So TV Inspectors actually do exist...

BravoSierra · 18-12-2008 9:05pm #1

Redirect this as required. I searched under 'TV Liscence' and could not figure out a suitable forum.

The TV Inspector just knocked on my door. He asked that I tend to my liscence in the coming weeks. I expected an 'on the spot' fine.

I do not watch Irish television. In fact, I dislike it. Can anyone point me in the right direction to become exempt from this charge? Can I not have Chorus block my Irish channels?

I accept that I have to pay it this time. I'm thinking about the future.

Jesus Wept · 18-12-2008 9:06pm

BravoSierra wrote: »

Can anyone point me in the right direction to become exempt from this charge?

1. Get rid of your telly.
2. Be over 70 years of age.
3. You could make yourself blind. On the plus side - you would then be entitled to a free tv licence, however on the other hand, you'd lose the use of your eyes - and not just for watching the telly, all the time.

Here are some other legal loopholes.

4. You could consider getting someone with severe physical/mental difficulties to come live with you, because if you are receiving a Carer's Allowance, you get a free tv licence.

Gone West · 18-12-2008 9:07pm

no if you have cable installations or antenna or a tv you must pay it.

javaboy · 18-12-2008 9:08pm

As the law stands at the moment, any device capable of receiving a TV signal needs a TV licence. Even if it's broken but repairable you need to pay. I imagine even having Early To Bed 1 and Early To Bed 2 blocked would amount to the same thing as having a "repairable" TV.

In summary, you have to pay.

In$omniac · 18-12-2008 9:09pm

There is nowt you can do but pay or dump your tv, both the tv license and motor tax are 2 payments I cannot justify paying

N_Raid · 18-12-2008 9:09pm

There is no way to be exempt. It doesn't matter what channels you watch or even if you watch TV at all. As long as you have a device capable of receiving a TV signal you have to pay for a TV licence

sdanseo · 18-12-2008 9:12pm

This would make a great court case, if you could prove you didnt watch RTÉ there'd be no reason for paying it.

Nehaxak · 18-12-2008 9:13pm

You could also take it to the European courts. At the very least you can make a complaint against RTE to the EU on the grounds that they are advertising while also pulling in a license fee. This is not allowed to be done under the European law and so RTE are fined every single year because of this but they still advertise and still break the European law because the fines are so low and meaningless to them.

Would prefer to see the fine raised to 50 million Euro for the first offense and triple in size for every year thereafter that they continue to advertise and break the EU law.

If they raise the fines to 50 million Euro+ I might even vote yes in the next referendum

javaboy · 18-12-2008 9:14pm

sdonn_1 wrote: »

This would make a great court case, if you could prove you didnt watch RTÉ there'd be no reason for paying it.

No it wouldn't make a great court case because that's not the way the law is written. You're not paying to watch RTÉ. You're paying a licence to own a device which can receive a TV signal.
It would however make a reasonable case for having the law changed.

dr.bollocko · 18-12-2008 9:15pm

Live in a caravan for the rest of your life. No fixed abode. That'll sort the ****ers.

LolaLuv · 18-12-2008 9:17pm

Ha! One came to my place, too. No sense of humor whatsoever. Came back 10 minutes later and apologized for having the wrong address.

Wishbone Ash · 18-12-2008 9:18pm

Nehaxak wrote: »

make a complaint against RTE to the EU on the grounds that they are advertising while also pulling in a license fee

RTE are not 'pulling in the licence fee'. It doesn't go directly to them.

And, as has been said, the licence fee is for having the TV set. It's irrelevant what one watches on it.

salonfire · 18-12-2008 9:19pm

RTE are losing money from advertising so expect more TV inspections, I'd say.
Could the TV licence go up again too?

I can't believe Europe let them away with a fine every year. Surely repeated offences warrent stiffer punishment

BravoSierra · 18-12-2008 9:19pm

Nehaxak wrote: »

they are advertising while also pulling in a license fee. This is not allowed to be done under the European law and so RTE are fined every single year because of this but they still advertise and still break the European law because the fines are so low and meaningless to them.

Intriguing. I imagine I'd either need a voluntary solicitor or would have to incur hefty fees myself to reprimand them.

Wibbs · 18-12-2008 9:22pm

Throw out your telly. Get a big PC monitor and watch youtube. Sorted.

BravoSierra · 18-12-2008 9:23pm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

RTE are not 'pulling in the licence fee'. It doesn't go directly to them.

And, as has been said, the licence fee is for having the TV set. It's irrelevant what one watches on it.

But what does the money go towards? In what way does me owning a set cost the government so that I in return must recompensate them?

furtzy · 18-12-2008 9:24pm

Nehaxak wrote: »

You could also take it to the European courts. At the very least you can make a complaint against RTE to the EU on the grounds that they are advertising while also pulling in a license fee. This is not allowed to be done under the European law and so RTE are fined every single year because of this but they still advertise and still break the European law because the fines are so low and meaningless to them.

