TV licence inspectors do not call on households that already have a licence.

Bona fide TV licence inspectors carry identification cards the size of a bank card, the Tampere-based daily Aamulehti reports.

“A Reader told us that their home in Ylöjärvi was visited by a TV licence inspector in February at 7:10 on a weekday. The family had a TV licence, so the inspector may be a fraud.

Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) Director Anssi Laakso, how early can TV licence inspectors come?

‘7:10 in the morning is too early. I doubt whether it was really one of our inspectors. They don’t do the rounds that early. On Saturdays they might come at around nine or ten, but not before that.’

Have you heard of a case like this before?

‘No.’

When do TV licence inspectors usually conduct their inspections?

‘They usually come in the evening when people are watching television. In rural areas they may visit during the day due to the long distances involved.’

Can you see who hasn’t notified the authorities of their television use?

‘Yes, we have lists of such people.’

Do you inspect households that have a TV licence?

‘No, we try to avoid such inspections.’

Has there sometimes been someone posing as a TV licence inspector?

‘That has sometimes happened, but I can’t even remember the last time. TV licence inspectors carry with them credentials the size of a bank card, which has their picture. When in doubt, you can look from that.’

Last year 17,000 Finns were caught not paying their TV licence. What is the penalty for that?

‘A 100 euro inspection fee as well as retroactive TV payments from the time when the TV set has been used without a licence. Retroactive payments are double. At their maximum the fines amount to a little over 500 euros.’”

AAMULEHTI 21 February. ANU LEENA KOSKINEN
Lehtikuva - Heikki Saukkomaa