Tv license? What to do

[Christmascarolle]

Tv license is due. Not sure whether to renew.. I know it's the law but it's also against the law to fund courruption & RTÉ have proved how courrupt they are.. What have other mumsnetters done?

I don't think that's the moral issue here, if you are using it then you need to pay for it. Your fee doesn't just pay for RTE's programming it also pays for infrastructure associated with broadcasting. If you don't want to have anything to do with RTE and not pay anything towards them then you have the option to not have a tv at all.

I paid for my licence, however I know that licence payments are significantly down on what they were before the scandal and I doubt that they are going to let that slide. So it'll take a while because there are so many to be checked out but you would eventually be investigated.

I have never paid for one and never would and don’t feel guilty about it. Never had any issues either

@Teapot32 unfortunately they have my name & address now so I got a reminder notice... I just feel it is against the law to fund & support courruption. The licences need to be abolished.

I still think that you are using sideways logic. You are not 'funding corruption' by paying your licence fee. You are paying a fee for a service that you could be prosecuted for not paying Not only is NOT against the law for you to pay, it's against the law for you to use the service and not pay. The fact that they have done some dodgy stuff is not related to your money. If you had bribed RTE reporters to skew news stories in a particular direction then that would have been corruption on your part and against the law, but this is different.

By all means don't pay if you don't want to, thousands of others aren't paying either. I wouldn't rely on using your 'against the law to fund corruption' argument in court though.

Let me use an analogy. If, for instance, a clothing company does something terrible then it's absolutely fine and morally upright to never buy anything from them again so that they don't get your money. It's not fine to vow not to give them any more of your money and then shoplift their products instead.

If you watch the tv then pay for it. If not then don’t pay.

Haven't paid mine in 10 years. Never seen anyone doing the rounds in that time either.

If you decide not to pay, make sure you declare online and sign the form that says you don't require a license, as failure to do that is an automatic fine

I get the reminders too I just tick I don’t need one and that’s it. Never hear from them again until the following year ☺️

@Teapot32 does the tv inspector guy ever call? I've had him at the door before hence how he has my name, I didn't know I could tick a box. Is this on their website?

I agree with @BlackAmericanoNoSugar, you're conflating two entirely separate issues. If you have a TV you should have a TV licence. Mine is due now and although I'm appalled at the goings on in RTÉ, I will still pay.
I don't think it's like the UK where you can opt out of you don't watch RTÉ, if you have a TV you have to pay. But maybe there's a box to tick to say you don't have a TV?
There was talk about it changing to a broadcast licence fee to capture those who watch on a laptop etc... as it's currently set up as a fee for watching TV on a TV.
Unfortunately I think it's unlikely that people who don't pay get caught these days.

I just paid mine. I rarely if ever watch RTE - I listen to RTE Radio 1 quite a bit though - but I passionately believe in public service broadcasting, especially in the realm of politics, sport, current affairs, arts, culture, the Ieish language, etc. And of course it has to be paid for. In fact I would much prefer if MORE government money went into it to enable the blurred lines around commercialism, sponsorship etc to be taken out of the equation. I get quite cross when people complain about the amount of the TV license versus what they often hand over to Sky, streaming services etc. every month.

Hmm, your argument sounds rather feeble. You are trying to justify your non payment. Don't use the service if you feel that strongly.

I also feel RTE is quite biased on its news reporting bordering on censorship.

We pay. We always have.
We are probably stupid law abiding citizens.

I am utterly disgusted that Dee Forbes never answered to anyone, despite her huge salary and perks - paid to her because the buck stopped with her.
But it didn't, did it !

I am a radio / news junkie and it's either Radio 1, Newstalk or sometimes Today FM.
I hate inane prattle.

If you don't want to support a corrupt service, don't use it. Stop watching telly.

If you use it you pay for it... or potentially pay the penalty.

Well if you feel that strongly about - as opposed to wanting a rather feeble justification for not handing over the 160 euro - then get rid of your television and take a principled stand by never using any of their services.

Isn't it a fee put on every household, regardless of whether or not they watch or listen to any of the rté services?? So those saying "you use the service, you have to pay for it" don't necessarily know if that's true or not!

I was reading in today's paper that they will more than likely be enlisting revenue to collect tv license fees soon & abolishing the an post license

Set it up as a monthly direct debit so you never feel the pain of it and doesn't become an annual "I hate Rte" argument.
I don't even notice it anymore.

It’s charged if you have a TV. Even if the TV is not set up to receive live broadcasts you still need a TV licence. If you don’t have a TV then you don’t need a licence, even though you can watch live TV on a computer/tablet.

I don't have a licence. I don't watch live TV and never BBC on TV or radio. I prefer to read anyway. I emailed the licensing last year, with details of my decision.

This is incorrect. You do not need a licence if you own a TV. I don't watch TV but my husband watches Netflix and Apple TV. We do not need a licence for this. We pay a subscription to Netflix and Apple to watch on the TV

This is Craicnet, are you taking about rules in Ireland? Because others are, and I believe @BlackAmericanoNoSugar is right here.

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar OK so my original point still stand as the vast majority of households in Ireland have at least one TV..... The fee is regardless of whether or not you watch or listen to any of rté services. So those saying "you use the service, you have to pay for it" don't necessarily know if that's true or not!

I don’t get the ‘will you pay’ thing. It’s a bill, and actually they’re handing it over to revenue to take over collections so not an option.