No Escape From The NHK Man?

[GomiGirl]

Are NHK collectors the parking inspector pariahsof Japan?

Do you wonder if they ever pretend to have a different job so that they will have friends or their kids won't be bullied at school?

Or do they choose to become NHK collectors as they are inherently cunts and the job suits them?

[Mike Oxlong]

Are NHK collectors the parking inspector pariahsof Japan?

Do you wonder if they ever pretend to have a different job so that they will have friends or their kids won't be bullied at school?

Or do they choose to become NHK collectors as they are inherently cunts and the job suits them?

I strongly suspect the "inherent" option to be correct.

[Taro Toporific]

...do they choose to become NHK collectors as they are inherently cunts and the job suits them?

Don't tell CJ, but according to my friends inside the organization, NHK collectors come from three groups:

--A smallish group of Shinjin/new hires who have to do at least 6 months of collecting as a kind of initiation/hazing.

---A few are failed mid-carrier NHK drones who are being punished.

--The majority are "pros" who enjoy their collecting work. Many are collecting as a second "part-time career" after "retirement" (forced early retirement).

My young NHK friends say that the "subcontractors" and "retired" part-timers are responsible for 90% of all the NHK subscriptions extorted.

Can NHK justify its huge collection costs?
japantimes.co.jp -- 2006/08/01
...5700 external “NHK collectors” -- who conduct the door to door operations -- and various companies to perform the fee collection task. The collectors’ average yearly wage is approximately 5 million yen, although this can vary widely according to individual achievement.
Now, with respect to the hardy souls that perform this task, 5 million yen is an exceptional salary for this type of {unskilled, shit} job.
More...

[chibaka]

Been in this house 7 years and finally the evil NHK man caught me this morning as I pulled up outside. A few "sorry wakarimasen" replies to whatever he said and off he went with his tail between his legs. I'm sure he'll be back some day.......

[wangta]

What I don't understand is how some of you have allowed yourself to be tricked into paying NHK. For example Wibble - why the hell would you pay it just because some dropkick who in all likelihood thinks gaijin aren't equal to the natives is snivelling in your genkan? That's just weird - it would make me tell him to get the fuck away from me and stop harassing me right now.

But I would never let these people into my genkan in the first place. I paid it the first time I lived in Japan, hardly ever watched the shitty channel for the yrs I was here then but had a polite relationship with the NHK collector who was a nice man and not at all pushy the first time he asked me to sign up. But what I'm reading here is really plumbing the depths.

It should make people do the opposite of what these privacy invaders are telling them to do. I don't have a tv but regularly receive demands by post for the last gaijin who lived in my apato. The bills keep piling up and I will dump them in the post box when I leave this place - more than 6 months to go now and they're going to be the longest months of my life, oddball, rude boss and loser fellow gaijin who are still teaching kindie and older kids kids the Hello Song after a combined 18 yrs or so in Japan while working for a freak.

I have heard the NHK people and completely ignore them. They can't enter my place and they won't be. It's not really secure but the simple answer is, don't answer, don't communicate. I've seen an NHK person hanging around the neighbourhood and when they started to follow me as I exited the stairwell I just completely ignored them and did what I was told yrs ago by my Mum - Don't Talk To Strangers.

You don't have to reply, just ignore them.

[omae mona]

I wasn't tricked. We actually watch it, so agreed to pay. Their 4 channels have some good programming (as well as bad). If this were a free marketplace and it was something like an optional premium cable or satellite package like WoWoW, I don't think I'd subscribe at this price (fer f***'s sake, it's about 2400 yen per month including BS). I think at half the price, I'd be a voluntary subscriber.

Their programming is WAY better than the crap on the regular TV channels, on average, IMO.

P.S. this does not, in any way, mean I am in agreement with the laws that make this compulsory.

[Yokohammer]

I think this might have been mentioned before, but just to recap:

* If you have the receiving equipment you're supposed to enter into a contract with NHK, but at present there are no legally defined penalties for not doing so. They can't force you sign the contract.

* If you do enter into that contract NHK have you by the short hairs. You are legally bound to pay and can be penalized if you don't.

Kind of a weird situation, and it seems to me that it's just inviting trouble. Either by design or through clusterfuck-incompetence the system contains a huge honking loophole.

One more thing: apparently some of these contract thugs are claiming that because TV is now digital they somehow know that you have a TV. This is bullshit. NHK don't know, and their thugs don't know (unless you have the TV blaring away and they can hear it).

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

One more thing: apparently some of these contract thugs are claiming that because TV is now digital they somehow know that you have a TV. This is bullshit. NHK don't know, and their thugs don't know (unless you have the TV blaring away and they can hear it).

