Has the TV license inspector ever paid you a visit?

fasttalkerchat

smash wrote: »

So you ignore any registered post addressed to your father?

Or more likely you call up the TV lovely TV licence people and say my father has passed away, I am now living in the house and will be buying a TV and TV licence this week.

fasttalkerchat

Antho1966 wrote: »

You do not have to sign for post not addressed to yourself.
Am I wrong in this?

You don't be aware what it is for so may sign for it accidentally. I think anyone at the address can accept registered mail but I may be wrong on this.

dan1895

Just don't answer the flipping door, problem solved.

Antho1966

I do not sign for anyone else and refuse to do so. I will check this out with postmasters union.
Never sign without checking who or what you are signing for.

keithclancy

If you think thats annoying, I know a lad that got done for not having a TV License for the TV in his Mercedes.

SouthTippBass

keithclancy wrote: »

If you think thats annoying, I know a lad that got done for not having a TV License for the TV in his Mercedes.

Well, thats just a lie.

keithclancy

SouthTippBass wrote: »

Well, thats just a lie.

Fraid not .. in Germany you're required to have a Radio license or TV license (which covers both) for your car if its equipped with one.

Lad was from the UK and didn't know it was required when he bought his car on German plates.

J Cheever Loophole

Over the course of the troubles in the North, TV Licence inspectors going out and challenging people could be a fraught business - I remember as recently as the mid nineties, the car of TV Licence inspectors getting wrecked in Armagh.

I recall hearing a story dating back to sometime in the seventies in which the general population of Forkhill in South Armagh were getting severely stressed by the interference to their TV reception from the constant movement of the low flying helicopters of the RAF and British Army. The problem got so bad that a meeting was sought between the locals and someone at the Beeb to discuss the issue and seek a way forward. An official came out and met with a widespread gathering in the local hall and listened intently to a list of complaints.

The man from the Beeb eventually stood up and stated that on checking his records, he could see that there was one television owner in the whole area and that he was happy to meet him / her in private to discuss his / her concerns. The gathering then began filing away rather sheepishly!!

Gumbo

Knocked at my door in Finglas in 2006. It was a new estate so I guess they were blitzing them at the time. Haven't seen him since.

M cebee

called today
i was just mindin the place though
told him they waz out

corblimey

kceire wrote: »

Knocked at my door in Finglas in 2006. It was a new estate so I guess they were blitzing them at the time. Haven't seen him since.

Same, guy knocked on my door while I was moving in - the television was still in a box. Bought one shortly after and haven't seen him since. I assume if I ever neglected to buy one, he'd be up and at me within days

ToddyDoody

Hogzy wrote: »

Im not trying to weigh up the odds of being paid a visit as i know that its not random calls they make to households!and i pay it so iv nothing to worry about!
Anyways has anyone had a call from the Inspector asking to see you license?

yes... Usual terms: fine or bj

M cebee

bj?

rdubz

Introducing this licence now for laptops etc.

jd83

Im getting the dear occupant letter now. No intention of paying it, out of principle. I dont watch rte or anything on rte. I pay sky and most of what I watch is on english stations. If they gave me an option to pay the uk licence id have no probem paying it.

Is it true that sky and upc will give them my name? and seen as there an post can they not see the name on the other letters been delivered to the house and use that for a summons.

Antar Bolaeisk

I don't know how they'd even get to me, they'd have to wait at the front of the apartment for someone to open the door and there's not much traffic through there. Not that I receive a live signal anyway.

M cebee

seems discriminatory to target just people that don't have a license

is that legal?

dickwod1

M cebee wrote: »

seems discriminatory to target just people that don't have a license

is that legal?

There wouldn't be much point in targeting people that have them, what would the end result be?

Antho1966

Hi All

Just an update as promised on registered mail.

I spoke to postmen ( sorry only know one postwoman ) and someone in the postmasters union.

As far as they are concerned, the only person that can sign for your mail is yourself.
You can sign for your wife/husband/siblings/children/parents etc, if you want to.

What happens if you are having problems with said persons e.g. spouse?

These may get worse perhaps

monkeypants

M cebee wrote: »

seems discriminatory to target just people that don't have a license

is that legal?

And the Gardai only arrest people that they suspect of committing crimes. They should just arrest everyone, all the time.

--Kaiser--

160 euro for the utter sh1te that is RTE is daylight robbery

jjbrien

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

160 euro for the utter sh1te that is RTE is daylight robbery

And you have to pay to watch adverts

Antho1966

homemadecider

wildly inaccurate.

why??

carzony

Is it true there will be a new license now for computers?

