Csail
N/A
What are the latest updates on VHF being free, ie is it worth re-newing licence
VHF licence
- Thread starter Csail
- Start date
sailorman
Well-Known Member
do a search on this forum
loadsa stuff
loadsa stuff
AIDY
Well-Known Member
dont quote me on this, in the last few month it has been suggested that if you dont cough up now they will get you in the end cause they will charge you a one off fee when the lifetime licence comes in. where as if you have a valid one at the time you will get one sent through the letterbox. do ya really wanna apply for a new MMSI and call sign for your boat.
G
Guest
Guest
Mmmmmm plenty of posts on this and as I understand ...
Reading the Blurb on the web from the authorities .....
If you renew as normal before the change date - you will retain all MMSI / Call sign etc. When it is time to "renew" again - do it via the online system and its free, with I believe printable disc from the web.
Regardless of whether you have valid or not - after the date if you renew via post - basically NOT online - you will pay fee as admin charge.
If you do not renew as normal before change date and your licence lapses - then you forfeit MMSI and call sign. You will have to pay fee whether online or not to get new licence. Once that is issued - then later renewals will be free online.
This is of course assuming that you are talking about Ships Radio Station Licence .... not your own VHF licence ?
Note - it may sound mean that a person has to renew right up to last day before change and pay ... but lets be honest what do you get for that sort of money nowadays .... and also once paid and sorted - the rest of your life of boat is free .........
Reading the Blurb on the web from the authorities .....
If you renew as normal before the change date - you will retain all MMSI / Call sign etc. When it is time to "renew" again - do it via the online system and its free, with I believe printable disc from the web.
Regardless of whether you have valid or not - after the date if you renew via post - basically NOT online - you will pay fee as admin charge.
If you do not renew as normal before change date and your licence lapses - then you forfeit MMSI and call sign. You will have to pay fee whether online or not to get new licence. Once that is issued - then later renewals will be free online.
This is of course assuming that you are talking about Ships Radio Station Licence .... not your own VHF licence ?
Note - it may sound mean that a person has to renew right up to last day before change and pay ... but lets be honest what do you get for that sort of money nowadays .... and also once paid and sorted - the rest of your life of boat is free .........
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
Re: Mmmmmm plenty of posts on this and as I understand ...
The Ofcom website says:
"Ofcom proposes to make these licences free when applied for and delivered over the internet and only charge £20 (irrespective of type) for any new licences applied for and/or delivered manually (i.e. hard copy)".
which appears to say quite categorically that there will be no charges for licences applied for on line.
The Ofcom website says:
"Ofcom proposes to make these licences free when applied for and delivered over the internet and only charge £20 (irrespective of type) for any new licences applied for and/or delivered manually (i.e. hard copy)".
which appears to say quite categorically that there will be no charges for licences applied for on line.
Birdseye
Well-Known Member
Re: Mmmmmm plenty of posts on this and as I understand ...
[ QUOTE ]
Note - it may sound mean that a person has to renew right up to last day before change and pay ... but lets be honest what do you get for that sort of money nowadays .... and also once paid and sorted - the rest of your life of boat is free .........
[/ QUOTE ]
Well for £20 I can buy 12 pints at the club bar, or 10 pints and a bunch of flowers for the skipper, or it will go a long way toward the replacement cost of that ridiculously expensive plastic arrow on my V-tronix aerial. The one that was last seen heading back towards Padstow after May Day.
On the other hand I can pay it to the govt ie Offcom and get absolutely nothing. Zilch. Zippo.
[ QUOTE ]
Note - it may sound mean that a person has to renew right up to last day before change and pay ... but lets be honest what do you get for that sort of money nowadays .... and also once paid and sorted - the rest of your life of boat is free .........
[/ QUOTE ]
Well for £20 I can buy 12 pints at the club bar, or 10 pints and a bunch of flowers for the skipper, or it will go a long way toward the replacement cost of that ridiculously expensive plastic arrow on my V-tronix aerial. The one that was last seen heading back towards Padstow after May Day.
On the other hand I can pay it to the govt ie Offcom and get absolutely nothing. Zilch. Zippo.
G
Guest
Guest
This has been sorted before ....
It's only free online if you have a valid one up to the time you apply for renewal. Taking only part of the text out is misleading.
If you let it lapse and then try for free one later, hard-luck - the site clearly states further on that you will pay to get re-licenced on or off-line.
It's only free online if you have a valid one up to the time you apply for renewal. Taking only part of the text out is misleading.
