Do I need a TV license?

killanena

I received a latter the other day stating my TV license is overdue sense the start of December. I paid it last year as I did own a tv but it broke 6 months ago and sense I never really used it I haven't bothered replacing it. I don't own a sky box or saorview or anything like that.

All I have is my PC which uses a monitor and does not have a TV tuner card. I have heard different things from everyone about needing a license for a PC but the majority have said that I don't need one.

Id also be open to have an inspector call out and view my home as proof.

So do I need to get one or should I contact them and tell them the story?

Grolschevik

Check the stickies at the top of the page. Multiple threads on this.

dev100

If there's no TV in the home you are okay . Just send them an email / see your renewal form there's an email address on it and quote the number on-the renewal and state you have no TV anymore and won't be renewing it .


Feck the inspection bit / if the broken TV is in the house get rid of it

killanena

Thank you Dev, I had already searched the forums but nothing related to owning just a PC as I had heard from people you need it even for netflix? I do not subscribe currently to netflix.

GerardKeating

killanena wrote: »

Thank you Dev, I had already searched the forums but nothing related to owning just a PC as I had heard from people you need it even for netflix? I do not subscribe currently to netflix.

If you only have a Computer (with no TV or Sat tuner) and watch Netflix or even RTÉ player, you do not need a TV licence at present.

Some people claim that a broken TV needs a licence, so if it is broken, dump it or get out of the house, just to be "safe".

Kimbot

GerardKeating wrote: »

If you only have a Computer (with no TV or Sat tuner) and watch Netflix or even RTÉ player, you do not need a TV licence at present.

Some people claim that a broken TV needs a licence, so if it is broken, dump it or get out of the house, just to be "safe".

Yes a broken TV will still need a licence as its still capable of receiving signal.

killanena

Yeah I got rid of it today. On the website it says I have to fill out this form: http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/Downloads/TVLicence/StatutoryDeclaration.pdf

And return it to them within 28 days of receiving my notice and sent it to my local TV Licence Records office.

Im from Clare so im guessing my local office would be limerick?

Losty Dublin

killanena wrote: »

Yeah I got rid of it today. On the website it says I have to fill out this form: http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/Downloads/TVLicence/StatutoryDeclaration.pdf

And return it to them within 28 days of receiving my notice and sent it to my local TV Licence Records office.

Im from Clare so im guessing my local office would be limerick?

Probably, yeah

http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/MainContent/Personal+Customers/More+from+An+Post/TV+Licence/TV+Licence+Records+Office+List.htm

Johnboy1951

jonnycivic wrote: »

Yes a broken TV will still need a licence as its still capable of receiving signal.

if it is broken it does not have the capability required.

Nevertheless it would be advisable to dump a broken TV because getting it certified as 'incapable' would cost more than it would be worth.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Victor

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

if it is broken it does not have the capability required.

That would depend on how broken it is. If only the volume button is broken, then that would suggest it is still capable of receiving a signal.

Commotion Ocean

<<Mod Post deleted. Uncivil>>

goz83

dfeo wrote: »

This is terrible advice. Your "location" is what anyone taking your advice will be doing. It sucks, but paying a tv license if you have a tv is the wise thing to do. The same people who baulk at tv licenses are the same people who pay for nothing and have their hands out.

rubadub

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I cannot find the "repairable" bit in the law, I would like to see how it is legally worded.

I have a large plasma with no tuner so its effectively a large monitor. It only came with a VGA connection too.

But I could buy a tuner card to put into it. So I wondered if this would be described as "repairable", but then I suppose any PC could be deemed "repairable". Or maybe the tuner does have to be fully removed from a regular TV rather than just break it.

I always thought the repairable bit was to stop easy loopholes. I remember hearing "bloke in the pub" stories about taking the plug off your TV, or the fuse out of the plug and inviting the tv licence man in to inspect your tv, and deem it "not working".

Citizens information have it, but no link to the law

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/consumer_affairs/media/tv_licences.html

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.

AFAIK if you had no tv or monitor but had a vhs recorder with a tuner you still need a licence.

