Do I have the right to find out how the TV licence inspector found out my name?

jackofalltrades

I regularly got TV licence reminders posted through the door addressed to "the occupier" over a 2 year period.

Then one day suddenly they were address to me by name.

Do I have the right to find out how they found out this information?

endofrainbow

Electoral register ?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058343500/do-i-have-the-right-to-find-out-how-the-tv-licence-inspector-found-out-my-name

You can probably make a request to A Post asking for whatever info they have on you and where they got it from? I suggest contacting them in the first instance.

blackbox

They might have asked the people next door. What difference does it make?

Buddy Bubs

Long winded way of coming up with an excuse not to pay tv licence

Just don't pay if you don't want, I wouldn't worry about going down the whole gdpr route

28064212

You have a right to request all data that An Post have on you (with some exceptions): https://www.anpost.com/Privacy/Access-Request-Policy

Of course, that doesn't mean that An Post still have details on how they obtained that information. Nor does it mean that they are required to retain that information to proceed with a prosecution

Esel

Didn't know that An Post administers the TV licence!

Shield

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058343500/do-i-have-the-right-to-find-out-how-the-tv-licence-inspector-found-out-my-name

It’s easier than you think. When you register to vote, you’re giving local government nice fresh current personal information about you. Once everyone has signed up, the Register of Electors is up for sale. You yourself can buy extracts or the whole thing from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (I think it’s them; could be outsourced)… and that’s exactly what An Post do. I’ve attached some very light bedtime reading, underpinned by the Electoral Reform Act 2022.

This used to be the way it went: An Post request the Register of Electors database from the department and compare it against their own database of TV licence holders to see who, on the Register, has YES in green beside their name, or who has NO in red beside their name. If you have a red NO beside your name… eventually… *knock knock*

Hope this helps!

-Shield

jackofalltrades

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121938689#Comment_121938689

I'm not on the local one.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121938702#Comment_121938702

My neighbours wouldn't have my surname.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121938777#Comment_121938777

Yeah I planning to send in a request, but assumed they'd try their best to leave out anything incriminating if it existed.

FishOnABike

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121939347#Comment_121939347

If you send in a request will you have given them your name and address so they can reply? 😁

beeker1

Exactly, the electoral register !

monkeybutter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058343500/do-i-have-the-right-to-find-out-how-the-tv-licence-inspector-found-out-my-name

Your post

Clo-Clo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058343500/do-i-have-the-right-to-find-out-how-the-tv-licence-inspector-found-out-my-name

You do know An POst are responsible for TV licenses

Unless you don't get any other post to the address then maybe, just maybe, they might know where you live

You can of course sue them for having this information and never get post delivered again

Or pay the TV license which is 160 euro......

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121939347#Comment_121939347

Do you get other post at that address ?

Kaisr Sose

I do not believe they use postal items to garner your name. The Postal Warrants would not permit that

They can however use multiple data sources. An Post own a subsidiary company called Data Ireland. They may use various sources to build databases for sale to marketing and advertising companies. An Post TV licence section. may also buy this for detection of unregistered addresses. They may claim a legitimate interest in processing your data.

I would be more concerned about the consequences of lack of TV licence than the GDPR aspect.

Edit; I recall reading before they may get access to those signed up to sat or cable provider).

https://www.newstalk.com/news/an-post-could-get-access-to-tv-subscriber-information-in-license-fee-crackdown-583665

gipi

Back in the day, if a person bought a TV, the shop was obliged to notify TV licence section with details of the purchaser.

No idea if it's still a thing.

Did you buy a TV recently, OP?!

Shield

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121939347#Comment_121939347

Just to put things into perspective, I’m a police officer so I know how these things work. If the Gardaí want to find out who lives where bad enough, all they need to hear are the right words from the right people and they get to work. As a ‘by the way’, you’re not the only person to receive this letter. The State has lost nearly €20m as a result of people not buying a licence. Of course enforcement is going to be beefed up with €20m on the line. They can’t afford to keep haemorrhaging cash like this. More relevant bedtime reading for context…

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/60-people-a-day-now-facing-prosecution-for-not-paying-tv-licence-as-rate-soars-in-wake-of-rte-payments-scandal/a1947876170.html#:~:text=The%20latest%20figures%20show%20the,loss%20of%20€19.78m.

