TV License! (I know, I know but need a little rant)
- Thread starter ColdAsIce
- Start date
TV Licensing guys are some of the biggest ******** out there, along with parking wardens.
I accept they have a job to do and they need to enforce the rules, but the way in which they go about it is entirely grounded in scare tactics. I remember my first year of University I received upwards of five letters from TV Licensing telling me I was going to be fined for not having a TV License despite phoning to tell them I did not watch any broadcasts, nor did I own any TV equipment. I invited them to come a check for themselves, to which they declined. That was after the first letter.
The letters that followed were rude in tone, and threatening in nature. I can imagine vulnerable people receiving them such as pensioners would be very worried by such 'notifications.'
By the last of the letters I received, I fired off a return letter scrawled on a crumpled piece of A4, written in crayons. On the sheet I drew a picture of a toaster, a microwave and a kettle conversing about how glad they were they didn't need to be licensed for use. On the reverse of the sheet I took a Sharpie marker and wrote in big block capitals "COME AND CHECK MY PREMISES OR KINDLY **** OFF." I signed and dated the letter and over the remaining several months of my tenancy I didn't get a single further notice letter.
The best way to deal with these bullies is to appeal to their basest level of intelligence. I don't mind if they're actually fining people who are watching TV in a manner than contravenes the law, but their methodology of guilty until license paid is horse ****.
I accept they have a job to do and they need to enforce the rules, but the way in which they go about it is entirely grounded in scare tactics. I remember my first year of University I received upwards of five letters from TV Licensing telling me I was going to be fined for not having a TV License despite phoning to tell them I did not watch any broadcasts, nor did I own any TV equipment. I invited them to come a check for themselves, to which they declined. That was after the first letter.
The letters that followed were rude in tone, and threatening in nature. I can imagine vulnerable people receiving them such as pensioners would be very worried by such 'notifications.'
By the last of the letters I received, I fired off a return letter scrawled on a crumpled piece of A4, written in crayons. On the sheet I drew a picture of a toaster, a microwave and a kettle conversing about how glad they were they didn't need to be licensed for use. On the reverse of the sheet I took a Sharpie marker and wrote in big block capitals "COME AND CHECK MY PREMISES OR KINDLY **** OFF." I signed and dated the letter and over the remaining several months of my tenancy I didn't get a single further notice letter.
The best way to deal with these bullies is to appeal to their basest level of intelligence. I don't mind if they're actually fining people who are watching TV in a manner than contravenes the law, but their methodology of guilty until license paid is horse ****.
When i was a kid many years ago we had a van come round and parked in the play ground and the class was invited to sit in the back and have a look around if they do not work then they sure spent a lot of money on dummy equipment just to scare us
The last i read on the subject was the same as DAnDan post.
Did they lure you in with the promise of puppies and lollipops too?
I think but remember could just be crap i read but a crt will emit a pulse as well as receive when on perhaps some one can google it and prove me wrong.
Yes was it you ?
presumably most of the people who have TV's and don't have licenses don't watch broadcast television.
Soldato
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I'm too old, I forget when there is something worth watching on tv, so I only use catchup, its easier that way..
Soldato
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I had an unlicensed TV in uni [given to me BY halls, weird] for about six months, bugger all happened. It's very hard for them to prove anything if you're in halls.
When we first moved in we didn't even have an aerial installed, so when the the letter from the TVL people came through I rang them and explained. A year later we got another letter through and again at that point we still didn't have an aerial, so again I rang them and explained. A couple of months ago we finally got round to getting one fitted to watch the odd show and forgot to get a licence. A guy form the TVL turned up saying there was no licence at this address, I apologised as it had slipped my mind, sorted it out and had a good laugh with him.
Not all TVL people are cretins at least. From the sounds of things now, they don't tend to use the vans, just have people randomly monitoring your property in the hope of seeing you watch tv.
Not all TVL people are cretins at least. From the sounds of things now, they don't tend to use the vans, just have people randomly monitoring your property in the hope of seeing you watch tv.
My bro bought my mum a tv licence for xmas. Now my mums wondering why it says valid till oct 31st when it was bought in december so shes not getting a full years worth as it she should as on the licence it says for a full year but obviously not.
Glad i dont have a licence or watch live tv and just download it to watch which is legal as its not live.
Stupid licence, such a crock of xxxx.
Glad i dont have a licence or watch live tv and just download it to watch which is legal as its not live.
Stupid licence, such a crock of xxxx.
Associate
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- Norway...maybe...
Me. But as I said earlier in the thread, it isn't tuned, and I have no aerial/sat. dish/cable.
Soldato
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I've had just the one letter when I moved into my new house in 2006, 5 years ago. But nonetheless, they still somehow knew that I've just moved in. The letter said that I could either pay for the license or arrange to have someone around to check that I don't have a TV. So I phoned them up to arrange a visit. At the end of the phone call, they couldn't give me a definite date, just saying that it'll be some time in the next fortnight. Lo and behold, no one came. Fast-forward 3 years to 2009, I had a builder/decorator fitting in a new bathroom for me. On one of the days, someone from TV licensing turned up. I was lucky that my builder/decorator guy was trustworthy and he refused entrance from the TV guy. They did question the fact that I had a satellite dish but the builder saw that I had no telly and echoed that info across. Had no visits or letters since.
My bro bought my mum a tv licence for xmas. Now my mums wondering why it says valid till oct 31st when it was bought in december so shes not getting a full years worth as it she should as on the licence it says for a full year but obviously not.
Glad i dont have a licence or watch live tv and just download it to watch which is legal as its not live.
Stupid licence, such a crock of xxxx.
Well I take it you/your family have satellite/cable?
Otherwise without the licence fee there would be no terrestrial transmission.