TV license woes

HarryD

I recently moved into an apartment (rented) that had a TV.
I don't watch TV as I'm not Irish and intended to get rid of it.
However a few days after we moved in the TV license inspector called,
and my g/f told him we had a TV when asked.
We got rid of the TV but letters keep arriving for her, saying
court proceedings are going ahead...etc.
We contacted them saying there is no longer any TV on the premises and were told as there was a TV on the premises when the inspector called we must purchase a license.
I don't want to spend 160EUR on something I don't have/need/use.
They have spelled my g/f's name wrong on the letter, so
the next letter that arrives for that name I intend to return to sender
with note that nobody of that name lives at that address.

Anyone got any advice on anything else I can do?

Cheers,
HD.

Tom Young

You can't get legal advice here but it would seem that you did admit to having a TV and therefore it might dispense with the matter to buy a licence.

McCrack

I agree with Tom. Guilty on the day and all that. I assure you they will summons you to the District Court if you ignore the letters.

Maybe have a word with your landlord to see about him/her paying for it considering that the TV wasnt your or your G/f property.

Carawaystick

You could tell the licensing people that while it was a High definition TV, it only had a HDMI input and could not receive or exhibit a television signal broadcast for general reception.
see here : http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1972/en/act/pub/0005/sec0001.html#zza5y1972s1

Such a device would not be a television set under the act as you would need another apparatus like a sky box or some other set top box to receive and transmit the hdmi signal into the tv before it could be exhibited. such a tv would be the same as a computer monitor.

You could legally use it with a dvd or bd player without a license. or even display youtube videos or downloaded content from RTÉ.
in fact your girlfriend may have meant this when the guy called to ask.

Or tell the truth and buy a license....

mikemac

McCrack wrote: »

. I assure you they will summons you to the District Court if you ignore the letters.

Sorry for the hijack OP

If you get a summons to the district court what kinda fine are you facing?
I recieved a summons this week

I'm not looking for legal advice, just wondering

This link states 635 euro
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/consumer-affairs/media/tv_licences

McCrack

I believe it's actually more than €635 because S12 of the Wireless Telegrapy Act 1988 covers penalties for not having a TV Licence and it states £500 for first offence (whatever that is in Euro).

I dont honestly know what the norm is for these convictions but I would imagine the fine is going to be more than the licence itself so I'd be guessing €200 or €300. District Court Judges are very individual however so one might fine 100 and another might 500.

A criminal conviction will follow however so that's important to appreciate.

Just out of curiosty, how did they come to know you had a TV and no licence? Did they look in the window or something?

Edit: I just realised 500 old punts is actually €635! My bad.

allthedoyles

You can fight this but you have no chance of winning.

Best if you immediately fill in the direct debit mandate and pay 13 euro monthly . send it to to them immediately > you dont even need to buy a postage stamp .

This will get them off your back .

download it here :

http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/GeneralTemplates/ProductsAndServices.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7bC9315644-A019-4E10-844C-3A0236B89944%7d&NRORIGINALURL=%2fAnPost%2ftvlicence%2ehtm&NRCACHEHINT=Guest#applicationforms

ps. keep a photocopy of the form

salutations

Guys whats actually happens if your caught with no licence. I presume they just make you buy one and if you do that your ok. Or do u get that 635 euro fine straight away regardless.

Carawaystick

You can buy a license until a few hours before the case is called, then they'll drop the charges 'cos rté/an post get the money whereas the state gets it if you are fined.

jaffa20

Carawaystick wrote: »

You can buy a license until a few hours before the case is called, then they'll drop the charges 'cos rté/an post get the money whereas the state gets it if you are fined.

So..really you should just not pay it until your caught because it won't make a difference in the cost and if you are not caught, you save 160euro...

jhegarty

jaffa20 wrote: »

So..really you should just not pay it until your caught because it won't make a difference in the cost and if you are not caught, you save 160euro...

Yep , that pretty much it.

HarryD

Carawaystick wrote: »

You could tell the licensing people that while it was a High definition TV, it only had a HDMI input and could not receive or exhibit a television signal broadcast for general reception.
see here : http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1972/en/act/pub/0005/sec0001.html#zza5y1972s1

Such a device would not be a television set under the act as you would need another apparatus like a sky box or some other set top box to receive and transmit the hdmi signal into the tv before it could be exhibited. such a tv would be the same as a computer monitor.

You could legally use it with a dvd or bd player without a license. or even display youtube videos or downloaded content from RTÉ.
in fact your girlfriend may have meant this when the guy called to ask.
e....

This is the approach I'm taking.
We have a projector in the flat.
My g/f told the inspector we had a TV, meaning the projector.
The projector does not have a RF receiver, just used for PC & watching DVDs

Thanks for all advice.

R

Payton

Have a look here, something simular, with the issue being how did the inspector enter the apartment block http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055620485

MrPatMustard

Sounds like a case of bad timing, I'd be saying no TV, then no TV licence!

Daithi07

Carawaystick wrote: »

You can buy a license until a few hours before the case is called, then they'll drop the charges 'cos rté/an post get the money whereas the state gets it if you are fined.

Is this true or just a presumption?

Our man in Havana

If a licence is in force at time the case is heard, An Post are unlikely to proceed and even if they do, a judge may use his discretion and throw out the case or give the benefit of the probation act.