TV License - what to do to stop paying?

CiniO

We have a valid TV licence until end of May, and will be moving abroad in August.

I have no intention on spending €160 again on something we don't use at all, and I wonder what are the options on not renewing...


Firstly, I understand I'll have to unmount my TV from the wall, and take it away. Question is - does it have to be removed out of the house, or is it enough to put it boxed in the attic?

Secondly, there is a satellite dish on the house - does having satellite dish on it's own warrant requirement for TV licence even if there's no TV in the house?

Thirdly - I have a PC with 27" monitor, which monitor has HDMI input, so can be used to plug in DVD/Blu ray Player, or satellite tuner (it's a foreign satellite subscription and doesn't include Irish channels if in case someone is wondering). Does that warrant a requirement for TV licence and if so - why?


I suppose (assuming answer to all above questions is NO), once licence expires I can just send letter to them informing I don't have TV anymore and just not renew.
And obviously patiently waiting for TV licence inspector for a visit.


Obviously I'm not looking here for legal advice, but for open discussion around TV licence laws.

wally1990

Rules state:

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, the computer must not be able to receive a signal distributed by conventional television broadcasting networks, for example, cable, satellite or aerial.

When a first-time television licence is issued it remains in force until the end of the 11th month following the month in which it was issued. For example, if the licence was issued in the middle of April it will remain in force until the end of March the following year. When you renew it at the end of that period, the new licence remains in force for 12 months.

usernamegoes

wally1990 wrote: »

Rules state:

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.

The device must be capable of receiving and exhibiting the TV broadcast. Just receiving is not enough i.e. a sky box without a TV does not require a licence.

It doesn't matter if it's broken or in the attic.

Fred Swanson

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bizidea

The only two things you have to do in this life is be born and die everything else is optional dont think you will be on the fbi s most wanted if you don't pay your contribution towards some over paid presenters extortionate salary wouldnt bother me ass paying it op is what im trying to say

Mod
Against forum rules to recommend non payment of items such as licence fees

selous

You could delay buying it, if anything comes of the repeat requests for you to buy it, then you get a registered letter, you may be gone by then or if not, you buy the licence and nothing goes any further, as the licence is backdated to when your last one ended, so effectively you've never been without one.
Or inform them you don't have a tv anymore, I think theres a form you fill in on the renewal or the next letter after.

Skedaddle

You could move the TV to another house e.g. a family member's who has a licence.

Once there's a TV with a tuner in it in the house, you're kinda screwed.

I find that advert they're running quite misleading "If you watch box sets, you need a TV licence". You don't if you're watching them without any form of broadcast television reception equipment in your house.

Grassey

So can one remove the tuner and effectively have a monitor?

Had the inspector around the last day, showed him my 42" pc monitor on the wall and he was happy out. 'anything with coax in' as he put it is their concern.

Rerto

CiniO wrote: »

and will be moving abroad in August.

Aw, are you going back to Poland? The roads will be a sadder place without you

ozmo

Don’t you need a tv license if you have a radio?

In the car or an alarm clock? Used be the way anyway...

Rerto

ozmo wrote: »

Don’t you need a tv license if you have a radio?

In the car or an alarm clock? Used be the way anyway...

Only if it's in your house as far as I know. You raise a good point though. I wonder would a TV mounted in a limousine parked in the driveway be liable for a license. Would it?

ozmo

Rerto wrote: »

Only if it's in your house as far as I know. You raise a good point though. I wonder would a TV mounted in a limousine parked in the driveway be liable for a license. Would it?

Well if you need a second for a holiday home- I can see no reason to not requiring one for the car and a second one for the house... if you go by the strict definitions...

Tv license doesn’t make sense at all to me...

Fred Swanson

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Rerto

ozmo wrote: »

Well if you need a second for a holiday home- I can see no reason to not requiring one for the car and a second one for the house... if you go by the strict definitions...

Tv license doesn’t make sense at all to me...

