Mother of five recovering from cancer taken to jail after not paying her tv license

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

seamus wrote: »

That's not correct mate. The fabled broadcasting charge was never produced, so it's still a case of no TV, no TV licence.

Phones and laptops aren't covered by the licence, it's not required.

Just to add that if your laptop or PC can receive a TV signal (has a tuner card installed) then you need a TV licence.

07Lapierre wrote: »

Can Some one clarify one point?

its my understanding that you have to pay a TV license if your house "has the ability to recived a TV Signal". This means you must pay a TV license if your house has a TV cable with an access point ( Land Cable or Satellite/aerial source).

So if you don't want to pay for a TV licence, not having a TV is not enough, you must have the source of the TV signal removed too. (At least that's my understanding of the law)

The licence is for the TV not the ability to receive a TV signal

http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/broadcasting-media/Pages/TV-Licence-FAQs.aspx

07Lapierre

Nickolas Wet Slime wrote: »

Just to add that if your laptop or PC can receive a TV signal (has a tuner card installed) then you need a TV licence.



The licence is for the TV not the ability to receive a TV signal

http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/communications/en-ie/broadcasting-media/Pages/TV-Licence-FAQs.aspx

Ah thanks....now, can anyone tell me where I can pickup a 52inch windscreen laptop?

Skylinehead

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

And let's hope everyone remembers that fact, when they walk into the polling booth on Friday

Am I imagining Fitzpatrick and Drumm's imminent trials?

Caliden

end of the road wrote: »

complete rubbish.

No.

Bruthal

Caliden wrote: »

No.

Only €13 a month living expenses, that must be an easy life.

wexandproud

Nodin wrote: »

22 posts before the usual. Not bad, all told.

nearly as quick as as the 'everything for nothing brigade' jumped in .

thousand of people are terminally ill , but their bills are paid . It may well be a stupid law but thats a different discussion , at the moment it is law . i moved house a few years back and never got round to getting licence , I got 3 reminders before i actually got round to getting one .The paddy wagon didn't just appear and drag me off to court. People are on about the waste of money and it may well have been , but no , its not the government's fault or the courts or the guards fault , IT'S HER FAULT .
i wish her well in her recovery

JumpShivers

The idea of a state broadcast is less akin to a modern country like Ireland and more akin to the likes of North Korea.

Galwayguy35

Bruthal wrote: »

It wont be missed so, if its not paid.

Yeah if we don't like paying for something sure why bother, what difference if it's the law of the land.

Galwayguy35

JumpShivers wrote: »

The idea of a state broadcast is less akin to a modern country like Ireland and more akin to the likes of North Korea.

Really?

North Korea where you get shot by a nutter if you piss him off?

It's the same across the pond with the BBC getting a license fee.

sonofenoch

aRTE have to find the funds from somewhere to pay Miriam O'Callahan and Turbridy's exorbitant salaries

The_fever

It is not a case of not answering the door. If the tv man calls and you dont have a licence you get a letter a few days later telling you that you have to pay or else. Set up a direct debit for very little a month. Show them proof of direct debit, job done and then cancel same. Jokers. I am speaking from experience

kneemos

JumpShivers wrote: »

The idea of a state broadcast is less akin to a modern country like Ireland and more akin to the likes of North Korea.

https://www.google.ie/url?q=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licence&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwi5h9nakJHLAhWnd5oKHcrvCPAQFggZMAA&usg=AFQjCNHhGylkUO5OSvXeBzwgTckHC823Ww


Don't see any country on that map that relies on commercial funding only.

BreadnBuddha

sonofenoch wrote: »

aRTE have to find the funds from somewhere to pay Miriam O'Callahan and Turbridy's exorbitant salaries

Good grief.

It was only a matter of time.

If they broadcast nothing but a test card and a tone 24 hours a day on every channel, it would still have NO bearing on whether you need to pay a license fee.

pwurple

seamus wrote: »

Head in the sand. Ignore it, pretend it's not happening.

It's an understandable human reaction, but it's infuriating when the same people complain about the "ordeal" of being arrested and brought to court when it was entirely their own fault for letting it get that far.

I know.

And seeing as I am now a Mother of x amount of children, I can't wait til I get some illness so I can absolve myself of all my taxes and get away with any crimes I like.

Seth Brundle

end of the road wrote: »

she didn't dodge tax. she couldn't pay her tv licence. hardly the end of the world. honestly, the fo outrage because someone didn't pay a tv licence is laughable. yet nothing about the waste of money in bringing these people to jail to be sent home again, wasting everyones time.

She would have had plenty of reminders to pay.
She would have had the opportunity to get rid of the TV.
She pushed the TV licence officials as far as she could.
Are we supposed to excuse people from legal responsibilities because of illness? Im recovering from an illness also - do I have to pay my bills? Should there be a limited list of illnesses that allow you be excused from following the law or will any ache be sufficient?

