Should I get a tv licence?

colly10

Living in a rented apartment that's not open to the public.
Got something from AnPost addressed to "The Occupier" asking for 160 for a tv licence. I think that money is taking the piss, especially as it goes to RTE who are one of the worst for advertisements.
Will probably end up paying the thing but not at the mo cause I have more important bills to deak with first.

I was just wondering if I will get a summons before they actually call?
If I get a summons with "The Occupier" can I just ignore it?
If I give them a fake name and the fake name gets the summons can I just ignore it?
How long do you normally have from the first letter before you get a summons?

DrumSteve

They've heard all the excuses.

Kash

I have been getting a letter from An Post for 3 years now, addressed to "the new owners of Mr XXXXXXX's old house"

I have been giggling at them and throwing them in the bin since day one.
I don't think you can get a summons without an inspector coming to the door.

I fully intend to buy one some day, but at the moment vital bills take precedent.

My name is URL

But who will pay for the 2 National Orchestras that hardly anyone ever hears?

IcedOut

Im chinese i dont speak a word of english

Yes. In fact, please get a billion of them.

saa

As long as they don't contact the landlord for your name they will not commence proceedings, never heard of them approaching a landlord they usually go door to door and pretend to be some vague service from an post asking for your name.

I fell for that when I was 17 do'h tv wasnt mine but they had my name, sent a letter nothing ever happened. I moved into my own flat recently and got one of those to the occupier letters they knew someone had just moved in so I just got it I can't afford any kind of record oh and I signed up to UPC so I'm defo using a tv anyway they are bringing in Saoirview so dunno you might not get away with pretending you don't have one.


You'll probably be fine to ignore it as long as you don't answer the door but the right thing to do is buy it of course If you're short on cash you can open a direct debit €13 euro a month or something, I'm on 100 a week so if I can afford it thats saying a lot (even though I'm getting rid of it asap)

headmaster

If you think Kenny, Finnucane, Duffy and all the rest of those people should be paid out of what you pay, then pay them. If you think they're overpaid, don't pay. They cannot bring you to court if they don't call to your house/dwelling, you don't have to let anyone into your house, nobody. Since that man from Co Mayo killed his visitor, you have been given new powers

TheZohanS

Can't summons "the occupier".

Soon you'll get a call from someone updating the Electoral Register, protip: don't give them your details.

Chibs

I got a letter in the door today saying the guy called on friday and missed me and it also says he seen the tv and i need a licence any one else ever get one of these? What did you do?

mickrock

Could you live with the shame?

Snowie

DrumSteve wrote: »

They've heard all the excuses.

yep they have but there aint enough to police it really so i wouldn't worry about it

Mint Sauce

You could read all the other AHs threads on the subject.

Solnskaya

Chibs wrote: »

I got a letter in the door today saying the guy called on friday and missed me and it also says he seen the tv and i need a licence any one else ever get one of these? What did you do?

Jasus, not "The Guy"!!! Hide under your sofa and do not open the curtains. He is ruthless and will stop at nothing. You are right to be worried.

skinny90

if you dont own the tv u dont have to pay....right?ie previous guy living owns the tv

Chibs

Solnskaya wrote: »

Jasus, not "The Guy"!!! Hide under your sofa and do not open the curtains. He is ruthless and will stop at nothing. You are right to be worried.

I am not worried just wondering do they keep calling. i only have 4 months left on lease and im moving i'm not paying 160 for 4 months

cursai

If he didn't get your name. They can't issue a Summons. simple as. The occupier letters are just to try to trick you into registering. there appealing to your loyalty to at taxes.
As a general rule dont give anybody your details.

retalivity

Chibs wrote: »

I am not worried just wondering do the keep calling. i only have 4 months left on lease and im moving i'm not paying 160 for 4 months

ah well screw that then. Just ignore them.
If you do answer the door and theyre there, tell them you're moving out shortly. Dont give any personal details: name etc

laoch na mona

everyone else has to get one what makes you so special

headmaster

laoch na mona wrote: »

everyone else has to get one what makes you so special

Come on, the op is special. He/She is unique, only one of him or her was ever, ever, made.

colly10

laoch na mona wrote: »

everyone else has to get one what makes you so special

Not a good reason to pay. Everyone else helps to fund Pat Kenny's 600k salary, why don't I?
It's money for nothing so nothing something i'm happy to dish out unless i've a bit to spare or i'll likely be done for it

colly10

skinny90 wrote: »

if you dont own the tv u dont have to pay....right?ie previous guy living owns the tv

Doesn't matter whether you own the tv or not, if your in the property you owe the money

SeaFields

I moved into a house a few months back in a rural area. Don't have any RTE tv reception and barely pick it up on radio - got a free to air sat dish. Haven't gotten licence yet and probably wont.

