Man, dead since 1559, receives TV bill

Man, dead since 1559, receives TV bill
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."

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 14 Mar 2009 18:55
Advertisement - News comments available below the ad
  • 19 comments
  • NexGen76

    Lmao....Great story that's funny as hell

    14.3.2009 20:34 #1

  • khmernize

    What if people have the same name as the dead people?

    14.3.2009 21:32 #2

  • tyknappy

    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.

    14.3.2009 22:21 #3

  • kiwi1

    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.

    14.3.2009 22:33 #4

  • borhan9

    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.

    15.3.2009 05:04 #5

  • dcity

    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 ;)

    15.3.2009 07:54 #6

  • bankok

    I thought this could only happen in the UK!!! Seems like we're not alone.

    15.3.2009 08:39 #7

  • 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. =)

    15.3.2009 09:19 #8

  • kikzm33z

    :D
    Never knew something this stupid would happen in real life.

    15.3.2009 10:16 #9

  • Leningrad

    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"

    15.3.2009 17:50 #10

  • ZippyDSM

    The revenuers are coming to get you for your TV,radio and even print material!!!

    16.3.2009 03:56 #11

  • xtago

    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.

    16.3.2009 04:19 #12

  • mithu_120

    lmao...ahahaha this is one funny story

    16.3.2009 11:23 #13

  • IguanaC64

    I'm sure this is a German to English translation problem...but wtf are "TV licensing fees?" Is this a cable bill?

    20.3.2009 10:29 #14

  • Mez

    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.

    20.3.2009 10:39 #15

  • 7thsinger

    Well, there's my morning chuckle.

    20.3.2009 10:44 #16

  • Matt0401

    "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.

    20.3.2009 11:44 #17

  • RippDogg

    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."

    21.3.2009 03:38 #18

  • dbminter

    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?

    25.3.2009 18:49 #19

© 2024 AfterDawn Oy

Hosted by
Powered by UpCloud