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Where did TV license inspector get my name from?

  • 16-06-2008 09:20PM
    #1
    Todoquetengo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 123 ✭✭


    Hi

    Just got a letter to tell me to pay the tv license with my name on it. We intend to pay it but just wondering where they got my name from. There are 3 of us in the apartment - ESB bill is in my name and the NTL bill is in another of the girl's names. We are only here six months and we are renting so wondering why the letter came addressed to me? Is ESB passing on my details to the license inspector :confused:


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Comments

  • #2
    kippy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,023 ✭✭✭✭kippy


    Hmmmmmmmmmm.
    Very strange....
    Is there any chance an inspector came while you were away and your flatmates gave your name?
    Or a possibility that they went to the landlord first and he gave your name?
    Kippy


  • #3
    omb0wyn5ehpij9
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,066 ✭✭✭✭omb0wyn5ehpij9


    kippy wrote: »
    Hmmmmmmmmmm.

    Or a possibility that they went to the landlord first and he gave your name?

    That's what i was thinking


  • #4
    Todoquetengo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 123 ✭✭Todoquetengo


    kippy wrote: »
    Hmmmmmmmmmm.
    Very strange....
    Is there any chance an inspector came while you were away and your flatmates gave your name?
    Or a possibility that they went to the landlord first and he gave your name?
    Kippy

    No def not, they'd have said, the landlord lives in drogheda and we are in Dublin so can't see how they would have contacted him, we have a lease thoguh but then all three of us are on it so doesn't really explain it either


  • #5
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,157 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Election Register. ;)


  • #6
    Todoquetengo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 123 ✭✭Todoquetengo


    Wishbone Ash wrote: »
    Election Register. ;)

    I'm not registerd to vote at this address!

    My friend thinks they track it by the post received to this address, not sure how that would work though..


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  • #7
    Kimbot
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 19,071 Mod ✭✭✭✭Kimbot


    Do you reveive much post there in your name??


  • #8
    kippy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,023 ✭✭✭✭kippy


    Have you had a TV license before?
    Are you 100% sure the landlord didnt have the license the year before and got caught for it again until he gave them your name as a contact in the address?
    I dont think theres any other legal way they could have gotten you name.

    And again, are you 100% certain the lads in the house didnt give your name when the inspector called? I have heard this happen umpteen times.
    Kippy


  • #9
    TequilaMockingBird
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,392 ✭✭✭TequilaMockingBird


    I would imagine the landlord used to pay, or had (as in the previous tenants buggered off without paying it) to pay the previous license, then got a renewal reminder for for it, and passed on your name. Luck of the draw.


  • #10
    Todoquetengo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 123 ✭✭Todoquetengo


    kippy wrote: »
    Have you had a TV license before?
    Are you 100% sure the landlord didnt have the license the year before and got caught for it again until he gave them your name as a contact in the address?
    I dont think theres any other legal way they could have gotten you name.

    And again, are you 100% certain the lads in the house didnt give your name when the inspector called? I have heard this happen umpteen times.
    Kippy


    I'm 100% certain he didn't do it, doubt the guy even knows my name, we rent through a letting agent.

    I do get a good bit of post, my bank stuff comes here too, and there is no way the others gave my name. They are all paying the license equally so it's not like they would have gained.

    Spoke to one of my friends there and she has moved in with her boyf who just bought a house, the house is in his name and all the bills but the tv license came in her name, she reckons it's cause she gets more post!

    Would love to know how i could follow it up??


  • #11
    Abi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,058 ✭✭✭✭Abi


    An post, I assume. They run conjunction with the TV licence crowd.

    Ever see one of their letters to warn you that yours is due?


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  • #12
    Kimbot
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 19,071 Mod ✭✭✭✭Kimbot


    Todoquetengo wrote: »
    I'm 100% certain he didn't do it, doubt the guy even knows my name, we rent through a letting agent.

    I do get a good bit of post, my bank stuff comes here too, and there is no way the others gave my name. They are all paying the license equally so it's not like they would have gained.

    Spoke to one of my friends there and she has moved in with her boyf who just bought a house, the house is in his name and all the bills but the tv license came in her name, she reckons it's cause she gets more post!

    Would love to know how i could follow it up??

    The letting agent might have given the info out??


  • #13
    Piste
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,440 ✭✭✭✭Piste


    How does the TV license inspector even know whether you have a tv or not?


  • #14
    LadyE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,021 ✭✭✭LadyE


    NTL/Sky give it to them.

    Same happened with my sister..


  • #15
    Ponster
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,912 Mod ✭✭✭✭Ponster


    Or the place where you bought the TV...


  • #16
    Todoquetengo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 123 ✭✭Todoquetengo


    LadyE wrote: »
    NTL/Sky give it to them.

    Same happened with my sister..


    but the ntl bill is not in my name, it's in my flatmate's name.

    And under data protection they shoudlnt be passing on anyone's details to a separate company.

    Perhaps it is An Post if they are collecting the license as well


  • #17
    LadyE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,021 ✭✭✭LadyE


    Ponster wrote: »
    Or the place where you bought the TV...

    That too!


  • #18
    dub45
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,457 Mod ✭✭✭✭dub45


    afaik when you purchase a tv the seller is obliged to pass on your details.

    Although in this article in wikipedia it says it is no longer enforced:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland#cite_note-2


  • #19
    Todoquetengo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 123 ✭✭Todoquetengo


    dub45 wrote: »
    afaik when you purchase a tv the seller is obliged to pass on your details.