-Shield

Peregrinus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058343500/do-i-have-the-right-to-find-out-how-the-tv-licence-inspector-found-out-my-name

This is Ireland. Most of the time, anybody can find out who lives in a particular premises. It's really not difficult.

Plus, the TV licence is administered by An Post. They deliver your mail. Of course they know who lives in the house.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121939347#Comment_121939347

Incriminating my ass! You broke the law, you failed to pay what was due and got caught. Well done An Post.

You want to live off the grid then give up everything single thing that requires an address or a public service.

beachhead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121939467#Comment_121939467

Heard of that about the UK,also. Pay in cash and anywhere address

Dav010

How did An Post get my name and address?

Is this trick question?

They can receive info from other public bodies, and presumably their own organisation.

https://www.thejournal.ie/tv-licence-data-an-post-3493973-Jul2017/

kirving

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121940126#Comment_121940126

Not related to the TV License per se, but I know someone who works for a state body. Their data processing systems are a hell of a lot better than they intentionally (IMO) let on.

Given how much information An Post would very easily be able to extract from their automatic letter processing machines, I can't imagine how their databases wouldn't be heavily interrogated by other state agencies on an ongoing basis.

@jackofalltrades They got your info from any one of a number of state bodies who have it, potentially (and I'm just making this up, I have no info) say the motor tax office, your car insurer, bank, phone company, Revenue, MyGovID, RSA, etc. and they're not going to tell you how, as it would open a world of questions into what is fairly clandestine data sharing operation for want of a better word.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121939083#Comment_121939083

The Yes/No for commercial use is gone; its all No all the time now. Register can only be used for electoral purposes, the Edited Register that had other use is no more

jackofalltrades

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121939444#Comment_121939444

Do you have a link to these Postal Warrants that you mentioned?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121939467#Comment_121939467

I don't own a TV.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121939970#Comment_121939970

Do An Post have a database of everyone who's living at every house in the country?

From their website they say that they're neither a data controller or processor when it comes to mail delivery.

If it was really that easy for them to find out, then why bother sending out letters to "the occupier"?

You also wouldn't get cases like this.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121940126#Comment_121940126

Wouldn't those public bodies have to disclose this sharing with me due to the Bara Judgement?

Mrs OBumble

Is there a TV in the house, no matter who the owner is?

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121942325#Comment_121942325

Just fill out and return this and you will have no more worries.

https://www.tvlicence.ie/home/tv-licence-forms.html

Peregrinus

Do An Post have a database of everyone who's living at every house in the country?

Doubt it. But they have postmen.

Think about it. Your postman has to read the envelopes that he delivers, for obvious reasons. He's read envelopes addressed to your house many, many times. He knows who lives there.

The question raised in the OP assumes that the question of who lives in what house is some kind of state secret or privileged information. It really isn't. In the neighbourhood, it's a matter of common knowledge, and it's not difficult for anyone to find out by entirely commonplace and ordinary means.

steinbock123

You used to be able to go to the local library or Garda station and ask to see the register of electors. They had several thick books covering all the local areas. They would just ask you for which street / area, and just hand it over for your perusal, no questions asked. Can you still do this or is it a thing of the past ?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121944162#Comment_121944162

Thing of the past. I worked in the public library service and remember those massive big electoral tones. No such a thing now, all online where you can really only simply verify whether or not you, yourself are registered to vote. Years ago the local gangsters loved the electoral register, which used along with the phone book, was one way of helping plan burglaries.

Peregrinus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121944198#Comment_121944198

The electoral register is still publicly available — it's a legal requirement, because there has to be an opportunity for people to object to registrations that are incorrect (other than their own registrations). Electoral Act 1992 s. 13 requires the register to be published every year. It may no longer be the practice to make it available at public libraries, but it is available. At a minimum, you can inspect the register at the offices of the local government (for free) and any person is entitled to buy a copy (for a fee).

shoegirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121942325#Comment_121942325

Law has changed here too, its no longer about whether or not you own a TV, but if you are able to watch broadcast TV on, for example, a monitor, or have a TV aerial and satellite dish at the premises, its possible you might be perceived as "needing" a license. If you don't own a computer or have an aerial or satellite or ground digital connection, you can certainly fill out the forms and declare yourself to be entirely TV broadcast free.

General TV Licence FAQ's