when I need to pay again or proof that I have paid - where can I get such?

Its gone up to 200 according to what I was told. The Post Office should be able to recall your payment.

AnMoralltach

Do you have to let the inspector inside your door?Like can you tell them that you don't have a tv to buy some time?In fairness i'm a student and really wouldnt have the money!

MagicMarker

Wibbs wrote: »

Throw out your telly. Get a big PC monitor and watch youtube. Sorted.

I was going to suggest the very same, except the youtube part.

OP, for approx 6 months this year I was without tv, i used the internet to download everything I watched and it was MUCH better. No ads, no waiting a week to see an episode(provided you download full seasons).

Well worth it.

Latchy

AnMoralltach wrote: »

Do you have to let the inspector inside your door?Like can you tell them that you don't have a tv to buy some time?In fairness i'm a student and really wouldnt have the money!

You dont have to let anybody inside your home , he/she could be a serial killer for all ya know . Tell him to go fcuk himself .

Fallen Buckshot

only tv license?? .. what about teapot license or computer license

BravoSierra

latchyco wrote: »

You dont have to let anybody inside your home , he/she could be a serial killer for all ya know . Tell him to go fcuk himself .

He didn't enter my home. They have your name printed on list. It corrosponds with an An Post database.

DublinWriter

BravoSierra wrote: »

I do not watch Irish television. In fact, I dislike it. Can anyone point me in the right direction to become exempt from this charge?

Yes. Address a strongly worded letter of protest to Jesus, c/o The Pentagon, USA and then fashion a hat from empty CornFlake packets and tinfoil.

LolaLuv

DublinWriter wrote: »

Yes. Address a strongly worded letter of protest to Jesus, c/o The Pentagon, USA and then fashion a hat from empty CornFlake packets and tinfoil.

I loled. Might I sign up for your newsletter?

MagicMarker

DublinWriter wrote: »

Yes. Address a strongly worded letter of protest to Jesus, c/o The Pentagon, USA and then fashion a hat from empty CornFlake packets and tinfoil.

Don't make Jesus mad.

BravoSierra

DublinWriter wrote: »

Yes. Address a strongly worded letter of protest to Jesus, c/o The Pentagon, USA and then fashion a hat from empty CornFlake packets and tinfoil.

Why the hat?

Latchy

BravoSierra wrote: »

He didn't enter my home. They have your name printed on list. It corrosponds with an An Post database.

Well if your dodging your licience then you have to let him in i suppose .:D



I pay £ 3 a week for mine But I was gald to see the uk licience payers question why we have to pay the fee it in light of the recent J ross / whatisname fiasco .

Bastads were getting to complacent imo and we need to know what were paying for ..;)

krudler

Its ridiculous we have to pay a licence fee when RTE has adverts on it, isnt that the reason the BBC has it? no ads so needs other income

BravoSierra

BravoSierra wrote: »

But what does the money go towards? In what way does me owning a set cost the government so that I in return must recompensate them?

Does anybody know the answer to the above?

Owenw

If you only had ,say, a video projector or lcd display (no built-in tuner) and just a DVD player, are you legally exempt from paying the license fee?

Donny5

Owenw wrote: »

If you only had ,say, a video projector or lcd display (no built-in tuner) and just a DVD player, are you legally exempt from paying the license fee?

That'd be my understanding, Owen. I was always told it was the tuner that counts.

Donny5

From Citizens' Information:

Every household, business or institution in Ireland with a television or equipment capable of receiving a television signal (using an aerial, satellite dish, cable or other means) must have a television licence. A television licence is a certificate that states that you have paid the appropriate fee to the government and contributed to the cost of public service broadcasting in Ireland. Your television licence in Ireland is issued for 1 year, after which it must be renewed again.

Each year, the government provides a grant to RTE (the national broadcasting organisation), which is funded by your television licence fee. RTE has responsibilities to deliver public service programmes in Ireland. The television licence fee is collected by An Post on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, who has responsibility for broadcasting policy in Ireland.

You do not require a television licence to watch television on your computer or mobile phone. However, you do require a licence if the computer is used together with any other apparatus to receive a signal.

and finally

Penalties

Conviction for non-payment of a television licence (first offence) is a fine of €635.

If you are convicted a second time for not paying your television licence, you will be fined €1,268 and your television and signal equipment will be confiscated.

the boss of me

AnMoralltach wrote: »

Do you have to let the inspector inside your door?Like can you tell them that you don't have a tv to buy some time?In fairness i'm a student and really wouldnt have the money!