    Although in this article in wikipedia it says it is no longer enforced:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland#cite_note-2

    I bought the TV in Tesco and did not give my address :p


  • #20
    corkgal1981
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 205 ✭✭corkgal1981


    Hi, Im a postal clerk so maybe I can help although this isnt my area of expertise! Sky etc have absolutely nothing to do with it - its true that they can't give out information but apart from that it just doesnt concern them in any way. Tv licence dept would have your address on file because the previous apartment occupant would have had a licence. This is going to drive you crazy now BUT in actual fact there is no need for apartments to have individual licences, one is sufficient for 1 building, regardless of number of tvs, BUT if an apartment has had its own licence once then it has to be continuously renewed. Not sure , how they have your name but its likely that they have your flatmates names too, its just that only one name (well sometimes 2) should be on a licence & they probably picked you randomly.


  • #21
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 99,690 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    years ago it was an post who had the details.

    four of us living in the house only two got mail and guess who's name was on the bill ?

    none of us were on the electrol register or anything else ,


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  • #22
    corkgal1981
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 205 ✭✭corkgal1981


    Yep, TV Licence is a dept in An Post


  • #23
    Abi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,058 ✭✭✭✭Abi


    Of course its not the cable or sat companies. You man not have either. Its not the electoral because not everyone is registered. Its not where you bought the tv, because you could just be gifting it to someone, and it wasn't yore ma that ratted you up either.

    Will try again..

    Abigayle wrote: »
    An post. They run conjunction with the TV licence crowd.

    Ever see one of their letters to warn you that yours is due?


  • #24
    kippy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,023 ✭✭✭✭kippy


    I can see how the TV Licence crew got the address.....its the residents name that is the strange one for me.
    Kippy


  • #25
    dotsman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,636 ✭✭✭dotsman


    corkgal1981 wrote: »
    This is going to drive you crazy now BUT in actual fact there is no need for apartments to have individual licences, one is sufficient for 1 building, regardless of number of tvs, BUT if an apartment has had its own licence once then it has to be continuously renewed. Not sure , how they have your name but its likely that they have your flatmates names too, its just that only one name (well sometimes 2) should be on a licence & they probably picked you randomly.

    Is this true (and is there any official website to back it up that I can quote)?

    I've always wondered about it and just assumed that they didn't bother with apartments because they wouldn't be able to enforce it (ie, access to the complex, access to the block would be too difficult, whereas for a house, they can walk straight up to your door etc)


  • #26
    MizzLolly
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,556 ✭✭✭MizzLolly


    Todoquetengo wrote: »
    I'm not registerd to vote at this address!

    My friend thinks they track it by the post received to this address, not sure how that would work though..

    I was actually just talking to a guy this evening who was driving around Austrailia for a few months. A speeding ticket from Austrailia came in the post a few days ago to his correct address.... which is really odd because when he registered for a rented car he gave a fake address! :eek:



    We're all being watched.... :cool:


  • #27
    marcsignal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭marcsignal


    More than likely An Post. I got a warning letter addressed to 'The Occupant' of the flat I was living in in Dublin shortly before I moved out a few years ago, and ignored it. When I moved out I paid An Post to forward my mail to a friends house before I came to Germany.

    3 weeks later they called to my mates place looking for me, and nobbled him for not having a TV Licence while they were there!! :eek:

    There's another name for TV Licence inspectors, emmm.....what is it now ?? Oh Yeah !!

    A SHOWER of BASTARDS !!! That's it !! :mad:


  • #28
    hairymolly
    Closed Accounts Posts: 144 ✭✭hairymolly


    MizzLolly wrote: »
    I was actually just talking to a guy this evening who was driving around Austrailia for a few months. A speeding ticket from Austrailia came in the post a few days ago to his correct address.... which is really odd because when he registered for a rented car he gave a fake address!



    We're all being watched.... :cool:
    :D
    :D :mad: dito that. Our house was just built when we got our bill. Whats going to happen when it all goes digital? A fortune is being spent on billboards to expect the inspector in holiday homes, as if, and the people of Ireland voted NO ....makes no sense in this century to be fined big time for ... dont get me going:D


  • #29
    RATM
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,591 ✭✭✭RATM


    I think I might know how they got your name, at least this is how it happened to me.

    After 18 months of living in my current place my landlord decides to go and register with the Private Residential Tenancies Board. AFAIK all private landlords have to do this, its just some were faster than others off the mark in getting around to it.
    Anyway one Monday I got a letter ( in my name )from the Private Residential Tenancies Board explaining that my landlord had done this, I had a right to know and if I had any more Q's to ring them on the number supplied.
    Two days later a letter from the TV License Inspectors dropped in my door requesting that I make a declaration on the status of my TV License.

    Coincidence??? After 18 months of living there and not a peep from the TV License crew? I doubt it.....:eek:


  • #30
    corkgal1981
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 205 ✭✭corkgal1981


    dotsman wrote: »
    Is this true (and is there any official website to back it up that I can quote)?

    Yep, afraid its true, the laws here havent been canged to allow for the fact that we have apartments in Ireland now. Most larger countries would require everyone in apartment to have their own licence but as I said you only need it here if its been purchased for your apartment already. Doubt the website goes into too much detail but you could check it out.


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  • #31
    Mossy Monk
    Closed Accounts Posts: 28,128 ✭✭✭✭Mossy Monk


    Piste wrote: »
    How does the TV license inspector even know whether you have a tv or not?

    They have undercover agents who sneakily ask people about programmes on the night before. Very elaborate scheme.


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