Anyhow, she knew what she was doing and we're supposed to feel sympathy because of her illness comes on top of her stupidity.

As for the "waste of money" to the state - had she paid her bill this waste would not have occurred but whilst it's not an ideal system, don't blame the system for her bad decisions.

(I'd be curious to know if she had Sky!)

Whosthis

07Lapierre wrote: »

Ah thanks....now, can anyone tell me where I can pickup a 52inch windscreen laptop?

http://www.nordmende.ie/professional-displays/NMID65

Ice Maiden

I support public service broadcasting. Comparisons with North Korea are not like with like: the likes of the latter is state (as in the party) propaganda. Public service broadcasting like the BBC draws its material from the state as in the populace.

RTÉ's output can be sub-par though (not always, but a lot of the time) and it has to concede to advertising also. So it's not public service broadcasting in its ideal sense. The salaries for its (mostly mediocre) high-profile broadcasters are bafflingly generous too.

So I think the TV licence is kinda crap here, but that really doesn't make a difference. If you appear on An Post's radar as requiring a TV licence, you have no way of evading payment. An Post are not monsters though, they employ ordinary people like anyone here - they know people can have things of more concern going on in their lives, and people cannot always pay the licence fee in full, so they will set up an agreement if you tell them. They send numerous reminders if the fee is not paid by when it's due. So while prison is ridiculous, it is avoidable and it takes a lot until it is resorted to.

esforum

pwurple wrote: »

I know.

And seeing as I am now a Mother of x amount of children, I can't wait til I get some illness so I can absolve myself of all my taxes and get away with any crimes I like.

well as we are in a country like North Korea apparantly, you should start by randomly shooting people that annoy you and then when people call you a nutter just mention this thread

Bruthal

pwurple wrote: »

, I can't wait til I get some illness so I can absolve myself of all my taxes and get away with any crimes I like.

I'd be getting checked out straight away after the stupidity of that post.

wexandproud

The_fever wrote: »

It is not a case of not answering the door. If the tv man calls and you dont have a licence you get a letter a few days later telling you that you have to pay or else. Set up a direct debit for very little a month. Show them proof of direct debit, job done and then cancel same. Jokers. I am speaking from experience

and here we have another of the ' FCUK'EM why should i pay' brigade

Bruthal

kbannon wrote: »

.

(I'd be curious to know if she had Sky!)

Hopefully ye can find out.

Bruthal

wexandproud wrote: »

and here we have another of the ' FCUK'EM why should i pay' brigade

Yes and here we have another of boards pretend perfect citizens.

wexandproud

Bruthal wrote: »

Yes and here we have another of boards pretend perfect citizens.

far from perfect but i pay my bills and if i cant afford something , i do without

Seth Brundle

Bruthal wrote: »

Hopefully ye can find out.

Are you referring to her claim that she didn't have channels and it was only for the kids to link the laptop up to it?
As she is a proven cheat, should I accept her flimsy defence to the licence inspectors?

Valetta

Bet she was well enough to collect the 5 X children's' allowances whilst she was getting all the reminders and summons for the tv license.

Bruthal

kbannon wrote: »

Are you referring to her claim that she didn't have channels and it was only for the kids to link the laptop up to it?
As she is a proven cheat, should I accept her flimsy defence to the licence inspectors?

Im referring to you wanting to now if she had sky.

Bruthal

Valetta wrote: »

Bet she was well enough to collect the 5 X children's' allowances whilst she was getting all the reminders and summons for the tv license.

I got a reminder last week. I almost forgot about it.

Valetta

Bruthal wrote: »

I got a reminder last week. I almost forgot about it.

Did you get a second reminder, and a summons, and a fine, and forget about them all?

Bruthal

Valetta wrote: »

Did you get a second reminder, and a summons, and a fine, and forget about them all?

One reminder before the old licence was out, and another now a few weeks after its out.

4ensic15

kneemos wrote: »

No.She would have gone to the prison from court,filled in a few forms and let go.She is in no way by any imagination a prisoner,she did not spend time in prison and she can't serve more time than the original sentence.Also she was in a cell to watch telly.

She would not have gone to prison from a court. She would have received a fine to be paid within a period of time maybe 2 months, with a number of days in lieu of payment. When she didn't pay on time a warrant would have been issued for her arrest. She would most likely have been arrested at home.

marsbar1

BreadnBuddha wrote: »

Blah blah RTE drivel blah blah.

You don't pay for a TV license to watch RTE.

You pay a TV license to have a TV.

Watch what you want but if that's via a TV, you need a license.

Everything else, from cancer to Tubridy's salary has NOTHING to do with whether or not you are legally obligated to pay for the license.