The cable stations restrict their pay for play stations, why don't NHK? Now with digital it would be even easier.

[Yokohammer]

One more thing: apparently some of these contract thugs are claiming that because TV is now digital they somehow know that you have a TV. This is bullshit. NHK don't know, and their thugs don't know (unless you have the TV blaring away and they can hear it).

The cable stations restrict their pay for play stations, why don't NHK? Now with digital it would be even easier.

NHK do place a big black blotch on their BS programming at regular intervals ... something like 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off ... with a message asking you to contact them and either a) give them you details if you already have a contract, or b) enter into a contract.

Some people assume that this means that they know you don't have a contract, but it works like this:

Your digital TV has a "B-CAS" card in it, in a slot in the back of the TV usually. The B-CAS card is supplied with your TV. 1-seg receiving devices do not have or need a B-CAS card. Each B-CAS card has a unique registration number that you can display on your TV screen (read the manual). When you call NHK to get them to remove the blotch they confirm that you have a contract and ask for your B-CAS number. They then transmit (broadcast ... they can't transmit only to your TV) an unlock code for your specific card, and you are then blotch-free. If you don't pay they can lock it again, I think.

The point is that your TV does not transmit any data to NHK at any time. It only receives.

EDIT: Of course some scoundrels have already been caught selling counterfeit unlocked B-CAS cards ... it was only a matter of time.

[Russell]

One more thing: apparently some of these contract thugs are claiming that because TV is now digital they somehow know that you have a TV. This is bullshit. NHK don't know, and their thugs don't know (unless you have the TV blaring away and they can hear it).

The cable stations restrict their pay for play stations, why don't NHK? Now with digital it would be even easier.

NHK do place a big black blotch on their BS programming at regular intervals ... something like 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off ... with a message asking you to contact them and either a) give them you details if you already have a contract, or b) enter into a contract.

Some people assume that this means that they know you don't have a contract, but it works like this:

Your digital TV has a "B-CAS" card in it, in a slot in the back of the TV usually. The B-CAS card is supplied with your TV. 1-seg receiving devices do not have or need a B-CAS card. Each B-CAS card has a unique registration number that you can display on your TV screen (read the manual). When you call NHK to get them to remove the blotch they confirm that you have a contract and ask for your B-CAS number. They then transmit (broadcast ... they can't transmit only to your TV) an unlock code for your specific card, and you are then blotch-free. If you don't pay they can lock it again, I think.

The point is that your TV does not transmit any data to NHK at any time. It only receives.

EDIT: Of course some scoundrels have already been caught selling counterfeit unlocked B-CAS cards ... it was only a matter of time.

Yokohammer, two questions.

1. If you change your lifestyle and throw out your TV, how can you legally get out of your NHK contract? Just call and tell them you want to finish it?

2. Do these counterfeit unlocked B-CAS cards work?

[wagyl]

1. If you change your lifestyle and throw out your TV, how can you legally get out of your NHK contract? Just call and tell them you want to finish it?

I recall that there were reports that a substantial number of people had contacted NHK to end their contracts with the end of analog broadcast, saying that they no longer had equipment capable of receiving broadcast.

[Yokohammer]

But ... just working from memory here, but I seem to remember something about a case where a guy actually got rid of his TV, contacted NHK to end the contract, and was then sued by NHK for non-payment.

Can't remember the details. Some research might be in order, but I don't have the time right now, so if anyone want to do a little digging ...

EDIT: In answer to question no. 2 from Russell, I guess they work because a bunch of people got arrested (although that's not very secure reasoning, I'll admit). No personal experience though.

[wuchan]

One more thing: apparently some of these contract thugs are claiming that because TV is now digital they somehow know that you have a TV. This is bullshit. NHK don't know, and their thugs don't know (unless you have the TV blaring away and they can hear it).

The cable stations restrict their pay for play stations, why don't NHK? Now with digital it would be even easier.

NHK do place a big black blotch on their BS programming at regular intervals ... something like 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off ... with a message asking you to contact them and either a) give them you details if you already have a contract, or b) enter into a contract.

Some people assume that this means that they know you don't have a contract, but it works like this:

Your digital TV has a "B-CAS" card in it, in a slot in the back of the TV usually. The B-CAS card is supplied with your TV. 1-seg receiving devices do not have or need a B-CAS card. Each B-CAS card has a unique registration number that you can display on your TV screen (read the manual). When you call NHK to get them to remove the blotch they confirm that you have a contract and ask for your B-CAS number. They then transmit (broadcast ... they can't transmit only to your TV) an unlock code for your specific card, and you are then blotch-free. If you don't pay they can lock it again, I think.

