TV Licence Campaign Targets Holiday Village & Second Home Owners
26 June 2006
June 26, 2006: An Post TV Licence inspectors are targeting holiday homes and the owners/operators of holiday villages and short-let accommodation in a nationwide campaign set to run throughout the holiday season.
As part of the campaign, An Post is reminding the public that due to legislative changes, owners of holiday home/village complexes and those with second homes, must have a licence if there is a TV set in their premises, even if the set itself has been moved from a permanent address for the duration of the Summer holidays.
“In essence, a TV licence is required for all premises in which there is a TV set,” explained Mary Harrahill, An Post’s TV Licence Manager.
“An Post is contractually obliged to ensure that everyone pays their fair share and the Detection Team follow up with all addressees who fail to buy a licence for their private or business premises.”
More than 80 staff are deployed in the areas of TV licence inspection, administration and database management. An Post estimates that 11 per cent of televisions are unlicensed. Currently, a TV Licence costs €155, equivalent to 42 cent per day and An Post collects the fee on behalf of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
The penalty for evasion is a court appearance and a fine of up to €635 which can rise to €1,270 for a second or subsequent offence. Almost 10,000 prosecutions were brought against evaders in 2005.
To avoid penalty television owners have a wide range of payment options from which to choose:
• Using cash, laser card or cheque at any Post Office or shop where the
PostPoint logo is displayed
• Paying by laser or credit card on An Post’s TV Licence Lo-Call number
1890 228 528
• Paying through Billpay.ie on the An Post website – www.anpost.ie
• By sending a cheque to the local TV Licence Records office.
• By Direct Debit, either from a bank or credit card. Customers may choose to have the direct debit deducted on an annual, quarterly or monthly basis.
• Anyone who wishes to spread the cost of a TV Licence renewal over a longer period has the option of saving for the licence by purchasing €4 TV Licence Saving Stamps at the Post Office.
Queries relating to TV Licences can be handled by any of the TV records offices around the country. Contact details are posted on the An Post website at www.anpost.ie/anpost/tvlicence or in local telephone directories and Golden Pages.
