Do I need a TV license?

killanena · 11-12-2016 06:07PM #1

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 · 11-12-2016 06:58PM

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

dev100 · 11-12-2016 07:11PM

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 · 12-12-2016 12:21AM

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 · 12-12-2016 12:20PM

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 · 12-12-2016 12:21PM

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 · 12-12-2016 02:00PM

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 · 12-12-2016 02:40PM

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 · 14-12-2016 11:19AM

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 · 14-12-2016 01:24PM

This post has been deleted.

Victor · 22-12-2016 12:55AM

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 · 25-12-2016 01:52AM

<<Mod Post deleted. Uncivil>>

goz83 · 25-12-2016 10:19AM

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 · 29-12-2016 08:13PM

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 · 29-12-2016 08:17PM

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pillphil · 30-12-2016 08:17PM

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 · 31-12-2016 11:10PM

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 · 31-12-2016 11:11PM

This post has been deleted.

killanena · 31-12-2016 11:14PM

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 · 31-12-2016 11:15PM

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?

31-12-2016 11:21PM

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 · 31-12-2016 11:22PM

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 · 01-01-2017 12:51AM

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 · 01-01-2017 03:06AM

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 · 01-01-2017 03:33AM

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 · 01-01-2017 12:35PM

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 · 01-01-2017 12:41PM

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

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

No.

goz83 · 01-01-2017 01:34PM

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 · 01-01-2017 10:02PM

goz83 wrote: »

<<Off topic posts removed>>

newacc2015 · 01-01-2017 10:43PM

Victor wrote: »

<< Mod; Off topic posts removed>>

goz83 · 02-01-2017 09:17AM

<<Off topic post removed>>

Do I need a TV license?

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