Letters from the Gebühreneinzugszentrale (GEZ)

I guess it would be like charging for a "Publicly Operated Website" for Germany and if you have internet access at all sending you a bill for it.

@ BR
Sorry you example is differnt because they are catching people that are using the system and not paying.

It would be more like sending you a bill every month because you have access to the MVV if you used it or not.

fletch, their -GEZ's - stand point is you cant prove that you willl not buy a 5 euro anntenne cabel and plug it into your telly two days after you won the courtcase.
as to schools and such, they come under neccesary for society. we all pay for things we dont use when it comes to that. i pay good taxes so that foriegn students can come to the universities here. i also dont use the police, fire engines, ambulances etc on a weekly basis. those arguments dont stand as they are monies collected in taxes. as the rundfunkgebuhr isnt and can not be politicaly accepted as a state controlled tax here in germany it is thought of as a service.

true, you have a fair point with regard to comparison to non German TV users. I was trying to compare it to Hazzas point about the part of the fee 'wasted' on adverts and bureaucracy

What's to stop you from buying a TV for €50 2 days after your court case? It's an argument that doesn't work in my eyes. Either you say: 'OK, you can't watch TV with your set-up at present' and charge you nothing, or charge everyone. You can buy a TV as easily as you can buy an aeriel.


I reckon an independent media and public broadcasting is also beneficial and plays an importand part in society as a whole.

it is independant! and thats why everybody who has a tv capable of recieving the transmissions has to pay as the services of the OR are considered beneficial and an important part of the society as a whole. the sstem needs an overhall, thats true, and dont believe i support it whole heartedly, the OR system with every state having their own channel is the biggest waste of resources i've ever known in television. and ads on the OR has also lead to a demise in quality of the programming offered.

Gideon, what is OR ?

Greater European integration is needed. Germany, Austria and Switzerland already co-operate very well with each other cos of the language issue. And of course there is the Eurovision Song Contest!

But my point is that if it really is beneficial to society as a whole (and many people believe that it is), then why not make everyone pay for it - even if it's an independent organisation?

OR - offentlich-rechtlich or public broadcasting.

hazza, i'll lend you a book about german tv and its history. its a quagmire of politics or the avoidence of such.

ok, the majority of this discussion is entirely hypothetical and therefore a waste of time, however... that gives me a great opportunity to waste some time too. as i see it, i didn't mind paying the license fee in the uk because that was to the bbc who did NOT have fricking adverts all over the place for seemingly interminable periods of time and who made and still make the best programs in the world.

however, in germany i am expected to shell out 200 yoyos a year for generally shite quality viewing filled with adverts from which the broadcasters make a pile of cash. fuck 'em. no way.

(besides, it's not even connected and is merely a dvd monitor)

true, its like discussing road tax. you have a car you pay it. the law, is the law, is the law.

just whinge and pay boys, whinge and pay.

It is ironic that Germany's TV licence is just about the ONLY thing dearer here thanin the UK but there are still adverts on public channels. Still there are a LOT less than on commercial TV where they seem to take up 25% of an hour. (subjective)

Generally shite viewing? Debateable I made a 1 for 1 comparrison between BBC1 and ARD1 last May and you could NOT tell them apart.

On the 3 major public stations in Bavaria tonight you've got

Telenovella
Soaps
News and weather
Regional Broadcasting
A love film, an action film, a cops and robbers film.
A couple of dramas
A couple of cultural magazines
Live theatre
Inciscive stand up comedy.

I might even cut short the pub to watch Django Asül on BR3 at 2230!

are you kidding me? i remember your comparison and it was easy to sea the difference. soap does not equal soap. and a drama does not equal a drama. the bbc's better fact. its services and quality, its independance and balance are way better than the ard. and there going to get better in the next two three years. the fact that we all watch it here free of charge should make us all a little humbler in our opinions of the GEZ ;-)

Granted Gideon, Polizei 110 does NOT compare to say Casualty.

But I just wanted to stir a little; also, we seem to always remember the jewells of British television and not some of the utter shite they also turn out.

I'm not going to watch Verbotene Lieber or marienhof but I might watcg Django Asül or Chiemgauer Volkstheater.

shite? in order to produce the pearls you have to risk have some shite done too. where as german telly cant even produce innovative shite IMHO. if there is any reason to not pay the GEZ where i can nod a sigh agreement too, its the lack of innovation and niche programming within the system. but thats another thread.

Would be an interesting thread G mate.

I think Zimmerfrei is a quite innovative format. Certainly in my "top 5" of German TV shows.

as good and as ironic as the kumars at 52? true though WDR doe sthe best here in germany. and they should do they are the biggest.

it would be a small thread actualy.

I like the Kumars at 52, I've seen about 3 or 4 shows. But I doubt I'd watch any more, it is getting very same-y.

The interesting point about the Kumars, it is that it stars 4 South Asian actors who had already "made it" and then went on to do this show, written by another South Asian I assume.

Are there such equivilent actors in Germany? No, not that I have seen.
Yes, there are odd non Germans who have made it but not so that you could make a similar show called "Familie Özdemir Nebeban" oer whatever.

I also think there's a crucial difference in the Kumars that the writers and actors were laughing at themselves and asking others to share in the humour. I suspect in Germany it would be more a case of of "ha Ha ha Aren't the kanacken komisch".

Erkans and Stefan just doesn't cut it.

FFS people GEZ has been covered on TT many times before.

GEZ has NOTHING to do with the German Govt. They are a private Org. that Extorts $$ from people for
TV/Radio. Just like the RIAA/MPAA/GEMA and other type companies.

GEZ has NO POWER to enter your home, Unless they have a search warrent.
(This is why they try to trick you into giving up info or letting them in)

If GEZ money went to actually provided decent programs, then perhaps MIGHT pay, but they only sponcer
what THEY think you want. A few years ago one of the TV stations spent something like 80mill Eur of GEZ $
to get the broadcast rights for some obscure sporting event.. One that was also being shown on Premire.
There was a huge story/stink about it in the papers.

I do not have a radio of any kind, nor do i watch the crappy German TV. Just because I can/might
be able to recieve a signal, why the F* should I pay if I never Use it. Thats like saying the Cops should
start locking up everybody in Germany because the MIGHT be involved in some crime sometime in their
life.

If you do pay GEZ, or if you really don't have a TV/Radio and GEZ confirm this, they will still send you
harrassing letters reminding you to register your TV/Radio. So even if you do pay them off, they still
continue to bother you. What the point of paying them then..

And to those who compair GEZ payments to "OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT" taxes, charges...
They are 2 totally different things.. At least the German Govt. is an elected governing body
and controls the state of German Affairs. If you think their policies are crap, then go protect
in Berlin.

What to do if the GEZ person comes to your house: (Also Works for Sales people,Jahovas,etc)

1. Tell'em to F*** Off (In English or other non German Lang)
2. Tell'em you don't speak German (Say it in a foreign Lang or very very bad German)
3. Ignore Them
4. Don't open the building door or let people into the Bldg. that you don't know.

In the end GEZ is a legalized Mafia/Cartel whos only purpose is to extortt $$ from you and harrass you.

I SAY F*** GEZ..

you could replace the term bbc with zdf and the paragraph would still be accurate

ZDF like the BBC - Uumm don't think so.

You could replace ZDF with, say, the UK station channel 5 - but that, me thinks, would be really pushing the boat out.

Fcuk the GEZ !!!

Just don't let em into your flat. You don't have to !!

So what are we supposed to do with the letter?

I've gotten one from them with an additional form and a note which seems to ask me to send the form back (it mentions that it's a followup from one they sent in January and gives the 16th of March as the deadline for a response).

If it helps I don't have a TV or Radio in the apartment. I do have a computer with an internet connection.

I guess my main query is do I have to respond to say I don't need a license? Also will I get into trouble (like a fine or them hassling my landlady to hassle me) if I don't respond?

why don't you just mark the checkbox that says "i do not have a radio or t.v." then sent it back in. if you ignore them, they will continue to pester you. i've gotten my third letter from them because my bf cannot find his GEZ number so we are waiting for his next bill so i can then put on my letter that my bf pays so i don't have to, but they are annoying in sending out reminders every 3 weeks or so.

I didn't pay it once in the 3.5 years I lived there...

but I did move around a lot (bad habit of mine) so I don't think they could really keep up as I kept forgetting to register my new address with the Buergeramt!

Have to add to that though, that if they know where you are and that you have TV's & radios you'd better pay otherwise they can pass it on to the courts and send a bailiff over to your place! Horrible an not really worth it. It's a total rip-off though as you have to pay for every TV and radio that you have! (incl. car radio)

It doesn't matter if you fill it out or not, they will still pester you.. Even if you do actually pay, they still send you letters.
Just throw the letter in the garbage, forget about it, and never open the door or let strangers into your house.

Read this thread and the others to see how GEZ inspectors work, look for the signs and avoid these people..

I agree with DK. If you have a TV and pay for it then the GEZ understands you. If you do not then even if you are behaving correctly the GEZ will continue to send out patronising, then condescending, then threatening, letters annually.


Bollocks to that. As I posted previously I recently received the first of my annual letters (the patronising one) and filled the envelope with the junk mail received recently and sent it to the GEZ.

Only if you're stupid enough to tell them. One radio, one tv, end of story, you'll never hear from them again, apart from the money they'll suck out of your bank account. Or do like Darknight says.
I pay mine, but I understand why people don't want to.

