Summons for no TV license

It can't go that far unless the Inspector actually called. All they will do if they have your name from the bin/post is to keep sending letters and the declaration thing. The summons relates to the Inspector calling to the property at a certain date and time.

However, if someone were to give your name when the inspector called, and no contact made on foot of the letters, then it would go all the way to the summons. They dont check ID to prove that the person is giving the right name, so legally there could be an issue.
 
Its easy to speculate about how the name was obtained etc., but bear in mind that An Post police TV licences, so its easy for them to find out who lives at an address.

However, once you get to court and are on front of the Judge, what answer are you going to give to the following questions?

1. Did you have a TV at the time of the alleged offence?
2. Did you have a TV license at the time of the alleged offence?

If you lie and the inspectors have proof, then you have problems.
 
They can't send you a summons unless the Inspector calls to the address and speaks to someone. Taking a name from a Bin Tag/Postman will allow them to send you reminders, etc, but no summons will issue.

Does anybody know if you legally have to give your name or someones name to the Inspector?
 
csirl said:
Its easy to speculate about how the name was obtained etc., but bear in mind that An Post police TV licences, so its easy for them to find out who lives at an address.

However, once you get to court and are on front of the Judge, what answer are you going to give to the following questions?

1. Did you have a TV at the time of the alleged offence?
2. Did you have a TV license at the time of the alleged offence?

If you lie and the inspectors have proof, then you have problems.
Click to expand...

but thats not how a court case works..... they can't just drag you into court and ask you if you committed a crime , they need proof...

or could you be called to court and asked if you ever broke the speed limit in your life ....
 
MandaC said:
They can't send you a summons unless the Inspector calls to the address and speaks to someone. Taking a name from a Bin Tag/Postman will allow them to send you reminders, etc, but no summons will issue.

Does anybody know if you legally have to give your name or someones name to the Inspector?
Click to expand...
No, you are not obliged to answer any of their questions or give your name. Also they have no right of entry into a house unless they have a search warrant and are with Gardaí.
 
They have left themselves open from a legal point of view then.

And that makes sense to me. I remember something similar from when I did debt collecting.
 
Update;

1. Student Daughter purchased TV license yesterday, (there goes the money from two of her gigs!! )
2. Upon "mature reflection" she thinks she may have recieved some letter saying that TVLI are working in your area etc. ( my version of that is that she got reminders) And no force was used by me to get this admission, honest !!!
3. The flat is on the 2nd floor and she never saw or "buzzed in" a TVLI, so yes she can only assume that someone else either let him in or just gave her name to the TVLI. (all fair in love and war as a student, no matter). She has checked but no one can remember Nov 06. This, I believe as students can't remember what happened last week.
4. MandaC, she never got a registered letter requesting a "declaration". The only thing that caused her to call for Daddy was a registered letter with the District Court Summons.
5. All in all, the best way forward still seem to be, for her to turn up in court, listen to the TVLI, then tell the judge she is a student, that she never met or saw the Inspector (true), spends most holidays at home so may have missed warning letters, show the new TV License and apologise. Then hope for as little a fine as possible.
6. and of course I will still think she's the greatest...
 
As she is now in possession of a licence she (preferably) should contact the licence section of An Post and explain the situation. Most of the time they will cancel the court appearance as they don't actually want to take anyone to court. MandaC is correct but afaik An Post have a fairly accurate datebase of all addresses in the country, updated fairly regularly by the postpersons on the various routes. I can remember - not too many years ago - collecting for a secondary school draw and using the bin numbers to help find the correct houses :D as we were only 'targeting' past pupils.
 
Cuchulainn, now that is a most interesting suggestion. I have looked up the 'net and the TV License office covering her area is 1/2 O'Connell St Dublin 2. I will get her to call in altogether with both the new TV Liciense and the summons. I will advise of developments. thanks
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by csirl http://www.askaboutmoney.com/showthread.php?p=524094#post524094
Its easy to speculate about how the name was obtained etc., but bear in mind that An Post police TV licences, so its easy for them to find out who lives at an address.

However, once you get to court and are on front of the Judge, what answer are you going to give to the following questions?

1. Did you have a TV at the time of the alleged offence?
2. Did you have a TV license at the time of the alleged offence?

If you lie and the inspectors have proof, then you have problems.


but thats not how a court case works..... they can't just drag you into court and ask you if you committed a crime , they need proof...

or could you be called to court and asked if you ever broke the speed limit in your life ....
Click to expand...

I know, but thats not the point I'm trying to make. What I'm trying to say is that someone who is guilty should think twice about pretending to be innocent in court as the other side may then start producing the proof. Remember that at the start of each case, the accussed gets asked to make a guilty or not guilty plea.
 
Remember that at the start of each case, the accused gets asked to make a guilty or not guilty plea.
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Not in a district court. The evidence is presented first and then the accused is asked for his side of the story. This is always the way things are done in summary trials.

In serious criminal matters a book of evidence must be served on the accused before any trial can commence. So the accused knows what evidence the prosecutor has before he/she decides which way to plead.

I suggest you head down and observe the local district court for a day, it will be informative for you.
 
I got a summons this morning to appear in court in January over not having a licence in February last. I moved into a new house last January, the guy that called must have talked to a guy who was renting in the house and gave my name - I subsequently got 2 reminder letters and I got around to buying my licence in June. I never received the declaration where you have to state that you own a TV set.

Anyway, I rang the office on O'Connell Street this morning and they say that if I pay the balance corresponding to the period between when the inspector arrived in february and when I bought in in June, they will put a stop to the summons. Needless to say I'm straight up there at lunch time!
 
MandaC said:
Taking a name from a Bin Tag/Postman will allow them to send you reminders, etc, but no summons will issue.

Does anybody know if you legally have to give your name or someones name to the Inspector?
Click to expand...


I'd like to know the answer to this too.

I see many names and addresses in Thoms directory , all there without the permission of the householders so cant they get the name of the householders from Thoms Directory or the electoral roll ?
 
It would not prove anything in a court of law.

They would still need to prove the presence of a tv without a licence and get the name of the person in charge.

I have often questioned the legality of publications like Thoms directory. It seems worse than Big Brother.
 
For what it's worth ... somebody I know got a summons recently for not having a TV license. They were obviously obliged to buy a license immediately which they did. They were also due in court soon but were unable to make this and tried to get it rescheduled. Turns out that they were able to get out of the court appearance altogether by paying costs of €160 (same as they would probably have been fined anyway?) and the case was cancelled on the basis of a letter from the TV licensing crowd saying that they would not enter any evidence.
 
Sorry - the costs were €180 not €160. Seemingly it's difficult to find the office - a door near the Kylemore on O'Connell Street with no signage other than for some school of English!
 
Thats the same place I've to go today Clubman - the door is right beside Kylemore on O'Connell Street and it has a sign for An POst on the inside of the door. In my case, I've to pay 70 or 80 euro, as I purchased the licence a while back so I'm only liable for difference between the two dates.

Seems like they are issuing more summons' lately?? Or is just that we happen to all be looking at this thread!!
 
collieb said:
Thats the same place I've to go today Clubman - the door is right beside Kylemore on O'Connell Street and it has a sign for An POst on the inside of the door. In my case, I've to pay 70 or 80 euro, as I purchased the licence a while back so I'm only liable for difference between the two dates.
Click to expand...
It seems that they calculate costs based on when they originally wrote to you to when you bought the license. I guess my mate was warned over a year ago hence the €180. In actual fact he has not had a license for about 20 years so he got a bargain! :eek:
 
paying for a TV licence to fund RTé does not seem like any kind of a bargain if you ask me.
 
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