TV licensing rant

OCdude · 22 Apr 2011 at 00:18

I moved into my property about 4 years ago, shortly after moving in I received a standard "oh hai - please tell us if you have a TV" letter, from the TV licensing people. So i duly replied, stating that I don't need a license as I don't have a TV.

I received a few more of this over following few years, so I replied again and again.

A couple of years later, i built my home cinema, which uses a "Monitor" (FYI this one) which has no kind of receiver in it. Shortly after I bought that, the rate in which I recevied my "reminder letters" increased.. to the point where I just thought "wow - how many times to i have to tell you?" so I just stopped replying.

The letters got more and more comically threatening "YOUR PROPERTY IS NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION" etc etc (loving the way they basically assume you're a criminal).

Now it seems i've been getting visits from some TV licensing goons, who no doubt want to have a nosey around my property to try to dig up some dirt. To be honest, I don't see why the hell I should let them into my property, for me to prove my innocence ... the whole tone of their threatening letters has really not given me any incentive or desire to willingly let them into my home.

Plus i'm sure if I did let them in, they'd gleefully rub their hands together when they see my setup... then i'll no doubt have to spend ages actually explaining that it's not a "TV"... :rolleyes:

Anyway, just venting.

Now i just need to hide my secret stash of TVs! OLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL :rolleyes:

Energize · 22 Apr 2011 at 00:19

No warrant = no entry.

Morgoth · 22 Apr 2011 at 00:21

It's been too long since the last TV license thread. I missed one dearly.

Cleeecooo · 22 Apr 2011 at 00:23

Energize said:
No warrant = no entry.

It may be easier to end it now and just let them in.

Judgeneo · 22 Apr 2011 at 00:23

Pretty much everyone was threatened in uni last year, no one got searched

Stuff · 22 Apr 2011 at 00:24

They can investigate as much as they want if you've got nothing to be guilty for. Don't let them in either

Tefal · 22 Apr 2011 at 00:25

stop replying and just ignore them like any sane adult?

lixxus · 22 Apr 2011 at 00:25

tell them your a morman and problem solved

Azza · 22 Apr 2011 at 00:26

Just ring up and tell them to stop wasting paper... or just return all the mail they send you back to them?

J-FRO · 22 Apr 2011 at 00:26

I wonder if you have a possible harassment claim here...

Castiel · 22 Apr 2011 at 00:26

Just don't let them in, they have no right of entry.

Write to the licensing Authority and state categorically that you have no means of receiving broadcast TV and to cease and desist.

Greenlizard0 · 22 Apr 2011 at 00:28

Never thought of that. Use the environment/waste paper route to get them to stop sending you crap.

OCdude · 22 Apr 2011 at 00:28

Tefal said:
stop replying and just ignore them like any sane adult?

Sanity was lost after reply #1038582 i'm afraid!

Plus I wasn't aware that it was that common for them to actually start knocking at your door for days in a row!

Gog · 22 Apr 2011 at 00:29

Worst "I've got a home cinema" thread.....

Seriously, either ignore them or invite them round if you've got nothing to hide. They're all pre-generated letters anyway.

Tefal · 22 Apr 2011 at 00:30

OCdude said:
Sanity was lost after reply #1038582 i'm afraid!

Plus I wasn't aware that it was that common for them to actually start knocking at your door for days in a row!

typically if you ignore them they just send the odd letter and never bother you.

if you replay saying you have no tv, they either start investigating or they ask to do a visit.

OCdude · 22 Apr 2011 at 00:32

Tefal said:
typically if you ignore them they just send the odd letter and never bother you.

if you replay saying you have no tv, they either start investigating or they ask to do a visit.

D'oh!

http://po-ru.com/diary/i-hate-tv-licensing/

That site sums it up nicely though lol...

I'm never one of these "screw the system" kinda people, but it's just the threatening and thug-like wording of the letters that's got me wound up!

Rainmaker · 22 Apr 2011 at 00:37

OCdude said:
Sanity was lost after reply #1038582 i'm afraid!

Plus I wasn't aware that it was that common for them to actually start knocking at your door for days in a row!

Write and revoke their implied right of access to your property under common law? Something like this:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Further to our recent correspondences regarding my licensing status. Please be aware I will not be entering into further correspondence with you.

As you have previously been informed, I have no equipment capable of receiving a live TV broadcast and as such do not require a licence. Your continued issuing of threatening letters despite being aware of my not requiring a licence is becoming distressing, and I deem them to be harassment contrary to law.

Please be aware that should you continue to harass me in this manner, I will not hesitate to take legal action against you. This is my final correspondence on the matter.

Should you wish to send out representatives to further harass me in my home, please take note that there is only an implied license under English Common Law for people to be able to visit me on my property without express permission; the postman and people asking for directions etc (Armstrong v Sheppard & Short Ltd [1959] 2 QB 384. per Lord Evershed M.R.).

Therefore take note that I revoke license under Common Law for you, or your representatives to visit me at my property and, if you do so, you will be liable to damages for a tort of trespass and action will be taken, including but not limited to, police attendance.

I look forward to one final written confirmation that the demands in this letter have been upheld, and that you will cease from contacting me again except where you are legally obliged to do so.

Yours faithfully,

Send it by RM recorded delivery, and then bin everything they send thereafter. Or file it if you really can be bothered filing a claim for harassment. To gain entry to your premises after receiving that letter, they'd need a warrant. To get a warrant they have to show they have cause to suspect an offence - which without access to your property they'll be very hard pressed to do.

Nikias · 22 Apr 2011 at 01:38

J-FRO said:
I wonder if you have a possible harassment claim here...

There is no precedent for it as such, but I would like to see someone take on the TV licensing authority.

Last year there was this case, which maybe suggests a claim under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 would not be completely hopeless given the right circumstances...

postmanfw · 22 Apr 2011 at 01:50

My parents have a tv but no license and they only use it for dvds.

Got the letters and visit and let them in to inspect end of hassle

Rainmaker · 22 Apr 2011 at 01:53

Nikias said:
There is no precedent for it as such, but I would like to see someone take on the TV licensing authority.

Last year there was this case, which maybe suggests a claim under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 would not be completely hopeless given the right circumstances...

Given that TV licensing is a company not a government body, I don't see what special difficulties it might present provided there was a decent paper trail and clear evidence of ongoing threatening contact. It'd be interesting for sure.