Should I have a warning before a demand for payment?

[gracie24]

Does anyone know if there is a legal requirement for the licencing company to inform a business that they need a licence to play music, before sending an invoice?

I had never heard of the company who sent the invoice and they had not contacted me or sent any information to advise me that I required a second licence to play music in my cafe before they sent a bill and a 'fine' for not having one.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Sounds like a scam...

Send a demand to every business in the area and some will pay without checking!:|

I think these are the only people who can license music?

http://www.prsformusic.com/Pages/default.aspx

 

[jules12345]

http://www.ppluk.com/en/music-users...eos-In-Public/FAQs-and-basic-operating-terms/

regards
jules

 

[roydmoorian]

So it would seem that the two organisations share their details and BOTH licences are required :redface:

 

[ganpeixin]

[FONT=arial, sans-serif]This may be a hoax, some unscrupulous businesses get scam[/FONT]

 

[mhall]

It may be a hoax, but knowing the evil ways PRS use, I would doubt it

 

[saxondale]

Does anyone know if there is a legal requirement for the licencing company to inform a business that they need a licence to play music, before sending an invoice?

I had never heard of the company who sent the invoice and they had not contacted me or sent any information to advise me that I required a second licence to play music in my cafe before they sent a bill and a 'fine' for not having one.

who is the company?

 

[internetspaceships]

Woah you're back dude.....

Things will liven up again. Good to see ya mate.

 

[saxondale]

Woah you're back dude.....

Things will liven up again. Good to see ya mate.

with the wild accusations on this thread - I`m a calming influence.

 

[internetspaceships]

There's always room for stepping outside the box and doing something out of character

 

[gracie24]

Yes, it is a legitimate company and it seems I do need a licence, but can they send me an invoice without first informing me that I need a licence? I had never heard of them before I got the bill!

 

[saxondale]

Yes, it is a legitimate company and it seems I do need a licence, but can they send me an invoice without first informing me that I need a licence? I had never heard of them before I got the bill!

I would just assume the invoice is the notice, like taxing the vans etc. Don`t see where your coming from I`m afraid.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

I can't really understand the issue, they have sent you an invoice, if it is genuinely from PPL or PRS and you meet the requirements for having both licenses then just pay it and get on with your life. What notice do you want exactly?

 

[Larholm]

I can't really understand the issue, they have sent you an invoice, if it is genuinely from PPL or PRS and you meet the requirements for having both licenses then just pay it and get on with your life. What notice do you want exactly?

It looks to me that the problem is not the notice/invoice, but the "fine" they are trying to charge on top.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

It looks to me that the problem is not the notice/invoice, but the "fine" they are trying to charge on top.

The OP has admitted that they did not have the relevant license and ignorance of the requirement is not an excuse so it makes sense that PPL/PRS has fined them as they are allowed to. The Limitation Act means that they can charge up to 6 years of prior licensing if it is found that this was the case.

 

[guddy]

i've also had a few demands from them. i currently own a fast food take away (with no seats) and have a TV in the serving area.

recently i received a call from ppluk asking whether or not i have a TV or radio in public. i explained that we have a TV, but we only use it for the news channel (BBC NEWS 24).

they said that was fine and i would need to pay music royalties for the channel, even though it was BBC NEWS 24. the music they referred to was the tune prior to the headlines!?!? or another example they gave would be a pop group getting interviewed and any slight background music they were playing during the interview!?!

i can understand the logic in paying music royalties for music channels (and rightly so), but surely BBC NEWS, SKY NEWS and RT NEWS are exempt? :|

any help/advice would be greatly appreciated, with costs going through the roof, i'd like to save as much as possible.

 

[bdw]

There has been a thread running on this on the FSB website for about four years.
http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=599&PN=1

In one oft quoted case the PRS claimed £200,000 in damages from Kwikfit, who did not play music at all. The claim was because their employees were playing their own radios at work and the public could hear them.

Does anyone know how that one resolved?

 

[jules12345]

There has been a thread running on this on the FSB website for about four years.
http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=599&PN=1

^^^^^ THIS

 

[Larholm]

The OP has admitted that they did not have the relevant license and ignorance of the requirement is not an excuse so it makes sense that PPL/PRS has fined them as they are allowed to. The Limitation Act means that they can charge up to 6 years of prior licensing if it is found that this was the case.

Not disputing that they might have a right to charge based on historical data, rather than "from now on".

I am merely pointing out that the OP is miffed that not only do they want to charge based on history, they are also demanding a fine on top.

I would probably also be annoyed by this if it was me, but then I would look in the mirror for who to blame for it, pay up, and get on with life.

 

[gracie24]

What I was "miffed" about was the fact that PPL did not visit the premises and give any information about licencing requirements before sending a bill. They should have visited the premises and given me an information pack before sending an invoice.

If anyone else is in my situation. WRITE TO THEM AND TELL THEM THEY HAVEN'T FOLLOWED THE CORRECT PROCEDURE AND THAT YOU WILL NOT BE PAYING THE BILL UNTIL THEY DO! Unfortunately if they do inspect your premises and find that you play music - even if the public can't hear it - you will be liable to pay for a licence and a penalty for not having one. You will need a solicitor to help you dispute it which will probably cost more than the PPL bills.

Thanks for your interest everyone (excluding the sarcastic, patronising rubbish).

 

[roydmoorian]

OK then, in our main office, which is part of a a fairly large farmhouse, we have an entrance through the utility area which also has a doorway into the main house where a radio may be playing. We can sometimes hear the radio two rooms away. How many licences should we have ?

 

[roydmoorian]

OK then, in our main office, which is part of a a fairly large farmhouse, we have an entrance through the utility area which also has a doorway into the main house where a radio may be playing. We can sometimes hear the radio two rooms away. How many licences should we have ?

The "public" cannot reach our office without trespassing for 200 metres altough we obviously do have visitors.

 

[bdw]

Who owns the radio?

.