Should I get a tv licence?

Aoifey! · 13-12-2011 12:34AM

ProudDUB wrote: »

(3) If the inspector comes a calling and he deems you to be breaking the law for not having a license, he will hit you up for a fine of (I think) two grand. If you don't pay it, then you may receive a summons, but that is usually a last resort.

The letter I got said a fine of up to 1000 for your first offence, and 2000 for your second. Then the summons.

tiny_penguin · 13-12-2011 12:42AM

ProudDUB wrote: »

(4) Regarding living in controlled access apt buildings or gated estates that you think the inspectors can not get into, think again. According to my insider snitch, when they have a few addresses in one development/estate/building that that they want to investigate, they call the mgt company and they get the door and gate access codes to get into the property. By law, they have to be given them.

So there you have it, use all this info as you will !

This I dont get, I live in controlled access apartments and If i got a knock at the inside door when I was not expecting someone I would not answer it. Even if i was expecting someone I would call through the door and if it wasnt who I was expecting I would not let them in. I cant see their id through my door and i dont have a lock that lets me open it part way. Call me paranoid but I dont answer the door to people i dont know! Also there are no access codes in my place - it is a key to get in.

In saying that I have a tv licence - but I still dont think its right that they can intrude like that! I also dont really understand what the licence fees pay for, RTE make income from advertising, i completely understand why people dont want to pay it!

jimbobaloobob · 13-12-2011 12:49AM

Are there people here who have paid a fine or gotten the summons?

endacl · 13-12-2011 12:51AM

My name is URL wrote: »

endacl wrote: »

There is a perfectly legal way around this. My aul telly went in a skip last year. Used to scan the weekly guide to see what was worth recording to watch later at my leisure (didn't like being tied to schedules etc.).4 weeks of nothing worth watching/recording went by, and out she goes. No cable, so I had only the 4 basic channels. Half of which wanted a licence fee from me, with half the remainder being tv poxy 3... Getting rid of the box is an option. Download or stream anything worth watching. No box, no licence, no problem.

Are you sure about that, though? The wording of the legislation is quite ambiguous.. According to it;

“television set” means any electronic apparatus capable of receiving
and exhibiting television broadcasting services broadcast for general
reception (whether or not its use for that purpose is dependent on the use of anything else in conjunction with it) and any software or
assembly comprising such apparatus and other apparatus;

http://193.178.1.235/documents/bills28/bills/2008/2908/B29c08D.pdf

It could be argued that an internet connection and use of a re-streaming service is such an 'apparatus'.. and probably will be argued quite soon.

Pretty sure. Or I'd have to get a licence for the phone I'm typing this on....

UglyBolloxFace · 13-12-2011 12:54AM

colly10 wrote: »

Living in a rented apartment that's not open to the public.
Got something from AnPost addressed to "The Occupier" asking for 160 for a tv licence. I think that money is taking the piss, especially as it goes to RTE who are one of the worst for advertisements.
Will probably end up paying the thing but not at the mo cause I have more important bills to deak with first.

I was just wondering if I will get a summons before they actually call?
If I get a summons with "The Occupier" can I just ignore it?
If I give them a fake name and the fake name gets the summons can I just ignore it?
How long do you normally have from the first letter before you get a summons?

I'll try answer this as quickly as possible and to the point - if you want to legally watch TV in your house, then get a ****ing licence.

If you don't agree with this or don't like it, then either get rid of your TV or get onto your local TD to voice your concerns and attempt to get the law changed.

/Thread.

mossyc123 · 13-12-2011 01:22AM

ProudDUB wrote: »

(3) If the inspector comes a calling and he deems you to be breaking the law for not having a license, he will hit you up for a fine of (I think) two grand. If you don't pay it, then you may receive a summons, but that is usually a last resort.

Do you not get a chance to pay the €160 after you get a visit?

From the Indo article:

"An Post said every single household was given time to purchase a €160 licence after they were caught viewing television without the valid paperwork."

ProudDUB · 13-12-2011 01:35AM

tiny_penguin wrote: »

This I dont get, I live in controlled access apartments and If i got a knock at the inside door when I was not expecting someone I would not answer it. Even if i was expecting someone I would call through the door and if it wasnt who I was expecting I would not let them in. I cant see their id through my door and i dont have a lock that lets me open it part way. Call me paranoid but I dont answer the door to people i dont know! Also there are no access codes in my place - it is a key to get in.

In saying that I have a tv licence - but I still dont think its right that they can intrude like that! I also dont really understand what the licence fees pay for, RTE make income from advertising, i completely understand why people dont want to pay it!

Fair enough so. If you want to think that you live in an impregnable fortress, fair enough. But what if the police or the fire department or a plumber are there trying to get into the building to take care of a crime, a fire or an emergency leak at 2am? There has to be a system in place to let authorized people into the building if the key holder is not there, be it by giving them an access code or a key.

I have no problem with TV license inspectors being added to that list. They mean no harm. They are only there doing their job just like the post man, the elevator repair man & the janitor. All they have access to are the public hallways and landings and stairwells of the buildings. That is not "intruding" in my book, but each to his/her own !

