TV Licence dilemna

[Muffin`]

Why should we pay Extortionate fees to pay newsreaders on the Beeb around 500k a year for sitting behind a desk reading bits of paper

TV licensing fees are an abomination that the general public should not be Bullied & blackmailed into paying.
Pay the people that work at the BBC a Normal wage & reduce the fee to a reasonable amount. Also try putting something on the Beeb that i actually want to watch.

There's nothing really wrong with that, they want the best News readers, which they have. What isn't fair but again not exactly workable is paying for the BBC, when I don't want to watch it.

 

[Skeeter]

Actually, you are allowed to have a TV specifically for the use of a games console but you must declare it in advance.

This is exactly what my parents friends have done. and to declaire, they had to pay £70 to have the tuner removed.

There appears to be some comfusion as to when you should have a TV lisence, and when you will get away without having one.

Basically, if you posess any item that has the ability to recieve broadcast signals from the UK then you must have a lisence. Unplugging or not having an aerial doesnt count, as you can buy items to rectify this without any need for a TV license check. If you buy any item capable of reciving signal (be it TV, Freeview box, PC card, etc) then strictly speaking the retailer (were not talking OEM here) should conduct a check that ensures you are in possession of a TV licence at the premisis in which you intend to use the devise. In a perfect world you wouldnt be able to purchase a TV or TV devise without having a TV license.

If were talking about actually getting caught, then thats a different story. But if they can prove you own and use a TV capable of reciving UK signal for any purpose then you can be fined. But as said, getting that proof is often so difficult they normally use a scare tactic to get people to own up and pay. I used a TV in my Uni flat for the entire first year without a lisence.

 

[4T5]

If were talking about actually getting caught, then thats a different story. But if they can prove you own and use a TV capable of receiving UK signal for any purpose then you can be fined. But as said, getting that proof is often so difficult they normally use a scare tactic to get people to own up and pay. I used a TV in my Uni flat for the entire first year without a licence.

Can't go with what else you posted but Yes the above is true.
They rely on ignorance to get a prosecution, They bully people into buying something they don't necessarily want.
I should be able to make the choice whether i buy the license or not on whether i watch BBC or not & not because they decide i Have to have one.
It is ridiculous to me that we finance the BBC when All other channels have to finance themselves. It was different years ago when set up but exactly what percentage of channels is actually Beeb now.

I should say that Disconnecting your Aeriel/Cable from your TV is enough. It should be as i was only informed this yesterday by the Licensing people themselves
I am speaking from Actual experience here by the way

 

[squawkBOX]

Actually, you are allowed to have a TV specifically for the use of a games console but you must declare it in advance.

Government says otherwise:

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2006-05-15c.69812.h#g69812.r0

Written answers
Monday, 15 May 2006

Adam Holloway (Gravesham, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether those who do not have a television set are required to inform Television Licensing that they do not require a TV licence.

Response:

A television licence is required to install or use a television receiver, as defined in regulations made by the Secretary of State, rather than a television set. Members of the public who do not require a television licence are under no obligation to inform TV Licensing of the fact.

 

[Muffin`]

This is exactly what my parents friends have done. and to declaire, they had to pay £70 to have the tuner removed.

There appears to be some comfusion as to when you should have a TV lisence, and when you will get away without having one.

Basically, if you posess any item that has the ability to recieve broadcast signals from the UK then you must have a lisence. Unplugging or not having an aerial doesnt count, as you can buy items to rectify this without any need for a TV license check. If you buy any item capable of reciving signal (be it TV, Freeview box, PC card, etc) then strictly speaking the retailer (were not talking OEM here) should conduct a check that ensures you are in possession of a TV licence at the premisis in which you intend to use the devise. In a perfect world you wouldnt be able to purchase a TV or TV devise without having a TV license.

Do I need a TV Licence?

You need a TV Licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, digital box, DVD or video recorder, PC, laptop or mobile phone to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV.

They were had, good and proper.

 

[iamdjdz]

I was annoyed as the TV license man came to our house at uni and asked to come in as he could 'hear' a TV. I didn't let him in because I was the only one in and I didn't really know what to do. The TV asn't on in the house, but next door's was and I told him that we didn't have one but they did. Anyway a couple of weeks after the 4 of us decided to buy a license anyway.

 

[Skeeter]

Ok, to keep this thread on some form of track, to the OP:

If you own and use both a TV and Freeview box in your house then you are legally required to have a TV license. Wether you get one or not is your own choice, and the chance of getting caught and prosecuted appear to be slim.

 

[iamdjdz]

They were had, good and proper.

With the mobile phone and possibly laptop ones, they are covered by a parent's TV licence if used without connecting them to the mains power in say a uni house. Just thought I'd add this. They do however still need a license at sojme stage.

 

[Skeeter]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/docs/finance/licence_fee/TVLicencing.pdf

Interesting read. a TV licence is required for ALL Broadcast services. Its not just BBC. It covers the legal entitlement to recieve broadcast information, including BBC, ITV, Chanel 4, Channel 5, Freview and Sky/Cable.