Anyone else in a similar situation?

endacl

There is a perfectly legal way around this. My aul telly went in a skip last year. Used to scan the weekly guide to see what was worth recording to watch later at my leisure (didn't like being tied to schedules etc.).4 weeks of nothing worth watching/recording went by, and out she goes. No cable, so I had only the 4 basic channels. Half of which wanted a licence fee from me, with half the remainder being tv poxy 3... Getting rid of the box is an option. Download or stream anything worth watching. No box, no licence, no problem.

gsxr1

I wait 3 or 4 months after I start getting the letters, then get a new licence under a new name.

3 or 4 months free.

dxhound2005

You could argue in court that you won't pay because of Pat Kenny's salary but I doubt that would work.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/over-60-are-jailed-for-not-paying-tv-licence-fines-2073526.html

My name is URL

endacl wrote: »

There is a perfectly legal way around this. My aul telly went in a skip last year. Used to scan the weekly guide to see what was worth recording to watch later at my leisure (didn't like being tied to schedules etc.).4 weeks of nothing worth watching/recording went by, and out she goes. No cable, so I had only the 4 basic channels. Half of which wanted a licence fee from me, with half the remainder being tv poxy 3... Getting rid of the box is an option. Download or stream anything worth watching. No box, no licence, no problem.

Are you sure about that, though? The wording of the legislation is quite ambiguous.. According to it;

“television set” means any electronic apparatus capable of receiving
and exhibiting television broadcasting services broadcast for general
reception (whether or not its use for that purpose is dependent on the use of anything else in conjunction with it) and any software or
assembly comprising such apparatus and other apparatus;

http://193.178.1.235/documents/bills28/bills/2008/2908/B29c08D.pdf

It could be argued that an internet connection and use of a re-streaming service is such an 'apparatus'.. and probably will be argued quite soon.

saa

colly10 wrote: »

Living in a rented apartment that's not open to the public.

Also I don't understand this not open to the public thing, one inspector got into my house which is separated into flat if someone can leave the door open or get in then they will get in.

If you do not receive any other letters and there is nothing linking your name to that address leave it, or be a good citizen even though I agree it is a complete pile of **** RTE should strip back its budget and be more like a community tv channel I would rather pay 40 for that a year and pay for sky.

Aoifey!

Got that letter today for the second time. They don't even have our name so it should be okay I'd say, hopefully.

ProudDUB

Chibs wrote: »

I am not worried just wondering do they keep calling. i only have 4 months left on lease and im moving i'm not paying 160 for 4 months

Not a valid excuse not to get one. You can bring it with you when you move. You just switch over the address on the license from the old one to the new one. Easy peasy.

Over the summer I took over the lease of an apartment on a short term basis. I was curious as to how the whole TV license system worked, so I went into the renewals office ( in O'Connell St) and picked their brains. Here is what I found out.

(1) Whether or not you think Pat Kenny earns his pay check is irrelevant. If you own a device capable of receiving a broadcast signal, you have to pay the TV license fee. End of story. Whether you go down the Saorview or UPC routes to receive a signal, or you live in a rural area and your signal is crap, is irrelevant. If you own a telly or a decoder, you gotta pony up. End of.

(2) The TV license peeps have a data base of all addresses in the country. It is based on An Post mailing addresses and the Electoral Register. If you buy a TV license for your current address, you go into the "Occupant at This Address Has TV License, No Need For Further Investigation" file. If you do not, the address goes into a file of addresses that needs investigating. That triggers "To The Occupier" letters from their office, and visits from their inspectors. The inspection visits are not random. They only visit homes that their data base tells them do not have a license.

(3) If the inspector comes a calling and he deems you to be breaking the law for not having a license, he will hit you up for a fine of (I think) two grand. If you don't pay it, then you may receive a summons, but that is usually a last resort.

(4) Regarding living in controlled access apt buildings or gated estates that you think the inspectors can not get into, think again. According to my insider snitch, when they have a few addresses in one development/estate/building that that they want to investigate, they call the mgt company and they get the door and gate access codes to get into the property. By law, they have to be given them.

So there you have it, use all this info as you will !

the groutch

alot of scaremongering going on to try squeeze every out every penny they can
the letters are standardised, as are the "we missed you notes", heard people getting these notes saying they'd seen a telly, when the person was in a 5th floor apartment.

they're not even allowed into your property without a warrant, so until they have that you can't be done.

I'm not saying it's necessarily right to refuse to get a licence, just setting out the cold hard facts

Aoifey!

