Going without a TV licence

clv101

clv101

clv101

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
10,962
Location
Bristol
I'm moving house soon and we're thinking of forgoing the TV licence. We currently have three devices that can receive TV, a large TV, a little one with built in DVD and a TV card in the computer.

The plan would be not to connect an aerial to anything (in fact sell the TV card). Have the little one in the bedroom, and have the large one connected to DVD, Xbox and PC in the living room.

The PC would provide TV content from the 'net (iPlayer, 4OD etc...)

What are the licence (or other) issues with doing this?
 
owning anything which is capable of receiving a signal would require a license.

Whether or not you do actually receive the signal - is irrelevant!
 
Ace Modder said:
owning anything which is capable of receiving a signal would require a license.

Whether or not you do actually receive the signal - is irrelevant!
Click to expand...

Are you sure? The TV Licensing site says this:

Do I need a TV Licence?

You need a TV Licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, digital box, DVD or video recorder, PC, laptop or mobile phone to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV.

If you use a digital box with a hi-fi system or another device that can only be used to produce sounds and can't display TV programmes, and you don't install or use any other TV receiving equipment, you don't need a TV Licence.

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/index.jsp
Click to expand...

Nothing about owning, it's all about using to receiving apparently.
 
iirc you are ok if they are plugged into a dvd player or ps2 or something.
be aware though, the licensing people can detect within 20cm accuracy where tv is (that is watching tv), and they are bound to check at some point, especially when the fine is a grand.
 
I think I'm fine, if no aerials are connected and the receivers are detuned.

The Internet TV thing is fine - at the moment at least.

The problem could be some jobsworth TV Licensing Enforcement Officer looking around my flat, being a bit dumb and attempting to prosecute with all the hassle that would involve.

It would be good to hear from people without licences but with TVs – how do they deal with the authorities?
 
mglover070588 said:
be aware though, the licensing people can detect within 20cm accuracy where tv is (that is watching tv), and they are bound to check at some point, especially when the fine is a grand.
Click to expand...

You think? How can they do that? How can they tell the difference between watching TV and watching a DVD?
 
clv101 said:
You think? How can they do that? How can they tell the difference between watching TV and watching a DVD?
Click to expand...

They can tell if a signal is being received, no idea how, but they can:)

I was hugely suprised last year at uni that they did not come and check as many students had no tv license. They would have made a killing in money...
 
There is a lot of confusion surrounding this, caused to a large extent by the TV licensing people themselves to ensure maximum revenue.

Simply owning equipment capable of receiving broadcasts DOES NOT require you to own a licence.


Simply owning equipment capable of receiving broadcasts DOES NOT require you to own a licence.

(again so we're clear)

However. The slack-jawed troglodyte that pounds on your door is neither capable nor inclined of/to understand this.

You will receive threatening letters. You will receive visits. It's up to you whether you are prepared to put up with this to avoid being fleeced by an anachronistic system with little moral validity.

Few tips if you do decide to 'fight the man.'

1. Never let them onto your premises.
2. Never sign anything - even if it's just an 'I was here' chit.
3. Never let them onto your premises. (They are NOT entitled to snoop around)

If you want to stop the hassle, you will need to let them know in writing, that you do own a 'tv' but do not watch terrestrial broadcasts (this included satellite) - They will not accept this until you have made such a nuisance of yourself that you end up dealing with a named customer service rep. At this point you will be put on the 'do not disturb' list and they will freeze the letters etc for up to 3 years. Keep copies of all your correspondence and make sure everything is signed for. If you want some example letters I can dig them up for you.

Finally: If you do decide not to licence, and you do not receive broadcast signals, then YOU ARE NOT BREAKING ANY LAWS. No matter what they try to tell you always remember that you really are a law abiding citizen and they can go swivel ;)
 
Last edited:
mglover070588 said:
be aware though, the licensing people can detect within 20cm accuracy where tv is (that is watching tv), and they are bound to check at some point, especially when the fine is a grand.
Click to expand...

I have been fairly reliably informed that this is infact a load of tripe.

Last year i lived in a different flat (same halls of rsidence) and this year my old room is empty. However i still got a letter a few weeks back to the old flat address along the lines of 'We know your watching TV in your room without having renewed your licence, we will be visiting you very shortly'

They just like to make people nervous.
 
I got a letter through from them saying you purchased pioneer television at 'Said department store', and that they have no record of a license at this address under my name.

Dumbasses, it's under the name of my mrs, so I ignore the follow up to that letter as I'm not ringing up to tell them this, because they are too retarded to check for a registered license at my the address on their own system.

As long as you arn't using the tv to receiver a broadcast then you should be okay, but just don't tune the tvs in anyway.
 
What about live TV that is broadcast over the 'net? I know iPlayer doesn't do this yet - but it will soon. And ITV already do live web "broadcast" of the F1.
 
Well cavemanoc has told you everything you need to know.

We bought a flat, done it up for a year, so never had a tv, but that didnt stop them sending us weekly letters threatening us with fines, court action etc. We told them over the phone many times we didnt have a tv, they said that was fine and that it was all good now. But no more letters :D

Best to just ignore them after you have told them once. Maby a recorded letter would be the best way.
 
mglover070588 said:
They can tell if a signal is being received, no idea how, but they can:)

I was hugely suprised last year at uni that they did not come and check as many students had no tv license. They would have made a killing in money...
Click to expand...

They used to do this back in 2000 when I was in halls. They would spend several days trying to catch students out. I just removed my tv card for a couple of days;) What I thought was really unfair was that they were able to demand every TV owning student owned a liscence despite 6 people being in a flat. Stupid because had the liscence fee been split between 6 most people would have just got one as the cost would be so small.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom