TV Licence Summons

allgirlz

I got a summons for not having a tv licence, court date for next week. have bought licence now and have the option of paying out another 155 euros to get case struck out or take my chances in court next week. Does anyone have any experience of this? Am I likely to be fined more than 155 euros? Is it worth taking the chance?

Dord

Don't drop the soap. :pac:

AnonoBoy

allgirlz wrote: »

I got a summons for not having a tv licence, court date for next week. have bought licence now and have the option of paying out another 155 euros to get case struck out or take my chances in court next week. Does anyone have any experience of this? Am I likely to be fined more than 155 euros? Is it worth taking the chance?

Could you live with the shame is the big question?

Just pay the money. Do you think you might go to court and the judge will say 'Ah sure it's grand, here have the money back for the licence'?

SV

I'd pay that 155 if I was you.

Turd Ferguson

Go to court and represent yourself. When it is your time to speak start singing:
"43 bottles of beer on the wall, 43 bottles of beer. You take one down and pass it around.....43 bottles of beer on the wall."

Keep this going until he throws the case out

stevoman

i have no tv license. makes me sick the money goes to RTE when i detest RTE 1 and network 2 and everything RTE stands for.

TheZohanS

stevoman wrote: »

i have no tv license. makes me sick the money goes to RTE when i detest RTE 1 and network 2 and everything RTE stands for.

They probably feel the same about people with no tv license tbh.

banquo

+1. Absolutely pointless. It's 2009 - you don't need a license for a TV, and I'd rather not have access to all the crap RTE put on in exchange for the cost of the license.

Utter Bollocks.

AnonoBoy

stevoman wrote: »

i detest everything RTE stands for.

Radio Telefís Éireann is all it stands for. Not much to detest there - just three words.

I'm taking everything literally today

MIP

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Could you live with the shame is the big question?

Just pay the money. Do you think you might go to court and the judge will say 'Ah sure it's grand, here have the money back for the licence'?

No but based on some other posts on the same subject (http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=52704537&postcount=3 for example) there's a chance the judge will just dismiss the case once a license has now been bought.

Jesus Wept

Anyone know if there is truth to this?

I've previously read around these parts that charging a licence fee and running commerical advertisements isn't allowed under EU (whichever relevant body) regulations, however, each year RTE choose to just pay a fine that is impossed for ingnoring this.

easyeason3

stevoman wrote: »

i have no tv license. makes me sick the money goes to RTE when i detest RTE 1 and network 2 and everything RTE stands for.

I got a letter this morning to say that unless I get a tv licence in the next seven days they will issue legal proceedings :mad:

TV licence man better not call to my door in the next few days because having to fork out €160 I can't afford will put me in foul humour.

Quazzie

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Radio Telefís Éireann is all it stands for. Not much to detest there - just three words.

I'm taking everything literally today

I was going to say "Fuck you" but since you're taking everything literally today I decided against it.

Mr.Lizard

Just pay the extra to get it struck off. Sure you'd probably lose that much money anyway due to not turning up for work etc.

Oh and don't forget the extra public shame it might all cost if it goes tits up. I don't know about you but I can't can't bear the notion of people pointing at me and talking about me behind my back because of licence issues. Oh the shame......

Mr.Lizard

BTW to anyone buying a new tv when the shop asks for your home address give them "123 fake st" or whatever because they're handing the info over to the licence inspectors on your behalf. You're welcome.

OldGoat

Go to court. Have you ever been into see the Court in action? It's great fun, well worth the small fine you have to pay. Value for money.
Tell us the Court date and we'll all come along to be your cheering section.

Quazzie

Mr.Lizard wrote: »

BTW to anyone buying a new tv when the shop asks for your home address give them "123 fake st" or whatever because they're handing the info over to the licence inspectors on your behalf. You're welcome.

***Not to be used if opting for home delivery***

James Forde

Mr.Lizard wrote: »

BTW to anyone buying a new tv when the shop asks for your home address give them "123 fake st" or whatever because they're handing the info over to the licence inspectors on your behalf. You're welcome.

DON'T!!!! I live at 123 fake street!

dublinario

As a fancy, big city lawyer, I would be prepared to defend you. My record (0 wins, 1 draw, 92 losses) is misleading, as I had a serious drink problem until very recently.

