TV licence

Tea_Bag

not really sure what forum to post this on, but ill try here...

Got a letter in the post this morning informing me that my house hasnt got a TV license on record and that an inspector will be in the area in the near future. it also goes on to say that its €160 or something for the license.


Now, i'm a pretty broke student, but some of my housemates are even more broke than me, so getting 40 euro from each of them isnt gonna be easy. i can barely get bills paid because they take soo long to come up with the cash.

My question is, should i get a license, or is the letter just some bluff and no inspector is really coming.

i wouldnt mind paying if it wasnt so expensive, and if i ever watched rte, but the channel is crap whenever i turn it on and it just seems a little rich to be paying for something i dont use..

Ruu_Old

Question is, can YOU live with the shame? :eek:

Tea_Bag

Ruu wrote: »

Question is, can YOU live with the shame? :eek:

of not having a TV license for channels i dont watch?


pffffft

4zn76tysfajdxp

Ruu wrote: »

Question is, can YOU live with the shame? :eek:

He's being serious, Ruu had to move to America because he couldn't live it down.

Saibh

Got something in the post a few weeks ago saying they would be back to check to see if I had a TV licence - threw letter in the bin and no one called back.

But that is not to say they won't call back to you.

A Doozer

Got the letter when all we had was an xbox going into it, no ariel on the premises. Then got the visit. She had to push me away from the door due to the verbal abuse I was hurling.

Now because of my blood pressure I just pay it every year, along with car tax, toll fees, stamp duties, ridiculous amounts of income tax and various other money making scams. Ooooh like the Nct. And I do nothing about it. Why is that?

Sharpshooter

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/detectionandpenalties.jsp

I'd get one if only to prevent having to pay the fine.

/The amount of crap on tv at the moment would put you off.

There should be some sort of hierarchy that tv stations have to answer to though.

As in, they must show quality tv programmes if they expect a high licience fee from the viewer.

/In other words, no repeats time and time again just to fill a schedule.

After all if they expect us to pay for a licience shouldn't we in return expect a decent run of programmes?

Tea_Bag

Saibh wrote: »

Got something in the post a few weeks ago saying they would be back to check to see if I had a TV licence - threw letter in the bin and no one called back.

But that is not to say they won't call back to you.

thats what i was hoping to hear with this thread.

A Doozer

Hear hear to Irish tv being absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt, the worst pile of **** ever! I've decided on qvc over rte. Was pleasantly surprised by the lingerie. Then the comic hour came on and I kissed the rotting pile of garbage that is Irish telly goodbye.

A Doozer

Tea_Bag wrote: »

thats what i was hoping to hear with this thread.

Tis a gamble. I lost mine.

Saibh

Tea_Bag wrote: »

thats what i was hoping to hear with this thread.

Forgot to mention I have a TV licence - so I don't have to worry if they did call back

Agent Smith

Got sky/NTL? Your on their system.



buy a damm tv licence.

msg11

There is a thing called a computer these days, that can do every task of a TV and you can even block out RTE.

Technology moves so fast, and RTE are not going to keep up. As shown by there programmes.

I don't have any TV channels on my LCD screen, its for my computer, bring me too court and I'll rattle any judge with the facts.

1. Its not possible to receive any channel without

1, A tuner card

2, An antenna

Too which both were not supplied with my LCD screen.

And see them bringing in a broadband license or a computer license, ye sorry my computer is on a VLAN belonging to the UK.

Goon's putting there foot in where its not wanted.

msg11

Agent Smith wrote: »

Got sky/NTL? Your on their system.



buy a damm tv licence.

What has that got too do with anything ?

Both can be received threw your computer ?

There is no required fixed payment in law for a license for a set top box or satellite receiver.

Jesus Wept

A Doozer wrote: »

Got the letter when all we had was an xbox going into it, no ariel on the premises. Then got the visit. She had to push me away from the door due to the verbal abuse I was hurling.

Now because of my blood pressure I just pay it every year, along with car tax, toll fees, stamp duties, ridiculous amounts of income tax and various other money making scams. Ooooh like the Nct. And I do nothing about it. Why is that?

She pushed you?
Kick her in the face.

Agent Smith

you need a tv licence for having a piece of equiptment that can recieve television signals.

The "i dont watch irish tv" argument doesnt stand up.

msg11

Agent Smith wrote: »

you need a tv licence for having a piece of equiptment that can recieve television signals.

The "i dont watch irish tv" argument doesnt stand up.

Only if you want it too, watching on-line programmes is conducted threw the TCP/IP layer of protocols.

If RTE put them up threw TCP/IP they can be watched freely threw any computer.

It is not viable to say you computer is a receiving device in this case.

It is not also viable to say the routers, switches & protocols are viable too.

If this is the case RTE should be making a visual viewing license, threw the use of our eyes.

Agent Smith

msg11 wrote: »

Only if you want it too, watching on-line programmes is conducted threw the TCP/IP layer of protocols.

If RTE put them up threw TCP/IP they can be watched freely threw any computer.

