Woman who failed to pay TV licence fine taken to jail in five-hour taxi trip

Streetwalker · 09-03-2015 08:45AM

Baby Jane wrote: »

It says it on the licence invoice itself that a monthly payment system can be set up.

There are loads of excuses not to pay the licence for sure, but none that will result in it being waived/an eventual fine not being slapped on top of it.

I'd love if it were done away with but it's here, and it's true that it doesn't matter if people don't want to pay it - that won't make it go away.

It will if enough don't but that's the problem not enough people with backbone to stand up for what's right and hence the electorate keeps getting shat on from a height.

Gerry T · 09-03-2015 10:32AM

I grew up in relatively poor house. But the basic concept was, if you can't afford it then you don't get it. We didn't have heat, nice clothes, any real possession. Think my first bike was one I went to work doing a paper round and bought myself.
The point I'm trying to make is if you can't afford a TV then you don't get one. You may not agree with lisc fees etc... but if you can't afford that then you shouldn't have it.
It's like saying I bought a car but can't afford insurance. Then don't buy a car.

Why do people feel so entitled, if you can't afford something do without.

thomas anderson. · 09-03-2015 10:39AM

Gerry T wrote: »

I grew up in relatively poor house. But the basic concept was, if you can't afford it then you don't get it. We didn't have heat, nice clothes, any real possession. Think my first bike was one I went to work doing a paper round and bought myself.
The point I'm trying to make is if you can't afford a TV then you don't get one. You may not agree with lisc fees etc... but if you can't afford that then you shouldn't have it.
It's like saying I bought a car but can't afford insurance. Then don't buy a car.

Why do people feel so entitled, if you can't afford something do without.

Yeah, like a TV equates to a half tonne mechanical propelled explosive machine that has the capability of killing people

AudreyHepburn · 09-03-2015 10:46AM

end of the road wrote: »

it cost a lot of money, a lot more then the fine, took gards away from fighting real crime, and wasted everyones time.

not at all. for to punish her would have had to be cost effective. it wasn't cost effective. it was costly for no benefit and extremely resource and labour intensive.

no they aren't

she was given a fine and payed most of it. the fact she is expected to stump up in one go when she clearly can't afford it is unreasonable. installments is the way to go.

because its a non issue, and its not cost effective to punish her, and the amount of resources wasted made this extremely labour and resource intensive for no benefit.

i will if i like

wrong. not simple as that at all. once the broadcasting charge comes in even if you don't have a tv you will have to pay.

yet you come out with this self righteous tripe. and expect such a resource and labour intensive hugely non cost effective zero benefit waste of money waste of time nonsense to happen, and condone it. priorities

First no-one is saying she should be forced to pay money she doesn't have, because that's just not feasible. What we're all saying is she can't just point blank refuse to pay at all.

If she truly can't afford her payments the way they are, could she not ask to be allowed pay back smaller installments or have a longer time frame in which to pay? Is there no-one in her life that might help her out?

If she just won't pay then it is in fact quite simple....she just shouldn't get a license.Why people in this country expect to get everything handed to them for free is beyond me.

Lastly just because you disagree with some of us does not make us self righteous or any other slur you care to hurl. So please get down off your pedestal.

Guy:Incognito · 09-03-2015 10:51AM

shaymus27 wrote: »

People in Ireland today are having to choose between putting heating on or buying food, clothes etc. or paying a tv licence. Criminalising poor people is reprehensible.

No they're not. If they are that close to being destitute, is buying and paying for the electricity for a tv really a necessity?

No tv, no license to be paid.

AudreyHepburn · 09-03-2015 10:57AM

shaymus27 wrote: »

People in Ireland today are having to choose between putting heating on or buying food, clothes etc. or paying a tv licence. Criminalising poor people is reprehensible.

That shouldn't even be a choice tbh.

If you are struggling that much surely a television should be the last of your worries.

bjork · 09-03-2015 10:58AM

MORE THAN 8,000 people were jailed last year for non-payment of fines.
The majority of these people spent less than a day in prison

http://www.thejournal.ie/how-many-people-go-to-jail-for-not-paying-fines-1972489-Mar2015/

^^Breakdown of figures in link

Guy:Incognito · 09-03-2015 11:01AM

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

That shouldn't even be a choice tbh.