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

pillphil

FizzleSticks wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I wouldn't bother. I sent one in and the only difference it seems to have made is the letters they send are now addressed to me personally instead of the occupier.

killanena

I sent the declaration a week before Christmas, received final notice sense. They can take me to court if they want. I have absolutely no way of receiving a TV signal or a TV. Im a young father working for minimum wage. If they want to fine me for a law i didn't break i wont be paying it. I'll go to jail.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

killanena

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

They can't but they have ignored my requests to have an inspector acutally view my apartment. Just have been putting noticed in the mail box. As I said in my first post I did own a licence as I did own a tv over a year ago now. Its harassment.

Jimmy Garlic

goz83 wrote: »

This is terrible advice. Your "location" is what anyone taking your advice will be doing. It sucks, but paying a tv license if you have a tv is the wise thing to do. The same people who baulk at tv licenses are the same people who pay for nothing and have their hands out.

Are you trying to suggest that we get something when we pay for a TV licence.. What do we get?

Sleeper12

killanena wrote:

Thank you Dev, I had already searched the forums but nothing related to owning just a PC as I had heard from people you need it even for netflix? I do not subscribe currently to netflix.

Pcs are fine so long as they have no tuners. Extra vision never paid a T.V.license for any of their stores because all the tuners were removed. They only showed videos through a scart lead.
Dump the broken tv as this has a tuner it can cause trouble. You can watch anything you want online on the pc Inc Netflix.

goz83

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Are you trying to suggest that we get something when we pay for a TV licence.. What do we get?

I get peace of mind from my tv license. A friend of mine doesn't even answer the door anymore unless he knows who is calling. He doesn't have a tv license and that type of choice makes him paranoid in his own home.

There's a lot of stuff we pay for and see nothing for. Dog licenses being an example. Generally speaking, we don't get to choose what we are legally obliged to pay.

pillphil

goz83 wrote: »

I get peace of mind from my tv license. A friend of mine doesn't even answer the door anymore unless he knows who is calling. He doesn't have a tv license and that type of choice makes him paranoid in his own home.

There's a lot of stuff we pay for and see nothing for. Dog licenses being an example. Generally speaking, we don't get to choose what we are legally obliged to pay.

Generally speaking, one would expect to see a dog accompanying a dog licence.

Losty Dublin

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Are you trying to suggest that we get something when we pay for a TV licence.. What do we get?

You get the legal right to have a TV set in your premises for a year, thats what.

Jimmy Garlic

Losty Dublin wrote: »

You get the legal right to have a TV set in your premises for a year, thats what.

Are we not supposed to be getting a service in return?

Losty Dublin

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Are we not supposed to be getting a service in return?

There is a service there but regardless you still need to have a licence to own a TV.

Johnboy1951

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Are we not supposed to be getting a service in return?

No.

goz83

pillphil wrote: »

Generally speaking, one would expect to see a dog accompanying a dog licence.

I might be missing your point, as I can't make sense of it.

<<Mod; Off topic. You may open a separate thread dog licenses>>I

.

Victor

goz83 wrote: »

<<Off topic posts removed>>

newacc2015

Victor wrote: »

<< Mod; Off topic posts removed>>

goz83

<<Off topic post removed>>

Discodog

I adopt the same approach to both. I don't have a tv license because I don't watch RTE & I don't h

rubadub

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Are we not supposed to be getting a service in return?

Nothing in the law says anything about supplying a service.

It's a common presumption and reason used by the scabby freeloading thieves use to explain why they are forcing others to pay their way.

The licence fee does go towards services though, and I have never once believed anyone who claims to get absolutely no use of those services. You hear complaints that TV3 get none of the licence fee, but they would not exist without the broadcasting infrastructure in place. A lot of local radio & newspapers would be relaying RTE broadcasts. There might be some hermit somewhere who does not make any use of anything but anyone else claiming it is just cringeworthy lies. Maybe some are genuinely so stupid that they do not realise how they use it.

I still think RTE should be an optional subscription service, and a survey some years ago showed this was a viable option.

Discodog wrote: »

I adopt the same approach to both. I don't have a tv license because I don't watch RTE & I don't have a dog license because the Pounds still kill dogs.

Don't worry, your law abiding friends & family are begrudgingly paying your share.

<< Mod
Off topic rant removed. Pls keep it civil>>

Jimmy Garlic

rubadub wrote: »

Nothing in the law says anything about supplying a service.

