Edmonds begins TV licence boycott

Brain

Brain

Brain

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I just saw this on the BBC news website.

"Edmonds begins TV licence boycott"

OK I thought, its someone else objecting to paying the license....

But have a listen - it very short. BUT I totally agree.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7613938.stm

I don't have a TV, bizarre as it may sound. I have ample choice and in no way have any hardware that requires a TV license. But Edmonds makes a point...we are sort of accused of criminality and 'watched' as it were in a sense that is very obtrusive and in your face, and in such an uncouth manner.

OK, not TV here, fine....but it doesn't stop the letters coming in like clockwork once a month basically stating that I need to buy a license or "YOU WILL BE PROSECUTED". I mean - come on. I have never seen such accusatory correspondence from a public country wide government body like this.

Actually any letter that comes though NEVER has anything in the main body that is of a normal tone: "If you require a license then please pay..."....nope....it's "You do not have a licenses, we are watching, pay now or we will prosicute and SEARCH your home".

Only in the small insignificant print will it tell you what to do if you have no license. Oh yeah - they make that obscenely difficult to. They expect me to write a letter (!!!!!) to tell them that I do not have TV. Bloody hell, write a letter? It's easy if I want to pay....they have a million and one ways i can do that no problem. Phone then, email them, go to their website etc etc. But, sorry, if you want to cancel....you'll have to prove it by writing a letter!

Utter Schiesse

Forgive the exclamation...but being someone who genuinely does not require a license. I'm insulted.
 
I had many letters like that which went on to say I am now under investigation and that people will be round to search my house. Although they then said I can just ring up and tell them I don't have a TV and they will drop the investigation. :-/
 
Buy a black and white license for almost £100 less, and if an enforcer ever breaks into your house make sure you turn the saturation down and simply say you're colour-blind, and therefore don't need the colour.

Money saved, legalities avoided... :p
 
I can afford the fine too - but its annoying. Btw, they don't usually say that you can call them. You have to wait for many a threatening letter before you get to that stage...
 
RandomTom said:
Buy a black and white license for almost £100 less, and if an enforcer ever breaks into your house make sure you turn the saturation down and simply say you're colour-blind, and therefore don't need the colour.

Money saved, legalities avoided... :p
Click to expand...

Hehe, it would be funny sitting there in my Lay Z boy, popcorn in hand 52" plasma 7.1 sound with the colour turned down. "its black and white mate "
 
I maybe wrong here - but I'm sure if you buy a new television the shop is required by law to pass your details onto the licence department and they'll check and make sure you actually have one :eek:

Please feel free to correct me if i am wrong people?

I've recently purchased my new 40" HD television (in my name) and the licence detector bloke turned up on our door step as I dont have a television licence (because it's in the wife's name)

Showed him the licence and he was happy enough - but you really have to wonder eh?

Big brother is watching you :(
 
Thank goodness I never have had the inclination to buy anyone a TV as a present!

I have a projector for DVDs and computer and downloaded material (all encompassing). I don't think they took my details for that...well if they did...I moved since I got it.

Still - I think most would agree - that if one were not to pay for legit reasons....you are badgered.
 
Sonea Fifer said:
I maybe wrong here - but I'm sure if you buy a new television the shop is required by law to pass your details onto the licence department and they'll check and make sure you actually have one :eek:

Please feel free to correct me if i am wrong people?

I've recently purchased my new 40" HD television (in my name) and the licence detector bloke turned up on our door step as I dont have a television licence (because it's in the wife's name)

Showed him the licence and he was happy enough - but you really have to wonder eh?

Big brother is watching you :(
Click to expand...

Dont need a license to have a TV

Also by all rights you can just tell them to go away as they hve no right to see anything or enter your home.

I removed one guy from our garden because he kept saying he would send us a fine as we have a sat. dish (prev tenants at the time)
 
well you do kinda....most TV's/accessories have decoding equipment capable of decoding live television broadcasts (which is what you need the license for)....but some don't, so we'd need to know what kit you've got :)
 
Brain said:
well you do kinda....most TV's/accessories have decoding equipment capable of decoding live television broadcasts (which is what you need the license for)....but some don't, so we'd need to know what kit you've got :)
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No you don't need a license if you have decoding equipment.

Even if I was using the sat dish they still had at the time no legal right to enter the property
 
You know after reading this I may join edmonds in his ideas.

JUST because you own a TV DOES NOT MEAN YOU NEED A TV license! - you can use them for plenty of other things.

I NEVER watch BBC programmes any more, like one so far this entire year, 99.9% of the time I use my HDTV for xbox or dvds/hd-dvd, simply because all programmes on now are rubbish, so I watch the good stuff thats now out on dvd.


So where do I stand with this folks? Can I cancel as I never watch telly ?
 
but you can get BBC over Sat....they've got you there. Its in writing somewhere I believe.

basically its anything that can decode live TV signals...
 
Brain said:
but you can get BBC over Sat....they've got you there. Its in writing somewhere I believe.

basically its anything that can decode live TV signals...
Click to expand...

It's only if it is used to decode tv channels, if it isn't you do not have to pay.

If the inspectors turn up on your doorstep, tell them to go away; they cannot enter your home without a warrent.
 
No it's anything that actually IS being used to decode signals.

You can have a brand new 50" plasma with built in freeview, but if it's not hooked up to an arial you don't need a licence.
 
Yeah I don't have sat, like I say......I never watch TV, and if on the very rare occasion I do (basically the only thing I watch is horizon/documentaries) .........there on bbc iplayer/s4c now, as long as I watch it AFTER the broadcast time, then im legal, by jove, what a waste of money iv been doing paying for a tv lisence, ill cancel monday.
 
iPlayer does not require a license by any means - I checked.

It's all a farce to make you feel that you have to pay. The aggression is a tactic to make you doubt and therefore make you pay.
 
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