TV licensing rant
- Thread starter OCdude
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That was an interesting case, cheers.
Soldato
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Just grow up and ignore the letters. Or see the funny side and enjoy receiving mail. After all - you're mad at a computer.
Associate
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The reason they are chasing you is probably because you told them you don't have a TV.
They know you bought one, so they assume you are lying.
You need to tell them that you can't receive broadcast TV and it is for a computer setup. Then ask them to make an appointment so one of their goons can bring a remote round, flick through all the non-working channels and leave.
That's what we did, we have several TVs connected to DVD players etc and the TV licensing people don't bother us at all since we explained.
They know you bought one, so they assume you are lying.
You need to tell them that you can't receive broadcast TV and it is for a computer setup. Then ask them to make an appointment so one of their goons can bring a remote round, flick through all the non-working channels and leave.
That's what we did, we have several TVs connected to DVD players etc and the TV licensing people don't bother us at all since we explained.
Absolutely. I love these little rants.
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"...
Anyway, just venting.
Now i just need to hide my secret stash of TVs! OLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Before my partner moved in with me, for a couple of years I was on my own and never ever watched TV so didn't both with a licence.
As you say, the letters kept coming and getting more embarrassing with things like " A TV Licensing van will be visiting your street very soon", written in huge letters across the envelope. It's embarrassing if you know the local postmen but I just ignored them and after they'd rung me up they seemed to get the message.
However, it started again and a few months after my partner moved in, the final straw came when they rang and spoke to her and effectively told her she was lying!
That night I sat down and wrote them a letter threatening to take the manager to court on the grounds of harrassment and across the envelope in large red letters I put the foillowing...
" A solicitors letter will be following very soon".
Surprising the letters and phone calls stopped and I receive an apology from the manager - try it if you don't have any success - it worked for me!
that's only live broadcasts, it also says on the site you don't need one to watch the non live stuff.
I don't know why people get this trouble with the TV Licensing folk. I moved into my current home last May. I got a letter from them, filled in the form on-line to tell them that I don't have a TV. They wrote back saying thanks for updating their records and haven't sent me anything since.
Job done.
Job done.
Only if you watch them 'live', eg as they're being broadcast, the 'on-demand' bits of iPlayer and the like are legal without a TV Licence.
How do they expect to enforce that? Are they going to start phoning up the ISP to make sure?
Can the TV licensing van actually detect if you have a TV or is it just an urban myth created to scare people into buying a license?
They can't just put their crap on the free internet and then demand people buy a license, they would have to prove that the person used their services online surely?
They can't just put their crap on the free internet and then demand people buy a license, they would have to prove that the person used their services online surely?
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It pains me to see that this has not been pointed out in the thread yet:
Even if you do have a TV, with a fully functional tuner, and the television is in active use. as long as it is not USED to watch television, you do not need a television license.
This is contrary to what their letters will say, their staff will say in person and over the phone, and what some of the less well-written parts of their website will say, it is nonetheless the case that as long as you do not use the equipment to watch or record live television, you do not require a license
Even if you do have a TV, with a fully functional tuner, and the television is in active use. as long as it is not USED to watch television, you do not need a television license.
This is contrary to what their letters will say, their staff will say in person and over the phone, and what some of the less well-written parts of their website will say, it is nonetheless the case that as long as you do not use the equipment to watch or record live television, you do not require a license
Soldato
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They've very openly said they're not going to enforce it.
They're relying on trust and maturity.