GEZ - German TV License Payments

Although I moved into a new place I am still paying fricking GEZ Gebühren (TV/Radio fees). I know, my flatmates don't pay for it either, which is irrelavant anyway as we all have income so theoretically we would all have to pay.

Does anyone know if they come to the new place to check if you really don't have a TV/Radio anymore? I still have a radio in the car which I will not tell them...
Of course I will not let them in, but sometimes they just catch you at the door etc
Does anyone know what happens, if they find out?

GEZ thread

i deregistered my t.v. they sent me a letter verifying i meant what i said. they did stop by many, many months later and i said, nope still no t.v.

I dont answer my door for any uninvited guests. The 2 times I have done that it was a druggy trying to sell magazines or something, and the second guy was the GEZ guy. It was much easier to deal with them by speaking only english not german, I just told the GEZ guy I wasnt interested in his TV channels cos I cant even understand them and I dont have a TV.

I have strong beliefs against paying for something that I never asked for, I do have a TV, but I dont watch the tv channels, I only have it connected to the computer. I do have a radio in the car but I only play MDs never listen to the radio. So I dont consider what I am doing as stealing in anyway.

Sure, if it was a legitimate government department, and the revenue came through taxes thats one thing, but this is a private company, with a legal mandate to force people to buy their product!

But if you watch the channels bubbly, I think you should pay.

And if you have receivers capable of reception of Radio & TV, KZA, you should pay too!

Like it or not, what you are doing is illegal.
The GEZ fee is not for the right to watch or listen - it is for the right to posess the hardware.

That's a ridiculous charge. Why should you pay for that? You've already paid for the actual hardware - you don't pay a similar charge to have the right to own a washing machine or an iron.

Fuck 'em...I do use my TV to watch the channels here, but I'm not paying the GEZ - for a start, I never watch ARD or ZDF (the only channels which actually benefit from this scam).

I have a tv (but keep it unplugged in my basement) , I just called them once and explained that I didn't watch any German po.. , i mean tv here and don't have a car. They didn't bother me anymore and my conscience is clear so I'm surprised it
's about possessing hardware , I told em I had a phone and a pc... I'd pay if I had to (I think ).

I suppose you have a car, but could not be bothered to tax or insure it either...
after all you already paid for the car.
You also have a gun, but could not give a toss about getting a gun licence, because you already paid for it.
Or your dog, why do you need a licence for a dog when you have already probaby paid for it?

Like it or spike it - "there are some things in life you have to right to freely possess, for everything else there is public authorities"

This is in the other thread.

If this fee is the right to own a TV or radio, then you would have to produce a license when you buy a TV, otherwise it would be illegal to sell to someone without one.

To buy a gun you need a license, simple, you cant own a gun without one.

You can own a car without tax, insurance and even a license, you just couldnt park it on the street or drive it legally.

As far as I'm concerned the license is the right to receive TV broadcasts, if you are doing so then you should pay. Kza that means you too, you naughty boy

The radio license is a joke and should be scrapped.

Its ok, im not receiving television broadcasts. Antennae cable isnt even connected, thus preventing any equipment from even being able to receive television broadcasts. I just watch downloads and dvds. Im sure GEZ will still insist I have to pay though. The biggest crime of all is obeying unjust laws!

Hey, I know all that. Personally I do think I should pay, which I have done.
But know i am moving to a shared flat where i don't have my own TV. I still have a TV in my room but there is nowhere to plug in. Actually I already paid till June by accident, although I moved out in February. They won't give you money back. Not happy
There is one TV in the living room we all use, but the main tenant of the flat said she is not willing to pay.
The only thing I have the bad conscience about is the radio in the car.
I couldn't find the other thread because the word you type in the search has to be more then 4 characters long... GEZ isn't.
Thanks Elfenstar!

Dont feel bad about that, like I said, the license for the radio is a joke. I got a digital radio bought me as a present last Christmas...well wonderful present, I am supposed to go and buy a license now and I never listen to radio!!

glad i could help bubbly.

i would suggest you tell your flatmate that you would share the GEZ for the t.v. cause if you all get caught it is her responsiblity since it is her t.v. and you could then say "i offered to pay half".

i do pay radio.