Boombastic

Yes, you have sir, now don't call again


Got caught in my last place. Had just moved in, 8.00AM the first morning a knock came on the door, not being able to find the keys, I opened the window and there the TV guy was, all delighted. :rolleyes:

Think_then_talk

We do not have a Tv in our home, nor do we have a radio.Nor do we receive Live any-thing on the computer.
However over the last year we have had four visits from the Licence inspector's the first was a small fat (lady) who rang the door bell like a bat out of hell @ 11am in the morning.
When the door was answered she put her foot in the door and said she wanted to check for tv licence.
She was trying to push past me at the door I pushed her back "Where the "f" do you think your going" She said I'm an-post tv Licence inspector.
I told her to leave our property or I would call the garda and have her arrested for trespass.
"She tought the house was in flats thats what she said."
Since then we have a "camp" fella calling asking for the "name of the household". I have told him to get lost with himself that we have no tv
We did phone GPO to complain only to be told that their staff would not do that ect,ect, They soon shut up when informed that it was all recorded on cctv every word and action.

dan1895

Think_then_talk wrote: »

We do not have a Tv in our home, nor do we have a radio.Nor do we receive Live any-thing on the computer.
However over the last year we have had four visits from the Licence inspector's the first was a small fat (lady) who rang the door bell like a bat out of hell @ 11am in the morning.
When the door was answered she put her foot in the door and said she wanted to check for tv licence.
She was trying to push past me at the door I pushed her back "Where the "f" do you think your going" She said I'm an-post tv Licence inspector.
I told her to leave our property or I would call the garda and have her arrested for trespass.
"She tought the house was in flats thats what she said."
Since then we have a "camp" fella calling asking for the "name of the household". I have told him to get lost with himself that we have no tv
We did phone GPO to complain only to be told that their staff would not do that ect,ect, They soon shut up when informed that it was all recorded on cctv every word and action.

I too have found them to be aggressive and intimidating. One morning just before Christmas and there's two of them banging on the door. Obviously I don't answer because I'm not stupid so they start kicking the letter box. Didn't know until after they left that they were tv license inspectors. If they had been there any longer I would of called the guards.

sesswhat

Think_then_talk wrote: »

We do not have a Tv in our home, nor do we have a radio.Nor do we receive Live any-thing on the computer.
However over the last year we have had four visits from the Licence inspector's the first was a small fat (lady) who rang the door bell like a bat out of hell @ 11am in the morning.
When the door was answered she put her foot in the door and said she wanted to check for tv licence.
She was trying to push past me at the door I pushed her back "Where the "f" do you think your going" She said I'm an-post tv Licence inspector.
I told her to leave our property or I would call the garda and have her arrested for trespass.
"She tought the house was in flats thats what she said."
Since then we have a "camp" fella calling asking for the "name of the household". I have told him to get lost with himself that we have no tv
We did phone GPO to complain only to be told that their staff would not do that ect,ect, They soon shut up when informed that it was all recorded on cctv every word and action.

Let's have a look then whenever you're ready.

Seaneh

I answered the door this morning in my half asleep state to some lad about 45 with a clip board and ****ing knew instantly what he was there for, the little hoor.
He was pleasant enough in fairness to the fella, just asked me if we had a television and then said "you must have just moved in" to which I just went, eh, yeah, er, last month, and then asked me "it's just the one telly, yeah?". Basically, the lad did the lying for me... I have just moved in but one of the lads in the house has been here for like 5 fecking years.


Yourman told me "There's no rush, just get it done in the next few weeks, and sure if ya forget they will just send ya a reminder in a month or so, so whenever ya have it just drop into the post office and pay it".

5 people in the gaff so it's feck all each.

mikom

Seaneh wrote: »

and then asked me "it's just the one telly, yeah?". Basically, the lad did the lying for me.

?

Did you expect to him to require a licence for each TV in the house?

zeds alive

Have not paid the TV licence in 19 years , my secret? never answer the door unless you're expecting someone.

GOML

B.A._Baracus

In the estate I grew up in alot of people got caught by the tv inspecters in the 80s. Never open to the door to someone holding a clipboard :pac:

briany

carzony wrote: »

Is it true there will be a new license now for computers?

Maybe that's the kind of thing that'll be brought to the table at some stage. Who knows? There's problems with it's workability but as the amount of aerials and dishes around the country decrease, it'll be gradually considered - some license or levy will be looked at, and we'll only look all the more backward for it.

Chips Lovell

It isn't a licence for computers. Instead they're introducing a Broadcasting Charge, where every household is liable, regardless of what they own.

Firefox11

briany wrote: »

Maybe that's the kind of thing that'll be brought to the table at some stage. Who knows? There's problems with it's workability but as the amount of aerials and dishes around the country decrease, it'll be gradually considered - some license or levy will be looked at, and we'll only look all the more backward for it.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/broadcast-charge-to-hit-all-homes-even-those-with-no-tv-29096806.html

dickwod1

What powers does a tv license inspector have?

