What happens if you cant afford the tv licence

gsxr1 · 27-03-2010 11:54AM #1

My work has dried up completely
I cant get any dole
I have just enough to cover the mortgage

Now i have a final notice for a tv lience.

Seems like pocket change to some. But its a massive mountain of money when there is just no work.

What will happen. No point fining me. I cant pay that either.

lugha · 27-03-2010 11:57AM

Is it possible to pay weekly? I seem to recall a sort of stamp scheme they had once.

eth0_ · 27-03-2010 11:59AM

gsxr1 wrote: »

My work has dried up completely
I cant get any dole
I have just enough to cover the mortgage

Now i have a final notice for a tv lience.

Seems like pocket change to some. But its a massive mountain of money when there is just no work.

What will happen. No point fining me. I cant pay that either.

You can pay in installments. And if you're registered unemployed you *might* be able to get one for free.

http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/GeneralTemplates/ProductsAndServices.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID={9F63B748-28D5-4093-A1D9-83474E3E52D0}&NRORIGINALURL=/AnPost/tvlicence250108.htm&NRCACHEHINT=Guest#PM

TequilaMockingBird · 27-03-2010 12:01PM

Start buying a stamp in the Post Office every week. I think they are a fiver. Write to them and explain your circumstances. If they know you're making an effort, and can show the stamps you have bought when the Inspector calls (and copies of letters), you'll be fine. Don't just leave it, it has to be paid.

Or get rid of the TV.

filthymcnasty · 27-03-2010 12:05PM

Sell the telly and get yourself a nice radio. RTE isn't bad on AM these days.

ShatterProof · 27-03-2010 12:10PM

Need a licence for your radio as well

lugha · 27-03-2010 12:11PM

ShatterProof wrote: »

Need a licence for your radio as well

I think not

dr.bollocko · 27-03-2010 12:30PM

Surely there must be some govt. support available to you if things are that tight? Why can't you get dole?

Gummy Panda · 27-03-2010 12:32PM

dr.bollocko wrote: »

Surely there must be some govt. support available to you if things are that tight? Why can't you get dole?

Probably was self employed and their PSRI payments were really low

alwaysadub · 27-03-2010 12:33PM

dr.bollocko wrote: »

Surely there must be some govt. support available to you if things are that tight? Why can't you get dole?

Could be self employed-you get nothing if you are. Bit stupid really.

orourkeda · 27-03-2010 12:37PM

Havent we learned anything as a nation?

If you cant afford it you cant have it. Simples

Elessar · 27-03-2010 12:46PM

alwaysadub wrote: »

Could be self employed-you get nothing if you are. Bit stupid really.

Not true. Why does everyone think this? You could be entitled to Jobseekers Allowance, which is means tested. And a mortgage interest allowance, and other benefits.

OP why can't you apply for jobseekers allowance?

eth0_ · 27-03-2010 12:54PM

ShatterProof wrote: »

Need a licence for your radio as well

WRONG

:D:D

Tail Wagger · 27-03-2010 01:00PM

I don't think it's just good enough for someone to say, I can't afford a TV licence and expect to just not pay it. Other posters have suggested to buy stamps etc, another way to go is , set up a budget account in your Bank which will cover your bills for the year. All your bills are combined and you will be allowed to pay out enough money each month to cover all your bills for the year.

Last year 2009 what I done, I went through all my bills for the previous year. I looked to see if I could save money anywhere, IE Gas/Light/Sky/Home insurance
etc. I was amazed that I was able to save about €1,000 over the year on my bills. It's just common sense in the end...

dr.bollocko · 27-03-2010 01:01PM

Tail Wagger wrote: »

I don't think it's just good enough for someone to say, I can't afford a TV licence and expect to just not pay it. Other posters have suggested to buy stamps etc, another way to go is , set up a budget account in your Bank which will cover your bills for the year. All your bills are combined and you will be allowed to pay out enough money each month to cover all your bills for the year.

Last year 2009 what I done, I went through all my bills for the previous year. I looked to see if I could save money anywhere, IE Gas/Light/Sky/Home insurance
etc. I was amazed that I was able to save about €1,000 over the year on my bills. It's just common sense in the end...

Loan of a tenner?

Tail Wagger · 27-03-2010 01:04PM

dr.bollocko wrote: »

Loan of a tenner?

No Problem @ 15% ok.?

2 stroke · 27-03-2010 01:05PM

Sell one of your televisions

DonJose · 27-03-2010 01:14PM

Cancel your internet.

If you drink, drink 1 pint less a week.

If you smoke, give it up.

If you eat, fast for one day a week.

Don't buy toilet roll, wipe with free newspapers.