If you let it lapse and then try for free one later, hard-luck - the site clearly states further on that you will pay to get re-licenced on or off-line.
steverow
Well-Known Member
Re: Mmmmmm plenty of posts on this and as I understand ...
I'm a bit disgruntled...mine runs out on September 26th,
that means I pay twenty quid for four days...aaaargh.
But it's only twenty quid, and there has to be a cutoff point somewhere I suppose.
They are doing the whole process again with Amateur Radio Licenses..after consult doc's etc.
That is now also going to be a free online 5 yearly thingy I think.
My amateur Lic expires middle of May...what's the betting I get clobbered again..and that starts it's cutoff in June??
Steve.
I'm a bit disgruntled...mine runs out on September 26th,
that means I pay twenty quid for four days...aaaargh.
But it's only twenty quid, and there has to be a cutoff point somewhere I suppose.
They are doing the whole process again with Amateur Radio Licenses..after consult doc's etc.
That is now also going to be a free online 5 yearly thingy I think.
My amateur Lic expires middle of May...what's the betting I get clobbered again..and that starts it's cutoff in June??
Steve.
G
Guest
Guest
£20 to Ofcom ...
OK - so don't pay then. But when you apply after the freebies start - they will still demand the £20 - cause you don't have a valid licence up to that date.
I am amazed that the whole text - which many such as Brendan etc. have posted the links to - is not read by so many learned fellows on the forum.
Free licence is only applicable to those with valid licences for renewal via on-line. Let it lapse and it makes no odds how you apply for a new one - you will pay £20 admin and also get new details.
GRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
OK - so don't pay then. But when you apply after the freebies start - they will still demand the £20 - cause you don't have a valid licence up to that date.
I am amazed that the whole text - which many such as Brendan etc. have posted the links to - is not read by so many learned fellows on the forum.
Free licence is only applicable to those with valid licences for renewal via on-line. Let it lapse and it makes no odds how you apply for a new one - you will pay £20 admin and also get new details.
GRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
Re: This has been sorted before ....
No it doesn't unless you are looking at a different Ofcom site to me - can you provide a link?
No it doesn't unless you are looking at a different Ofcom site to me - can you provide a link?
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
Re: £20 to Ofcom ...
[ QUOTE ]
......I am amazed that the whole text - which many such as Brendan etc. have posted the links to - is not read by so many learned fellows on the forum.
Free licence is only applicable to those with valid licences for renewal via on-line. Let it lapse and it makes no odds how you apply for a new one - you will pay £20 admin and also get new details.
GRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Perhaps it is you who needs to read the whole text - it is here. Can you point out the bit where it says new ones cost £20? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
[ QUOTE ]
......I am amazed that the whole text - which many such as Brendan etc. have posted the links to - is not read by so many learned fellows on the forum.
Free licence is only applicable to those with valid licences for renewal via on-line. Let it lapse and it makes no odds how you apply for a new one - you will pay £20 admin and also get new details.
GRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Perhaps it is you who needs to read the whole text - it is here. Can you point out the bit where it says new ones cost £20? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
G
Guest
Guest
Get of the high horse .... having gone back to Ofcom site
I actually had the direct page link for the particular text .... which is now not available.
I have read through the later pdf file - statement.pdf ............ not the earlier 2005 consultation doc you link to. This has changes in it and has removed the line that I was pointing out. The consult doc you link to - had the badly worded bits in the 3rd column of the table..... about free online and under it free to existing licencees. The url I saved in fav's was to the detailed explanation of that - which as I say has now gone.
So you may be right that the admin fee as explained earlier has been scrapped for any lapsed licence application. But I note that further on - they have left a neat little hole - item 4.28 page 12 ......
"4.28 Whilst there will be some residual cost associated with the delivery of the online service, Ofcom believes that these costs will be sufficiently low that it will not be necessary to seek to recover these from licensees. This is in line with the wider policy to exempt smaller users from a fee except where it is necessary to expend significant effort on licensing."
Now I would read this as expend effort to post / hard copy etc. But being such a person that doesn't trust authorities 100% - it could be turned around to charge if they consider that effort has been extended - ie application for new licence etc.
I do apologise to all - if a mistake has been made based on previous text on Ofcom site - ... lets see what October brings ... I got a sneaking suspicion !!!
I actually had the direct page link for the particular text .... which is now not available.
I have read through the later pdf file - statement.pdf ............ not the earlier 2005 consultation doc you link to. This has changes in it and has removed the line that I was pointing out. The consult doc you link to - had the badly worded bits in the 3rd column of the table..... about free online and under it free to existing licencees. The url I saved in fav's was to the detailed explanation of that - which as I say has now gone.