But s car isn’t a dwelling. Would a camper van need one? Would a traveller be prosecuted for not having one in their mobile?

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Rerto

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Never knew that! But if a license is required for a television OR a radio, does that mean that the radio in your car stereo is liable for the TV license too? (Going by the rigid definitions). If the car remains parked in your driveway is it not considered part of your property / house for the purpose of licensing and thus covered by the same license as the house?

Oasis1974

So another Law allows TV License inspectors to enter your household to search for a working or broken TV. Load of nonsense would a Kindle require a TV license?

doolox

I had a house in Galway where I lived and I put it up for sale. The licence was not renewed and the TV was moved out to my parents house.

I received a letter stating that an aerial connection counted as receiving apparatus under the wireless telegraphy act and needed a licence.

I ripped out the coax and the aerial in the attic rather than pay the bloody licence. I put a blanking plate on the coax socket instead of the original coax connector. All was well when the snotty inspector called. He was not pleased.

Aye Bosun

CiniO wrote: »

We have a valid TV licence until end of May, and will be moving abroad in August.

I have no intention on spending €160 again on something we don't use at all, and I wonder what are the options on not renewing

Opt to pay your licence quarterly or monthly until you leave the country.

https://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/MainContent/Personal+Customers/More+from+An+Post/TV+Licence/TV+Licence+Direct+Debit.htm

Mrs OBumble

ozmo wrote: »

Don’t you need a tv license if you have a radio?

Eh? Since when did a radio become capable to receiving a TV signal?

selous

At the risk of a nose slap by grammar folk....it's Licence....no "s" in it. (It's written on it);)

Dunston

Is a license required if you have an android TV box linked up to a projector?

GerardKeating

Dunston wrote: »

Is a license required if you have an android TV box linked up to a projector?

Not yet..

ozmo

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Eh? Since when did a radio become capable to receiving a TV signal?

‘It’s what I was told - but just looked it now and it seems the requirement to have a tv license for Radio (even if you have no tv) may have been dropped in 1972.
But yeah- it was apparently a thing at one stage.

That’s what I just found on Wikipedia now so it may not be correct either mind...

Peregrinus

ozmo wrote: »

‘It’s what I was told - but just looked it now and it seems the requirement to have a tv license for Radio (even if you have no tv) may have been dropped in 1972.
But yeah- it was apparently a thing at one stage.

That’s what I just found on Wikipedia now so it may not be correct either mind...

The system started out early in the 20th century as a "wireless licence". At that time, you needed it only for a radio, as there were no televisions. When televisions were introduced, they fell within the existing "broadcast receiving equipment" definition, so you did need a wireless licence for a TV set. However a single wireless licence would cover you for all the radio and TV sets in the licensed premises. Almost everybody who bought a TV already had a radio, and a wireless licence, and you didn't need a second licence to buy a TV.

In the early 1960s, when RTE was set up, a substantial increase in funding was required to establish the new service. However only a minority of (fairly well-off) houses had TV sets, and it was though unfair that radio listeners should pay for the television service. So the wireless licence was spit into radio licences, which authorised radio sets only, and TV licenses, which authorised both radio and TV sets.

By 1972 television ownership was widespread. Very few people were still taking out radio-only licences. So they dropped the requirement to have a licence for a radio set, and discontinued the issue of radio-only licences.

selous

If memory serves me right there were 2 different prices too, one price for Monochrome and another for Colour.

Fred Swanson

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Peregrinus

selous wrote: »

If memory serves me right there were 2 different prices too, one price for Monochrome and another for Colour.

Yes. Though of course that split wasn't made until RTE introduced a colour broadcasting service which, from memory, was round about 1970.

CiniO

Hello everyone. OP here. I quite forgot about this thread.
Thank you everyone for replies.

Licence is expired now.
I got several letters requesting renewal and threatening with possible court summons. Recently they sent me a declaration which I can fill where I can state I don't have television set at my address.
I'm just filling that declaration and intend to post it to TV licence section tomorrow.