Can he demand your name - or enter your house?

Or is he just an employee of An Post?

mikom

dickwod1 wrote: »

What powers does a tv license inspector have?

Can he demand your name - or enter your house?

Or is he just an employee of An Post?

Can he demand your name........... no.

Or enter your house............no.

Is he just an employee of An Post........... probably.

dickwod1

mikom wrote: »

Can he demand your name........... no.

Or enter your house............no.

Is he just an employee of An Post........... probably.

Yeah thats what I was thinking too
In todays age of downloading stuff from Netflix and using your wopper tv only as a monitor for the playstation, I doubt if he even has the powers to get a summons now for a court apparence!

twinsen

These guys are a joke

When he came, he asked me if I have a tv, to which is said "no".
Then he asked me if he can come in and check, i said "no".

Two weeks later I get a letter that says I have to pay TV licence.

DonR8

twinsen wrote: »

These guys are a joke

When he came, he asked me if I have a tv, to which is said "no".
Then he asked me if he can come in and check, i said "no".

Two weeks later I get a letter that says I have to pay TV licence.

Your in right to refuse them entry to your home, how can they prove u do have a tv?

castletownman

I know a lad in college who shares a house with three or four of his friends. Like most students they have a telly, but no license. Anyway, one day the TV license inspector paid a visit and when the lad I know was in the middle of denying that they had a television, Ross from Friends shouts out "It was MY Sandwich"

Apparently the landlord sorted it for them in the end though

twinsen

DonR8 wrote: »

Your in right to refuse them entry to your home, how can they prove u do have a tv?

They can't. But if you don't let them in, the just assume you have a tv.
At least this guy did.

o1s1n

Oh those hilarious moments where you're in the sitting room, you can see the TV license inspector through the window and you hit the ground as if an air raid siren just went off.

GavRedKing

We had just moved into our apartment about 2 weeks when we got a call, over 23 months later we still didnt get a license and our lease is up in 3 weeks time.

Living the dream.

dickwod1

If it was worthwhile and meaningful you wouldn't even mind paying it

But there's no way I'm paying a tv license so RTE can send 12 people reporters to Rome for a week wined and dined to cover the pope's resignation!

sitstill

Think_then_talk wrote: »

We do not have a Tv in our home, nor do we have a radio.Nor do we receive Live any-thing on the computer.
However over the last year we have had four visits from the Licence inspector's the first was a small fat (lady) who rang the door bell like a bat out of hell @ 11am in the morning.
When the door was answered she put her foot in the door and said she wanted to check for tv licence.
She was trying to push past me at the door I pushed her back "Where the "f" do you think your going" She said I'm an-post tv Licence inspector.
I told her to leave our property or I would call the garda and have her arrested for trespass.
"She tought the house was in flats thats what she said."
Since then we have a "camp" fella calling asking for the "name of the household". I have told him to get lost with himself that we have no tv
We did phone GPO to complain only to be told that their staff would not do that ect,ect, They soon shut up when informed that it was all recorded on cctv every word and action.

Why does it matter that the woman was small and fat or that the man was camp?

kidneyfan

How bizarre.
In the Republic my own experience was that if you had no TV they would go away and later another chap called over and marked me as a weirdo without a TV.

In the North you have to give your address when you buy a TV.

The story you tell is markedly different from my own experience. I hope you complained to the relevant authorities. Your placement of cameras all over your home in order to monitor every word and action is interesting. What do you use to review the tapes?

Think_then_talk wrote: »

We do not have a Tv in our home, nor do we have a radio.Nor do we receive Live any-thing on the computer.
However over the last year we have had four visits from the Licence inspector's the first was a small fat (lady) who rang the door bell like a bat out of hell @ 11am in the morning.
When the door was answered she put her foot in the door and said she wanted to check for tv licence.
She was trying to push past me at the door I pushed her back "Where the "f" do you think your going" She said I'm an-post tv Licence inspector.
I told her to leave our property or I would call the garda and have her arrested for trespass.
"She tought the house was in flats thats what she said."
Since then we have a "camp" fella calling asking for the "name of the household". I have told him to get lost with himself that we have no tv
We did phone GPO to complain only to be told that their staff would not do that ect,ect, They soon shut up when informed that it was all recorded on cctv every word and action.

dickwod1

kidneyfan wrote: »

In the North you have to give your address when you buy a TV.

False address I presume?

kidneyfan

dickwod1 wrote: »

False address I presume?

NO! They check it and ask for ID! It is bizarre.

DublinArnie

o1s1n wrote: »

Oh those hilarious moments where you're in the sitting room, you can see the TV license inspector through the window and you hit the ground as if an air raid siren just went off.

That made me lol hahaha .