Pay the Broadcast Charge or shut down RTE?

I don't know what anyone else will do; but I'm not paying the broadcast charge. And from what I can gather, there isn't anything they can do about it.

The reasoning behind the broadcasting charge seems to be that anyone with a computer or mobile phone is going to watch television programmes on them. Even if this were true it's highly unlikely that many people would download RTE programmes.

The idea that everyone that has a device which is capable of letting them watch any programme from the history of recorded television would choose to download episodes of Fair City or Off The Rails is ludicrous.

Phoebas wrote: »

One of the reasons put forward for introducing the broadcasting charge was that the TV licence is cumbersome to collect (hence the c.20% non compliance rate).
When its levied on all households then this should be much easier. They will presumably have access to the various TV licence/ HHC / LPT / PRTB databases to aid collection.

I'm not at all convinced by arguments that they'll have difficulty demonstrating who the liable person in a household is. If no voluntary declaration is made, they can presumably levy the person whose name is on the LPT or PRTB record.

In theory - absolutely.

In practice - no way.

Remember, we're not talking about the 80% of Ireland who has decent houses and nice apartments. I'm talking about the poorest 20%, the ones the have shady landlords, that move every year or two. I'm a poor immigrant - my first landlord had me slide 220 euro each week under the door of a utility closet on the top floor. PRTB wasn't involved.

LPT is payable by the owner of the property.
This fee is payable by the resident. Just like the old TV tax was.

So, let's use me as an example. My wife has a PPSN and I have a PPSN. We rent and we're going to move at the end of this year. I have a job, she doesn't.

We move and instead of my renting a place, *she* rents a place. She gives the landlord her PPSN. Maybe the landlord registers with PRTB, lots don't. Whatever. We don't pay the broadcast charge. At some point, they send letters to our place saying 'Pay the fee'. At which point they don't even know who we are. Just that nobody payed at that address.

So they request the information from PRTB, and let's say the landlord did register us properly. Okay, my wife's name is on the lease and she has no job. No funds to deduct.

One in five households have no jobs in Ireland. And keep in mind, 80% of people are already paying the TV license. They are trying to get higher than 80%, so we're talking about the poorest (who can't pay) or the scummiest (who will fight really hard to not pay). So, what are they doing to do next?

Summon my wife to court?

Now, in theory, in this day and age, they could have a real-time monitoring app that would show who lives where and when they fees are paid and all that jazz. But let's be honest, that's not how things work in Ireland. The folks at revenue screwed up and have been deducting LPT from my paycheck....and it will take MONTHS before it's sorted out. I know from first hand experience....our government moves very slowly.

In 6, 9 or 12 months we'd have moved somewhere else. And the new person would be receiving threatening letters; just like I still get about the TV License (I don't own a TV, so I'm not breaking any laws, but it doesn't matter what I do, they keep sending me stuff addressed to the last guy that lived here). And I've been here nearly two years now.

And, okay, let's just say they do get a bench warrant or summons or whatever it is. My wife goes to court and says, 'No, I didn't live there. Me and my boyfriend had a big fight and I moved out. I went back to me Mum's'

I haven't heard details on how exactly they will determine who has to pay...but I'm confident they'll screw it up. Just like they've screwed up LPT. LPT will get sorted though, because someone does own the property. But keeping track of tenants is a lot, lot harder.

Where a householder fails to pay, the legislation would oblige them to provide the requisite details of their properties, including the occupiers, so that the charge can be collected

If nobody pays, they go to the landlord and say, 'Umm, who should we go after'.

The landlord says, 'Go after UCDVet's wife!'

My wife says, 'I was living at my parents, and they paid. My apartment was a secondary residence I used only while attending class during the week. Per the legislation, I don't have to pay.'

Of course, that's presuming they ever track down my wife.

You'll also have a bunch of people who say they can't pay. People on the dole, people on pensions, they'll say, 'I can't afford to pay'. And what do you do to them? Throw them in jail? Hardly a good way to save money. Take them to court....okay. And some of them REALLY won't be able to pay. Then what?

Time will tell, but I'll be shocked if they get a higher compliance rate.

mikeym wrote: »

Everyone who owns a Tv regardless of whether they own a Tv or not, is going to have to pay up or go to court.

Simple As.

Fixed your post.

flutered wrote: »

as rte tv and radio are the mouthpiece of whatever goverment is in power it will be kept alive regardless of the cost to the public.

Thats why they are the State Broadcaster..... Not so much public broadcaster.

Aside from 'Nationwide' I cant think of any TV output that is not there to chase ratings.

I wouldn't give a monkeys if RTE shut down forever, providing some other broadcaster picked up the Angelus