It is not viable to say you computer is a receiving device in this case.

Exactly, and thats why you dont have to have to buy a tv licence to watch videos on the rte site.

L1011

Sharpshooter wrote: »

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/detectionandpenalties.jsp

I'd get one if only to prevent having to pay the fine.

You realise this is boards.ie and its relatively safe to assume a UK website doesn't have much bearing on the actual law here?

L1011

msg11 wrote: »

Only if you want it too, watching on-line programmes is conducted threw the TCP/IP layer of protocols.

If RTE put them up threw TCP/IP they can be watched freely threw any computer.

It is not viable to say you computer is a receiving device in this case.

It is not also viable to say the routers, switches & protocols are viable too.

If this is the case RTE should be making a visual viewing license, threw the use of our eyes.

RTE don't levy the licence fee, the state does. And computers are intended to be included as "televisions" in the next few years anyway.

The_B_Man

when i was in college we didnt have a licence either.

we didnt give a **** if an inspector turned up coz we never answered the door anyway. if our mates were comin over we'd always know in advance so we just didnt answer the door. simple as that.

we got a couple of letters and all that but sure they can hardly barge in the door to "inspect" you!

tman

A Doozer wrote: »

Got the letter when all we had was an xbox going into it, no ariel on the premises. Then got the visit. She had to push me away from the door due to the verbal abuse I was hurling.

So wait... She forced her way in to your private accomodation?
There's laws against that kind of ****, and TV license inspectors are most definitely not above the law!

That_Guy

€160 to watch Dunphy make a fool of himself on RTE after the Champions League matches for the year is well worth it.

Mike 1972

Theres a TV licence thread over on R&R at the moment with some interesting legal stuff.

Unless a TV licence inspector produces a search warrant you dont have to let them in. You dont have to give them your name and in fact you dont even have to speak to them other than telling them to get the :mad::mad::mad::mad: off your property

There's laws against that kind of ****, and TV license inspectors are most definitely not above the law!

They think they are though

TPD

I'd just tell them to get off my propertah, and come back when they have a search warrant. No judge will give them a warrant to check if there's a TV.

Actually in this country they probably would

Extra time bought can be used to hide the tv though.

peepeep

I used to get these letters quite a bit when I was a student living in a Rathmines flat. Never paid and tv licence and never got a fine, simply because we never answered the door unless we knew it was friends of ours coming over.

Simple as that - don't open the door to them and then you don't need to bother making up excuses... or paying your licence.

Bob_Harris

MYOB wrote: »

RTE don't levy the licence fee, the state does. And computers are intended to be included as "televisions" in the next few years anyway.

If that actually goes through it's a joke.

What about laptops? They're portable and can be used anywhere so would I need a separate licence for that?

If you have no TV, but a PC/Laptop with analogue or DVB-T tuner then yeah, it's valid reason to have to pay for a licence.

If you have no TV, but a PC/Laptop with no tuner card, then it's completely nonsensical to be forced to pay the licence.

RTE Player is not a valid reason for computers to be included in the licence either. Technically it can be viewed by anyone anywhere in the world so technically they would have to enforce the licence on the whole planet.

If I have:
an LCD TV/Monitor without tuner,
a satellite dish,
and a Freesat / FTA box or PC with DVB-S card

then I see no legal (apart from sheep saying "it's in the law" ) or moral obligation to pay for a TV licence if I cannot receive and decode the Public Broadcasting Stations which this TV licence funds.

Mayoegian

Ruu wrote: »

Question is, can YOU live with the shame? :eek:

That's not the TV license ad, that's the drink driving ad

oppenheimer1

Tea_Bag wrote: »

not really sure what forum to post this on, but ill try here...

Got a letter in the post this morning informing me that my house hasnt got a TV license on record and that an inspector will be in the area in the near future. it also goes on to say that its €160 or something for the license.


Now, i'm a pretty broke student, but some of my housemates are even more broke than me, so getting 40 euro from each of them isnt gonna be easy. i can barely get bills paid because they take soo long to come up with the cash.

My question is, should i get a license, or is the letter just some bluff and no inspector is really coming.

i wouldnt mind paying if it wasnt so expensive, and if i ever watched rte, but the channel is crap whenever i turn it on and it just seems a little rich to be paying for something i dont use..

If you don't watch TV well get rid of the TV, no need for a licence then.
I don't believe someone who says they watch no RTE at all.
I mean it isn't that expensive, 77cent each a week. If you can't afford to pay it all up front use the direct debit feature of paying monthly or weekly.

TPD

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

If you don't watch TV well get rid of the TV, no need for a licence then.
I don't believe someone who says they watch no RTE at all.
I mean it isn't that expensive, 77cent each a week. If you can't afford to pay it all up front use the direct debit feature of paying monthly or weekly.

You can use a TV for more than watching broadcasts. I have no arial connected to my tv as I only use it for playing games consoles. If RTE got rid of advertisements, had some cop on with the wages they pay, and started making good shows, I'd happily hook up my TV, pay the fee, and watch. Until then, I'm not paying for a service I dont want, like, or use.

mikom

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

I mean it isn't that expensive, 77cent each a week. If you can't afford to pay it all up front use the direct debit feature of paying monthly or weekly.