Jesus Wept · 13-12-2011 01:46AM

ProudDUB wrote: »

Fair enough so. If you want to think that you live in an impregnable fortress, fair enough. But what if the police or the fire department or a plumber are there trying to get into the building to take care of a crime, a fire or an emergency leak at 2am? There has to be a system in place to let authorized people into the building if the key holder is not there, be it by giving them an access code or a key.

I have no problem with TV license inspectors being added to that list. They mean no harm. They are only there doing their job just like the post man, the elevator repair man & the janitor. All they have access to are the public hallways and landings and stairwells of the buildings. That is not "intruding" in my book, but each to his/her own !

Whilst they are just doing their job, they are nothing like the postman, elevator repair man or janitor.

tiny_penguin · 13-12-2011 01:52AM

The-Rigger wrote: »

Whilst they are just doing their job, they are nothing like the postman, elevator repair man or janitor.

Also the postman does not have access in apartments like this - the postboxes are usually located in the entrance hall!

Opics · 13-12-2011 02:02AM

I have been living in a rented house since September 1st and we don't have a tv license. I'm just wondering if we get a call to the door do we still have a chance to pay the €160 (aka pay in the next 7 days or else kind of thing)? Or is it a fine there and then?

tiny_penguin · 13-12-2011 02:12AM

Opics wrote: »

I have been living in a rented house since September 1st and we don't have a tv license. I'm just wondering if we get a call to the door do we still have a chance to pay the €160 (aka pay in the next 7 days or else kind of thing)? Or is it a fine there and then?

I think if you tell them you have just forgotten and are nice about it you get a chance to pay the 160 - that happened to a friend of mine. (She had genuinely forgotten though)

BarackPyjama · 13-12-2011 02:12AM

When RTÉ stop making revenue from intrusive advertising, I'll start judging people who don't pay their TV licence. Until then, they're absolutely right not to.

mikom · 13-12-2011 03:11AM

ProudDUB wrote: »

If the inspector comes a calling and he deems you to be breaking the law for not having a license, he will hit you up for a fine of (I think) two grand.

Not true.

ProudDUB wrote: »

when they have a few addresses in one development/estate/building that that they want to investigate, they call the mgt company and they get the door and gate access codes to get into the property. By law, they have to be given them.

Not true.

Firefox11 · 13-12-2011 03:26AM

If the inspector comes a calling and he deems you to be breaking the law for not having a license, he will hit you up for a fine of (I think) two grand. If you don't pay it, then you may receive a summons, but that is usually a last resort.

When I first moved in I did not have a TV licence. The Inspector called to the door and I owned up. He just told me to get the Licence ASAP.

Gee the old TV Licence is probably one of most contentious and most talked about subject on boards..why is that?....lol

unkymo · 13-12-2011 03:26AM

I moved into my rented house in 2006.

I paid the license in 2006 but didn't pay in 2007,2008,2009 and 2010. The inspector called a few times reminding me to pay and then I started to get letters in the post which I ignored completely.

I then got a summons in late 2010 to go to court in February 2011 but if I bought a new license and paid a 90 Euro charge before the court date then the case would be suspended.

I paid the 250 Euro which meant I paid a total of 410 Euro for the license over the 5 years I've been living here which works out at an average of 80 Euro for the TV License a year, basically half price!

homerjay2005 · 13-12-2011 10:04AM

i had to get one last week for the first time ever. ive lived in my current house for 10 months and we were known as the occupier until last week. we normally just dont open the door in the evening as anybody that we want to call, will normally check that we are at home or we know if somebody is calling.

however, my missus normally comes home about 5.50 and just as i was answering the door to let her in, he walked over to us.

sickened to give rte a penny and it all virtually goes on wages to useless plebs like kenny, finucane and duffy.

daigo75 · 13-12-2011 08:08PM

Even if I think the TV Licence is a ripoff, everyone should get one. If you prefer to take the risk, you're free to do it!
At least, here in Ireland, you don't have the same kind of "inspectors" we got in my Country: whenever they entered a house where, effectively, there was no TV or similar device, they made the occupant sign a form "to confirm that the inspector came and noticed there was no TV". However, the form was often folded, and it contained an admission of guilt, of the sort "yes, I lied, I have a TV and I got busted". Unfortunately, thousands of people signed it, trusting "the authorities", and got stung...

dxhound2005 · 13-12-2011 08:23PM

IcedOut wrote: »

Im chinese i dont speak a word of english

You don't look Chinese.

Kooli · 13-12-2011 08:27PM

I haven't paid it since 2009 but I want to pay it now because I'm sick of being scared every time the doorbell rings.

Do I have to back pay for 2010 and 2011 or can I just get one starting now?

cursai · 13-12-2011 08:38PM

Opics wrote: »

I have been living in a rented house since September 1st and we don't have a tv license. I'm just wondering if we get a call to the door do we still have a chance to pay the €160 (aka pay in the next 7 days or else kind of thing)? Or is it a fine there and then?

