15,000 caught without TV licence

[super jumbe]

More than 15,000 people were caught watching television without a valid licence in Northern Ireland last year.

This includes more than 4,600 in Belfast, 1,090 in Derry and 1,030 in Newry and Craigavon.

There were 3,415 cases dealt with by the courts in 2011 where an order was made following conviction. In nearly all cases a fine was issued.

Deborah King, TV Licensing spokeswoman, said: "People are given every opportunity to pay, but, if they fail to do so and watch TV illegally, we will seek a prosecution."

The number caught without a valid licence is down more than 4,800 on last year.

The vast majority of households in Northern Ireland possess a television. Across the UK the evasion rate remains steady at around 5%.

Ms King added: "On behalf of licence fee payers in Northern Ireland, we are committed to tackling evasion and enforcing the law amongst the small minority who should pay, but don't. It's only fair."

A colour licence costs ?145.50 and is required by anyone watching TV programmes, whether they are using a TV set, computer, or any other equipment.

An unlicensed address will receive a number of reminder letters and possibly a phone call before a visit from an enquiry officer is scheduled - but if someone is then caught watching TV illegally, they risk prosecution and a fine of up to ?1,000.

Detector vans and handheld detectors can be used by enquiry officers to check if an unlicensed property is watching TV illegally, but the database is the main enforcement tool.

[chalky 4]

I keep trying to buy one at my local post office. Always seem to be `out of stock`. My televisions seem to work well without one though.

[bonus2010]

It's got to the stage now that I can only laugh at the dribble received by TV Licensing
... every month btw



Do wonder what the total cost attributed to the TV licence is for sending out all those letters

[lfc4life]

why should we pay twice to watch tele tv licence and then pay for bbc then sky or virgin media!!

Also there over payed fat cat wages and millions is wasted each year

[GastonJ]

why should we pay twice to watch tele tv licence and then pay for bbc then sky or virgin media!!

Also there over payed fat cat wages and millions is wasted each year

Whether I agree with you or not is immaterial, however Vermin and Sly are choices. So you don't pay twice to watch them, you pay your license fee because you have no choice, you pay Vermin or Sly because you want to give them money by choice

[garry1312]

Surely Sky and Vermin pay a fee to BBC. So in my case Sky pay BBC I then view BBC through the satellite so why should I have to then pay BBC on top of what my provider is already paying them?

For years I have not paid a TV licence dont agree with it. When we moved house CB nagged that it needed to be paid I have gave in but I take nothing to do with paying it nor will I ever personally make the payment.

[cablefreejunkie]

i dont agree with it,for the same reasons as most,you pay subs already to verm or sky
in one of my previous flats i lived in,maybe ten year ago,i got broadband installed from vm,in those days it came as a package and the tv bundle was thrown in,kept getting tv licence letters,eventually i wrote to them and explained it was bb i wanted but vm throw the lot in and i cant opt out of the tv bundle,never received another letter from them or a visit

[Meat-Head]

Across the UK the evasion rate remains steady at around 5%.

#FUME # SNARALL, MUTTER, MUMBLE, YOU BUNCH OF *****S, WHEN ARE YOU COMING ROUND??

Don't you mean "5% and 2 VIP members"

It's got to the stage now that I can only laugh at the dribble received by TV Licensing
... every month btw

Do wonder what the total cost attributed to the TV licence is for sending out all those letters

1) Saved 99% of them going WAY back to the year <COUGH>
2) PUT Aload back in post box, with gaffa tape over my address, they come back - spray painted next batch, must remember to post them
3) i have a better leter than you.

It says something like :-

"We have not recevied a response from you, we are still investigating
we CAN get a court warrant to enter your premesis, we CAN trampple your roses if we wish"

Or words to that effect.

Meat

[racin-snake]

should be 15 million with no ~~~~in licence ..

[super jumbe]

Over 75 do not have to pay for TV licence, cheer up and grow fast to avoid fee!!!!!!!!!!

[cablefreejunkie]

Over 75 do not have to pay for TV licence, cheer up and grow fast to avoid fee!!!!!!!!!!

if they have there way we will all be working till were 100 and wont have any time to ~~~~in watch the box
18 hrs a day as a wage slave !!!!

[ifred]

detector vans

quote:bbctvlicence.com/Detector vans.htm
Posted February 2010

I used to work for TV licencing driving around in the detector van. It was full of fancy looking equipment for show only, NONE OF IT WORKED! They have a database of the houses without licences which they got by selecting streets and looking at who HAS got the licence. The remaining are targeted.

Leaflets will be dropped through those doors advising them to buy a licence as the TV detector van will be in the area in two weeks time. After driving around the area for days on end in a highly visible van with large antennae, leaflets are dropped again through the doors saying they have been picked up by the van and need to buy a licence or face prosecution. Most people pay. Quote

A quick google search revels its a big lie

[Meat-Head]

Leaflets will be dropped through those doors advising them to buy a licence as the TV detector van will be in the area in two weeks time. After driving around the area for days on end in a highly visible van with large antennae, leaflets are dropped again through the doors saying they

BUNCH OF ****ERS, NO LEAFLEATS IN NEARLY 10,000 POSTS, AND <COUGH> YEARS. BUNCH OF CUNOOTS

MY MATE GOT HIS HOUSE SAME TIME AS MINE, LUCKY GIT CAME FROM FROM WORK 2 DAYS LATER WITH A "WE HAVE BEEN ROUND" LETTER PINNED TO THE DOOR BY AN AROOW, WA*NKERS

http://www.digital-kaos.co.uk/forums/f4/does-anybody-work-tv-licensing-here-93515/

[MrTenn]

no but one of the neighbours does.

[Captin]

We've not paid the TV tax for years.

You only need to pay it if you watch channels as they are broadcast live, funny how some people still think you need a license just to have a TV.

We download everything we watch or watch iplayer (itvplayer 4od etc.).

We have a virgin box but it hasn't been plugged in for years.