So you are telling me that to watch TV from Spain, France or anywhere outside Ireland via foreign satellites you need an irish TV licence? Just to own a TV set you need a licence? Its that really Irish law? Point me to the law. The policy is obviously not working as Irish TV licence 'evasion' is 3 times higher than in the UK.

In the UK you need a licence for watching or recording TV as it is being broadcast. This also applies to foriegn TV. It is totally wrong to be charged for foriegn TV outside the UK juristriction but that is what the communications act 2003 says in law. However you do not need a licence to possess a TV. You can legally watch DVDs, videos, you tube, downloads, play video games on it without a licence. In the UK this is called being legally licence free, and its growing in popularity.

For those interested look at www.bbctvlicence.com

TV licence model is outdated, it should be replaced with a subscription system - fairer, impossible to evade and no enforcement costs.

Dr Crayfish

marsbar1 wrote: »

TV licence model is outdated, it should be replaced with a subscription system - fairer, impossible to evade and no enforcement costs.

Because subsriptions to countless tv programmes with Vogue Williams and Des Bishop will easily pay the 400k salaries to Tubridy et al

worded

I will never get a tv as I don't believe RTE is worth the €
I'm not paying Tubridys mad wages and his relatives working at RTE


When you buy a TV your name can sometimes be given to the licence auth.
I had a new flat mate from the uk who just moved to ire and bought a tv.
Week later - tv licence req in his name arrived !
Beware

Spanish Eyes

Look folks (sorry didn't read entire thread).

You just have to listen to that fella with the hat that goes to the prison gates etc. what's his name? he used to have a little dog aswell. Name escapes me now.

Many many people who really don't care about it will go to prison instead of paying fines. They know the score, a couple of hours, a nice bit of dinner and off you go. Fine wiped.

Why would they pay if it's so simple not to.

Should be attached at a few euro a week to earnings or SW. So simple.

marsbar1

worded wrote: »

I will never get a tv as I don't believe RTE is worth the €
I'm not paying Tubridys mad wages and his relatives working at RTE


When you buy a TV your name can sometimes be given to the licence auth.
I had a new flat mate from the uk who just moved to ire and bought a tv.
Week later - tv licence req in his name arrived !
Beware

There are ways around that, don't get a TV from a shop. In the UK they will always take your details for TVL if you buy a TV. Its a big part of their enforcement database.

marsbar1

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Look folks (sorry didn't read entire thread).

You just have to listen to that fella with the hat that goes to the prison gates etc. what's his name? he used to have a little dog aswell. Name escapes me now.

Many many people who really don't care about it will go to prison instead of paying fines. They know the score, a couple of hours, a nice bit of dinner and off you go. Fine wiped.

Why would they pay if it's so simple not to.

Should be attached at a few euro a week to earnings or SW. So simple.

Shame its not longer inside. You get shelter, free heating, food, and more rights than many workers with mobile phones and internet, gym all on site.

Graces7

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Look folks (sorry didn't read entire thread).

You just have to listen to that fella with the hat that goes to the prison gates etc. what's his name? he used to have a little dog aswell. Name escapes me now.

Many many people who really don't care about it will go to prison instead of paying fines. They know the score, a couple of hours, a nice bit of dinner and off you go. Fine wiped.

Why would they pay if it's so simple not to.

Should be attached at a few euro a week to earnings or SW. So simple.

Two things. Many on Social Welfare automatically now get a free licence..

also will the lady now have to buy a licence as well as pay the fine?

4ensic15

marsbar1 wrote: »

So you are telling me that to watch TV from Spain, France or anywhere outside Ireland via foreign satellites you need an irish TV licence? Just to own a TV set you need a licence? Its that really Irish law? Point me to the law.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1926/act/45/section/3/enacted/en/index.html

darkpagandeath

Graces7 wrote: »

Two things. Many on Social Welfare automatically now get a free licence..

also will the lady now have to buy a licence as well as pay the fine?

Err is it not just OAP and disabled.

Graces7

darkpagandeath wrote: »

Err is it not just OAP and disabled.

Not sure; It comes with the Household Benefit package is all i know know and many are eligible for that.

There you are

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/extra_social_welfare_benefits/household_benefits_package.html

I had it way before I was 70 but am disabled as well

MrPudding

Bubbaclaus wrote: »

People having sympathy for a person that deliberately and knowingly dodged tax?

Entitled Ireland rearing it's ugly head yet again.

See, this is interesting. I remember a page in the Irish times some year ago, which I think was absolutely genius. The main story was about the revenue commissioners writing off something like €3m owed in tax by some one, possibly Albert Reynolds. That story took up all the page, apart from one small section. That small section was a story about a mother of 2 jailed for not paying her TV licence. Perhaps we, or the state, only has sympathy for tax dodgers when it is in the millions...