So you may be right that the admin fee as explained earlier has been scrapped for any lapsed licence application. But I note that further on - they have left a neat little hole - item 4.28 page 12 ......
"4.28 Whilst there will be some residual cost associated with the delivery of the online service, Ofcom believes that these costs will be sufficiently low that it will not be necessary to seek to recover these from licensees. This is in line with the wider policy to exempt smaller users from a fee except where it is necessary to expend significant effort on licensing."
Now I would read this as expend effort to post / hard copy etc. But being such a person that doesn't trust authorities 100% - it could be turned around to charge if they consider that effort has been extended - ie application for new licence etc.
I do apologise to all - if a mistake has been made based on previous text on Ofcom site - ... lets see what October brings ... I got a sneaking suspicion !!!
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
Re: Get of the high horse .... having gone back to Ofcom site
[ QUOTE ]
............ not the earlier 2005 consultation doc you link to......
[/ QUOTE ]
The document I link to was published on 12 April 2006 and, unless someone can come up with a later one, is the most recent. Please do read the whole text /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Oh and high horses - pots and kettles?
[ QUOTE ]
............ not the earlier 2005 consultation doc you link to......
[/ QUOTE ]
The document I link to was published on 12 April 2006 and, unless someone can come up with a later one, is the most recent. Please do read the whole text /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Oh and high horses - pots and kettles?
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
Re: Get of the high horse .... having gone back to Ofcom site
Nothing appears to be finalised yet. The only documents now on line appear to be consultation ones. Their FAQ online says there MAY be a charge for licences offline, so even that is not clear now
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/mofaq/rcomms/srl/
Nothing appears to be finalised yet. The only documents now on line appear to be consultation ones. Their FAQ online says there MAY be a charge for licences offline, so even that is not clear now
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/mofaq/rcomms/srl/
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
Re: Get of the high horse .... having gone back to Ofcom site
I think it is all a general trend to deregulation, it will probably go the same way as dog licences eventually and not be worth administrating - even free licences.
Personally, I think that radio regulation is archaic and actually achieves very little. It harks back to the cold war days and fear of public access to technology in case it threatens the fabric of our society - the world has moved on.
I think it is all a general trend to deregulation, it will probably go the same way as dog licences eventually and not be worth administrating - even free licences.
Personally, I think that radio regulation is archaic and actually achieves very little. It harks back to the cold war days and fear of public access to technology in case it threatens the fabric of our society - the world has moved on.
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
Re: Get of the high horse .... having gone back to Ofcom site
There is an international requirement for radio licences, set in UK law. Even if you repealed the necessary UK laws, the international requirements would still remain.
There is an international requirement for radio licences, set in UK law. Even if you repealed the necessary UK laws, the international requirements would still remain.
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
Re: Get of the high horse .... having gone back to Ofcom site
Perhaps the UK will just adopt the same approach to enforcement as the Greek, French etc. - just use it as a reason for fining visiting boats and ignoring domestic regulation. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Perhaps the UK will just adopt the same approach to enforcement as the Greek, French etc. - just use it as a reason for fining visiting boats and ignoring domestic regulation. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
Re: Get of the high horse .... having gone back to Ofcom site
They seem to have two consultations going on in parallel (OK, not parallel, but many have been using the old 2005 consultation docs)
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/internetlicence/
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/src/
with similar but subtly different aims, and different issue of consultation doc dates, and different end of response dates. One finished 2nd May 2005 , the other finishes 16th May. Result, confusion.
They seem to have two consultations going on in parallel (OK, not parallel, but many have been using the old 2005 consultation docs)
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/internetlicence/
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/src/
with similar but subtly different aims, and different issue of consultation doc dates, and different end of response dates. One finished 2nd May 2005 , the other finishes 16th May. Result, confusion.
jonathankent
Well-Known Member
Re: Get of the high horse .... having gone back to Ofcom site
Is there not someone on the forum who works for Ofcom who could set the record straight???
Perhaps a direct email might help??
Is there not someone on the forum who works for Ofcom who could set the record straight???
Perhaps a direct email might help??
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
Re: Get of the high horse .... having gone back to Ofcom site
there used to be! and he posted here a great deal, and was a mine of information. Guess what happened when Ofcom took over that regulatory requirement. He was surplus to requirements, and we no longer had inside information. Mike Martin was his name, and he still used to look in once in a while
there used to be! and he posted here a great deal, and was a mine of information. Guess what happened when Ofcom took over that regulatory requirement. He was surplus to requirements, and we no longer had inside information. Mike Martin was his name, and he still used to look in once in a while