If you are struggling that much surely a television should be the last of your worries.

I await the setting up of the Right2TV group and a convenient interpretation of something someone vaguely connected to the UN said once over a coffee.:)

Dravokivich · 09-03-2015 11:48AM

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

That shouldn't even be a choice tbh.

If you are struggling that much surely a television should be the last of your worries.

They've already got the TV. what are they meant to do, just throw it out?

Even if it isn't being used for receiving services. You still need to pay the license fee.

Guy:Incognito · 09-03-2015 11:54AM

Dravokivich wrote: »

They've already got the TV. what are they meant to do, just throw it out?

Even if it isn't being used for receiving services. You still need to pay the license fee.

Sell it? Stick it in the attic? Give it away?

end of the road · 09-03-2015 02:21PM

Gerry T wrote: »

I grew up in relatively poor house. But the basic concept was, if you can't afford it then you don't get it. We didn't have heat, nice clothes, any real possession. Think my first bike was one I went to work doing a paper round and bought myself.
The point I'm trying to make is if you can't afford a TV then you don't get one. You may not agree with lisc fees etc... but if you can't afford that then you shouldn't have it.

you just don't get it. the broadcasting charge when it comes in will be for all things which can allow the viewing of tv and listening to radio. including the basic internet phone if radio is your thing and not tv, a phone which may be needed for work. so by your logic, if one can't afford a broadcasting charge even if they don't use their phone to listen to the radio, they shouldn't have it and should lose out on work because of it. great logic

Gerry T wrote: »

It's like saying I bought a car but can't afford insurance. Then don't buy a car.

its not one bit.

Gerry T wrote: »

Why do people feel so entitled

they don't

Gerry T wrote: »

if you can't afford something do without.

or, allow a payment plan. some things can't be done without. your deluded

end of the road · 09-03-2015 02:27PM

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

First no-one is saying she should be forced to pay money she doesn't have, because that's just not feasible. What we're all saying is she can't just point blank refuse to pay at all.

she didn't point blank refuse to pay

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

If she truly can't afford her payments the way they are, could she not ask to be allowed pay back smaller installments or have a longer time frame in which to pay? Is there no-one in her life that might help her out?

seems not. as she ended up in jail even though she payed some of it off.

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

If she just won't pay then it is in fact quite simple....she just shouldn't get a license.

when the broadcasting charge comes in she won't get a choice.

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

Why people in this country expect to get everything handed to them for free is beyond me.

not being able to afford a fine isn't expecting everything to be handed to you for free. and actually, apart from the tv licence for rte, all other channels are free unless you have sky/ntl with subscription channels.

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

Lastly just because you disagree with some of us does not make us self righteous or any other slur you care to hurl. So please get down off your pedestal.

yes it does for a few

shaymus27 · 09-03-2015 02:28PM

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

That shouldn't even be a choice tbh.

If you are struggling that much surely a television should be the last of your worries.

I live in a rural area by myself. Without a TV I doubt if my relative sanity would remain. You really must lack empathy or something to imply having a tv is some sort of luxury that if you haven't money you shouldn't be concerned with. There are a lot single, separated males who end up living by themselves isolated from the world without the means to have a social life. Everyone needs a tv or what on earth will they do to fill in their time? especially on dark lonely nights. You really are without compassion. You imply that if you are poor you shouldn't have a tv while the licence fee goes to over-inflated wages and pensions of average presenters. I should hand over a fee which equates roughly to my weekly income to pay for huge salaries for people I don't watch or rate. Do you work in RTE? Meanwhile the government waste money on unending quangos, jobs for the boys, grants to what they want to give public money to etc.

end of the road · 09-03-2015 02:29PM

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

No they're not. If they are that close to being destitute, is buying and paying for the electricity for a tv really a necessity?

No tv, no license to be paid.

until the broadcasting charge comes

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Sell it? Stick it in the attic? Give it away?

sticking it in the atic means a licence needs to be payed. soon selling it or giving it away won't make a difference with the broadcasting charge

keyboard_cat · 09-03-2015 02:34PM

Gerry T wrote: »

I grew up in relatively poor house. But the basic concept was, if you can't afford it then you don't get it. We didn't have heat, nice clothes, any real possession. Think my first bike was one I went to work doing a paper round and bought myself.
The point I'm trying to make is if you can't afford a TV then you don't get one. You may not agree with lisc fees etc... but if you can't afford that then you shouldn't have it.
It's like saying I bought a car but can't afford insurance. Then don't buy a car.

