TV Licensing Letter

Status
Not open for further replies.
It's just scare tactics, as usual, it bothers me that they resort to that before being reasonable. Almost everything on the letter is true, but is completely normal and inert, Did you know there's a high concentration of di-hydrogen monoxide in your water?

They actually can't interview you under caution in accordance with the Police And Criminal Evidence act, as they can't provide you with free and independent legal advice.

A member of the public will visit your house to see if they can collect evidence of you watching broadcast television. It's best not to confirm your name or tell them anything, just ask them to leave. If they don't leave; they are trespassing (see: implied right of access). So just say "Please leave the property." Or if you are feeling playful "I am informing you under caution that you are required to leave the property."

Do not say "But I only use my TV for the computer", or "I don't have a TV", or anything.

If they did have a warrant, they would need a police officer to enforce it.
 
Last edited:
And once you've completed the above, prepare yourself for the onslaught of blonde supermodels throwing themselves at you and worshipping every part of your manly self.
 
Caged said:
And once you've completed the above, prepare yourself for the onslaught of blonde supermodels throwing themselves at you and worshipping every part of your manly self.
Click to expand...

:D

I just go with "please leave", done so twice at two different flats, both of them were polite and left.

I pay for netflix, the occasional Sky F1 race on Now TV, and I Patreon a bunch of Youtube channels. If The BBC started charging for the few things I watch via iPlayer I'd probably pay if it didn't involve subscribing to everything and wasn't too expensive.
 
Last edited:
Burnsy2023 said:
If someone has a search warrant they can enter your property for the purpose specified on the warrant. The power of entry will allow for force.

So if someone walks up with a valid search warrant, they're coming in, whether your front door is in tact or not is up to you.
Click to expand...

I know, the point I'm making is that it seems the TV Licensing don't actually use force, they use it in the context of "This bit of paper says you HAVE to let us in".

If you don't comply, they won't use force and will leave.
 
Liquidfox said:
I don't think these people realise what your occupation is :p
Click to expand...

I know full well that he's a police officer, I'm just pointing out that a TV license search warrant isn't usually used to enter by force, but as I said before. As a means to persuade entry because they have a warrant.

TV Licensing aren't going around kicking people's doors down just because a warrant may legally enable them to use force to enter.
 
I will never understand some of the reactions here.

If a TV license gadgie comes round mine asking about my lack of license, I'll happily let him in, see whatever he needs to see, ask whatever questions he wants, then let him / her leave when they are satisfied. I have nothing to hide, and I am confident of fully complying with my legal obligations from not having a TV license.

Anyone who refuses entry reeks of one of two sorts of people to me. Either they wear tinfoil hats, or they are missing Eastenders or something else they are watching illegally.
 
You get them letters all the time, I just bin them, mine say legal occupier as well... no one ever shows up.. TV Licensing think they are owed the world the way they go on....

I don't have a TV License as I don't watch live TV so go away !!
 
xs2man said:
I will never understand some of the reactions here.

If a TV license gadgie comes round mine asking about my lack of license, I'll happily let him in, see whatever he needs to see, ask whatever questions he wants, then let him / her leave when they are satisfied. I have nothing to hide, and I am confident of fully complying with my legal obligations from not having a TV license.

Anyone who refuses entry reeks of one of two sorts of people to me. Either they wear tinfoil hats, or they are missing Eastenders or something else they are watching illegally.
Click to expand...

Can I have a snoop around your house too?
 
Trifid said:
I can make a name badge if you want?
Click to expand...

Making a badge doesn't qualify you to asses the requirement to pay a government sanctioned tax.

Obviously I wont just let anybody who asks into my home. But they have a job to do, it is a real job, that may well require my cooperation. I have nothing to hide so why wouldn't I let them see what they need to see?
 
spoffle said:
It really was a quick view wasn't it? So quick that you missed the important part;
Click to expand...

Spoffle: The reason I wrote: “An Officer” and made the link was to draw the OP’s attention to what was most probably meant by an “Officer” in his letter.

The link itself actually states: "Television licensing officers can enter if they have a search warrant. If you have no television it may be in your interests to let them see that this is true, but they may make repeated visits to re-check".

How did I miss the important part you quote: “Television licensing officers can enter if they have a search warrant”. It says so in the link.



Burnsy2023 said:
If someone has a search warrant they can enter your property for the purpose specified on the warrant. The power of entry will allow for force.

So if someone walks up with a valid search warrant, they're coming in, whether your front door is in tact or not is up to you.
Click to expand...
 
xs2man said:
Making a badge doesn't qualify you to asses the requirement to pay a government sanctioned tax.

Obviously I wont just let anybody who asks into my home. But they have a job to do, it is a real job, that may well require my cooperation. I have nothing to hide so why wouldn't I let them see what they need to see?
Click to expand...

It's not rocket science, I am perfectly qualified to asses my own TV licence requirements. Are you qualified to identify if the person in front of you is genuine? After all they are going to want to 'inspect' every room in your house.

Fortunately (in a way) it looks likely every household is going to be required to purchase a TV licence, even if they lack the ability to receive a signal.
 
BigglesPiP said:
If they did have a warrant, they would need a police officer to enforce it.
Click to expand...

No, they would be named on the warrant and could enforce it with or without the Police.

spoffle said:
I know, the point I'm making is that it seems the TV Licensing don't actually use force, they use it in the context of "This bit of paper says you HAVE to let us in".

If you don't comply, they won't use force and will leave.
Click to expand...

Well that is up to them but they have the option. Also, the Police can assist in gaining entry if requested.
 
Burnsy2023 said:
If someone has a search warrant they can enter your property for the purpose specified on the warrant. The power of entry will allow for force.

So if someone walks up with a valid search warrant, they're coming in, whether your front door is in tact or not is up to you.
Click to expand...

BBC's policy is not to force entry anyway. As long as you know your stuff then they wouldn't get in. There are thousands of videos of TVL turning up with 'warrants' and made to look rather silly and sent packing.
 
Burnsy2023 said:
No, they would be named on the warrant and could enforce it with or without the Police.



Well that is up to them but they have the option. Also, the Police can assist in gaining entry if requested.
Click to expand...

Thought the police weren't allowed to get involved in civil matters? They deal with criminal law don't they? :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom