TV Licence required because i have a computer?

[Fegruson]

Ring them up then seriously, they tell you right there that you need a license, they assume that if you have a piece of equipment that has a tuner inside capable of receiving a broadcast then you will use it to watch or record a live broadcast.

I cannot believe how many people are complaining about the "trash" on BBC, and thus they shouldn't have to pay the license. It doesn't all go to the BBC, some goes to Murdoch and co.

 

[mollymoo]

Jesus H Christ. If you really did/do work for them you have been told wrong.

I have a tv in my house.
My house has no aerial connection.
My house has no Sky dish or cable fitted.

I rang the TV Licensing people up and explained that I do not watch TV and do you know what they said?

"Okay, no problems, we may send round an inspector to check this."

And they do, but as with most things they have limited resources and tend to pick hotspots, areas with the most claims to not needing a license. They may well knock on your door yet. They also respond to people grassing people up.

 

[willhub]

I cannot believe how many people are complaining about the "trash" on BBC, and thus they shouldn't have to pay the license. It doesn't all go to the BBC, some goes to Murdoch and co.

£142 is a rip.

 

[Glaucus]

Yes you do, I used to work for them. You need a license if you have equipment in your home capable of receiving a broadcast regardless of whether you use it or not. If you don't use your T.V for watching T.V then it needs to have the tuner disabled to stop you requiring a license. Computers with a T.V card in them require a license, if you dont have one in then don't get a license.
The OP stated his friend at the same address has a license so he is covered anyway, they could build a house out of tele's and be covered.

Just utterly wrong. you do not need a license if you don't use. Unplug the cable and throw it away and detune everything, is sufficient for the TV licensing board.

You could easily borrow someone else's licence and get away with it because you have more than 1 device at that address.
!

one license, one login. Obviously you could give your login details to other people. But you can do that with any website. It's an easy solution if hey wanted to do it.

 

[Wossi]

And they do, but as with most things they have limited resources and tend to pick hotspots, areas with the most claims to not needing a license. They may well knock on your door yet. They also respond to people grassing people up.

They can come round and I'll happily let them in to prove I don't watch tv. There's nowt on tv worth watching so I didn't see the point in buying an aerial or getting sky.

 

[Vonhelmet]

What?? Thats crazy 90% of TV is trash thats why I don't own one. I refuse to give them money until they improve their programming.

The vast bulk of trash TV is not on BBC channels.

I can't remember the last time I watched ITV. Maybe the odd film on ITV2 but that's it.

 

[mollymoo]

They can come round and I'll happily let them in to prove I don't watch tv. There's nowt on tv worth watching so I didn't see the point in buying an aerial or getting sky.

Well that's the point isn't it, you have to prove that you don't use it, the assumption is always there that if you buy a tele you will use it to watch tv and rightly so.

 

[slylittlefox]

And they do, but as with most things they have limited resources and tend to pick hotspots, areas with the most claims to not needing a license. They may well knock on your door yet. They also respond to people grassing people up.

Now would be the time to say "I was wrong when I was being a know it all".

 

[mollymoo]

The vast bulk of trash TV is not on BBC channels.

I can't remember the last time I watched ITV. Maybe the odd film on ITV2 but that's it.

I don't but my kids do, Cbeebies is worth the license fee imo, keeps them quiet when I need to get on with things, dread to think what it would cost in dvds

 

[mollymoo]

Now would be the time to say "I was wrong when I was being a know it all".

Well thank you for your honesty

 

[slylittlefox]

Well thank you for your honesty

You were wrong. Admit it. And apologise for acting like a know it all. You know it makes sense

 

[TipTop]

I have a fishing license.

 

[Glaucus]

Well that's the point isn't it, you have to prove that you don't use it, the assumption is always there that if you buy a tele you will use it to watch tv and rightly so.

Again this is wrong. You do not have to prove anything, unless you want them to stop hassling you.

They have to prove you are watching it, to take you to court.

You do not need a license to own tv, computer or any other gadget. Unless you use it to watch live broadcast.

You need to be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record TV as it's being broadcast. This includes the use of devices such as a computer, laptop, mobile phone or DVD/video recorder.

You need to be covered by a licence if you watch TV online at the same time as it's being broadcast on conventional TV in the UK or the Channel Islands.

Things like the ITV webpage, bbc news 24, F1 on the bbc website. Using the Iplayer/4OD demand you do not as these are saved files and not uploaded till hours after the tv broadcast.

you don’t need to be covered by a licence if you’re only using ‘on-demand’ services to watch programmes after they have gone out on TV. So, you need a licence to watch any channel live online

If you do not watch tv and want them to stop hassling you. You have to declare it, fill in this page https://tvlicensing.metafaq.com/templates/tvlicensing/emailforms/noSet

When we receive your declaration, we'll send you a letter confirming the next steps. These are:

* We will send a TV Licensing officer to your address to confirm the situation. This is because when we visit people who have told us they don't need a licence, a quarter of those we contact do, in fact, need one.
* Once our officer has confirmed that you don't need a licence, your address will not be contacted again for at least three years.
* After the three-year period, we will contact you to confirm that you still live at the address, and that your situation hasn't changed.
* If, during a visit, we find that you do in fact need a licence, you'll need to pay the full licence fee. Please note that you may also face prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

It's all nicely made clear on their website http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/what-if-a-tv-licence-is-not-needed-top12/ I suggest you read it.

 

[clv101]

Not a lot of point... I think it's clear to everyone that mollymoo didn't have a clue. I guess he/she's better informed now.

 

[Old Wino]

..

 

[mollymoo]

Again this is wrong. You do not have to prove anything, unless you want them to stop hassling you.

They have to prove you are watching it, to take you to court.

You do not need a license to own tv, computer or any other gadget. Unless you use it to watch live broadcast.




Things like the ITV webpage, bbc news 24, F1 on the bbc website. Using the Iplayer/4OD demand you do not as these are saved files and not uploaded till hours after the tv broadcast.



If you do not watch tv and want them to stop hassling you. You have to declare it, fill in this page https://tvlicensing.metafaq.com/templates/tvlicensing/emailforms/noSet


It's all nicely made clear on their website http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/what-if-a-tv-licence-is-not-needed-top12/ I suggest you read it.

So you declare it and someone comes round to make sure you dont use your tele to watch live broadcasts, if they find that you do you have to have a license. They work on the assumption that if you own any equipment designed to recieve said broadcast then you will be. It's up to you to sign a declaration and if or when the BBC chappie turns up prove that you dont use it for said purpose or satisfy him/her.
This involves having no evidence what-so-ever of being able to use said device to do anything that requires you to have a license. The question is, what would that be. Having a piece of coax hanging out of the wall and an aerial on your roof or in the loft would cause the inspector to assume that you will be using the tv to watch the tv and would recommend you get a license...................... etc etc etc , you need a license unless you can prove that you don't need one, although a flaw in the system would be you could lie but then you takes the risk.

 

[Glaucus]

People pay it for one reason - fear of confrontation with a sales rep.

your stupid if you think that.

And you are missing the point. This thread isn't about not having one if you watch tv. It's about not having one if you have equipment but don't watch tv.

License fee doesn't just go to BBC.
I suppose you think road tax is stupid as well.
Unlike the paper you don't have to pay tv license if you don't use the service, just like road tax. nothing like your stupid scenario.

So you declare it and someone comes round to make sure you dont use your tele to watch live broadcasts, if they find that you do you have to have a license. They work on the assumption that if you own any equipment designed to recieve said broadcast then you will be. It's up to you to sign a declaration and if or when the BBC chappie turns up prove that you dont use it for said purpose or satisfy him/her.
k.

You do not have to declare it. Only if you want them to stop hassling you. They will only find you in breach if the tuner is tuned and there is a cable. No cable in the house and a detuned receiver is fine. Really read the website and phone them up before talking BS. You do not have to prove anything, THEY have to proof you are watching tv.

 

[mollymoo]

You do not have to declare it. Only if you want them to stop hassling you. They will only find you in breach if the tuner is tuned and there is a cable. No cable in the house and a detuned reciever is fine. Really read the website and phone them up before talking BS.

I don't need to I used to work there, I went through their training, I heard from the people themselves, as you say they will always assume you watch tele and whilst you have no registered license they will bug you and in some cases turn up at your door. Also as you have pointed out and as I have been saying you have to then prove you are incapable of receiving a broadcast to be exempt from license. As I have also pointed out, the system is flawed and does largely depend on honesty, but you take that chance.

 

[Glaucus]

I don't need to I used to work there, I went through their training, I heard from the people themselves, as you say they will always assume you watch tele and whilst you have no registered license they will bug you and in some cases turn up at your door. Also as you have pointed out and as I have been saying you have to then prove you are incapable of receiving a broadcast to be exempt from license. As I have also pointed out, the system is flawed and does largely depend on honesty, but you take that chance.

No, you were lied to or more likely asleep at the raining.. Phone them up and read their website or email them, they all answer the same way. I have asked them these questions before and they have always said the same as the website. Really just accept you are wrong and go read or phone them up.

YOU do NOT have to prove anything. YOU do not even have to let them in.
THEY have to prove you are watching TV. which is very hard to do. Just have a TV and a roof aerial does not cut it in a court of law.

 

[clv101]

...you have to then prove you are incapable of receiving a broadcast to be exempt from license.

Which is as simple as not having an antenna connected to your tuner.

However, you don't have to prove anything. You just tell them you aren't receiving a broadcast. That's all you have to do. They then may or may not send someone to visit, but without a warrant you're under no obligation to give them the time of day if they do call.