tv licence

Orla K · 14-07-2009 4:00pm #1

I don't have a tv, never anything good on so I never bothered getting one and paying for channels, licence and the tv itself. But yet they keep on ringing my door bell looking for one. The first time it was funny(since I was actually moving in at the time) the second I didn't really care about it was a year after I moved in and thought that if they come around once a year that's fine, but now not too long after the last one they have arrieved at my door again. They didn't ring the bell so I didn't here them and now I have a letter.

Our TV Licence Inspector was unable to gain attention at this address today.

According to our records this address is not covered by a current television lecence. Under Wireless Telegraphy legislation you are obliged to hold a current TV Licence if there is receiving apparatus (e.g. television set, aerial or both) in or on the premises. Please ensure a licence is taken out within five working days to prevent further action being taken.

The underlined bit is highlighted and the bold bit is in bold.

What can I do to make them finally cop on that I do not have a tv.

Gone Drinking · 14-07-2009 4:02pm

You don't have a TV? Freak!

TheZohanS · 14-07-2009 4:04pm

Orla K wrote: »

What can I do to make them finally cop on that I do not have a tv.

Answer the door and tell them.

Orla K · 14-07-2009 4:05pm

Gone Drinking wrote: »

You don't have a TV? Freak!

I do get that alot but I normally watch good programmes/films whenever I want thanks to the internet.

ScumLord · 14-07-2009 4:05pm

Blow up RTE!

Orla K · 14-07-2009 4:06pm

TheZohan wrote: »

Answer the door and tell them.

I did that the first two times, the latest time they didn't ring the bell so I didn't know they were even there.

generalmiaow · 14-07-2009 4:07pm

Orla K wrote: »

I don't have a tv, never anything good on so I never bothered getting one and paying for channels, licence and the tv itself. But yet they keep on ringing my door bell looking for one. The first time it was funny(since I was actually moving in at the time) the second I didn't really care about it was a year after I moved in and thought that if they come around once a year that's fine, but now not too long after the last one they have arrieved at my door again. They didn't ring the bell so I didn't here them and now I have a letter.

The underlined bit is highlighted and the bold bit is in bold.

What can I do to make them finally cop on that I do not have a tv.

I can't seem to find it but there's a website of this guy in the UK who has no TV yet they have been treating him for years as if he has an harassing him into getting a license.

I'm pretty sure before they summons you or whatever they have to send an inspector inside (who by the way can speak six languages and has no sympathy for women who were just dumped, although I think you won't get this reference having no TV). When he comes around, give him an earful or something.

Riordan123 · 14-07-2009 4:07pm

Ring 'Em

whadabouchasir · 14-07-2009 4:08pm

Orla K wrote: »

What can I do to make them finally cop on that I do not have a tv.

Write a stronlgy worded letter of complaint.I like how they assume that everyone has a t.v. and then just tell them to get a license rather than actually checking first.It would be like if the guards arrested some random person who had never committed a crime and then started questioning them just in case they had.

jumpguy · 14-07-2009 4:10pm

Fair play for not having a TV. Bearly nothing on, and when there is, it's never on RTE. Just say you don't have a TV. Wait for the fellow to come around and look for a TV in the house. It'd be hilarious.

generalmiaow · 14-07-2009 4:10pm

Here it is... from the UK but it might be useful or at least horrifying

http://www.marmalade.net/lime/

/V\etalfish · 14-07-2009 4:11pm

You still need a license if you have a monitor/laptop, basically anything that can display tele channels on it!
That's where they got me and I was forced to get one.

Orla K · 14-07-2009 4:11pm

generalmiaow wrote: »

I can't seem to find it but there's a website of this guy in the UK who has no TV yet they have been treating him for years as if he has an harassing him into getting a license.

I'm pretty sure before they summons you or whatever they have to send an inspector inside (who by the way can speak six languages and has no sympathy for women who were just dumped, although I think you won't get this reference having no TV). When he comes around, give him an earful or something.

Lol, I have watched a tv before, in other peoples houses of course. (which I've noticed are always on as 'background noise' I like peace and quite)

General Zod · 14-07-2009 4:13pm

was it addressed to you personally, or to "the resident"?

generalmiaow · 14-07-2009 4:14pm

/V\etalfish wrote: »

You still need a license if you have a monitor/laptop, basically anything that can display tele channels on it!
That's where they got me and I was forced to get one.

Can you give us more info on that? There's endless threads on boards about this, and the general conclusion was that monitors and laptops don't fall into the definition of a TV set. Mobile devices are specifically excluded, for example.

Lol, I have watched a tv before, in other peoples houses of course. (which I've noticed are always on as 'background noise' I like peace and quite)

I hate the use of a television as background noise too. If I wanted background noise I would move to a building site. It's distracting.

generalmiaow · 14-07-2009 4:16pm

/V\etalfish wrote: »

You still need a license if you have a monitor/laptop, basically anything that can display tele channels on it!
That's where they got me and I was forced to get one.

Here we go
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/consumer-affairs/media/tv_licences

If your household, business or institution possesses a television or equipment capable of receiving a television signal, you are required by law to have a television licence. Even if the television or other equipment is broken and currently unable to receive a signal, it is regarded as capable of being repaired so it can receive a signal and you must hold a licence for it. Failure to produce evidence of a television licence to an inspector can result in a court appearance and on conviction, you can receive a substantial fine. People who have been fined and who have breached court orders directing them to pay their television licence can be imprisoned.

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.

Unless you have a Happauge TV capture card or similar you've been had for 160 quid I'm afraid.

Edit: Sorry for being off topic. Just noticed there's already another thread on this.

Orla K · 14-07-2009 4:17pm

General Zod wrote: »

was it addressed to you personally, or to "the resident"?

It was 'Dear Occupier'

Whiskey Devil · 14-07-2009 4:23pm

I'd just ignore them to be honest.

Riordan123 · 14-07-2009 4:24pm

/V\etalfish wrote: »

You still need a license if you have a monitor/laptop, basically anything that can display tele channels on it!
That's where they got me and I was forced to get one.

If you arrange a date for them to inspect you could just put your laptop/computer monitor in the boot of your car!!!!

General Zod · 14-07-2009 4:24pm

Orla K wrote: »

It was 'Dear Occupier'

They are just mass mailing where you live then. Disregard.

Orla K · 14-07-2009 4:30pm

General Zod wrote: »

They are just mass mailing where you live then. Disregard.

I've met two different inspectors, they call around to houses without a tv licence, this was not mailed to me, it was written on and signed by the guy that called over. (I think one of the ones that called before recognise the writing)

i71jskz5xu42pb · 14-07-2009 4:35pm

Orla K wrote: »

What can I do to make them finally cop on that I do not have a tv.

Great you don't have a TV. Write them a letter, it is not really that complicated and works.
http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/tvlicence.htm

Is this not something you could figure out for yourself? Or did you just want to let us all know?

General Zod · 14-07-2009 4:36pm

They are trying to bully people into having a TV licence. you do not have a TV or any means of recieving TV signals. They do not know who you are. It doesn't matter who signed it, it's still not addressed directly to you.

Next time they turn up and you are in tell them you don't have a TV or and device for recieving signals. If they ask if you have a PC tell them you don't have any device for recieving TV signals on your PC.

They are chancing their arm and working on people fears of a fine.

Orla K · 14-07-2009 4:38pm

Dalton Round Blowgun wrote: »

Great you don't have a TV. Write them a letter, it is not really that complicated and works.
http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/tvlicence.htm

Is this not something you could figure out for yourself? Or did you just want to let us all know?

I've just seen the post card and was fairly pissed off, in that state I wouldn't have been able to figure it out so I needed to vent to calm me down.

rick_fantastic · 14-07-2009 4:41pm

if i havent paid my tv license and the come to the door and i tell them i dont live there anymore, can someone else sign up for the license and then we dont have to back date the license? its rented house...

could save a few quid when they come a knockin'

niceirishfella · 14-07-2009 4:44pm

jumpguy wrote: »

Fair play for not having a TV. Bearly nothing on, and when there is, it's never on RTE. Just say you don't have a TV. Wait for the fellow to come around and look for a TV in the house. It'd be hilarious.

+1

Write to them a nice letter inviting them round for a nice TV nosey round your place and a nice cuppa tea.

Sorted!:pac:

i71jskz5xu42pb · 14-07-2009 4:55pm

generalmiaow wrote: »

Here it is... from the UK but it might be useful or at least horrifying

http://www.marmalade.net/lime/

Horrifying indeed. They made that poor man's life a misery. All those ..... letters. The man actually uses the word "persecuted". Seriously, the authority are at worst incompetent. Mildly annoying yes. Harrasment? Persecution? www.getafrickengrip.com

cherryghost · 14-07-2009 5:11pm

Orla K wrote: »

I don't have a tv, never anything good on so I never bothered getting one and paying for channels, licence and the tv itself. But yet they keep on ringing my door bell looking for one. The first time it was funny(since I was actually moving in at the time) the second I didn't really care about it was a year after I moved in and thought that if they come around once a year that's fine, but now not too long after the last one they have arrieved at my door again. They didn't ring the bell so I didn't here them and now I have a letter.

The underlined bit is highlighted and the bold bit is in bold.

What can I do to make them finally cop on that I do not have a tv.

hope to hear from you in five days, taking into consideration that your legs havent been smashed in.

generalmiaow · 14-07-2009 5:57pm

Dalton Round Blowgun wrote: »

Horrifying indeed. They made that poor man's life a misery. All those ..... letters. The man actually uses the word "persecuted". Seriously, the authority are at worst incompetent. Mildly annoying yes. Harrasment? Persecution? www.getafrickengrip.com

The site is definitely way over the top (although I kind of thought it was tongue in cheek). The point is though, that the OP's wish to inform An Post that she doesn't have a TV might be impossible, unless she wants to make a big whiny website about it.

funk-you · 14-07-2009 7:02pm

I wouldn't worry about the letter, i got the same one 8 months ago. Haven't heard from them since.

-Funk

i71jskz5xu42pb · 14-07-2009 7:21pm

generalmiaow wrote: »

The site is definitely way over the top (although I kind of thought it was tongue in cheek).

Maybe, I don't think so.

generalmiaow wrote: »

The point is though, that the OP's wish to inform An Post that she doesn't have a TV might be impossible, unless she wants to make a big whiny website about it.

Like I said already, write them a letter it works. I've not heard from them since. It really is that easy.

Timarida · 14-07-2009 8:37pm

If your property has a television or equipment capable of receiving a television signal (using an aerial, satellite dish, cable or other means) must have a television licence. I.e. you can have a monitor or laptop that cannot recieve a television signal, you are OK.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/consumer-affairs/media/tv_licences

tv licence

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