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Man, dead since 1559, receives TV bill

14 March 2009 18:55 by Andre "DVDBack23" Yoskowitz | 19 comments

It appears that Adam Ries, a German mathematician deceased as of 1559, has received a bill from the GEZ broadcast fee collection office demanding that the man pay his "long-overdue" TV licensing fees.

The bill was sent to the man's former address, which is now a club set up in honor of the algebra expert.

"We received a letter saying 'To Mr Adam Ries' on it, with the request to pay his television and radio fees," said Annegret Muench, who is now president of the club.

Muench, after seeing the letter, returned the letter with a note attached explaining that Ries had died 450 years earlier, while especially noting that TV had not been invented at that time. Despite her letter, the collection office sent another reminder two weeks later.

The GEZ was in the news last year for a similar incident in which Friedrich Schiller, a poet who died in 1805, was sent a bill asking him to declare "all radios and televisions in his home and pay the corresponding fees."

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Discuss this article!
NexGen76 (Member) 14 March 2009 20:34
Lmao....Great story that's funny as hell [ + quote]
khmernize (Newbie) 14 March 2009 21:32
What if people have the same name as the dead people? [ + quote]
tyknappy (Junior Member) 14 March 2009 22:21
If this is supposedly real and if this company is actually going after this dead guy, then im wondering how it ever came about to bill this man. Unless someone used his name which is plausible. This just makes you wonder tho. [ + quote]
kiwi1 (Member) 14 March 2009 22:33
Someone must have been using this dead guys identity. I remember when I was a young student, sharing a house with others. All our utility bills were under stupid names, Alfred E Neuman etc. [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 15 March 2009 5:04
This is some funny stuff do people even realize what they are doin. Ithink this has been processed in a batch file that has not been deactivated for this poor guy that probablly did not conceive an idea like a tv in his life or anything like it. [ + quote]
dcity (Member) 15 March 2009 7:54
LMAO!!!! hahaaaa! o wow they just get worse and worse these broadcasting companies!!! I think a sertain someone might be the victom of identity theft ;) [ + quote]
bankok (Newbie) 15 March 2009 8:39
I thought this could only happen in the UK!!! Seems like we're not alone. [ + quote]
SuckRaven (Junior Member) 15 March 2009 9:19
Just don't let the RIAA/MPAA see this story. They will start going after dead people too. And soon after that, they'll make the jump to declare that ancient cave paintings all over the world belong to them, and will start charging licensing fees to view them. (Yes, they are a bunch of bastages...) This story is really funny though. =) [ + quote]
kikzm33z (Senior Member) 15 March 2009 10:16
:D Never knew something this stupid would happen in real life. [ + quote]
Leningrad (Member) 15 March 2009 17:50
*Originally posted by SuckRaven:* Just don't let the RIAA/MPAA see this story. They will start going after dead people too. And soon after that, they'll make the jump to declare that ancient cave paintings all over the world belong to them, and will start charging licensing fees to view them. (Yes, they are a bunch of bastages...) This story is really funny though. =) imagine DRM on cave painting. " This Cavepainting is copyright (c) RIAA 5000 B.c, no part of this artifact may be reproduced by any museum or conservation center unless with the written permission of the greedy bastard" [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 16 March 2009 3:56
The revenuers are coming to get you for your TV,radio and even print material!!! [ + quote]
xtago (Newbie) 16 March 2009 4:19
*Originally posted by SuckRaven:* Just don't let the RIAA/MPAA see this story. They will start going after dead people too. And soon after that, they'll make the jump to declare that ancient cave paintings all over the world belong to them, and will start charging licensing fees to view them. (Yes, they are a bunch of bastages...) This story is really funny though. =) The Aborigines would love that to happen as they would sue for copyright of their cave paintings and markings. [ + quote]
mithu_120 (Newbie) 16 March 2009 11:23
lmao...ahahaha this is one funny story [ + quote]
IguanaC64 (Junior Member) 20 March 2009 10:29
I'm sure this is a German to English translation problem...but wtf are "TV licensing fees?" Is this a cable bill? [ + quote]
Mez (Senior Member) 20 March 2009 10:39
kikzm33z, why?? *Quote:* Never knew something this stupid would happen in real life. I do not think any of this is very unusual. There will always be a few students that take advantage of a moronic corporation. Collections is always as at least as dumb as a rock. Who else would work there? A am sure no one will even think to question that maybe the process ought to be reviewed, cause they are morons of the lowest level. [ + quote]
7thsinger (AfterDawn Addict) 20 March 2009 10:44
Well, there's my morning chuckle. Dvd Backup Resource Thread Backing up New Releases Have a problem...start here! [ + quote]
Matt0401 (Newbie) 20 March 2009 11:44
"I'm sure this is a German to English translation problem...but wtf are "TV licensing fees?" Is this a cable bill?" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licence#Germany More of an "antenna bill", unique to Europe. [ + quote]
RippDogg (Junior Member) 21 March 2009 3:38
Adam Ries: "Hello, yes, this is Mr. Ries. It appears ye have mistakenly billed me for Playboy's Girls of the Baroque Era." Billing Operator: "No mistake sir; we have you viewing the first 3 minutes of the program in 1556. Would you like to apply a credit card to your outstanding balance?" Adam Ries: "Pray tell, what is ye credit card, wench? Look, I tell ye I have not seen this program. I am not even into European women." Billing Operator: "Nevertheless sir, if the bill is not paid we will be forced to send you to collection." Adam Ries: "Ok, ok, look; twas mine nephew that has thou jerky handedness in this matter. I can remit to thee the $5.99 but tis the 450 years in late fees that doth worry me." "The poor dog, in life the firmest friend. The first to welcome, foremost to defend." [ + quote]
dbminter (Member) 25 March 2009 18:49
Didn't the RIAA already try suing the dead in the form of a dead grandmother? This licensing fee for radio and TV guy is unique, though. Next, the RIAA will really try it. After all, they've already tried suing a printer port. So, why not sue the deceased? [ + quote]