Don't give your name. Stare blankly and say no thanks. No name Noone to prosecute

Mike 1972 · 13-12-2011 08:41PM

daigo75 wrote: »

At least, here in Ireland, you don't have the same kind of "inspectors" we got in my Country.

Could you be a little more specific ?

Theres a lot of them out there............

daigo75 · 13-12-2011 08:53PM

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Could you be a little more specific ?

Theres a lot of them out there............

Italy, land of the "clever". Where being cunning at everyone's expense (including relatives and acquaintances) is considered cool, and following the rules is considered stupid. The system tries to screw you at any chance, therefore people try to screw the system (or other people) to compensate. I could tell you many "horror stories", but they are actually "daily stories", down there...

ilovesleep · 13-12-2011 08:53PM

Watch RTE1 on friday evening at 7.30 and decide if its worth it. They show some diddly dancing music stuff made in the 70s. Daylight fcuking robbery.

tsoparno · 13-12-2011 09:03PM

gsxr1 wrote: »

I wait 3 or 4 months after I start getting the letters, then get a new licence under a new name.

3 or 4 months free.

thinking bout trying this, how long do ya get from the end of licence to when the that F##ker knocks the door?

saa · 15-12-2011 09:57PM

tsoparno wrote: »

thinking bout trying this, how long do ya get from the end of licence to when the that F##ker knocks the door?

There is no specific time, they have a lot of houses to knock on so they obviously do area's so could be two weeks could be 6 months
I say pretty soon as it runs out your name is on the list so whenever they get round to you, tis a long list. :cool:

tsoparno · 15-12-2011 10:27PM

saa wrote: »

There is no specific time, they have a lot of houses to knock on so they obviously do area's so could be two weeks could be 6 months
I say pretty soon as it runs out your name is on the list so whenever they get round to you, tis a long list. :cool:

F##k it, i'll chance it. put it the missus's name when he starts knocking ha

gsxr1 · 26-12-2011 03:46AM

tsoparno wrote: »

F##k it, i'll chance it. put it the missus's name when he starts knocking ha

i am panicking a little now over this tactic as even though I paid in one name, Im still getting the threats in the door on the other name.

I hope the inspector talks to me and does not talk to my Kid who ussally answers the door.

Chance it if you want, but its risky. And does not give you peace of mind from these vultures in green suits. Hateful feckers targeting people on their knees already. Worst kind of people they are.

I wish I was a culchee and got away with it for ever.

BarackPyjama · 26-12-2011 04:15AM

Just to show you how unworkable the whole thing is - about 5 years ago, I was renting a room in an apartment. The lease holder owned the TV, the lease on the place, etc. and was therefore 100% responsible for getting the TV licence. I was merely paying them rent for a room each month.

One evening someone called to the door, claiming to be from An Post. He asked my name and I gave it to him. I asked why he needed it and he said something about some survey or other. I knew there was something fishy.

Anyway, fast forward a few weeks and I start getting threatening letters, addressed to me, telling me that I'm going to be fined and/or summoned to court.

Well done bozos.

26-12-2011 04:17AM

He called to us a few weeks back and rather than ring the door bell he just hammered at the doorrepeatedly till I answered. I answered it and asked if he had any manners he tried to push by me. I put my hand up blocking him, td him that he could enter my home when I gave him permission. He went through the whole spiel asking if we had a TV and how much trouble I could get in. I repeatedly told him I did not but he asked over and over again and kept insisting that he be allowed to inspect the house for a TV. I told him he was welcome to when he could produce a document from the court permitting him access then he could. He then asked for my name, I told him may name is the occupier. The look on his face when I said that made my day, was like the face a child would make when tearing open Christmas presents only to discover a pair of socks. He spent a good 2 minutes asking my name and each time i gave the same answer. Went so far as to produce some letters addressed to the occupier as proof. The ironic this was that I was considering getting the TV license once I got Saorview set up and had he not been so aggressive in his manner I wouldn't have been so abrupt with him. Manners go a long way and like many little Hitlers, he has a tiny but if power and likes to abuse it.

26-12-2011 04:21AM

BarackPyjama wrote: »

Just to show you how unworkable the whole thing is - about 5 years ago, I was renting a room in an apartment. The lease holder owned the TV, the lease on the place, etc. and was therefore 100% responsible for getting the TV licence. I was merely paying them rent for a room each month.

One evening someone called to the door, claiming to be from An Post. He asked my name and I gave it to him. I asked why he needed it and he said something about some survey or other. I knew there was something fishy.

Anyway, fast forward a few weeks and I start getting threatening letters, addressed to me, telling me that I'm going to be fined and/or summoned to court.

Well done bozos.

Same thing happened with my girlfriends housemate. They called to the house asking for the people who lived there before and when she said they had moved out they asked her name which she gave. A week later and rather threatening letters arrived in her name regarding the TV license. First thing she did was go out and get one. I guess that enough people get the letter and assume the worst will happen so
they comply.

Should I get a tv licence?

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