TV Licence ins and outs

qwerty · 15 Sep 2006 at 20:42

I remember seeing a thread on here all about Tv licences and the loopholes etc to do with them. I searched but couldn't find it. I think it might've been by Feek. Could someone point me to it? Otherwise I@ll have to put all my questions to you individually

qwerty · 15 Sep 2006 at 20:54

I will only be watching TV on my laptop at university and I just saw this on the TV Licensing website:

Aren't I covered by my parents' licence while I'm away?

No. Unless your TV is powered by internal batteries, such as a pocket-sized TV. If you think that this is the case, please call us on 0870 241 5973 to check that you are eligible for cover on your parents' licence.

My laptop is powered by internal batteries! Snorted, n'est pas?

aardvark · 15 Sep 2006 at 21:23

if an inspector comes to your house and asks you if you have a tv don't tell him anything, even your name, and don't let him in - there is nothing they can do in that situation, by law.

qwerty · 15 Sep 2006 at 21:25

aardvark said:
if an inspector comes to your house and asks you if you have a tv don't tell him anything, even your name, and don't let him in - there is nothing they can do in that situation, by law.

Won't that mean they're on to me and he'll just come back with a court order or something, knowing that I'm guilty?

Could I use the above loophole and say "Ah ha, you lose Mr. Inspector, where's my £1000?"

fuz · 15 Sep 2006 at 21:26

"Quick Vyvian, eat the tele!"

VeNT · 15 Sep 2006 at 21:33

tbh, their gonna spam you with requests and demands even if you DON'T have a TV

LavaMonkey · 15 Sep 2006 at 21:37

VeNT said:
tbh, their gonna spam you with requests and demands even if you DON'T have a TV

Yep, i keep getting that from them, even though i've called them saying i don't have a tv in my flat.

Treefrog · 15 Sep 2006 at 21:37

VeNT said:
tbh, they're gonna spam you with requests and demands even if you DON'T have a TV

Quoted for the absolute truth. About one a month on average, and then they start sounding threatening. :rolleyes:

Ak!ta · 15 Sep 2006 at 21:40

aardvark said:
if an inspector comes to your house and asks you if you have a tv don't tell him anything, even your name, and don't let him in - there is nothing they can do in that situation, by law.

Wrong... tv licensing are now a division of Customs and Excise.. if they want to they can enter your house without your consent or orthorisation....

Una · 15 Sep 2006 at 21:42

qwerty said:
I will only be watching TV on my laptop at university and I just saw this on the TV Licensing website:

If your in halls they will usually give you warning when the inspectors are coming round so everyone just hides their stuff

Cascadia · 15 Sep 2006 at 21:45

im at uni at the moment (bristol, uwe) and im in a large private house of 20, its a mad house lol, well im right by the front door, and as seeing as im the one who answers it most of the time, as most of us dont get up till gone 3pm, im the one that has to deal with mr tv man.

usually i just go no ones up, come back tomorrow, he/she usually gets a bit lippy over how they want to come in. to which i say tough go away.

now, my mate who lives with us has been mouthing off a few things, just want to find out the facts.

he states
1 they have no legal right to enter, so if we say no they cant.
2 tv patrol vehicle things cant be used as evidence in court
3 the only way they can charge you is by seeing the tv on, and as they cant come in (point 1) they cant charge you.
4 he also says that if they get a warrant to search the house with only the grounds of a tv patrol vehicle as proof, then its illegal search as its not evidence for a warrant (last point worded badly, hope you get what i meant)

now before i go stand up to mr tv people are any of the above points true?

VeNT · 15 Sep 2006 at 21:45

LavaMonkey said:
Yep, i keep getting that from them, even though i've called them saying i don't have a tv in my flat.

Treefrog said:
Quoted for the absolute truth. About one a month on average, and then they start sounding threatening.

they kept sending them to my ex
she had a licence!

Ak!ta · 15 Sep 2006 at 21:50

1 - WRONG...
2 - WRONG...
3 - WRONG...
4 - WRONG...

Sorry, but why do you think theyinves millions in technology and go round streets if they cant use that evidence in court?
They cant fine you, but they will exercise there powers to bring you to court and you will be fined - approx £1000 + license fee ?

Treefrog · 15 Sep 2006 at 21:52

VeNT said:
they kept sending them to my ex
she had a licence!

Yet they do their letter dumps on addresses which don't have licences and not on the person there? Methinks their right hand doesn't know what the left one is up to.

PinkPig · 15 Sep 2006 at 21:57

Ak!ta said:
1 - WRONG...
2 - WRONG...
3 - WRONG...
4 - WRONG...

Sorry, but why do you think theyinves millions in technology and go round streets if they cant use that evidence in court?

I was under the impression that most of the vans driven around from time to time are empty or just carrying something somewhere.

PeterNem · 15 Sep 2006 at 21:58

Cascadia said:
im in a large private house of 20

Just get a licence.... is it worth the bother? It'd cost you 55p each per month if you split it.

Una · 15 Sep 2006 at 22:02

PeterNem said:
Just get a licence.... is it worth the bother? It'd cost you 55p each per month if you split it.

It depends on the tenancy agreement: "If you have a joint tenancy in a self-contained flat/house, you only need one TV Licence for the flat irrespective of the number of sets. If you have separate agreements with the landlord, there must be one licence for each set."

Though if its in a public place (I.e living room) you may as well pay for one between you then just say it belongs to the one the licence name is in

schnipps · 15 Sep 2006 at 22:04

Its a tenna a month for gods sake, no nobody wants to pay the dam thing on top of sky and internet bills but we HAVE to its just a british law, so just pay it. Why go though loads of hassle to save a few quid a month?

VeNT · 15 Sep 2006 at 22:19

schnipps said:
Its a tenna a month for gods sake, no nobody wants to pay the dam thing on top of sky and internet bills but we HAVE to its just a british law, so just pay it. Why go though loads of hassle to save a few quid a month?

exactly
BUT
I take offence at them spamming people with threats about being fined £1000 and or taken to COURT when THEY ALREADY HAVE A LICENCE OR DON'T HAVE A TV!

csmager · 15 Sep 2006 at 22:19

Cascadia said:
1 they have no legal right to enter, so if we say no they cant.
2 tv patrol vehicle things cant be used as evidence in court
3 the only way they can charge you is by seeing the tv on, and as they cant come in (point 1) they cant charge you.
4 he also says that if they get a warrant to search the house with only the grounds of a tv patrol vehicle as proof, then its illegal search as its not evidence for a warrant (last point worded badly, hope you get what i meant)

1 Yep. They need a warrant - they're not the police.

2 TV patrol vehicle evidence alone isn't sufficient, and has never stood up in court on its own.

3 They need proof you're watching TV. You don't need a license to watch DVDs, play PS2 etc. To get the proof, they need to get in. To get in, they need a warrant. It's a bit chicken and egg. Getting a warrant is a hassle, so they use the scare tactics of constant advertising and lettering.

4 If a judge gave them a warrant, it'll be legal.

Some helpful advice and information over at http://www.tvlicensing.biz/ specificallly http://www.tvlicensing.biz/students/index.htm