BTW, i still have my address in stuttgart and the GEZ found me in munich, obviously, and knew somehow that i had two addresses, but i only pay one fee. my customer # was the same and everything.

Bunch of crooks...Say what you like, but I'm not giving them a cent.

I was wondering about that one myself. I just got the letter saying I should register my TV and Radio (if I had one). Actually, I am not willing to do that, but I´ve heard stories that they drive by with a vehicle with antenna on the top and they can register the signal (or crap like that) and if they catch you they can fine you up to 5000 bucks. With my luck, I will be the one who´ll end up paying it.

They can't detect a TV in your place with a van

Their TV detectors are the people that come around.

any truth in the rumour that most of them are jehovas witnesses too?

No 3Lions, its not a licence to own anything, its a licence allowing you to be in possession of RX equipment capable of receiving radio or television Broadcasts.

ehm - If you really believe that crap then you are very naïve, my son.
If a bad guy wants to a gun without a licence, there is nothing that could possibly stop him.

point taken, but I meant it in the use-it way


Agreed.

Yes they can! Or at least they can in England.

The authoritative site on the GEZ is http://www.gez.de. Unfortunately all in German. When I was brought into this lovely land I was advised that the GEZ was simply:

1. the financing system for the public radio and television broadcast systems.
2. mandatory whether or not you personally choose to watch the channels. Some years back a few citizens brought the GEZ to court claiming that they shouldn't have to pay since they had the technology to block out the channels. The German courts denied the complaint and held up both the legality and necessity of the GEZ for the greater good of society etc. etc.

I have not found a single person who can tell me what happens if you get caught without one. The assumption is that its a bit like getting caught without a subway card...some brows are wrinkled, fines are assessed and you have to register. Having said that, almost all the people I've talked to say that many GEZ employees also think its BS and are likely not to fine you as long as you give some form of reasonable excuse...

On another random note... I understand the GEZ often has McJob openings for those of you looking to hang around. Openings posted on the site above.

And that's precisely the point...You have to pay these license fees, that are not even refundable if overpaid - even if you don't use the services you're paying for.

I also have a radio attached to my cd player. I've never used it and have no intention of doing so - I just didn't find a multi cd player without one.

Yes I watch TV in Germany, but I don't watch ARD or ZDF - ever. The channels I watch all use advertising to fund their existance and don't get any of the funding.

So why should I pay license fees on that...

If they really want a "user pays" system, then they would encrypt the government channels and charge people for a decoder to be able to watch the relevant channels. The way they run it here is complete and utter bollocks and I'm surprised that the population tolerates this and pays - and then worse, tries to make you feel guilty for refusing to...

Heck, I can detect a TV in your place. I just look for the flashing blue light at night!

In the good ol' mafia days of Tony Soprano, people's businesses were 'taxed' by the hard hitting knuckle boys. Sure it was unfair, but hey, it was part of the system. Think of this big Union (Germany) as one big mafioso family. They want to tax you for going to church or watching tv. Sound rediculous but that is the system. They don't come kicking in the door or beating up my little old neighbor lady for her 'taxes'. They just force you to pay before the money even gets deposited in your bank from your employer.

As far as I am concerned I won't pay until they 'rough me up' at least twice.

Give them a chance and they will tax your tea.

Oh yes they can.

Here's how:
Tempest:
Tempest Program
more Tempest stuff
van Eck Phreaking:
van Eck Phreaking
more van Eck stuff

Also, there's a brilliant 2-3 page explaination of van Eck Phreaking in Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon. It's buried in the 800+pages of the book, but you'll find it pretty easily if you flip through to where he starts including graphs in the storyline.

Sometimes makes you want to run around with tinfoil on you head...

Good point Hazza, but you are still missing out on a wee technical bit.

3-lions correctly stated that you legally can own the car without insurance or tax.

However, if you possess a telly or radio - you are legally obliged
to get a licence. Your licence is not for the service (although it does fund the service) Its for the electrical box you decided to get.

Your licence fee is not for the right to watch ARD & ZDF,
its a licence fee for possession of your TV or radio.

Someone actually tried to use the very lame "I only watch private TV stations" excuse in court donkeys years ago, and got away with it... so the regulation and its purpose was changed shortly afterwards to close that loop-hole.

Even if you only watch BBC & Sky in Germany, you are obliged to cough up GEZ fees.