TV is removed from my premises, as well as satellite tuner.

What I have left though is my PC with monitor (with HDMI input) - which I use for watching Amazon Prime Video and HBO GO and obviously Youtube, etc...
I also have DVD player connected to it. Amplifier with a radio receiver (radio has it's own small aerial).
Outside the house there's a satellite dish, and it's wired to a socket in a room where all above equipment is.

I'd be grateful for opinions on my setup, especially if I'll be in a clear when TV licence inspector pays me a visit.

Thank you.

Under His Eye

Sat dish on it's own does not need a licence, so you are safe there.

Just point all this out when they send someone around.

fritzelly

The law relates to a tuner receiving a transmission - whether terrestrial or satellite transmission
Computer (unless you have a tuner card in it), DVD player etc don't have tuners so you are grand
Anything watched online does not require a licence period

unattendedbag

Peregrinus wrote: »

In the early 1960s, when RTE was set up, a substantial increase in funding was required to establish the new service. However only a minority of (fairly well-off) houses had TV sets, and it was though unfair that radio listeners should pay for the television service. So the wireless licence was spit into radio licences, which authorised radio sets only, and TV licenses, which authorised both radio and TV sets.

By 1972 television ownership was widespread. Very few people were still taking out radio-only licences. So they dropped the requirement to have a licence for a radio set, and discontinued the issue of radio-only licences.

Interesting. Thanks for that. Good to see them amending the licences to keep up with changes technology. I really think they should adjust it again now to include streaming and computers and change the collection method. From what I gather poor compliance rate at the moment. Perhaps a communications licence to encompass radio, TV, internet etc.

fritzelly

unattendedbag wrote: »

Interesting. Thanks for that. Good to see them amending the licences to keep up with changes technology. I really think they should adjust it again now to include streaming and computers and change the collection method. From what I gather poor compliance rate at the moment. Perhaps a communications licence to encompass radio, TV, internet etc.

Have you not been keeping up with the news?

ozmo

In the UK they seem to be much clearer about the rights
of householders with regard to this.

Do you think this would apply in Ireland

Long vid - but about 4minutes in is interesting in that you can just request that they are never to contact you and they cannot. ?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=867s&v=Vv2ZqZmC7u0

CiniO

unattendedbag wrote: »

Interesting. Thanks for that. Good to see them amending the licences to keep up with changes technology. I really think they should adjust it again now to include streaming and computers and change the collection method. From what I gather poor compliance rate at the moment. Perhaps a communications licence to encompass radio, TV, internet etc.

Out of curiosity why would you like to see them include streaming and computers ???

Fingers Mcginty

Apologies for raising a slightly old thread but i've just received this fecking letter demading 160 Euros . I'll be honest ...i've paid it for the last 20 years but out of principle i don't feel like paying the bloody thing this year. I receive my TV through my broadband (vodafone tv) and i never ever watch RTE due to it being absoulte ****e. If i take my aerial down from the chimney do i still have to pay the bloody thing?

ohnonotgmail

Fingers Mcginty wrote: »

Apologies for raising a slightly old thread but i've just received this fecking letter demading 160 Euros . I'll be honest ...i've paid it for the last 20 years but out of principle i don't feel like paying the bloody thing this year. I receive my TV through my broadband (vodafone tv) and i never ever watch RTE due to it being absoulte ****e. If i take my aerial down from the chimney do i still have to pay the bloody thing?

will you still have a tv? then the answer is yes

LiveRadio.ie

All,

Buy a projector. 4k projectors available at cost around 300 euro. You will save 160 euro every year.

Don't be stupid, don't buy TV's!

L1011

LiveRadio.ie wrote: »

All,

Buy a projector. 4k projectors available at cost around 300 euro. You will save 160 euro every year.

Don't be stupid, don't buy TV's!

This does not in itself remove any requirement to hold a licence.

LiveRadio.ie

L1011 wrote: »

This does not in itself remove any requirement to hold a licence.