MrP

Badly Drunk Boy

marsbar1 wrote: »

So you are telling me that to watch TV from Spain, France or anywhere outside Ireland via foreign satellites you need an irish TV licence? Just to own a TV set you need a licence? Its that really Irish law? Point me to the law. The policy is obviously not working as Irish TV licence 'evasion' is 3 times higher than in the UK.

From citizensinformation.ie:

If your household, business or institution possesses a television or equipment capable of receiving a television signal, you are required by law to have a television licence. Even if the television or other equipment is broken and currently unable to receive a signal, it is regarded as capable of being repaired so it can receive a signal and you must hold a licence for it. Failure to produce evidence of a television licence to an inspector can result in a court appearance and on conviction, you can receive a substantial fine. People who have been fined and who have breached court orders directing them to pay their television licence can be imprisoned.

You do not require a television licence to watch television on your computer or mobile phone. However, the computer must not be able to receive a signal distributed by conventional television broadcasting networks, for example, cable, satellite or aerial.

The Broadcasting Act 2009 contains the current legislation relating to this.

Cee-Jay-Cee

The judiciary in this country are fcuked up beyond belief. Muggers thieves burglars, violent criminals with numerous convictions are let off on suspended sentences every day of the week but fail to pay a stupid tv licence and your imprisoned. Judges are pathetic despicable cretins with absolutely no grasp of reality.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Graces7 wrote: »

Two things. Many on Social Welfare automatically now get a free licence..

also will the lady now have to buy a licence as well as pay the fine?

OAP and Disabled. Most on SW do not get a free TV licence.

Yes, of course she has to buy a licence in addition to the fine.

seamus

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

The judiciary in this country are fcuked up beyond belief. Muggers thieves burglars, violent criminals with numerous convictions are let off on suspended sentences every day of the week but fail to pay a stupid tv licence and your imprisoned. Judges are pathetic despicable cretins with absolutely no grasp of reality.

I'm afraid you're the one with no grasp on reality.

These people go to prison for ignoring a court order to pay a fine. You know, the courts, the things which underpin the entire justice model.
If the courts were ordering fines and there was no penalty for ignoring them, then you make the court system utterly pointless. Why would anyone pay a fine if the courts had no way to take further action?

Whatever about the existence of a licence or the penalties for not having one, that's irrelevant. The courts apply the law, they don't make it.

If this kind of thing annoys you, then complain to your TD. The judge is doing exactly what he is supposed to do by applying the law. If he just picked and chose what laws to apply, we'd have a much bigger problem on our hands.

sbsquarepants

seamus wrote: »

Whatever about the existence of a licence or the penalties for not having one, that's irrelevant. The courts apply the law, they don't make it.

If this kind of thing annoys you, then complain to your TD. The judge is doing exactly what he is supposed to do by applying the law. If he just picked and chose what laws to apply, we'd have a much bigger problem on our hands.

That's just perfect world bullshít.
Practically all courts in this country are run at the whim of the judge in charge. Catch them in a bad mood or he takes a dislike to you for whatever reason and you're fúcked plain and simple.
That's the reason why so many insurance claims for example are settled on the steps of the court - both sides know it's just out and out gambling to walk inside, absolutely anything could happen, there is no way of predicting the outcome.

Anyway back on topic - I personally refuse to pay for a tv licence - I have never had one and I never will have. Just look at what they piss that money away on - 40grand a day for the poxy orchestra!
40. Grand. A Day....:eek:
Then you've the tubridys and the joe duffys and the usual little clique of "talent".

No thank you.

gctest50

sbsquarepants wrote: »

.....I personally refuse to pay for a tv licence - I have never had one and I never will have. .......

Did you tell the tv licence inspector this ?

Winterlong

Bring RTE down to a 1 tv station, 1 radio station publicly funded company with no 'celebrity' salaries. Pure public service broadcaster.

If there is a market in ireland for the rest of the gumph that RTE produce then that gap will be filled soon enough by company who is able to wipe it's own face.

Get rid of the tv licence all together. Costs too much to administer and is an out dated model.

sbsquarepants

gctest50 wrote: »

Did you tell the tv licence inspector this ?

Must have slipped my mind:)

If they simply said - rte is going to be scrambled would you like to pay 180 or whatever it is to decode it, do you think many people would avail of the offer? It's less than €4 a week, but do you think it's worth it? I certainly don't.

MrPudding

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Must have slipped my mind:)

If they simply said - rte is going to be scrambled would you like to pay 180 or whatever it is to decode it, do you think many people would avail of the offer? It's less than €4 a week, but do you think it's worth it? I certainly don't.

How much does the Department of Education, or Health, cost each person per week? How many people do you think would pay that, if given the choice...?

MrP