TV licence inspector

Let them come along and have a look.

Absolutely, is this a new tactic 😳 Bizzare

From an old Irish Times article...

"....And under the Broadcasting Act 2009 they have the right to enter “at any reasonable time any premises or specified place for the purposes of ascertaining whether there is a television set there”.

So telling them to clear off might not work. Although its unlikely they'd tried to force their way past you, who knows what next steps are available to them.

If it was me, I'd let him in to see the not-there telly. Then after he goes, I'd wait a while before acquiring one, in case of a sneaky revisit. Or I'd just go and buy the blinking licence.

I wonder how much my TV licences have cost since I started buying them in 1983??? Probably best not to go there.

I'm not doubting you as I'm not familiar with the act but I'd be very surprised if an inspector could just enter someone's home 🤔 perhaps driveway, garden but not someone's home surely 🤔

We had them call by at an apartment block but they were only interested in properties unlisted for TV licences.

Cam I ask was the letter addressed to you personally or to "The Occupier"

I genuinely wasn't aware they had authority to physically enter someone's property, seems extraordinary, a Garda who has the power of arrest would think twice before entering someone's property, but I take your word for it . I agree they seem to catch people out by way of snooping through windows etc .

That article is likely referring to Section 147, subsection 3.

And there's a prize for anyone who can categorically state what the wording above even means!!! :) Seriously, they really should have intelligent, English speaking people write their laws, because the above wording is completely nonsensical and would result in a fail at even Junior Cert level English.

Either way, it certainly doesn't grant a license inspector permission to break into a home, nor to use physical force against someone obstructing them.

Just ignore all letters that come from them. And simply close the door on any inspectors that come to your home (ideally, don't open it in the first place). If you do not engage, there's very little they can do.

Hopefully, someday, the people of Ireland will elect TD's capable of having the vision to completely remove this archaic, unethical and completely unnecessary law.

I'm genuinely shocked at that wording, utterly meaningless. I look forward to the day one trys to access my property 😏 that's of course if they get by a dirty big wall, fencing, trenches, land mines and barbed wire 😁

All absolutely wonderful and enlightening and of course utter shyte. If a licensing authority hasn't got the wear with all to identify residents of properties they've no business being engaged in collection of licensing fee's. Are you suggesting citizens do their work for them.

I've lived and own my home for twenty years, pay my taxes , including property tax , I even paid water charges and yet 20 years later these clowns can't even get my name right .

This aside I don't have a TV but the notion I'd pay a fee to subsidise RTE is utterly repugnant to me.

Ninnies, whatever they are, my arse 🙄

I don't know how to multi-quote (I just invented a verb!).

Yeah its pretty scary to my eyes. However, as I said earlier I doubt a TV Licence Inspector would flash his badge and kick your door down - but hey, I've been wrong before 😲.

I'd say there's lots of legislation like that out there that we're not aware of. But , at the end of the day, I'm sure these officials are just guys on a wage like the rest of us. Boxes have to be ticked, so the letter in the o.p. is probably just that. No doubt there's a process for follow up if no response is received. You probably can't write back and deny entry, as they would probably quote the above bits from the law saying YOU MUST let me in. So I'd imagine the process culminates with a Garda accompanying a Warrant carrying Inspector. but that's guess work.

( My idea as to the likely approach of the Inspector is based on a stint as a temp in Social Welfare. From the dole, I got a job in a 'dole office' and I saw the thing from a completely perspective. )

Congratulations on the new Verb 😁 but yes I hear you and agree 😏

Another urban myth. And no one can enter your home unless they have a warrant, or if you invite them.

That's outrageous 😳 not sure if college residences have a different legal status as a private residence but I'd certainly have lodged a formal complaint.