Court summons for no tv licence

foxy_j · 17-01-2022 01:46PM #1

So back in August a TV licence inspector called while I was working from home. I only answered as I was waiting on a package.

We don't have Virgin or sky etc so I told him that although we still have a TV set that we don't use. I also said we aren't here long and are moving soon. He said you'll probably be ok but can he take my details to show he'd visited the residence.

I didn't want to give him my name so I gave him a fake name as didn't fully believe him when he said we probably wouldn't need one.

A letter came in the post a while ago to get one in fake name which I ignored.

Today a registered letter was put through our letter box with a court summons in the fake name.

Should I ignore it or mark the letter that this person is no longer at this address and pop in a post box or what?

Thanks

endacl · 17-01-2022 01:50PM

Add another tangle to your mess?

Get down to the post office. Pay the fee. Take your license home. The court won’t let it lie.

MrStuffins · 17-01-2022 01:51PM

They've heard all the excuses OP!

punchdrunk · 17-01-2022 01:52PM

so you said in august you were leaving soon but half a year later you're still there? pretty obvious what needs to happen here!

Ash.J.Williams · 17-01-2022 01:55PM

Get the license to limit the trouble you’ve completely caused yourself

foxy_j · 17-01-2022 01:56PM

Yes I agree a mess but we are actually moving but it's been pushed out for another 6 months.

I was just wondering if there is anything they can really do seeing as the summons isn't in my name.

That person could have been here and now is gone. TV licence inspector is hardly going to remember what I look like.

silver2020 · 17-01-2022 01:57PM

Isn't it an offence to give a wrong name too?

Won't be difficult for them to find out the correct name and it would be interesting to see how a judge sees that.

Basically you could be hit at the higher range of fines for your stupidity

17-01-2022 02:04PM

Im not saying Im condoning it, but giving fake name can only work if you were leaving imo, I dont engage with unsolicited callers to the door, Im under no obligation to speak to them so I dont. I have a non functional monitor paperweight/ornament (old flatscreen tv with the inards removed as room without a tv/like item looks odd to me, tried to locate complete fakes as per ikea showroom but no luck) but it would be very easy for a tv licence inspector to say they saw a tv, so I just keep the curtains closed as I know they are an absolute shower and will say anything to get you stitched up, in this case, you have kinda helped them.

If you have no intention of leaving, and its a rental, get a licence in your own name and maybe you can ignore the summons? your call, but Id prefer that than going to court and admitting I gave a false name. If it's your own home?? I just advise not saying anythign to anyone you dont want to speak to.

Caranica · 17-01-2022 03:17PM

"If you have have a television, you must have a television licence". Do you not remember hearing/seeing those ads every single year of your life? I do.

You admitted you had a TV and admitted you didn't have a licence. You then lied to the inspector.

August was a long time ago, and you're still there? You need to sort this out. Oh and get a ring doorbell.

mondeoman72 · 17-01-2022 05:30PM

If they have a false name, surely it cannot go anywhere? What are they going to do? Summons fake name at 2 main street? How is that going ot work.

Sierra Oscar · 17-01-2022 05:32PM

The summons won't be able to be served on you if it's in the name of another person. In saying that, I'd sort out the TV licence if I were you. Especially if you are still residing at the address.

Conrad89 · 17-01-2022 05:45PM

I think at this stage after getting the summons (even though its to the wrong name), I'd sort out the TV licence if I were you since you will be living there for another six months. This can potentially escalate become a bigger pain than paying for the TV licence.

Not sure if it helps but if you decide to get a TV licence you can move it with you to the new address.

marklazarcovic · 17-01-2022 06:06PM

a registered letter needs to be signed by the person named on it,or a nominee,or someone who opens the door,and their name needs to be put on the scanner, legally,cross out the name on the letter,write NOT AT THIS ADDRESS on it,and either hand into a post office or pop into a an post post box, its not you named,ignore it.

billyhead · 17-01-2022 08:14PM

OP, Just by a TV licence. You have a TV so you have no excuses. Judges have heard all the excuses so when it does get to court you could be hit with a harsher penalty.

17-01-2022 08:19PM

Who signed for letter?

Who is summoned to court?

Who will debt collector pursue.

TheTruth89 · 18-01-2022 12:38AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118489002#Comment_118489002

You ll be grand, its a TV license just go and get one in your own name.

18-01-2022 01:00AM

Don't get a licence at this time if your name is not on the registered letter as it will be used as an admission of guilt in Court. The TV licence Inspector will say he spoke to the Householder, got their name from the Householder and determined they had no TV licence while in possession of a TV. Instead of the cost of a TV Licence you'll be paying for a Licence and a fine. A TV licence Inspector has no problems dragging you to Court amongst hundreds of others as it is just one day for him in Court when he was going to be attending anyhow. The usual source of Householder's name is from electoral register or other post going to household. When you get to Court it will be your word against theirs and they don't play by the rules(source: bitter personal experience).

If you want a license then purchase independently at a time of your choosing otherwise remove the TV from the household or remove the tuner/antenna compnent from the device if you feel up to it but most wouldn't be comfortable with that.

foxy_j · 18-01-2022 01:53AM

Thanks everyone for all the advice.