The wording is such that you must have a license if you install, use ir intend to use a reciever. At the end of tha day the arguement would come down to your word saying "i never intend to use it to watch TV" and the Government saying "you have the full ability to, theres no way to ensure you dont". Whereas removing the reciever effectively removes the need for a licences outright and would allow you to be removed from the government check lists for at least 3 years.

Also, its an offence to know about someone using a TV without a licence, so in theory, when laissez-faire's runs out in a couple of weeks, we will all be breaking the law.

 

[Tee Hee Johnson]

I really dislike this whole TV license thing

Me and my ex were constantly hounded by them for not having one... she wrote, emailed and everything, but they still pestered us!

Never once used the TV for watching Terrestrial stuff...! Had 2 Tvs one was used for watchin videos and the other was used for DVDs... the signal was too bad to even consider watchin terrestrial stuff lol!

Wrote and spoke to them countless times, didnt stop the hassle... just ignored them after a few months!

 

[Skeeter]

I really dislike this whole TV license thing

Me and my ex were constantly hounded by them for not having one... she wrote, emailed and everything, but they still pestered us!

Never once used the TV for watching Terrestrial stuff...! Had 2 Tvs one was used for watchin videos and the other was used for DVDs... the signal was too bad to even consider watchin terrestrial stuff lol!

Wrote and spoke to them countless times, didnt stop the hassle... just ignored them after a few months!

Think about it, you have the equipment and ability to watch TV. They arent just going to take your word for it and drop it are they...? If they did that, everybody would just say they didnt watch TV and nobody would pay for a license.

 

[4T5]

If they did that, everybody would just say they didn't watch TV and nobody would pay for a license.

Which in my opinion is Exactly what people should be doing.
Name any other organisation that would get away with demanding there fees in the same way & be backed by the Government, It Stinks.

Them ******* with me did me a favour, It gave me the Hump enough to not switch the box on for a few days. After a few days i realised i don't even watch the crap that's on anyways
They need our money More than we need them so ****'em i say.

 

[Muffin`]

The wording is such that you must have a license if you install, use ir intend to use a reciever. At the end of tha day the arguement would come down to your word saying "i never intend to use it to watch TV" and the Government saying "you have the full ability to, theres no way to ensure you dont". Whereas removing the reciever effectively removes the need for a licences outright and would allow you to be removed from the government check lists for at least 3 years.

The Gov are not going to charge you to strip an areial out of a 14 inch portable whilst you go on Holiday for 6 months. Nor are they going to offer to foot the bill.

 

[Muffin`]

Think about it, you have the equipment and ability to watch TV.

And according to the legislation it is legal to own said equipment, but it is not legal to watch a broadcast on said device using a reciving device without purchasing a license.

They arent just going to take your word for it and drop it are they...?

It's a huge automated service, they send out one to every address without a license and sometimes to propertys with licesnse, because its automated, and makes mistakes.

If they did that, everybody would just say they didnt watch TV and nobody would pay for a license.

Fortunatly most people are honest and know that they should pay for it, the thick ones crack under the pressure of some bloke with a clip board saying they are going to get a 1k fine, CCJ's and whever wlese he has seen in a leaflet.

 

[Skeeter]

Name any other organisation that would get away with demanding there fees in the same way & be backed by the Government

Pretty much anything that requires a license. Guns/Driving/Flying etc...

"Ive Done It" is not an argument that said 'done' thing is infact correct and legal.

 

[Mr.Clark]

Do I need a TV Licence?

You need a TV Licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, digital box, DVD or video recorder, PC, laptop or mobile phone to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV.

Ah, that's finally confirmed that you don't need a licence to watch stuff on BBC iPlayer.

Many thanks for that

 

[Muffin`]

Ah, that's finally confirmed that you don't need a licence to watch stuff on BBC iPlayer.

Many thanks for that

Aye as it's not beeing broadcast, it's being played

 

[Shoseki]

Well, I don't have a tv licence or a tv, but that didn't stop me being harassed night and day. So in the end, I decided to get (alpha) back, I rang up the licencing office and

1) Demanded they record the call
2) Demand an agent come around to my house to confirm my lack of television and
3) Demand they stop harassing me.

They pretty much sent me an apology letter and quit bothering me. Good riddance to bad rubbish! Its not like my TV licence is reducing the price of my BBC DVDS!

EDIT : And, there are good reasons they don't make "Shuffle around in your attic for old crap to sell" on DVD - because no-one would buy it! Same reason for half the shows!

 

[Azagoth]

Don't bother with a licence at all. I've never bothered to pay the TV Tax at all, and yet to this day have had zero contact from these so called "enforcers"!

 

[Energize]

They pretty much sent me an apology letter and quit bothering me. Good riddance to bad rubbish! Its not like my TV licence is reducing the price of my BBC DVDS!

BBC dvds should be almost free. The production of the footage has already been paid for by the tv license when it is broadcast. It's a disgrace they are then trying to make huge amounts of profit from the dvd sales.