Frequently asked questions about TV fees
Television fee and various devices
Television fee in different situations
Advice for changing situations
Television programmes, coverage issues and digital television
Television fee and various devices
We only watch foreign satellite transmissions. Do we have to pay the television fee even though we do not watch the channels of the Finnish Broadcasting Company?
You also need to pay the television fee for watching satellite transmissions.
Do I have to pay the television fee for the computer?
You must pay the television fee for a computer with an internal/external digital adapter or which can be used for receiving television transmissions in real time, for example via IPTV.
You must also pay the television fee for new, portable computers which are often equipped with a digital adapter.
Do I have to notify that I use a mobile television?
You need to submit a television notification on your mobile television unless the family has a previously valid television fee.
Television fee in different situations
How many television sets can a family keep, if we have submitted only one television fee?
One television notification per place of residence is enough for a family, even though several television sets were used in the place of residence. You do not need to notify of the use of a television set at your summer cottage if you have a valid notification for your permanent home.
Instead, you have to pay a separate television fee for "a second place of residence" used for work or studies.
If a married couple live in different addresses where they have television sets, they need to pay the television fee for each of the addresses.
I live alone, but because of my work, I have two places of residence in different regions. Do I have to submit two television notifications?
One television fee is enough, because you cannot watch television in two different places at the same time. But, the other place of residence must actually always be empty. You cannot e.g. have your friend use it while you live elsewhere.
My mother-in-law lives in our house, downstairs in a room with its own entrance door, but has access to our home too. Does she need to make a television notification for using a television set in her room?
One television notification is sufficient in this case. Parents, children and other close relatives living together in the same place of residence are considered to be a family if they share the same food economy. This is an example of a family living in one place of residence.
I sublease. The owner of the apartment, who also lives in the same apartment, already pays the television fee. Do I have to submit a television notification for if I buy a television for my own use?
The television fee paid by the landlord does not cover the television of the sublessor, so she or he must submit a separate notification.
I am an entrepreneur and I work at home. Do I need to pay the television fee for the company although I pay the television fee in my own name at the same address?
Business operations require that a separate television fee is paid, if the company has a distinctly separable space where a television set is used.
I am giving up on my television, and I will not buy a new one for a while. How can I cancel my television fee?
Notify FICORA of it. You are obliged to pay the television fee until you notify us that you have stopped using a television set.
It is not possible to cancel a television fee with retroactive effect.
If a television fee has been paid for a longer period of time, the money that has been paid in can be left to wait for the new notification. We can also return the money to your bank account. A deduction of 5 euros will be made for return costs. Payments of less than 5 euros will not be returned.
I cancelled my television fee last week. However, I received an invoice for the next period of payment, why?
The invoice was posted before you contacted us. The invoice date is on the right corner of the invoice.
Can we cancel the television fee if we travel abroad for a month?
If the place of residence is not used during the trip, you can temporarily cancel the television fee. Notify FICORA of it before the trip.
However, one month is the minimum for temporary cancellation.
Students ask questions
Will you give student discount on the television fee?
FICORA is not in the position to give a reduction on the television fee to students or any other groups.
If you live only part of the year where you study, you may submit the television notification for temporary cancellation for the summer, for example.
I share a student apartment with three other students. Is one television notification sufficient for us?
If the television sets are placed in your private rooms, you must submit a television notification for each set. If the television sets are placed in common facilities, one notification is sufficient.
I live in a hall of residence where I have a room of my own. There is a television in the living room and the hall of residence pays the television fee for it. If I bring a television set into my own room, does the television fee paid by the hall of residence cover it?
You have to pay a television fee for using a television in your private room.
Questions about inspections
Does the television fee inspector have the right to come to my home?
A television inspector will not enter the customer's home without his or her permission.
What are the consequences of not submitting a television notification?
You have to pay an inspection fee of 100 euros and a double television fee retrospectively for the period during which a television has been used without making a notification, the minimum being 60 euros. A double, retrospective fee can be collected for at least one year.
Further information on inspections
Advice for changing situations
We are moving. Do we have to report that to FICORA?
No, that is not necessary. The population information system keeps us updated on address and name changes on the basis of your identity number. This does not concern temporary address changes, which need to be reported separately.
My spouse is moving out of our home. Our television fee is in her/his name. What do I have to do?
The population information system sends address changes directly to us. The television fee moves with the person in whose name the notification has been submitted. You must submit the television notification in your own name, if you have a television set that you use.
I made a change to the invoicing interval via the internet. I expected a new invoice, but I have not received any, why?
Invoicing interval change is effective as of the next invoice. The change does not concern an invoice that has already been sent.
Does the Consumer Protection Act affect the television fee?
The television fee is a public fee and is not affected by the Consumer Protection Act.
The Consumer Protection Act applies to the offering, selling and other marketing of consumer goods or services by businesses to consumers (section 1 of the Consumer Protection Act 38/1978).
TV programmes, coverage and digital television
Television transmissions have a poor coverage in our area. Who should I contact?
Please contact Digita Info to find out more about this tel. 020 411 7676.
I am having problems with my digital set-top box. Where do I get additional information?
Contact the seller first in case you have problems with your digital set-top box.
Do I have to pay the television fee, in case I do not have a digital set-top box, but I want to watch recorded movies with an analogue television set?
You do not have to pay the television fee, if you cannot, in any way, receive and watch television transmissions.
If you can for example receive satellite transmissions, you have to pay the television fee.
I am not happy with the programmes shown on television. Who should I give feedback?
Give feedback directly to the channels:
- YLE viewer feedback tel. 020 690 414 (Mon-Fri 10 am-8 pm Sat-Sun 12 am-8 pm),
- MTV3 tel. (09) 6224176 and
- Channel four, Nelonen viewer feedback tel. 0600-1-4444
Can we get a discount on the television fee because we cannot receive all channels?
FICORA is not in the position to give discount on the television fee. You must pay a television fee regardless of what channels you watch, or how much time you spend watching them.
You will receive the best guidance on coverage problems Digita Info tel. 020 411 7676.