The point is that your TV does not transmit any data to NHK at any time. It only receives.

EDIT: Of course some scoundrels have already been caught selling counterfeit unlocked B-CAS cards ... it was only a matter of time.

Yokohammer, two questions.

1. If you change your lifestyle and throw out your TV, how can you legally get out of your NHK contract? Just call and tell them you want to finish it?

2. Do these counterfeit unlocked B-CAS cards work?

NHK is based on the same ideas as the BBC but due to the american style laws here in Japan (no taxation without representation) they need to get you to sign a contract. Once signed you must pay.... for life. There is no easy way to terminate. You could sue but the cost would be more than a lifetime of NHK payments. The best way is to never sign.

Answer to #2: yes. check nichan if you want one.

[wangta]

But ... just working from memory here, but I seem to remember something about a case where a guy actually got rid of his TV, contacted NHK to end the contract, and was then sued by NHK for non-payment.

Can't remember the details. Some research might be in order, but I don't have the time right now, so if anyone want to do a little digging ...

EDIT: In answer to question no. 2 from Russell, I guess they work because a bunch of people got arrested (although that's not very secure reasoning, I'll admit). No personal experience though.

The NHK people in his area must have been a real bunch of cunts. I know times have changed since my first time in Japan but 7 months before I left I got rid of my tv. I sent a letter to the NHK office in my city stating that I no longer had a tv, the NHK collector came around with a piece of paper to sign stating that I did not have a tv and after that I did not pay the fee.

Just out of politeness because he was the second collector I had and he was decent like the first one, I invited him into my place to show him there was no tv. He thanked me and went and never came around to collect the fee for the rest of the time I was in Japan tho I would see him doing the neighbourhood rounds and waved to him.

[Russell]

Knitting live on TV for 5 hours

In its latest experiment with live coverage of mundane events, Norway's public broadcasting network plans to dedicate five hours of air-time to an attempt to break the knitting world record.

The NRK network says the Nov. 1 broadcast will be preceded by a four-hour documentary on how the wool off a sheep's back turns into a sweater.

NRK producer Rune Moeklebust said Friday that "it's kind of ordinary TV but very slow, although they'll be knitting as fast as they can."

The Norwegians hope to break the current non-stop knitting record of 4 hours 50 minutes, held by Australia.

Live TV in Norway has already enticed viewers with minute-by-minute salmon fishing, a five-day broadcast from a cruise-ship, and several hours of watching a fire burn itself out.

Not trying to give NHK any ideas...

[Taro Toporific]

NHK mulled compulsory fees including households without TVs
Mainichi News | 2013Dec03
Senior NHK officials suggested collecting broadcasting fees from all households, even if they didn't have a TV, in response to calls earlier this year for revisions to the fee system...NHK's Board of Governors filed a written request to the broadcaster's management in February, seeking a revision to the fee system, including the possibility of compulsory fees...
...two approaches: immediately introducing compulsory payments; and increasing the payment rate under the current system, then making payments compulsory later when the broadcaster could not make any further efforts due to consumer price increases and a decline in household numbers...more...

NHK-evil-HQ.jpg

http://mainichi.jp/select/news/20131203k0000m040166000c.html (in Japanese)

[Coligny]

With all those new censorship laws, they will need a bigger budget to pay for more made up happy fluffy news writers.

Make cense... Porpraganda ain't come for cheap. Works of fiction cost more than reporting random shits happening...

[matsuki]

Got a really shady lookin' guy at my door on sat...and no, it wasn't IPU. Dude was carrying the same electronic data recorder the last NHK guy had last year and I just so happened to be blaring English TV so I figure it was NHK's plan b to try to get some money from me. Dude was really persistent too...after I pulled the batteries out of the door bell he started knocking, and with the sumimasen! gomen kudasai etc. for a good 10 minutes. Lately I'm getting enough packages to rival Coligny so I dread the day the guy shows up with the takyubin dude. With all the stories of these guys trying to force their way into apartments, how much of a beating can I give this guy without getting arrested? In all likelihood, he'll go down half a flight of stairs at the very least.

[Coligny]

Weaponized synthetic vomit might make for a good tool to repell these invasion...

Good plausible deniability of wrongfull intent...

Cheap...

High hit-to-kill ratio...

[matsuki]

Weaponized synthetic vomit might make for a good tool to repell these invasion...

Good plausible deniability of wrongfull intent...

Cheap...

High hit-to-kill ratio...