Sell you pets......

bog master · 27-03-2010 01:16PM

A bit off topic, but take a case like OP. Absolutely flat broke, no income and TV license is now due and he/she cannot afford to pay it. What would one have to do to avoid prosecution? Sell the tv, sign an affidavit you will not watch it?

lucy2010 · 27-03-2010 01:24PM

Same situation but a friend suggested TV licence stamps - €4 each. So when i collect in PO weekly i get a couple of stamps. Mine is due now end of month. so If mr TV licence calls im gonna show him my book of little stamps ( think €60 in it) Ill show the receipts & he can just relax the cax & see im making an effort every week to buy them. If he doesnt like it take me to court & all the judge is gonna see is me making an effort to pay. So if they really want to waste a few thousand of tax payers money recouping the balance , off with them....
OP, start doing it even now, write them a letter saying this is what you are doing

mikom · 27-03-2010 01:54PM

gsxr1 wrote: »

My work has dried up completely
I cant get any dole
I have just enough to cover the mortgage

Now i have a final notice for a tv lience.

Seems like pocket change to some. But its a massive mountain of money when there is just no work.

What will happen. No point fining me. I cant pay that either.

www.QualityIrishCarpentry@gmail.com

Dude, you're a carpenter.
Surely you can knock some sort of spring loaded TV housing that ejects from, or folds into, the wall/ceiling/ floor.
When the inspector calls, just say you gotta check on the kids before letting him in to survey for no TV.
Then clunk, click, Bob's your uncle.

Who knows, if it works I might get you down to put one in for me as well.

Mike 1972 · 27-03-2010 02:53PM

orourkeda wrote: »

Havent we learned anything as a nation?

If you cant afford it you cant have it. Simples

So nobodys financial circumstances ever change right ?

Agent J · 27-03-2010 03:11PM

Cant pay your TV licence?

Its people like you making Gerry Ryan having to pay for his own coffee every morning.

How can we afford to pay the top quality talent their modest salarys without the TV licence?

*needs to go and take a long shower after saying that*

Kasabian · 27-03-2010 03:31PM

I haven't had a TV licence for 10 years , since I bought my house, never had a letter about it , but I know someday the knock will come and I will have to get one , when that happens I am going to go to court and fight this rich mans tax so RTE can pay inflated wages to talentless souls. They can fcuk right off and I will go to jail if I have to, I pay a subscription each month to watch the TV I want and it ain't fcuking RTE so why be taxed for the equipment I use to watch what I pay for. I think I will lobby Chorus and Sky to provide subscriptions minus the dross that is RTE and see what happens then . People could then put this yearly tax towards a subscription they want , like Disney or the Porn channel.

Happy Saturday everyone.

* All of the above may change to suit my mood when the TV licence inpector does eventually call:)

Really I am in great form today

Kasabian · 27-03-2010 03:33PM

mikom wrote: »

Dude, you're a carpenter.
Surely you can knock some sort of spring loaded TV housing that ejects from, or folds into, the wall/ceiling/ floor.
When the inspector calls, just say you gotta check on the kids before letting him in to survey for no TV.
Then clunk, click, Bob's your uncle.

Who knows, if it works I might get you down to put one in for me as well.

You may have just had a dragons den moment my friend, get it patented fast:pac:

mikom · 27-03-2010 03:37PM

mikom wrote: »

Dude, you're a carpenter.
Surely you can knock some sort of spring loaded TV housing that ejects from, or folds into, the wall/ceiling/ floor.
When the inspector calls, just say you gotta check on the kids before letting him in to survey for no TV.
Then clunk, click, Bob's your uncle.

Who knows, if it works I might get you down to put one in for me as well.

lonad wrote: »

You amy have just had a dragons den moment my friend, get it patented fast:pac:

Yeah, thinkin' of calling it "The Inspector Gadget".

27-03-2010 03:54PM

Do they already know you have a TV/have you paid before? If so, write and explain your circumstances and pay a little each month. If not, get rid of your TV and tell them you don't have one.

ctrl-alt-delete · 27-03-2010 03:59PM

DonJose wrote: »

Cancel your internet.

If you drink, drink 1 pint less a week.

If you smoke, give it up.

If you eat, fast for one day a week.

Don't buy toilet roll, wipe with free newspapers.

Sell you pets......

and what if you don't eat

?

Mike 1972 · 27-03-2010 04:12PM

DonJose wrote: »

If you eat, fast for one day a week.

Sell you pets......

Wouldnt it be simpler to just eat your pets ?

Unless your pet is a rotwieller. In which case its just a matter of training him to recognice the scent of TV licence inspectors

waspie · 27-03-2010 04:18PM

tell them that you sent the money to beverly flynn to save them all the administration costs . sure thats where all the RTE money went under bertie.

Jonagod · 27-03-2010 04:34PM

Don't pay it, refuse to let inspector in house and refuse to give him your name (completely legal) just keep tv's away from windows cause the crafty bastards will take photo's

theyll leave you alone eventually, TV license is a complete scam anyway - I don't recall being legally obliged to purchase DVD's from extra vision I didnt want to watch. - TV license NO DIFFERENT

(Pro Tip, its not actually a service it's entertainment)

What happens if you cant afford the tv licence

Comments