Would prefer to see the fine raised to 50 million Euro for the first offense and triple in size for every year thereafter that they continue to advertise and break the EU law.

If they raise the fines to 50 million Euro+ I might even vote yes in the next referendum

Several EU countries operate licence fee + advertising. Care to post a link to this EU law?

dr.bollocko · 18-12-2008 9:25pm

Nehaxak wrote: »

Would prefer to see the fine raised to 50 million Euro for the first offense and triple in size for every year thereafter that they continue to advertise and break the EU law.

That's a load of bravo sierra there if you don't mind me saying.
And if you'd just hand me my hat there on my way out that'd be just darling.

Jesus Wept · 18-12-2008 9:28pm

Nehaxak wrote: »

You could also take it to the European courts. At the very least you can make a complaint against RTE to the EU on the grounds that they are advertising while also pulling in a license fee. This is not allowed to be done under the European law and so RTE are fined every single year because of this but they still advertise and still break the European law because the fines are so low and meaningless to them.

Would prefer to see the fine raised to 50 million Euro for the first offense and triple in size for every year thereafter that they continue to advertise and break the EU law.

If they raise the fines to 50 million Euro+ I might even vote yes in the next referendum

Never heard of this, that's mental?!

And yet they can fine people who don't have a licence.... fúck that.

mayordenis · 18-12-2008 9:29pm

Question I payed the 170 earlier in the year - but I have got no correspondance since - I have no idea when I need to pay again or proof that I have paid - where can I get such?

Latchy · 18-12-2008 9:30pm

Well strangley enough I once lived in a flat and because i was just sleeping there most of the time when not working, had no need or time for a tv .So I keep getting there repeat demands to pay for a a tv licence ,a tv i never had nor used , again , again ,again for approx a year .So one day i phoned them up and explained to this fcukwith ( nothing personell ) that A .- I didnt have a tv nor would i pay for the shyte if i had to ( i was just being a nusience becauser of their annoying letters ) Fine ,or so I though but NO, These people were /are convinced that I , Joe public was lying ( doesnt everybody ) ? of course not , but you see what hassle you can have in just trying to tell the truth ? .I am sure their are thousends more like me who have at one time had various froms of hassle such as I described from officialdom .

BravoSierra · 18-12-2008 9:33pm

mayordenis wrote: »

Question I payed the 170 earlier in the year - but I have got no correspondance since - I have no idea when I need to pay again or proof that I have paid - where can I get such?

Its gone up to 200 according to what I was told. The Post Office should be able to recall your payment.

AnMoralltach · 18-12-2008 9:38pm

Do you have to let the inspector inside your door?Like can you tell them that you don't have a tv to buy some time?In fairness i'm a student and really wouldnt have the money!

MagicMarker · 18-12-2008 9:43pm

Wibbs wrote: »

Throw out your telly. Get a big PC monitor and watch youtube. Sorted.

I was going to suggest the very same, except the youtube part.

OP, for approx 6 months this year I was without tv, i used the internet to download everything I watched and it was MUCH better. No ads, no waiting a week to see an episode(provided you download full seasons).

Well worth it.

Latchy · 18-12-2008 9:43pm

AnMoralltach wrote: »

Do you have to let the inspector inside your door?Like can you tell them that you don't have a tv to buy some time?In fairness i'm a student and really wouldnt have the money!

You dont have to let anybody inside your home , he/she could be a serial killer for all ya know . Tell him to go fcuk himself .

Fallen Buckshot · 18-12-2008 9:45pm

only tv license?? .. what about teapot license or computer license

BravoSierra · 18-12-2008 9:51pm

latchyco wrote: »

You dont have to let anybody inside your home , he/she could be a serial killer for all ya know . Tell him to go fcuk himself .

He didn't enter my home. They have your name printed on list. It corrosponds with an An Post database.

DublinWriter · 18-12-2008 9:55pm

BravoSierra wrote: »

I do not watch Irish television. In fact, I dislike it. Can anyone point me in the right direction to become exempt from this charge?

Yes. Address a strongly worded letter of protest to Jesus, c/o The Pentagon, USA and then fashion a hat from empty CornFlake packets and tinfoil.

LolaLuv · 18-12-2008 9:56pm

DublinWriter wrote: »

Yes. Address a strongly worded letter of protest to Jesus, c/o The Pentagon, USA and then fashion a hat from empty CornFlake packets and tinfoil.

I loled. Might I sign up for your newsletter?

MagicMarker · 18-12-2008 9:59pm

DublinWriter wrote: »

Yes. Address a strongly worded letter of protest to Jesus, c/o The Pentagon, USA and then fashion a hat from empty CornFlake packets and tinfoil.

Don't make Jesus mad.

BravoSierra · 18-12-2008 10:04pm

DublinWriter wrote: »

Yes. Address a strongly worded letter of protest to Jesus, c/o The Pentagon, USA and then fashion a hat from empty CornFlake packets and tinfoil.

Why the hat?

So TV Inspectors actually do exist...

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