Why do people feel so entitled, if you can't afford something do without.

But if i use a tv exclusively for netflix, dvds, or gaming, which thousands of people genuinely do and have no interest in connecting to RTE why should they have to pay a licence fee to keep RTE in business?

We have always had a tv growing up but never bought a tv licence because we never had RTE or Sky or any channels, the tv was only used for dvd's and playstation and when the licence inspector came around and asked to come in we simply said no and he was on his way again. i totally support buying the licence if people actually watch RTE but forcing a fee on people who dont want to watch RTE is nonsense.

And soon we will have a broadcasting charge because RTE decided to go ahead and make the RTE player website so anyone with internet access will have to pay because in RTE's eyes everyone in ireland is just dying to watch home and away over and over again online rather then explore any of the other half a billion websites out there.

If anyone is feeling entitled its RTE

shaymus27 · 09-03-2015 02:43PM

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

No they're not. If they are that close to being destitute, is buying and paying for the electricity for a tv really a necessity?

No tv, no license to be paid.

Yes having a tv is a necessity. You need to keep your mental health up and a lot of people live by themselves. Having no tv especially if they are not working would lead to mental health problems. Parents would go mad without being able to distract their kids from time to time without a tv.
The expense of electricity to power a tv you refer to is nonsense and you know it.
The question is, IS IT NECCESSARY TO FORCE PEOPLE TO PAY fMONEY THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY OVER INFLATED WAGES, PENSIONS ETC FOR RTE STAFF, NOT IS IT NECCESSARY TO OWN A TV.
I read that the cost of posing out free RTE guides to employees and ex employees of RTE ran in to over a hundred thousand euro. Might not be correct on exact figure. The cost of xmas party for same was huge. They have a subsidised canteen. The 2 RTE orchestras cost something like 24,000 euro a day. TG4 is jobs for the boys who speak the Irish language.
You really need an injection of humanity and empathy. Your attitude is incredibly harsh.

timetogo · 09-03-2015 02:49PM

shaymus27 wrote: »

Yes having a tv is a necessity. You need to keep your mental health up and a lot of people live by themselves. Having no tv especially if they are not working would lead to mental health problems. Parents would go mad without being able to distract their kids from time to time without a tv.
The expense of electricity to power a tv you refer to is nonsense and you know it.

Did all of your grandparents suffer from mental health issues by not having a TV?
Actually, having a TV and seeing some of the crap on these days on the free to air stations is probably doing more damage to mental health than not having one.

shaymus27 · 09-03-2015 02:57PM

timetogo wrote: »

Did all of your grandparents suffer from mental health issues by not having a TV?
Actually having a TV and seeing some of the crap on these days on the free to air stations is probably doing more damage to mental health than not having one.[/QUOTE

Please read what I wrote. If people live alone and don't have a tv what will do with their time? Especially if they live in rural areas or don't have the means to have a social life. Try living alone without a tv in a rural area in winter - you would go even crazier than you already are.

My grandparents didn't live alone, they had each other and kids.

TV can be a way to keep with what's going on in the world and as a way of educating oneself about various things - hence it is a valuable educational tool. I watch National Geo, documentaries and hence it has educational value.

Stop sniping with nonsense.

timetogo · 09-03-2015 02:59PM

shaymus27 wrote: »

I watch National Geo, documentaries and hence it has educational value.

Stop sniping with nonsense.

So paying for Sky / UPC is affordable (minimum of €348 a year) but the TV License isnt?

The woman this whole thread was started about has kids. So is it only OK not to pay if you live alone or living in rural isolated areas?

If TV was the only way of keeping up with the world or educating yourself then your arguments might be a bit more sensible.

I get the rural thing but if TV is needed for keeping peoples mental health up then we have worse problems in Ireland than the TV license fee.

end of the road · 09-03-2015 03:06PM

timetogo wrote: »

So paying for Sky / UPC is affordable (minimum of €348 a year) but the TV License isnt?