I think the strategy would be to counter-sue THEM for not having a license for YOUR telly. Classic 'attack is the best form of defence'. Granted, it has no basis in law, but he who dares wins my friend, he who dares...

waraf

Or you could just get rid of your TV and not have to pay for a TV license. :DHonestly it's liberating. Best decision I ever made

Turd Ferguson

Mr.Lizard wrote: »

BTW to anyone buying a new tv when the shop asks for your home address give them "123 fake st" or whatever because they're handing the info over to the licence inspectors on your behalf. You're welcome.

I bought a new TV last week and they never asked for the address, just my phone number

Quazzie

The phone number is only required when you look like you are homeless.

Tough break there Mr Ferguson.

spongeman

Get in touch with the office in your area. Fax them your licence and ask them kindly can you have it struck out. Worked for me.

petes

dublinario wrote: »

As a fancy, big city lawyer, I would be prepared to defend you. My record (0 wins, 1 draw, 92 losses) is misleading, as I had a serious drink problem until very recently.

I think the strategy would be to counter-sue THEM for not having a license for YOUR telly. Classic 'attack is the best form of defence'. Granted, it has no basis in law, but he who dares wins my friend, he who dares...

What was the draw?

Mr.Lizard

BTW OP I believe the max fine on a first offence of no TV licence is around €650 so you might want to factor that into your decision.

allgirlz

Ok, thanks for all the replies, appreciate the feedback so far. Anyone actually have any experience of this happening to them?
Am just debating to pay the fine or take a chance in court so would be interested to hear from anyone who has actually gone to court or knows someone who has.
Am I likely to get a bigger fine in court?

OldGoat

Quazzie wrote: »

The phone number is only required when you look like you are homeless.

Tough break there Mr Ferguson.

Hopefully he bought a portable. Lugging one of those big plasma thingies around the streets would be rather difficult I imagine.

CeilingCat

When you have Sky, or NTL or whatever, you get the Irish channels as part of the package - why then do you still have to pay the license fee? (I never understood that, is there some really obvious reason I'm missing?)
Given the choice, I'd opt out of getting the Irish channels altogether.

Tupins

I don't have a tv but there is an aerial coming into my house, also I do have a free to aer box and it's linked to a projector but I don't get RTE on it.

Am I legally obliged to have a tv license????

spongeman

D'ont take a chance in court.

Mr.Lizard

CeilingCat wrote: »

When you have Sky, or NTL or whatever, you get the Irish channels as part of the package - why then do you still have to pay the license fee? (I never understood that, is there some really obvious reason I'm missing?)
Given the choice, I'd opt out of getting the Irish channels altogether.

It's more about the capability of the device to recieve a particular signal rather than whether you actually watch said transmission or even intentionally don't want it.

Don't forget you could stick the famous 'rabbit ears' reciever in the back of your TV co-ax any time you like and hey-presto you instantly have RTE1/RTE2/TG4.

CreepingDeath

Go to court and tell them you don't have a TV, that's a novelty aquarium.

As proof, take a photo of the tv when it's showing some program about diving underwater with fish.

Mr. Incognito

If you have any receiving apparatus in your house you're oblidged to have a licence.

Generally judges have little patience for this sort of nonsense in their court room. Go to court, they'll come up in a batch. You waive your licence. Case is struck out. They cannot convict you in court for not having a licence when you have one.

stevoman

fight the case.... literally.

go into court and start throwing yourt fists wildly like you are in that chewing gum advert.

they'l just strike it out cos they will plainly think your crazy.

stevoman

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

If you have any receiving apparatus in your house you're oblidged to have a licence.

wait for it, wait for it.........

then i better get rid of your ma's ass then!

i'l get my coat

sdanseo

The-Rigger wrote: »

Anyone know if there is truth to this?

I've previously read around these parts that charging a licence fee and running commerical advertisements isn't allowed under EU (whichever relevant body) regulations, however, each year RTE choose to just pay a fine that is impossed for ingnoring this.

Make the fine a billion or so. Without notice. And make it so the government can't sub them - no more RTÉ, wahey!

