Do you have to respond to TV License letters.

dowie

dowie

dowie

Caporegime
Joined
29 Jan 2008
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I had a license at my old flatshare - we had virgin media though I found that I didn't watch it much and as I lived with 3 girls I'd not always get to watch what I wanted. Only ever watched top gear really thought the format has got a bit dull repetitive recently.

I've since bought my own flat and found that after a few years of barely paying attention to the rubbish the girls were watching in the lounge I've got pretty used to not bothering with TV any more so I've not bothered with a TV license.

I do own an LCD TV - it is connected to a PS3 in the lounge and that is it - it isn't connected to an Ariel. I don't watch live TV over the internet - the connection here would be too slow for that anyway. I'm pretty certain that I'm not therefore required to own a license.

I am however a bit stubborn and have been slightly put off by the tone of the letters and the fact that someone had attempted to visit my flat while I was at work about 2 days after I'd moved in (it was an empty rental property and several letters had been sent by them). I'm aware that no one can enter without a warrant and I've got a video entry phone system so can quite easily tell them to go away and then hang up the only thing I do want to clear up is whether there is any specific legal obligation on me to respond to the threatening letters? As far as I understand responding to the letter to state you don't require one might well then require a visit by them to confirm aka some potentially dodgy person wanting to poke around in my flat therefore it might well be best for me to simply ignore them and politely ask them to go away should they happen to call in the evening or on a weekend.
 
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No obligation at all, in fact if you respond telling them you don't need a licence they'll probably still continue to send the letters.
 
Here we go again!

Any minute now, the retards will crawl out of the woodwork, whining about the best broadcasting company in the world having the audacity to want some money for its services.
 
Just ignore them, you'll notice after a few years that they have 5 or 6 form letters that they recycle.
 
It would seem that if you only use the LCD for your console then a license is not needed.

What if I only use a TV to watch videos, DVDs or only use it as a monitor for my games console? Do I still need a TV Licence?

You do not need a TV Licence if you only use your TV to watch videos and DVDs or as a monitor for your games console. If this is the case, please complete the online declaration form to tell us that you don't need a TV Licence. One of our Enforcement Officers may visit you to confirm your situation.
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Bin them. The only way they can get you is if one of their "inspectors" sees or hears a discernible tv program being shown on your tv. That means coming in your house and turning on your tv, or hearing it when you open the door to them. There's no obligation to reply to letters or let an inspector in your house.
 
kwerk said:
Bin them. The only way they can get you is if one of their "inspectors" sees or hears a discernible tv program being shown on your tv. That means coming in your house and turning on your tv, or hearing it when you open the door to them. There's no obligation to reply to letters or let an inspector in your house.
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Or allegedly through Van Eck Phreaking and it's newer LCD equivalent, but the jury is out on whether they actually ever had the kit to do that.
 
PermaBanned said:
Do you even need a licence to watch TV online?
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yes you do

edit - to clarify - in order to watch TV online as in streaming TV broadcasts you need a license.

Though I believe watching a TV program that has been recorded and is available on demand - not an actual streaming TV broadcast then you don't

I do neither so am covered regardless
 
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Vonhelmet said:
Any minute now, the retards will crawl out of the woodwork, whining about the best broadcasting company in the world having the audacity to want some money for its services.
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I do use their services I guess - I listen to Radio 2, 4 and 6 and I skim through read the BBC website daily.

I'm not that fussed by it my main reason for not owning a license is simply that out of habit I've stopped watching TV - work, personal projects, books, going out, doing stuff at weekends - I don't have time to waste on TV programs. I'll happily buy a DVD/Blue ray boxed set of something that has been getting good reviews though and watch as and when I have time.

Having said that - I'd personally prefer it if the BBC was split in two with the news, world service and a few other things funded through general taxation and east enders etc.. can have adverts. I don't see why the state should fund trashy soap operas through what is essentially a form of taxation but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.
 
sldsmkd said:
Just ignore them, you'll notice after a few years that they have 5 or 6 form letters that they recycle.
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Or you could be sensible about the whole thing, write to tell them you don't use their services; they won't bother you again and won't waste their resources.

Worked for me; no issues or follow up letters after. I just don't understand this mentality of ignoring them.
 
The letters drive me mad...

I've yet to have any visits, haven't even owned a TV in over 15 months...

After the reading I did... it seems they'll only actually get a warrant to search if you let them know you don't own a tv and then subsequently refuse them entry.

If you ignore, the most most people receive are more letters...

I don't want some random twit who can't get a real job poking their nose around my house/flat/etc every two years!

You only need a TV license if you watch live tv... which includes the live streams on BBC website... however it does not include iplayer. If I used the service though, I would still pay... I just don't use it.
 
There are some entertaining YouTube videos about people's handling of licence inspectors. One chap called them to ask for their assumed right of access to his property's grounds to be removed. I personally love the beeb.
 
DB_SamX said:
Worked for me; no issues or follow up letters after. I just don't understand this mentality of ignoring them.
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Because as far as I was aware explaining to them that I own a TV but don't tune it, connect to an Ariel and only use it for occasionally watching DVDs/playing on my PS3 might well increase the chance of them visiting in order to verify that the TV isn't connected and clarify that I don't need a license.

I'd rather just not give them any information at all if possible - and simply bin the occasional letter as per junk mail I receive. I'll happily inform anyone who calls that I don't require a license as I don't recieve broadcasts but beyond that I'll simply ask them to leave. They're welcome to come and park a TV detector van outside my property (though it is a private road and I'd have the option of calling the clamping company - they also work on an enforcement/commission basis...)
 
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