ProudDUB wrote: »

(3) If the inspector comes a calling and he deems you to be breaking the law for not having a license, he will hit you up for a fine of (I think) two grand. If you don't pay it, then you may receive a summons, but that is usually a last resort.

The letter I got said a fine of up to 1000 for your first offence, and 2000 for your second. Then the summons.

tiny_penguin

ProudDUB wrote: »

(4) Regarding living in controlled access apt buildings or gated estates that you think the inspectors can not get into, think again. According to my insider snitch, when they have a few addresses in one development/estate/building that that they want to investigate, they call the mgt company and they get the door and gate access codes to get into the property. By law, they have to be given them.

So there you have it, use all this info as you will !

This I dont get, I live in controlled access apartments and If i got a knock at the inside door when I was not expecting someone I would not answer it. Even if i was expecting someone I would call through the door and if it wasnt who I was expecting I would not let them in. I cant see their id through my door and i dont have a lock that lets me open it part way. Call me paranoid but I dont answer the door to people i dont know! Also there are no access codes in my place - it is a key to get in.

In saying that I have a tv licence - but I still dont think its right that they can intrude like that! I also dont really understand what the licence fees pay for, RTE make income from advertising, i completely understand why people dont want to pay it!

jimbobaloobob

Are there people here who have paid a fine or gotten the summons?

endacl

My name is URL wrote: »

endacl wrote: »

There is a perfectly legal way around this. My aul telly went in a skip last year. Used to scan the weekly guide to see what was worth recording to watch later at my leisure (didn't like being tied to schedules etc.).4 weeks of nothing worth watching/recording went by, and out she goes. No cable, so I had only the 4 basic channels. Half of which wanted a licence fee from me, with half the remainder being tv poxy 3... Getting rid of the box is an option. Download or stream anything worth watching. No box, no licence, no problem.

Are you sure about that, though? The wording of the legislation is quite ambiguous.. According to it;

“television set” means any electronic apparatus capable of receiving
and exhibiting television broadcasting services broadcast for general
reception (whether or not its use for that purpose is dependent on the use of anything else in conjunction with it) and any software or
assembly comprising such apparatus and other apparatus;

http://193.178.1.235/documents/bills28/bills/2008/2908/B29c08D.pdf

It could be argued that an internet connection and use of a re-streaming service is such an 'apparatus'.. and probably will be argued quite soon.

Pretty sure. Or I'd have to get a licence for the phone I'm typing this on....

UglyBolloxFace

colly10 wrote: »

Living in a rented apartment that's not open to the public.
Got something from AnPost addressed to "The Occupier" asking for 160 for a tv licence. I think that money is taking the piss, especially as it goes to RTE who are one of the worst for advertisements.
Will probably end up paying the thing but not at the mo cause I have more important bills to deak with first.

I was just wondering if I will get a summons before they actually call?
If I get a summons with "The Occupier" can I just ignore it?
If I give them a fake name and the fake name gets the summons can I just ignore it?
How long do you normally have from the first letter before you get a summons?

I'll try answer this as quickly as possible and to the point - if you want to legally watch TV in your house, then get a ****ing licence.

If you don't agree with this or don't like it, then either get rid of your TV or get onto your local TD to voice your concerns and attempt to get the law changed.

/Thread.

mossyc123

ProudDUB wrote: »

(3) If the inspector comes a calling and he deems you to be breaking the law for not having a license, he will hit you up for a fine of (I think) two grand. If you don't pay it, then you may receive a summons, but that is usually a last resort.

Do you not get a chance to pay the €160 after you get a visit?

From the Indo article:

"An Post said every single household was given time to purchase a €160 licence after they were caught viewing television without the valid paperwork."

ProudDUB

tiny_penguin wrote: »

This I dont get, I live in controlled access apartments and If i got a knock at the inside door when I was not expecting someone I would not answer it. Even if i was expecting someone I would call through the door and if it wasnt who I was expecting I would not let them in. I cant see their id through my door and i dont have a lock that lets me open it part way. Call me paranoid but I dont answer the door to people i dont know! Also there are no access codes in my place - it is a key to get in.

In saying that I have a tv licence - but I still dont think its right that they can intrude like that! I also dont really understand what the licence fees pay for, RTE make income from advertising, i completely understand why people dont want to pay it!

Fair enough so. If you want to think that you live in an impregnable fortress, fair enough. But what if the police or the fire department or a plumber are there trying to get into the building to take care of a crime, a fire or an emergency leak at 2am? There has to be a system in place to let authorized people into the building if the key holder is not there, be it by giving them an access code or a key.

I have no problem with TV license inspectors being added to that list. They mean no harm. They are only there doing their job just like the post man, the elevator repair man & the janitor. All they have access to are the public hallways and landings and stairwells of the buildings. That is not "intruding" in my book, but each to his/her own !

