TV License Summons - Can we pay now to avoid fine?

Best to get the licence asap before court. But the the judge may or may not still make a fine payable. You just can't know.

Is your father elderly? Would he be entitled to free to licence? Maybe they thought your father no longer lived there so sent it in your husbands name

rawn wrote:

Hi all. My husband and I live with my dad. My dad owns and watches the TV, we pay him rent inclusive of bills. My husband got a summons today for nonpayment of TV license, we were confused at first about why it was his name on it rather than my dads, but the husband vaguely remembers giving his name to someone at the door last year who could have been a TV License inspector (he didn't let him in but he could easily have seen the TV through the window). We were unaware that the TV License hadn't been paid, we honestly never gave it a thought as my dad does usually have one. We know of course that judges have heard it all before and we don't want to go in full of excuses, but if we pay for a license now and bring a copy on the day would we avoid a fine? There's no phone number on the summons to call and ask. Thanks

Seeing the TV bit thru the window doesn't necessarily mean it's a TV it could have been a monitor and being used for streaming from the internet. The inspector would have to inspect it to see if conforms to what they class as a TV The household must have received letters and warnings about not paying for a TV license??? usually those money grabbers generally give people an opportunity to pay it and then if you don't then you get summoned but generally they the fright of them turning up makes people run out and get a license .

Was there ever a license in the house and the father forgot to pay it ?

Tip for ya never give your name

You're wasting your time talking to An Post now that a summons has been issued.

Pay the licence now (in your dads name) and get one or two stamps towards next years and bring the lot to court.

Cry the poor mouth - without appearing that you're exaggerating - and basically appear as honest as you can.

Just tell the truth pretty much as you've stated here and let them know it's your dads but that your husband answered the door.

It's up to the judge after that and depends on his mood but I'd be pretty confident of a strike out. It's never a guarantee though.

rawn wrote:

Our tv is huge and can be seen through the window, it's unmistakably a tv! No warnings, none at all and especially none in my husband's name. My dad usually does have a license but his memory is dotty, he must have either forgotten or just put it on the long finger. And oh boy, don't I know it! He must have caught him hungover Should we be able to get out of the court date because we had no warnings? We'll still buy the license ofc

Tell ya that's a dear hangover he should of slammed the door in his face.

I thought I had responded . You can get massive monitors these days so an inspector has to check it. But that's a different story . Basically find an old TV license that your dad paid for before or even anything with the license number and find out when he last paid for it and go in with that detail and pay it but beware they may make you back date since it was last paid either that or put it in your name . Surely your hubby was receiving letters in his name from An post about paying it ? I'd doubt your dad was opening letters meant for the hubby ?

My advice is go and organise a solicitor . Your husband will have to go to court . If you pay the outstanding license fee I'd be emailing them and stating you aren't the license holder and that they've incriminated the wrong person but the license has been paid and up to date and maybe look to have the license transferred into your name stating that your dad has been unwell now mind you if he hasn't paid the license in the last 3 or 4 yr then that's a different story. This will at least show the judge you have paid the money scam .

When's the court date ? Keep us updated .....

Tobe honest if your dad is leaving bills unopened it might be time for you to step up and take charge of the bills. Your dad got reminders to pay for the licence. Then at least one bill & possibly some reminders were sent to your husband once they had his name so your dad didn't pass these on either.
An post will have a record or all of bills sent to your dads and husband. This will be part of their case.

To claim its the first you heard of it won't wash with the judge imo. As everyone has said pay the licence ASAP

Homer wrote:

That's actually not true. And it's nowhere near the same as trying to negotiate your way out of a drink driving summons. Stupid statement to make. I received a summons for non payment of a TV licence recently enough. I purchased a TV licence and contacted An Post and explained it was an oversight on my part. They could see I had purchased a licence recently, and they simply asked me to make a postal order out for the amount that equated to the difference in time between the inspector calling and the date I purchased the new licence! They would then not make any representation in court in relation to the summons and it would be struck out.

Same happened to us.