So I'm thinking the best thing to do is get a licence in either myself or my husbands name.

I'm thinking of waiting a couple weeks so it doesn't look suspicious I bought one as soon as the summons arrived. The court date isn't til mid April.

Then there's the matter of the summons letter...no one signed for it, could be because of covid they don't ask for people to sign letters.

Will I mark not at this address or something along those lines aswell and pop it in the post box or just leave it altogether?

If I wait to get the licence for another couple of weeks then i'd have to wait to send the summons letter "not at this address" too. Which might look odd

Dempo1 · 18-01-2022 08:51AM

I'm somewhat perplexed by this thread OP.

You clearly say 3 things occurred here.

A. You've given False Name

B. A registered letter was "Dropped" through your letterbox

B. Your moving shortly 🤔

So, point one, fair enough but not wise, however it is the license collectors responsibility to determine and prove who resides at any address, not the occupier.

Point 2, how is it possible a registered letter was "Dropped through your letter box", that's not how registered letters are delivered, they need to be signed for. Regardless, as your not named on it, it is irrelevant to you and has no legal standing in relation to you. The case will likely proceed and likely a fine issued to named person on the summons and in essence the fine is uncollectable.

Point 3, why on earth would you now purchase a TV license if your moving, that make no sense at all. By all means, consider getting one at new address.

In essence you can not change what's happened re giving false name, getting a TV license now doesn't change that. If your staying, get one, if not wait until you move to new address.

Some common issues to arise in court cases re summons for non payment of TV licenses is incorrect names, miss spelling of names, wrong address etc. Letters sent to the "Occupier" have no legal standing and a silly ploy by license inspectors to get a response and hopefully a name.

Andrea B. · 18-01-2022 09:01AM

Aside from any of this there is the shame and public humiliation of going to court, as hammered in to us via radio and tv in the 80's.

That doorbell sound still resonates.

mondeoman72 · 18-01-2022 10:31AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118492873#Comment_118492873

Just because something was hammered into people in the 80's via tv adverts, does not make it right. If I saw someone was in court for no tv licence I would not be one bit bothered. RTE is not worth one cent.

18-01-2022 12:56PM

If they can not deliver registered post signed by you, you will receive a note asking you to collect a delivery from the local postoffice depot and then a member of staff in An Post will go out the back, collect the registered letter knowing exactly what it is, ask for identification and then watch you sign for the registered letter. Then you will not be able to avoid going to Court as the summons will have been served. I can't think of anything good which comes by registered post which you would receive unexpectedly, they're always bad news.

Beware one of those slips coming through your postbox in coming weeks.

Lenar3556 · 18-01-2022 03:56PM

Indeed that is how registered post is supposed to operate, but I have seen cases in the last couple of years where it was simply left in a postbox.

OP - If the television is not in use, I would suggest getting rid of it and leave it at that.

If it is in use or you plan to keep it, purchase a TV licence. It can be transferred to a future address if you subsequently move. (Although transferring it to the new address is a good idea, I don’t think there is any particular statutory requirement to do so.)

Modifying the television or removing the tuner/other elements of the TV such as to render it incapable of receiving a signal is unlikely to be an acceptable remedy as this could be subsequently be reversed.

As regards the court summons, I would be inclined to put it in the bin.

18-01-2022 04:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118492856#Comment_118492856

NOT CORRECT, regarding registered mail/parcels.

I have had deliveries either put through my letterbox or left on the doorstep for parcels that would not fit, defeats the purpose of paying for registered mail imo, but it does happen.

either way I did not sign for them, not because I declined, but because I wasn't present to sign for them, joke imo

Dempo1 · 18-01-2022 04:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118495178#Comment_118495178

Just to be very clear, we are talking about a summons and registered letter , not a package sent from Amazon. Registered letters HAVE to be signed for, by either the recipient or an assigned person on there behalf.

I'm fully aware of packages being left at door steps by couriers etc, this is completely irrelevant with regard to the service of a summons or receipt of a Registered letter, proof of signature or service of a summons is required.

HerrKuehn · 18-01-2022 04:42PM

Could you maybe fake the death of the fake person you created? Seems like it should be easy enough for you with your skills.

18-01-2022 04:46PM

If somebody who is in possession of a licence wants to mind your TV then it is out of your house and you are not breaking the law.

Caranica · 18-01-2022 04:58PM

There has been no signing for anything with An Post since Covid. Registered, parcels, whatever. A postman told me recently that he saves a load of time now that he doesn't have to wait for signatures.

@mondeoman2 you think the TV licence only goes to RTE you have a lot to learn.

Edit: apologies, should be @mondeoman72 but can't delete wrong tag

ggmat799 · 18-01-2022 05:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058228475/court-summons-for-no-tv-licence

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118493877#Comment_118493877

FishOnABike · 18-01-2022 05:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118495485#Comment_118495485

"If you have a television you must have a television licence. " - the opposite also applies - if you don't have a television you don't have to have a television licence.

18-01-2022 05:44PM

if you turn up when a summons was incorrectly served you will be considered to have received the summons.

Court summons for no tv licence

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