I got caught out by them once, as my radio was blaring in the background one day when I unwittingly opened the door. But I did at least get away with telling them I had only just been given it, so wasn't fined for the several years of usage.
After that though I also got the letters asking about a TV (which I really have never had)...and after answering once, I informed them that in future they would have to pay the postage themselves and started writing on the letters "Post zahlt Empfänger". They stopped sending me the stupid letters after that.

Bitte freimachen is freepost (it doesn't need a stamp)? It can't hurt to send it back I think (that way they can't complain about non compliance on my part).

In my case I definitely don't have a TV (I use the internet for that and have done for a while now). Off the top of my head I don't have any radio equipment either (my radio alarm clock is back in England and I don't own a mobile phone or a car).

you dont have to worry then. Yes - freipost means freepost and you shouldn't have to pay a penny.

'fraid not. They'd like YOU to make it free, i.e. put a stamp on it

nah...bitte freimachen means put a stamp on it surely...you have to pay for the privilege!

No it doesn't: Bitte Freimachen

...but that still doesn't mean that Bitte freimachen doesn't mean they don't want you to pay the postage, just that through a legal loophole, if the word ANTWORT is on the envelope then the recipient is obliged to carry the postage costs - that however was new to me, and I will be happy to look for that word on envelopes in future

I think you can send anything to anyone without a stamp and they have to pay the postage on arrival, if they wish to have the letter/parcel etc.

I've had it before when a friend sent me something and didnt put enough postage on for the weight - they made me pay the difference.

FORGET THE DAM STAMPS!!! Throw the dam thing in the garbage and forget it...

I have received 2 letters from GEZ. The first time i ignored it. Now they have sent me another one.

We have a TV but use it only with a DVD player. We NEVER watch German TV. We dont subscribe to sky either.

Is it OK to ignore the letter ? Any suggestions !

write on the very bottom of the letter "dont understand german" and send it back unsigned. Takes months to go through the system and then when the next one comes ignore it, then repeat procedure.

We have recieved several letters as well, and don't use our TV for german television either...only DVD's. Would love an answer as well. We were told if we ignore it, there is no way they can can demand payment unless they enter your home and see you have a tv and radio. Is this true?

oh and send the letter back as well without a stamp

Ok i have an answer to all this.A Turkish work collegue was visited by the GEZ and he was daft enough to let them in.He pays the GEZ.His son who is 23 has a tele in his room that he uses for playing games,watching videos and DVD's.As his son is working and has his own income that T.V. should have been registered again.So the work collegue got fined for that.They fined him because his name is on the rent contract and he is responsible for all that goes on in the house.
The GEZ said that even though the TV is not connected to an aerial the son could connect it to a portable aerial and watch the TV programmes.Went to court and the turk lost.He had to pay.
Bitte Freimachen on the post means to make free witch means put a stamp on it to make it free to post

Whether or not you watch German TV, public or commerical.
Whether or not you only watch imported television signals.
Whether or not you only watch DVDs.
Whether the set is connected to an ariel or not.

All IRRELEVENT from the legal point of view.
If you own a TV, you are obliged to pay GEZ.

Whether you do or not is the subject of 101 threads.

Be warned though, if "Blöd" Zeitung is to be believed they are having a crack down on non-payers right now.

but as already mentioned above if you have an envelope with "Antwort" printed on it then you don't have to put a stamp on it.

It's this type of rule, and aggressive enforcement by the GEZtapo, that Mik Dickinson points out that pisses a good number of people off. They're bastards, pure and simple, and create the rules by which they get this reputation - the enforcers are (apparently) paid by the number of people they sign up so have every incentive to aggressively persue any technical contravention of the rules. It appears to have nothing to do with getting everyone who has a TV to sign up, and far more to do with creating as much revenue as possible. Bastards, the lot of them.

And the system is EXACTLY the same in the UK.
And prisons contain a number of people, particuarly women IIRC who are there becasue they didn't psx the fines for not having a TV Licence.

Tell the GEZ that you are on the "Robinson"list . .anyone else here heard of this? My German Landlord suggested I do it . .I do . .and I never heard from them again in 7 years!

Really? I thought the inspectors in the UK were salaried? I once, many years ago, had a visit from them in the UK and they explained carefully who they were, asked if I had a TV (I didn't), they politely asked if they could see my living room and left happy after I showed them. Never heard another squeak.

The GEZ inspectors by comparison are aggressive, rude, tricky, manipulative, conmen who deliberately try to get people to divulge information without first stating their purpose. I was once tricked this way, into paying for a radio I didn't know I had to declare - they could have just asked, I'm an honest person, but this guy chose to trick me. Then I declared once in writing that I don't have a TV and promised to tell them if that changed, which it hasn't, but that doesn't stop the bastards sending threatening letters three times a year. Not the same at all, really.

IIRC, they further privatised the collection of TV licences in the UK a few years ago and I'm sure they have targets.
The UK is full of quasi-governmental snooper and the prisons do contain non-payers.

One persons "tricky and manipulative" is another ones "clever and persuasive".