<<Mod - abusive post removed>>.

I couldn't care less what you think or say. I don't watch RTE so I don't pay to support it. Simple as that. I am happy for you to hand over your cash, no skin off my nose.

nuac

Mod
Please use or open another thread for any discussion of dogs, dog licenses etc

rubadub

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

I couldn't care less what you think or say. I don't watch RTE so I don't pay to support it. Simple as that.

The law says nothing about RTE - simple as that. You can no longer claim to be ignorant about the fact, probably annoys you, when you were the one asking the question, which you probably thought was rhetorical.

Mod
Offensive remarks removed.
What has happened to the season of peace and goodwill?

Boaty

I've never used the services of the HSE but I still have to pay for the service through my taxes, its your civic duty to pay for things which the people use.

Jimmy Garlic

rubadub wrote: »

The law says nothing about RTE - simple as that.

That's where the money goes. Half a million quid for Ray Darcy, that's a travesty. You can contribute to that insanity, I won't bother.

Mod Offensive remark deleted. Christmas spirit anyone?.

Haha, you're a funny guy. Am I supposed to feel guilty about something?

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Jimmy Garlic

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Do you need a licence for a car radio? I listen to darcy the odd time for the laugh. An Alan Partridge tribute act and he doesn't even know it.

Johnboy1951

It doesn't matter if you avail of the RTÉ services or not, you are required to pay for a licence if you have equipment as specified in the law.

If you want the law changed then lobby your politicians.

In the meantime pay what you owe.

Jimmy Garlic

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

In the meantime pay what you owe.

I owe nothing.

rubadub

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Am I supposed to feel guilty about something?

Mod
Another offensive remark!. Infraction applied.

I am more interested in making you fully aware of what you actually are.

Jimmy Garlic

rubadub wrote: »

No, I understand many people have mental issues and feel no guilt.

I am more interested in making you fully aware of what you actually are.

You can say whatever you like. I am just laughing at your faux moral grandstanding. If I am not getting something of any value (RTE is not a service and has no value), then I am not paying towards it, simple as that. No moral dilemma here. You can contribute towards Ray Darcys obscene salary, I will never do that on principal.

rubadub

Mod
Abusive post deleted.
Pls keep it civil
.

Jimmy Garlic

rubadub wrote: »

We all get it, no need to keep repeating yourself... you're a thief with no morals or guilt, big deal -you are nothing special, loads of scumbags out there.

What have I stolen Sherlock?

Discodog

Boaty wrote: »

I've never used the services of the HSE but I still have to pay for the service through my taxes, its your civic duty to pay for things which the people use.

Big difference. I use the heath service & it's an essential so I pay. I don't use RTE & it's a total luxury run at a ridiculous cost. I listen to Newstalk. Way better than RTE radio & they don't need state aid.

I think that it's the duty of people to stop paying Joe Duffy a fortune & make RTE stand on it's own feet like everybody else.

Jimmy Garlic

Discodog wrote: »

Big difference. I use the heath service & it's an essential so I pay. I don't use RTE & it's a total luxury run at a ridiculous cost. I listen to Newstalk. Way better than RTE radio & they don't need state aid.

I think that it's the duty of people to stop paying Joe Duffy a fortune & make RTE stand on it's own feet like everybody else.

I agree. Kill RTE by starving it. Ray Darcy + Ryan Tubridy + Joe Duffy = 1.5 million quid. People are fools for paying to keep those twats in the lap of luxury.

nuac

Mod
Could we get back on topic, and drop the abusive remarks?

Victor

rubadub wrote: »

You hear complaints that TV3 get none of the licence fee, but they would not exist without the broadcasting infrastructure in place.

Actually, TV3 and likely others benefit from the part of the licence income that doesn't to to RTÉ and is spent on independent production.

Boaty wrote: »

I've never used the services of the HSE

Perhaps not directly, but you have likely benefited from their actions, e.g. in the eradication of contagious disease.

Discodog wrote: »

I listen to Newstalk. Way better than RTE radio & they don't need state aid.

Doesn't Newstalk use RTÉ transmitters?

DeadHand

Mod
Off topic ranting. Deleted. Keep it civil pls, or use other fora for such views