Projector users do not pay TV licence fee. No legal obligation to pay.

loyatemu

Vodafone TV is as the name suggests, TV. It would be regarded the same as cable TV, you need a license for it regardless of whether you have the box plugged into a TV or a monitor. Ditto Eir TV.

loyatemu

LiveRadio.ie wrote: »

Projector users do not pay TV licence fee. No legal obligation to pay.

If they have "equipment capable of receiving a television signal" then they have to pay the license.

If you're just watching DVDs on your projector, fine, but if you have a Sky box, or any other TV service box such as Saorview plugged into the projector - license required.

Fingers Mcginty

loyatemu wrote: »

Vodafone TV is as the name suggests, TV. It would be regarded the same as cable TV, you need a license for it regardless of whether you have the box plugged into a TV or a monitor. Ditto Eir TV.

AH FECK:(

mollygreene

Maybe someone can shed light on this..

Given the introduction of Saorview and that you can no longer tune your telly to pick up RTÉ etc.. Does the whole 'owning a television set with a tuner..' rule stand up anymore?

GrumpyMe

loyatemu wrote: »

Vodafone TV is as the name suggests, TV. It would be regarded the same as cable TV, you need a license for it regardless of whether you have the box plugged into a TV or a monitor. Ditto Eir TV.

I believe that having Vodafone TV service by itself does not require a TV licence?
I believe that having the equipment capable of receiving that signal would require a licence, whether you have the Vodafone TV service or not.


Discuss

billyhead

Folks, Just a quick question and sorry for going off topic OP my TV license is up for renewal on the 30th September however my house is going to be remediated for between 2-3 months from the 24th for Pyrite and will need to be empty during this time. I have 2 tvs which will be taken off site for storage. I have a satellite dish on the roof. As the house will be unoccupied and the TVs will be out of the house should I have to pay the license still or should I be allowed to hold off renewing it until i return?

Under His Eye

The sat box or cable box do.

Sleeper12

Even if you don't have a TV you might have to have a TV licence. Anything with a tuner. My last pc had a TV tuner. A projector may have a tuner.

XtraVivion never had to pay a TV licence in any of its stores. They bought regular tvs but got the tuners removed. Tvs could not receive a signal & were only good for video through the scart lead

L1011

LiveRadio.ie wrote: »

Projector users do not pay TV licence fee. No legal obligation to pay.

You do not understand the legislation and are making dangerous recommendations to people

If you are feeding TV to that projector, you are still liable to pay. That the display is a projector and not a "TV" is completely irrelevant. Same way that using a computer monitor isn't a get-out.

loyatemu

GrumpyMe wrote: »

I believe that having Vodafone TV service by itself does not require a TV licence?
I believe that having the equipment capable of receiving that signal would require a licence, whether you have the Vodafone TV service or not.


Discuss

Discuss what - if you have the service they give you the equipment, it's no different to having Virgin's TV service. If it's live TV channels that come into your house via a cable (whether that's coax, telephone or fibre) then it's effectively cable TV.

Obviously the lines are getting blurred these days with online video services (e.g. you don't need a license to watch the RTE player) but I think if you try to argue Vodafone or Eir TV are not TV services you're heading for a fine.

GrumpyMe

loyatemu wrote: »

Discuss what - if you have the service they give you the equipment, it's no different to having Virgin's TV service. If it's live TV channels that come into your house via a cable (whether that's coax, telephone or fibre) then it's effectively cable TV.

Obviously the lines are getting blurred these days with online video services (e.g. you don't need a license to watch the RTE player) but I think if you try to argue Vodafone or Eir TV are not TV services you're heading for a fine.

Vodafone TV and other services don't supply the equipment that allows you to display the broadcast. As such you don't need a licence just by virtue of having the Vodafone TV service.
Now if you go out and buy a television - THEN you are required to have a licence.
Cancel and remove all trace of Vodafone TV and you still need a licence for that TV.
Send the TV to the recycle centre and you no longer need a TV licence.