Tell them politely but firmly that they are not coming in , they will insist that they are entitled to inspect your premises. Call their bluff ! Tell them they aren't entering your home without a search warrant and don't admit you have a tv. They almost never go as far as getting a search warrant so if you brazen it out they will most likely f**k off somewhere else and bother a softer target.

Having said all that.., is all the hassle really worth €180 a year ?

BravoSierra

Donny5 wrote: »

That'd be my understanding, Owen. I was always told it was the tuner that counts.

Interesting. Could I refuse to pay my lisence fee on the grounds that Irish television simutaneously accrue money from advertisers and its public?

BravoSierra

the boss of me wrote: »

Having said all that.., is all the hassle really worth €180 a year ?

It is if you don't have it. More importantly its about the principle.

Latchy

krudler wrote: »

Its ridiculous we have to pay a licence fee when RTE has adverts on it, isnt that the reason the BBC has it? no ads so needs other income

Yeah but also why they have being paying these ridiculous sums to the likes of Ross and co .BBC gets some of it's revenue from a lot of outside broadcasting such as live concerts and sponserships ( i think ) .They then sell onto other networks (I think )

I think the value in my opinion is on the bbc 2,3,and 4 stations besides the 1 as well as the bbc player and radio stations..

Owenw

Donny5 wrote: »

That'd be my understanding, Owen. I was always told it was the tuner that counts.

Interesting.... I'd sooner buy €180 worth of DVD & Blu-Ray boxsets a year than pay RTE or Sky. No ads, top quality sound and video

BravoSierra

Owenw wrote: »

Interesting.... I'd sooner buy €180 worth of DVD & Blu-Ray boxsets a year than pay RTE or Sky. No ads, top quality sound and video

Well said.

pablomakaveli

RTE have produced programs like Celebrity Farm, Failte Towers, Celebrity Jigs and Reels, Katherine Lynchs Wonderwomen......why in the name of god should we have to pay money so RTE can make this kind of ****e.:mad:

testicle

Nehaxak wrote: »

You could also take it to the European courts. At the very least you can make a complaint against RTE to the EU on the grounds that they are advertising while also pulling in a license fee. This is not allowed to be done under the European law and so RTE are fined every single year because of this but they still advertise and still break the European law because the fines are so low and meaningless to them.

Would prefer to see the fine raised to 50 million Euro for the first offense and triple in size for every year thereafter that they continue to advertise and break the EU law.

If they raise the fines to 50 million Euro+ I might even vote yes in the next referendum

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mayordenis

I'll say this much when I was on ntl lines etc I was ok with this fee,
but I pay 105 euro a month for Sky HD full package including setanta, it's alot of money I know.
but to be made pay an extra 200 on top of that is a sham, especially considering the channels have ads and are ****.

jimmycrackcorm

pablomakaveli wrote: »

RTE have produced programs like Celebrity Farm, Failte Towers, Celebrity Jigs and Reels, Katherine Lynchs Wonderwomen......why in the name of god should we have to pay money so RTE can make this kind of ****e.:mad:

If we didn't pay the licence fee then all we would ever get is US and British tv shows. It's not like TV3 does a lot of Irish based programming.

It would be much better if the money was independently used solely for Irish based programming and then auctioned off commercially to RTE/TV3/C4/UTV. (Remember C4 did Fr. Ted when RTE turned it down - worth paying the licence fee for alone imho).

Nehaxak

It is also against European law to be fined for not having a TV license. There are a number of test cases in this regards being brought to the European court by people in the UK.

I'll post more info on this if I can find it out there but generally EU law and regulations are hard to quote from the "interwebs" as they're not that accessible in this way.

Oh and no, it's not bullshiz in regards RTE being fined and breaking EU law with regards the TV license. They are regularly fined every year on this. They should not be taking License fee money AND advertising. It's one or the other or none at all. At a very base level it's also against EU competition law.

darling.x

Its stupidity that we need to have a license for every tv that we have in the house.

I've a tv on my phone. I can pick the four tv channels. Its a japanese phone.

It'll be a cold day in hell before i'd get a license for my phone.

BravoSierra

testicle wrote: »

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 | __ )| | | | |   | |   / ___|| | | |_ _|_   _|
 |  _ \| | | | |   | |   \___ \| |_| || |  | |
 | |_) | |_| | |___| |___ ___) |  _  || |  | |
 |____/ \___/|_____|_____|____/|_| |_|___| |_|

The legal articles would have helped to support the posters claim. It would have been convenient if it were true.

Mossy Monk

Nehaxak wrote: »

Oh and no, it's not bullshiz in regards RTE being fined and breaking EU law with regards the TV license.

Yes it is bull****.