Ah, the ould drippin' tap.

artanevilla

Pay it for your own sake, I got caught and had to leave the country with the shame. Left a wife and three kids behind. Tried all the excuses, but none of them worked.

artanevilla

artanevilla wrote: »

Pay it for your own sake, I got caught and had to leave the country with the shame. Left a wife and three kids behind. Tried all the excuses, but none of them worked.

Surely you could have sold your wife and 3 kids for €160 on ebay?

artanevilla

rarnes1 wrote: »

Surely you could have sold your wife and 3 kids for €160 on ebay or something?

You obviously haven't met my wife.

artanevilla

artanevilla wrote: »

You obviously haven't met my wife.

pic?

oppenheimer1

The Perfect Drug wrote: »

You can use a TV for more than watching broadcasts. I have no arial connected to my tv as I only use it for playing games consoles. If RTE got rid of advertisements, had some cop on with the wages they pay, and started making good shows, I'd happily hook up my TV, pay the fee, and watch. Until then, I'm not paying for a service I dont want, like, or use.

Play your games on a monitor then, or remove the tuner from the TV.

artanevilla

rarnes1 wrote: »

pic?

No I already have one thanks.

TPD

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

Play your games on a monitor then, or remove the tuner from the TV.

Or just not pay the TV licence... Seems easier. I'm not going to go to the hassle of voiding my TV's warranty, and then having to prove that I've done so, when I can just ignore the letters / callers.

Naikon

Get a big ass computer monitor, buy an external tuner, and hide the external tuner should the 'inspector' obtain a search warrant.

Tilt Gone

JUST BEND OVER AND PAY!!!!!!


Their goin to screw you either way, might as well get it done without the court appearance

Dan Dare

artanevilla wrote: »

Pay it for your own sake, I got caught and had to leave the country with the shame. Left a wife and three kids behind. Tried all the excuses, but none of them worked.

Used mine as roach paper.:D

Elessar

So let me get this straight. I don't have to pay a TV licence if I don't have a TV??

IIRC the fact that I have a laptop which is capable of receiving TV signals (regardless of whether or not I have a tuner) is means to pay the license.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Bought one because the inspector came around, but I got away with it for a long time. Moving house next month, not changing address and not buying one either. Fcuk them. I heard it was against EU law, so I don't think I will be paying the fine or going to jail either.

evercloserunion

Question, do you have to pay it if you have a TV but don't actually have any channels? Like not even RTÉ or whatever?

Mike 1972

Laptop without tuner = no licence required (yet ?)
Laptop with tuner = licence required
TV set (unless tuner removed) regardless of what channels available =licence required
Aerial but no TV = Licence inspectors say you need a licence (obviously never heard of aerials for FM radio) :rolleyes:

Agent Smith wrote: »

you need a tv licence for having a piece of equiptment that can recieve television signals.

The "i dont watch irish tv" argument doesnt stand up.

Maybe not in a court of law but out here in the real world.......:rolleyes:

caseyann

Tv licence used to be only fifteen pounds,it didn't get any better so why the hike.It was 50 pounds and then whopping 115 euro and then to 150 euro to 160 euro :rolleyes: I think you pay the extra for tg4 lmao

Yeah i didn't have one for like 3 years lmao i thought landlord paid it but 7 years now paying the damn thing.Only for kids i wouldn't have a tv at all

I know someone who got rid of all incoming cable and had tv for DVDs and still had to pay.So you are paying for a tv you paid taxes when you bought even without channels

Just to warn ya, the lads in my old house didn't get a licence and one day the inspector actually showed up. He didn't fine them but they had to pay the licence fee. So it does happen, it's not empty threats.

I fooking HATE TV licences. How dare they charge us to watch TV? Especially sh1te like RTE. I'm living in London now and keep getting those threatening letters. I don't have a TV or a tuner thing on my laptop and I don't appreciate letters telling me I'm a criminal for not having a licence for my non-existant TV.

mikom

[quote=[Deleted User];62683022]Just to warn ya, the lads in my old house didn't get a licence and one day the inspector actually showed up. He didn't fine them but they had to pay the licence fee. So it does happen, it's not empty threats.
[/quote]

The best reason for not getting a licence ever.
Don't pay until you get caught.
Kind of a pay-as-you-go system.

By the way, the inspector hasn't got the authority to fine them.

mikom

mikom wrote: »

The best reason for not getting a licence ever.
Don't pay until you get caught.
Kind of a pay-as-you-go system.

By the way, the inspector hasn't got the authority to fine them.

Better yet, don't open the door to unexpected visitors and it's free

Gummy Panda

OP, get a moat around your home and lets see the inspector getting in then

WeeBushy

If an inspector did arrive would the situation not just play out like this:

Inspector: Can I see your TV license?
Me: I don't have a TV (lying obviously)
Inspector: Can I come in to check so?
Me: No
Inspector: Oh right...