BBC License fee

arfur · 10 Jun 2009 at 11:35

a thought just crossed my mind, if I keep getting taken to the cleaners by the BBC for my annual license, (yes I know it includes, TV, radio, websites etc) how do the BBC plan on forcing non-payers from around the world to pay their share?

It seems unfair that we get stung by the monopoly of the BBC but anywhere else in the world you can access the website, bbc radio, bbc world TV, iplayer etc..

just the moan of the day,,

Jez · 10 Jun 2009 at 11:40

Beast way to deal with this is to realise that technically the BBC has nothing to do with it, its a license required to operate equipment which receives broadcasts in the UK. Ie, a tax.

Burnsy2023 · 10 Jun 2009 at 11:40

BBC world isn't funded by the licence fee. It's paid by our taxes.

Ucof · 10 Jun 2009 at 11:41

You cant access iplayer from overseas.
The licence doesnt cover radio and website. You don't need a licence for those.

BBC world service (and BBC website) is the only media the BBC does that is available everywhere at the same time.

semi-pro waster · 10 Jun 2009 at 11:42

I don't think you do get unlimited access, certainly for a while BBC iPlayer was not available to those overseas. The BBC World Service is funded by a grant by the Foreign & Colonial Office rather than more directly from your licence fee so you don't have a big reason for complaint.

Doonhamer · 10 Jun 2009 at 11:44

You don't pay a BBC license fee though. :confused:

Jonny · 10 Jun 2009 at 11:46

IIRC you can't access the Iplayer from outside the UK (although I'm not sure on this).

If you do a search on the boards there are numerous threads about TV licences and whether it is awaste of money etc. I haven't thrown my 2pence in to any of them but as you have brought it up I may as well have a little moan.

I have no objections paying the TV licence as I think the BBC as a whole is a national treasure, but what i do object to is their gung-ho approach to collecting revenue. I am moving out of my house soon and back to my Mum's, as she has a TV licence already I applied for a refund on mine. The refund application form asked me to prove that I no longer had any equipment capable of receiving a tv signal, I wrote a cover letter explaining that I had sold my telly but wasn't sure how I could prove it.

Several days later, without as much fuss as I had expected, I received a refund of roughly £80 which I was quite pleased with. However, I have since received 3 separate letters reminding me that I need a tv licence if I plan on watching tv in my house and another letter asking for my cooperation when they send their inspectors to my house to check that I have no TV equipment! For the record, other than access to the iPlayer I have no way of watching the BBC and as I don't watch it live I have no plans to purchase a licence or let them in to my house for the short time I have left here.

Rant over

drizzy · 10 Jun 2009 at 11:48

The licence fee is essentially a regressive tax. I don't see why it can't instead be funded through existing taxes, like the ABC in Australia.

Doonhamer · 10 Jun 2009 at 11:50

drizzy said:
The licence fee is essentially a regressive tax. I don't see why it can't instead be funded through existing taxes, like the ABC in Australia.

What would that change though. You would still require a license.

POB · 10 Jun 2009 at 11:50

Outside the UK, the website has advertising on.

The BBC sell programs to other countries.

The rest of the world for the most part pays to access BBC services.

arfur · 10 Jun 2009 at 11:57

If I want Sky movies I pay for them, if I dont pay I dont see them. With the change to digital surely this is the time for the goverment and BBC to sort it out.

Its like everycar in the UK being forced to have road tax, even if its off the road or in a museum.

FrostedNipple · 10 Jun 2009 at 11:57

No such thing as a BBC License fee. If the BBC disappeared over night you would still have to pay your TV License.

Hatter The Mad · 10 Jun 2009 at 11:58

Burnsy2023 said:
BBC world isn't funded by the licence fee. It's paid by our taxes.

And BBC International advertising revenue.

arfur · 10 Jun 2009 at 11:58

FrostedNipple said:
No such thing as a BBC License fee. If the BBC disappeared over night you would still have to pay your TV License.

if thats the case then why does the BBC keep approaching the goverment to increase the license fee?

Burnsy2023 · 10 Jun 2009 at 12:01

semi-pro waster said:
The BBC World Service is funded by a grant by the Foreign & Colonial Office rather than more directly from your licence fee so you don't have a big reason for complaint.

Showing your age a bit there mate, it's called the Foreign and Commonweath Office now

drizzy · 10 Jun 2009 at 12:04

Doonhamer said:
What would that change though. You would still require a license.

Why? Scrap the licence fee and licence, fund it through existing taxes. No more costs for enforcing the licence, and arguably fairer than Jim on £10k a year paying 1.5% of his salary to the BBC vs Betty on £100k paying 0.15%.

semi-pro waster · 10 Jun 2009 at 12:05

Burnsy2023 said:
Showing your age a bit there mate, it's called the Foreign and Commonweath Office now

Haha, I even looked at the name before I typed it and still made the mistake. My only excuse is that up until recently I've been dealing with F&C (Foreign & Colonial) at work.

Steve2000 · 10 Jun 2009 at 12:11

Jonny said:
Several days later, without as much fuss as I had expected, I received a refund of roughly £80 which I was quite pleased with. However, I have since received 3 separate letters reminding me that I need a tv licence if I plan on watching tv in my house and another letter asking for my cooperation when they send their inspectors to my house to check that I have no TV equipment! For the record, other than access to the iPlayer I have no way of watching the BBC and as I don't watch it live I have no plans to purchase a licence or let them in to my house for the short time I have left here.

Rant over

They do not send inspectors round, they are full of ****. It's just scare tactics to intimidate people into paying up for something they do not want.

arfur · 10 Jun 2009 at 12:22

Steve2000 said:
They do not send inspectors round, they are full of ****. It's just scare tactics to intimidate people into paying up for something they do not want.

they probably dont need inspectors, with most of the country having TV's or TV enabled PC's they only have to look at who hasnt paid and then chase them up. What would happen if you told them you didnt have a TV (which may be true) but a PC with either internet access or USB TV receiver?

Jez · 10 Jun 2009 at 12:23

Steve2000 said:
They do not send inspectors round, they are full of ****. It's just scare tactics to intimidate people into paying up for something they do not want.

Indeed, i have never responded to TV licensing letters, yet to see an inspector even though i have had for months on end big wording saying that i am being investigated. :rolleyes: