Jack_Bruce Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 We have two houses in France, and last year the Tax d'hab included the TV licence charge for one house and did not include it for the other. We wrote to the Bellac office and explained that although there was an aerial, we did not actually have a television. We also paid the tax d’hab bill, less the amount of the television licence, and presumably that has been accepted for 2005. We do not have a television as the other house, so had no problem there. However, we have now received a form for each property in which we are required to declare that there is no aerial, nor other similar arrangement. Unfortunately, both houses have aerials fixed to the chimney in each case, and far too high up to be able to remove them (although technically it’s too late now for this year anyway). Does this mean that we will have to pay for two television licences, when we have no television at all? The third declaration on the form seems to indicate that you can pay for a TV licence at your principal residence, with the implication that if you pay for it once, you will not have to pay again. Would it be possible, legally, to use this option and choose one of the houses for the licence, rather than having to pay for two? It is very irritating to think we might have to pay for something that we can’t actually use, but to have to pay for it twice …..!!! Has anyone else been in this situation of being charged for a television licence because they have an aerial? If so, did you manage to persuade the authorities not to make the charge, and how? Any advice gratefully received. Many thanks.Pat and Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michelin79 Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Pat and JackAre you sure that they're asking about an aerial? I vaguely remember seeing on a form last year the phrase poste recepteur and thinking that it meant aerial. I managed to convince myself after consulting a dictionary that it actually means television set. I obviously stand to be corrected but I hope that I'm right cos I said that we don't have one.RegardsMike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maureen Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Forgive me for saying so, ....but if somebody managed to get onto your roof to put up an aerial, surely somebody could get up there to take it down.......Might be the best answer in the long run!Maureen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Surely the poste récepteur is the set. A poste emetteur is a transmitter, not an aerial. We got a similar letter, we were only to reply if we don't have a TV, and therefore will not be charged in error. The letter says that if our main or secondary residence has a TV we should not return the letter:"Si votre résidence principale ou secondaire est équipée d'un poste récepteur de télévision ou d'un dispositif assimilé, ne renvoyez pas ce document."principale OU secondaire, not ET. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjimbishop Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 What is a "dispositif assimilé"I don't have a TV and a lost the flipping letter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 I found this on a website"Le «dispositif assimilé» ne manque pas deretenir l'attention ; c'est celui qui «permet la réception de latélévision pour un usage privatif »."So - that means anything which allows for TV reception, presumably cable or satellite. I guess.If you want a copy of the letter I'll scan ours and send it, but I imagine they are particular to the commune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjimbishop Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Oh yes please scan and send.Cheers Dick. greatly appreciatedI'm sure it will keep the Hotel des Impots happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 No probs - I've PM'd you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony the Turner Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 I suspect that a "dispositif assimilé" is intended to cover, for example, a TV card fitted to a computer which allows reception and indeed recording of TV. French standard cards are sold in all the hypermarkets, bricolage etc. I believe that the sellers are supposed to notify the authorities in the same way that they are supposed to do so with TVs proper.In the main French TV is so awful and we get enough British TV in the UK so can see no point in going to France to get more UK TV there.We have had an enquiry from the powers that be as to whether we have a TV for the last 8 or 9 years and simply reply "NO". Still it is a nuisance to have to keep telling them that, especially when they don't provided an SAE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack_Bruce Posted March 27, 2006 Author Share Posted March 27, 2006 Dick and Mike (Michelin 79)Thanks for setting our mind at rest. We will assume the poste recepteur is indeed the television set and not the aerial and will return the forms accordingly.Regards Jack and Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weliveinhope Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 Possibly a useless addition to this thread but it sounds like the situation that pertains in Ireland. If you have the means to receive televisual transmissions then you're liable for the TV licence. This includes, for instance, having a tv and vcr/dvd player in the workplace for showing training videos etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 Now that Jack_Bruce's question has been answered can I piggy back this thread and ask another slightly related question? My wife has a French invalidity card which we think exempts the house from having a TV licence. This year will be our first for paying tax d'hab and we would like to let whoever initiates the bill know that she has the card rather than try and rectify a situation after the bill has been issued. Does anyone know who we should go to see?Benjamin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 That was included in the letter we received a few weeks ago. I'd ask at the mairie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 Thanks Dick. First stop the mairie next time we're passing.Benjamin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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