Soldato
- Joined
- 30 Aug 2018
- Posts
- 2,636
Terrible ideas. But it doesn't surprise me that it was even being considered.What do you guys think of these ideas
TV Licence Super Thread
- Thread starter Ken
- Start date
Unless they do things different in your area those letters are often delivered by the "inspectors" rather then via the post. Admittedly its been a long time since I had letters as I forced them to permanently stop. But when I did get letters they where often manually posted by them.
No, they come via royal mail.
When you say often, how often and how long ago?
I'm not trying to say you're lying, but do you not see how ridiculous this statement is?
I've only ever had them through the post. Never once seen a TV van in my area. But its all privately owned properties with very few renters and no flats, so they will just get told to sod off, wasting their time.
The "inspectors" seem to target poorer areas and properties where landlords can get them in.
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TV vans don't exist now. Even when they did, they were just empty vans and no 'detecting equipment ' on board. All bs to scare folk in to buying the TVL.
I know they were BS, but they still have branded vans afaik
Been saying this coming for a while. Anyone who brings this in will never get my vote again.What do you guys think of these ideas
Its an additional 200 pounds a year tax for absolutely no return on something that's no longer essential.
I'd be OK to support national radio news but not tv/entertainment (I use the term loosely) but I suspect it's coming.
Massive massive win for BBC as they will no longer be accountable to anyone and can churn out even worse content with no fear of loss on revenue.
BBC is too big to fail.
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Soldato
- Joined
- 13 Sep 2003
- Posts
- 8,557
- Location
- Glocestershire
I'm fairly sure the BBC saw the writting on the wall many years ago. I seem to remember in the 90s they lobied to make everyone with a domestic internet connection subject to the TV license. I'm surprised they didn't get away with it, because back then I doubt there were many (if any) people who had internet but no TV.
I really think the best approach would be to spin the entertainment stuff off into a commerical, but state owned organistion (like channel 4) and keep things like local radio either funded from general taxation or a levy on some sort of related service. I don't think the current TV license model can carry on, it hasn't kept up with how the industry works and I suspect the cost of admisistration is excessive.
Like many, I've cancelled my TV license because I simply don't watch linear television any more. My 8 year old, can't even get his head round how linear TV works. The only time he see's it is when we visit my parents.
I really think the best approach would be to spin the entertainment stuff off into a commerical, but state owned organistion (like channel 4) and keep things like local radio either funded from general taxation or a levy on some sort of related service. I don't think the current TV license model can carry on, it hasn't kept up with how the industry works and I suspect the cost of admisistration is excessive.
Like many, I've cancelled my TV license because I simply don't watch linear television any more. My 8 year old, can't even get his head round how linear TV works. The only time he see's it is when we visit my parents.
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Many people under 30 don't even know what a TV licence is let alone actually watch live TV.
The BBC knows they can't compete anymore so want to just force everyone to pay and keep their grift going.
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Can't say I've seen any in the past 20+ years.
Moved in to a new place a few weeks ago. The TV licence letter arrived last week.
If declaring online, you need to enter personal details, e.g. name, email and phone. Calling the number on the letter takes you through some options and at the end sends a text message with a link to the website.
If I wait for them visit, let them enter and inspect, will they still ask for my personal details?
I have nothing to hide but don't like a company requiring my details to say "no, I don't want your services".
If declaring online, you need to enter personal details, e.g. name, email and phone. Calling the number on the letter takes you through some options and at the end sends a text message with a link to the website.
If I wait for them visit, let them enter and inspect, will they still ask for my personal details?
I have nothing to hide but don't like a company requiring my details to say "no, I don't want your services".
They used to be everywhere in the 70s. Back then as a kid they would scare me.
A couple of years ago, I worked in an air-gapped office. The guys there told me a security company had a tool which could scan the building and read text on a LCD monitor, which is why the windows were covered in some sort of protective film. If this was true maybe the vans weren't empty
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Last time I did it (pre COVID) I just used a fake name and a temporary phone number, which you can find on various sites. There is no legal reason why you need to give them yours.
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Soldato
- Joined
- 13 Sep 2003
- Posts
- 8,557
- Location
- Glocestershire
It's worth baring in mind that if you watch on IPlayer, your email will be checked to make sure you haven't notified them you don't need a license. I managed to get a letter telling me I was in breach after using iplayer at my parents house.
At its peak I used to get letters weekly though it was every 2 weeks on average. I would have to look back in this thread to work to work out how long ago. It was before Covid so over 5 years ago.
The inspectors used to write hand written notes on some of the letters. Stuff along the lines of "I told you I would come by" I stopped them by withdrawing rights of access so they couldn’t walk up my drive and since then not 1 single letter.
The area I live in is classed as a poor area with a high ratio of retired people and what they would class as easy targets. So, its possible we have a higher ratio of real life “inspectors”.
I haven't filled out the forms, contacted them or had letters in well over 5 years. Before that though they where a nightmare to deal with and I used to always catch them on CCTV posting letters themself. Removing there right of access was the best thing I ever did.
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Just go no contact, there's zero reason you should need to accommodate glorified salesmen trying to force you to buy their product. The inspectors are also prone to lying through their teeth, not a chance in hell I'd let one through my door.
I get a letter every month or two that I just ignore, they used to be more frequent. I immediately bin them and move on with my day.
Can the BBC ask ISPs for the registered address of an IP address, without some sort of court or legal document?
The only programmes I used to watch on the BBC, in the final years of paying for TV licence, were Match of the Day and BBC News. Since I stopped playing FPL I lost interest in MoD and got my news from these fine forums.
The only programmes I used to watch on the BBC, in the final years of paying for TV licence, were Match of the Day and BBC News. Since I stopped playing FPL I lost interest in MoD and got my news from these fine forums.
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It will need a court order. But it's a waste of time as IPs addresses on their own aren't reliable evidence. They would need to put a name to it as well to take someone to court. But multiple people could be using one IP and mobile broadband (5g) tend to use virtual IPs so could have 100s of routers on one.
People might also be using WiFi which isn't theirs (neighbour's or public, guest ones). Tapping next doors WiFi used to be a thing, much harder now though.
I actually had a letter from them last year claiming I had used iPlayer. I hadn't, I don't even have it installed on my TVs. I'm guessing they were just trying it on as a new scare tactic. The BBC account I made years ago has the address as the BBC offices
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