The woman this whole thread was started about has kids. So is it only OK not to pay if you live alone or living in rural isolated areas?

If TV was the only way of keeping up with the world or educating yourself then your arguments might be a bit more sensible.

i don't pay for sky/upc/any subscription service. free to air with lots of channels. always something on at some part of the day

Arbiter of Good Taste · 09-03-2015 03:08PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

You obviously have no experience of working with the HSE

That's exactly what I was thinking and I'm only going on what I hear from all the people I do know who works in the HSE!

Guy:Incognito · 09-03-2015 03:09PM

end of the road wrote: »

or, allow a payment plan. some things can't be done without. your deluded

They allow one for the tv license......

Guy:Incognito · 09-03-2015 03:11PM

end of the road wrote: »

sticking it in the atic means a licence needs to be payed. soon selling it or giving it away won't make a difference with the broadcasting charge

How many people have been made pay a fine for TV's found in their attics? How many have had inspectors climb up ladders in to the attic in the first place?

Is it ok to drive your car without tax or insurance if you cant afford it? Bit of drink driving for the rural folk?

Dravokivich · 09-03-2015 03:54PM

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

How many people have been made pay a fine for TV's found in their attics? How many have had inspectors climb up ladders in to the attic in the first place?

Is it ok to drive your car without tax or insurance if you cant afford it? Bit of drink driving for the rural folk?

Non-payment of the tax/fee is not about what's right or wrong. The law of the land provides for persecution as a result of non-payment and that's it really.

end of the road · 09-03-2015 04:04PM

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

How many people have been made pay a fine for TV's found in their attics? How many have had inspectors climb up ladders in to the attic in the first place?

Is it ok to drive your car without tax or insurance if you cant afford it? Bit of drink driving for the rural folk?

irrelevant comparison that means nothing. car that can potentially kill, tv, nobody dies if one doesn't have a licence for it

Arbiter of Good Taste · 10-03-2015 08:29AM

end of the road wrote: »

irrelevant comparison that means nothing. car that can potentially kill, tv, nobody dies if one doesn't have a licence for it

As a matter of interest, what other laws of the land do you believe don't need to be adhered to?

Johngoose · 10-03-2015 08:35AM

Glad Turbridy's €300,000 or so per year won't be affected.

Mint Sauce · 10-03-2015 09:07AM

keyboard_cat wrote: »

But if i use a tv exclusively for netflix, dvds, or gaming, which thousands of people genuinely do and have no interest in connecting to RTE why should they have to pay a licence fee to keep RTE in business?

We have always had a tv growing up but never bought a tv licence because we never had RTE or Sky or any channels, the tv was only used for dvd's and playstation and when the licence inspector came around and asked to come in we simply said no and he was on his way again. i totally support buying the licence if people actually watch RTE but forcing a fee on people who dont want to watch RTE is nonsense.

And soon we will have a broadcasting charge because RTE decided to go ahead and make the RTE player website so anyone with internet access will have to pay because in RTE's eyes everyone in ireland is just dying to watch home and away over and over again online rather then explore any of the other half a billion websites out there.

If anyone is feeling entitled its RTE

The UK seem to be jumping on this broadcast charge as well, with the BBC considering bringing it in to repalce the licence fee. The argument is pretty much the same, more people are watching their content on line instead of on tellys, although think they have admited the fee could be lower as the net cast is bigger. Not sure if RTE and the government have gone as far as admitting that yet.

Dravokivich · 10-03-2015 09:21AM

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

As a matter of interest, what other laws of the land do you believe don't need to be adhered to?

He never said that

keyboard_cat · 10-03-2015 10:12AM

Mint Sauce wrote: »

The UK seem to be jumping on this broadcast charge as well, with the BBC considering bringing it in to repalce the licence fee. The argument is pretty much the same, more people are watching their content on line instead of on tellys, although think they have admited the fee could be lower as the net cast is bigger. Not sure if RTE and the government have gone as far as admitting that yet.

Yup as far as im concerned we should keep the tv licence and give licence owners a login for RTE's online services. its like netflix making itself open to everyone and then posting a bill to every house because they might be using the service

Woman who failed to pay TV licence fine taken to jail in five-hour taxi trip

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