CeilingCat

Mr.Lizard wrote: »

It's more about the capability of the device to recieve a particular signal rather than whether you actually watch said transmission or even intentionally don't want it.

Don't forget you could stick the famous 'rabbit ears' reciever in the back of your TV co-ax any time you like and hey-presto you instantly have RTE1/RTE2/TG4.

When you're already paying for the Irish channels as part of your Sky package though - why the license fee then? This stuff confuses me.
I don't know what a tracker mortgage is either....

Mr.Lizard

stevoman wrote: »

fight the case.... literally.

go into court and start throwing yourt fists wildly like you are in that chewing gum advert.

they'l just strike it out cos they will plainly think your crazy.

....and don't forget to frequently use as well trodden lines of cinema dialogue such as

"I'm out of order? You're out of order! The whole trial is out of order"

"You want the truth? You can't HANDLE the truth"

Tupins

If the tv license inspector comes to the door are they legally allowed to come in and see if you tell them you've no telly?

Could you ask them to come back later?

waraf

Tupins wrote: »

I don't have a tv but there is an aerial coming into my house, also I do have a free to aer box and it's linked to a projector but I don't get RTE on it.

Am I legally obliged to have a tv license????

Yes you are. I recently had to fill in a declaration stating that I no longer have a TV so I wouldn't have to pay the license fee. It was stated clearly on the declaration form that if you have any form of aerial or satellite dish on your premises or you are connected to any sort of communal aerial in an apartment block then you are obliged to have a TV license. I had to get someone to take my old sky dish down in order to comply.

Milkey Bar Kid

We could picket outside the court chanting '' FREE THE GOAT ''

waraf

Tupins wrote: »

If the tv license inspector comes to the door are they legally allowed to come in and see if you tell them you've no telly?

Could you ask them to come back later?

They don't need to come in. They can detect a TV from outside your gaff

Donny5

Tupins wrote: »

I don't have a tv but there is an aerial coming into my house, also I do have a free to aer box and it's linked to a projector but I don't get RTE on it.

Am I legally obliged to have a tv license????

Yeah, if you have a tuner, you need a licence for it.

CeilingCat wrote: »

When you're already paying for the Irish channels as part of your Sky package though - why the license fee then? This stuff confuses me.
I don't know what a tracker mortgage is either....

The licence pays for lots of stuff you may not use, like RTÉ radio, websites and TnaG, various public niceties like RTÉ's arts department. Them's the rules, but feel free to talk to your TD about it if you don't like it.

AnonoBoy

waraf wrote: »

They don't need to come in. They can detect a TV from outside your gaff

Can they?

I just have a TV with a coat hanger jammed in the back as my aeriel. Can they detect that?

Caoimhín

Go with the hard-line defence.

Tell the Judge that you do not recognise the authority of the court or the puppet state that it represents*.









* I am not qualified to give legal advice and this defence will, in all likelihood, land you in jail faster your arse can touch can touch the ground.

waraf

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Can they?

I just have a TV with a coat hanger jammed in the back as my aeriel. Can they detect that?

Yes AFAIK they have detection equipment that can do that. Failing that I suppose they could just look in the window.....

aidan_walsh

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Can they?

I just have a TV with a coat hanger jammed in the back as my aeriel. Can they detect that?

Coat hangers won't block the latest sets and their background radiating telly particles. You need to paint your walls and windows with layers of lead paint.

AnonoBoy

aidan_walsh wrote: »

Coat hangers won't block the latest sets and their background radiating telly particles. You need to paint your walls and windows with layers of lead paint.

Done and done.

I've lined my walls with asbestos too just to be safe.

raptorman

I wonder if that only worked for the old CRT tv's? Does it work for LCD's and plasma tv's?
Its a bit of a pain though if all you have it for is watching dvd's or playing the xbox/ps.

Turd Ferguson

waraf wrote: »

They don't need to come in. They can detect a TV from outside your gaff

With mind lazers

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pew

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pew

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pew

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Quazzie

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Done and done.

I've lined my walls with asbestos too just to be safe.

The lead paint is particularly effective when you lick it. I propose a ten minute licking session every night.

Since you have asbestos handy, you can also break it up and put it in a bong, It helps with the headaches you get from licking the wall