IPU is working on that right now...he's incubating some really nasty virii but hasn't yet told me how that biological worked on the ex

[wuchan]

If it's during the day a boat horn could be your non lethal weapon of choice. As long as no one files a complaint with the local koban, you are in the clear. If you only do it once, in his face, most people wouldn't report it. He might but you have to remember HE DOES NOT WORK FOR NHK. He works for a company that NHK subcontracts collection duties to. He also works on comission. The likelihood of him going to the cops is very low.

I haven't seen the NHK man or the cops since 2009 and my (unintentional) method was much worse than a boat horn.

[matsuki]

Do they make realistic airsoft shotguns??

[Yokohammer]

Just remember that those assholes guys have no real authority. They'll try to browbeat you with talk about "the law" and all (which is technically correct), but they do not have the authority to enter your home or force you to sign a contract. You're not even obliged to answer questions.

Not engaging them at all is, in my personal opinion, the best approach. However, if one of those assholes ... durn it, I mean "guys" starts pounding on your door for inordinately long periods or showing up at unreasonable hours, I'd have my little IC recorder behind the door recording the whole thing and hoping the bastard guy keeps it up for as long as possible.

[Coligny]

Do they make realistic airsoft shotguns??

As well as AK47, french Famas, desert eagle, sig sauer and the amerikun lowest bidder junk...
Seems like airsoft people are a subset of plamodel peoples... Pretty sure that at least for the Tokyo Marui brand the accessories of the real stuff can be used with the airsoft replicas...

[Coligny]

Just remember that those assholes guys have no real authority. They'll try to browbeat you with talk about "the law" and all (which is technically correct), but they do not have the authority to enter your home or force you to sign a contract. You're not even obliged to answer questions.

Not engaging them at all is, in my personal opinion, the best approach. However, if one of those assholes ... durn it, I mean "guys" starts pounding on your door for inordinately long periods or showing up at unreasonable hours, I'd have my little IC recorder behind the door recording the whole thing and hoping the bastard guy keeps it up for as long as possible.

Disclaimer... They went after Hammerman's daughter, so it's a bit open season all year round for the NHK people in Miyagi...

[Yokohammer]

Just remember that those assholes guys have no real authority. They'll try to browbeat you with talk about "the law" and all (which is technically correct), but they do not have the authority to enter your home or force you to sign a contract. You're not even obliged to answer questions.

Not engaging them at all is, in my personal opinion, the best approach. However, if one of those assholes ... durn it, I mean "guys" starts pounding on your door for inordinately long periods or showing up at unreasonable hours, I'd have my little IC recorder behind the door recording the whole thing and hoping the bastard guy keeps it up for as long as possible.

Disclaimer... They went after Hammerman's daughter, so it's a bit open season all year round for the NHK people in Miyagi...

You mean Canman, right?
I sure hope so, because if I have a daughter I'd like to know about it.

[matsuki]

Do they make realistic airsoft shotguns??

As well as AK47, french Famas, desert eagle, sig sauer and the amerikun lowest bidder junk...
Seems like airsoft people are a subset of plamodel peoples... Pretty sure that at least for the Tokyo Marui brand the accessories of the real stuff can be used with the airsoft replicas...

Whatever looks most believable in a FG's hand...

Just remember that those assholes guys have no real authority. They'll try to browbeat you with talk about "the law" and all (which is technically correct), but they do not have the authority to enter your home or force you to sign a contract. You're not even obliged to answer questions.

Not engaging them at all is, in my personal opinion, the best approach. However, if one of those assholes ... durn it, I mean "guys" starts pounding on your door for inordinately long periods or showing up at unreasonable hours, I'd have my little IC recorder behind the door recording the whole thing and hoping the bastard guy keeps it up for as long as possible.

Disclaimer... They went after Hammerman's daughter, so it's a bit open season all year round for the NHK people in Miyagi...

The only time I had to speak with a guy, he was polite and it wasn't much of an issue....though I opened the door by mistake. Shut him down fast and he left without much hassle. When an asshole with an attitude comes around, I just worry about seriously kicking some ass if they get physical in any way....which includes trying to push their way in or even trying to throw their foot in the door when I close the door on him.

[Russell]

...if I have a daughter I'd like to know about it.

Dad?

[Yokohammer]

The only time I had to speak with a guy, he was polite and it wasn't much of an issue....though I opened the door by mistake. Shut him down fast and he left without much hassle. When an asshole with an attitude comes around, I just worry about seriously kicking some ass if they get physical in any way....which includes trying to push their way in or even trying to throw their foot in the door when I close the door on him.

No need to be overtly physical. Just stand on the guys foot with all your weight if he sticks it in the door. You couldn't have known his foot was there. (Old yak ... and police ... trick to hurt people without being culpable for violence).

[Yokohammer]

...if I have a daughter I'd like to know about it.

Dad?

I must have been really fucking drunk that night.