Jesus Wept

ProudDUB wrote: »

Fair enough so. If you want to think that you live in an impregnable fortress, fair enough. But what if the police or the fire department or a plumber are there trying to get into the building to take care of a crime, a fire or an emergency leak at 2am? There has to be a system in place to let authorized people into the building if the key holder is not there, be it by giving them an access code or a key.

I have no problem with TV license inspectors being added to that list. They mean no harm. They are only there doing their job just like the post man, the elevator repair man & the janitor. All they have access to are the public hallways and landings and stairwells of the buildings. That is not "intruding" in my book, but each to his/her own !

Whilst they are just doing their job, they are nothing like the postman, elevator repair man or janitor.

tiny_penguin

The-Rigger wrote: »

Whilst they are just doing their job, they are nothing like the postman, elevator repair man or janitor.

Also the postman does not have access in apartments like this - the postboxes are usually located in the entrance hall!

Opics

I have been living in a rented house since September 1st and we don't have a tv license. I'm just wondering if we get a call to the door do we still have a chance to pay the €160 (aka pay in the next 7 days or else kind of thing)? Or is it a fine there and then?

tiny_penguin

Opics wrote: »

I have been living in a rented house since September 1st and we don't have a tv license. I'm just wondering if we get a call to the door do we still have a chance to pay the €160 (aka pay in the next 7 days or else kind of thing)? Or is it a fine there and then?

I think if you tell them you have just forgotten and are nice about it you get a chance to pay the 160 - that happened to a friend of mine. (She had genuinely forgotten though)

BarackPyjama

When RTÉ stop making revenue from intrusive advertising, I'll start judging people who don't pay their TV licence. Until then, they're absolutely right not to.

mikom

ProudDUB wrote: »

If the inspector comes a calling and he deems you to be breaking the law for not having a license, he will hit you up for a fine of (I think) two grand.

Not true.

ProudDUB wrote: »

when they have a few addresses in one development/estate/building that that they want to investigate, they call the mgt company and they get the door and gate access codes to get into the property. By law, they have to be given them.

Not true.

Firefox11

If the inspector comes a calling and he deems you to be breaking the law for not having a license, he will hit you up for a fine of (I think) two grand. If you don't pay it, then you may receive a summons, but that is usually a last resort.

When I first moved in I did not have a TV licence. The Inspector called to the door and I owned up. He just told me to get the Licence ASAP.

Gee the old TV Licence is probably one of most contentious and most talked about subject on boards..why is that?....lol

unkymo

I moved into my rented house in 2006.

I paid the license in 2006 but didn't pay in 2007,2008,2009 and 2010. The inspector called a few times reminding me to pay and then I started to get letters in the post which I ignored completely.

I then got a summons in late 2010 to go to court in February 2011 but if I bought a new license and paid a 90 Euro charge before the court date then the case would be suspended.

I paid the 250 Euro which meant I paid a total of 410 Euro for the license over the 5 years I've been living here which works out at an average of 80 Euro for the TV License a year, basically half price!

homerjay2005

i had to get one last week for the first time ever. ive lived in my current house for 10 months and we were known as the occupier until last week. we normally just dont open the door in the evening as anybody that we want to call, will normally check that we are at home or we know if somebody is calling.

however, my missus normally comes home about 5.50 and just as i was answering the door to let her in, he walked over to us.

sickened to give rte a penny and it all virtually goes on wages to useless plebs like kenny, finucane and duffy.

daigo75

Even if I think the TV Licence is a ripoff, everyone should get one. If you prefer to take the risk, you're free to do it!
At least, here in Ireland, you don't have the same kind of "inspectors" we got in my Country: whenever they entered a house where, effectively, there was no TV or similar device, they made the occupant sign a form "to confirm that the inspector came and noticed there was no TV". However, the form was often folded, and it contained an admission of guilt, of the sort "yes, I lied, I have a TV and I got busted". Unfortunately, thousands of people signed it, trusting "the authorities", and got stung...

dxhound2005

IcedOut wrote: »

Im chinese i dont speak a word of english

You don't look Chinese.

Kooli

I haven't paid it since 2009 but I want to pay it now because I'm sick of being scared every time the doorbell rings.

Do I have to back pay for 2010 and 2011 or can I just get one starting now?

cursai

Opics wrote: »

I have been living in a rented house since September 1st and we don't have a tv license. I'm just wondering if we get a call to the door do we still have a chance to pay the €160 (aka pay in the next 7 days or else kind of thing)? Or is it a fine there and then?

Don't give your name. Stare blankly and say no thanks. No name Noone to prosecute