UK Shop refused to sell TV - anyone else?

dsab

Hi together,

this ever happened to someone else?

Went today to NI, and found a TV at a bargain price. When I wanted to pay, they asked for my postal code. As I am livng in Dublin I told them that I didn`t have one, and that I am living in the republic.

Then they told me that they can`t sell me the TV as it is uk law to note down the details for TV Licenses etc.

Anyone else has experienced this kind of problem in the past? I really want that TV, as it was a bargain, but they didn`t want to argue.

Anything I could do? If I go back, and just give them a random Postal Code, will they check some kind of ID?

Cheers,
DSAB

BTW, I think that is against EU Law regarding Free Trade etc. :-)

KdjaCL

dsab wrote:

BTW, I think that is against EU Law regarding Free Trade etc. :-)

Psssst they didnt like you.


kdjac

gsand

if u live in dublin most likely you do have a postcode...

dublin 1, dublin 2, dublin 14, 16 etc etc, co.dublin, all qualify as the equivalent of a uk postcode...im suprised that isnt common knowledge??!!

Our man in Havana

Give them a real post code eg. BT2 8HQ

That is the post code for the BBC in Belfast!

Or if you are feeling devious BS98 1TL That is the post code for the tv licencing people:D

mp3guy

Bond-007 wrote:

BS98 1TL That is the post code for the tv licencing people:D

Whats the 'BS' stand for

Our man in Havana

mp3guy wrote:

Whats the 'BS' stand for

Bristol

dsab

They told me they could only sell me the TV with a valid UK Postcode. I am just not sure if the postcode is all they want, or if I might need to show some proof of adress.

I just checked with a UK guy, and he said that he heard about that before. Just don`t want to drive up again, give them a random postcode and then themtol ask for a ID or verification. Would be a pain in the a**.

joe.

yea that's the case up North. You need to give an address. If you know somebody in the North then ask them if you can use their address. If you don't then google is your friend, so make it up and fly like the wind back across that line that is freedom. Imagination is a great thing.

Good call on spending your euros up there. some great bargains

Lump

It's a couple of different reasons. 1. Lower tax in the UK. 2. Retailers have to register a post code when selling A/V equipment (Stuff that can recieve signals) It's a crack down by the license fee people. E.G. When I bought my freeview box in the UK (In argos) I had to give my postcode, I then got a letter from the license people, saying "You recently bought an item which can recieve television signals, you need a television License"

You get the idea. I doubt the retailer will check the Postcode.... but it may have repercussions. (sp?)

John

Our man in Havana

As long as the address matches the postcode you will be fine. They won't ask for ID or proof of address.

Heres the best one of all:

Barton House
Bristol
BS98 1TL

Enjoy

OFDM

Anyone can go into a gun shop in Texas and buy a gun but you can't go into an electrical store in Northern Ireland and buy a tv without a postcode.

What next - proof that you're sexually active before you can buy condoms?

sceptre

dsab wrote:

Went today to NI, and found a TV at a bargain price.

keep in mind that it probably only has a UHF tuner rather than the ones you buy in this country (UHF and VHF). If you're planning on using it with an aerial or even cable, you may have problems unless you use the tuner in a VCR instead.

Geiger

Funny you ask, I work in a supermarket and sold a tv today. A message popped up to say they had to supply their name and full address. They had one of those loyalty card things though so the details were taken off it. I assumed it had something to do with tv licensing or something...

Guy:Incognito

Go to a phonebox near the shop, open a random page, pick a name and address and use that.

Esel

You do know that a TV you buy 'up there' probably won't work 'down here'? It's a UHF/VHF thing . . .

dsab

I went up north again, and just used a Postal Code from the Phonebook.

No ID was needed. Weird procedure.

TV works like a treat. Still happy for the bargain I got. Where else could you get a brand new Toshiba 24´Widescreen TV for less then 200 Euro.

And it can tune in VHF and UHF, so I was able to use it out of the box without any changes or additions.

THX for all the suggestions.

DSAB

BobTheBeat

I remember buying some musical equipment in wales before and they asked for a postcode too. Had to give one belonging to one of my realations. Weird!

Our man in Havana

dsab wrote:

I went up north again, and just used a Postal Code from the Phonebook.

No ID was needed. Weird procedure.

TV works like a treat. Still happy for the bargain I got. Where else could you get a brand new Toshiba 24´Widescreen TV for less then 200 Euro.

And it can tune in VHF and UHF, so I was able to use it out of the box without any changes or additions.

THX for all the suggestions.

DSAB

Some poor sod will now get hassled into getting a tv licence

Well done!

viking

dsab wrote:

Where else could you get a brand new Toshiba 24´Widescreen TV for less then 200 Euro.

I don't know, fancy telling us where you bought it?