Boat Radio Licence

[Sea Devil]

John that is unfair and unreasonable - you are a little pedantic you know...

We must all be allowed to subscribe as much as possible to ofcom so they can provide reports to the EU.

If you try to muscle in on it we shall have to consider introducing radar operators licences in order to increase the revenue - mind you it is rather harder to operate a radar than any radio and results of getting it wrong can really make your eyes water...

Its a good idea.

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing

 

[Gunfleet]

Allow plenty of leeway ;-)

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[Ships_Cat]

Maybe could have a 2 tier charging system. Those that believe that paying more for licences makes the maritime radio service better and safer could have a higher fee than those that don't have such a belief.

Could build into the higher charge, for the peeps who pay it, a visit once a year from an inspector to check that they have their sticker displayed to keep them safe /forums/images/icons/smile.gif.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.

 

[bigmart]

Perhaps those who are too tight fisted to pay £20 quid a year should vote with their feet & stop compromising the safety of the rest of us. You can always rely on your Mobile Phone, CB Radio & PMR. Why do you want to screw up the last bit for the rest of us!

Martin

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[RichardPerou]

My licence ranout while I was in Greece this summer. I don't know what 'Payment Number' or 'Customer Reference' are so the electronic form would not let me renew.

I emailed them for help. The response came from someone who had no idea what was happening. As Greek officials may get very officious I sent a letter and a cheque to renew. It was sent back to my address in the UK as the check was for too much money. The correct amount of money was then sent but this too was rejected as the licence had now`expired.

The clue for what to expect from this organisation is that they refer to taxpayers as customers.

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[Ships_Cat]

Well BigMart for most in the country where my boat is flagged there is no licence fee for marine VHF and that approach is becoming increasingly common practice in other non EU countries (a General Licence is issued that covers "everyone" and covers VHF as well as other transmitting devices such as radar and EPIRBS). No compromise in safety doing that at all - in fact probably a big increase cos more boats, especially the smaller ones which have most need, are encouraged to carry VHF.

Perhaps looking at it another way, I don't think TV licences, which we don't have either, makes my watching TV any less safe than your doing so with a TV licence. Unless, of course, I am missing something important there.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.

 

[bigmart]

I've Heard all the arguments & so far none of them hold much water. I'm afraid yours doesn't either.

The Marine VHF Station licence has nothing to do with TV Licencing. But an up to date register of Licenced boats does. No licence means no guarantee that the data is current.

If youre too tight to pay the price of a round of drinks, assuming youve got a ew friends, for that added measure of safety, then I pity you.

Martin

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[Koeketiene]

Just out of curiosity: where is your boat flagged?

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

 

[oldharry]

I only mentioned TV licences because here in UK the licence fee actually goes to the BBC to pay for it, and is an example of a licence fee actually being used to pay for a service.

Tough if you happen not to like Eastenders!

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[Sea Devil]

I do not understand how paying a licence fee makes radios safer.

You do not pay a licence fee to operate any (motor)yacht/boat.

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing

 

[bigmart]

It makes it safer because the data base of details on the registered boat is kept up to date.

The Coastguard can access details of Boat ownership including contact phone numbers. I know that is not much but it is better than nothing at all. Radio Call Sign, MMSI numbers & beacon references are logged here.

I certainly am happy to pay £20 per year for that. Its cheap when you consider the other costs of keeping a boat these days.

Martin

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[Gunfleet]

Or for free you can fill out a CG66. You can even do it on line.

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[oldharry]

Exactly! Tv licences pay for Tv programmes. VHF licences pay for - what?! A sticker to tell thieves which boat is worth doing over.



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[bigmart]

And for an additional £20 quid you can have it logged with your Radio details.

There thats a real belt & braces idea.

Should appeal to all.

Martin

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[bigmart]

Theres none so blind as those who wont see.

Martin

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[Ships_Cat]

New Zealand.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.

 

[Mike_Martin]

The problem that you have come accross is that this is a "live" database and the data within it is supplied to SAR organisations around the world. So when a licence lapses the record goes, we don't use it to hold historical data.

Although I can't understand why you would send the wrong amount, I can tell you why it is just rejected. Bearing in mind that the fee is only £20 there is no element built in to it for more admin functions. The rough administrative cost ( ie labour of people involved) of a refund is around £7 nearly half the licence fee itself.

The cheque will be returned to where you have told us you are! If you change address tell us and we will send your documents there. There's not really much we can do here.

As to "taxpayers", well as RA we stopped being funded by tax payers back in 1990 when we became a "Next Steps Government Agency", Ofcom is no different, hence "customer"

Hope this helps to clarify.
Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom

 

[Mike_Martin]

Sorry John but where is your boat flagged?

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom

 

[Ships_Cat]

Hi Mike - I think we doubled. NZ as above.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.

 

[Mike_Martin]

The radio licence fee comes to the people who deal with the interference and abuse of the service ie Ofcom.

The actual SAR responses are funded by the tax payer.

An example of the abuse response from Ofcom is here,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/3602119.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/3889783.stm

I'm sure that every one will notice that despite conviction and closedown of the offender, due to his personal circumstances he was not fined or ordered to pay costs, hence his abuse (not to mention risking lifeboat crews' lives) was stopped but licensees paid for it to be done.

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom