TV Licence Super Thread
- Thread starter Ken
- Start date
You're lucky.
Last time one of them turned up at the door a few years back, showed them I've no tv so that could finally get shot of them.
Letters started all over again within two months.
If pay by DD, cancel the payments.
If pay at post office, stop going to post office to pay it
I did it online a few years ago, and just filled in a few questions and that was it.
Apart from the recent visit I've not heard a peep
Agree just the other day I wrote thousands of letters to every company I don't use to tell them I don't use their service.
Dear DVLA I don't own a car so I won't be taxing one.
Dear Netflix I don't use Netflix so I won't be paying you.
That's why so many get annoyed at it, this presumed use by all. I find it very odd why some people don't get that.
To be fair, (albeit less so these days admittedly), historically it has been fairly unbelievable that people dont want *any* live TV. I dont know anyone IRL who doesn't, if they are truthful.
Its getting more believable nowadays, yeah. Pan back a few years, prior to most options being available, it was fairly unbelievable then!
Agreed, when I moved out of my parents home and rented a flat it was almost a necessity.
I've now not been paying for three years and genuinely never so much as accidently put broadcasted TV on. There's no need, NetFlix, Amazon Prime, NowTV and YouTube mean that even if there was something I wanted to watch on BBC, I probably wouldn't have time to watch it anyway. And even if I really wanted to watch it, I'd buy it when it inevitably came to Blu-ray.
Ah, so they still paid a visit despite you having told them online that you no longer require one.
What did you do when they turned up?
Any time I'm in the shop & chatting with customers, regular or strangers, & they bring up "Oh, did you see [programme] other night & I say "I don't have a tv, so nope
" they more often than not give me a complete look of shock & exclaim "So what do you do?"Sheesh, there's more to life than tv
Daren't risk telling them that I don't even bother with catch-up or any other sort. Only time I see tv is if I'm in a pub...hic!
But isn't the issue here that without a Netflix subscription you can't legally access Netflix content, however buying some simple equipment or downloading an app you can get access to Live TV/IPlayer content as it is not locked down behind a subscription model.
So by way of the mechanism in place if I don't pay for Netflix I don't need to tell them I'm not using their service, however that is not the case for Live TV/IPlayer.
Obviously this could all be resolved by TVL moving to a subscription model like Netflix. However if it went down this route you would need to lock down all of the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5 channels. Plus you would need to build some form of mechanism into the Sky/VM/TV App package to only unlock the content if you paid both Sky/VM/App provider AND the 'TVL subscription', plus lock away IPlayer and possibly all of the BBC radio stations as well.
Soldato
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Any time I'm in the shop & chatting with customers, regular or strangers, & they bring up "Oh, did you see [programme] other night & I say "I don't have a tv, so nope
Sheesh, there's more to life than tv
Daren't risk telling them that I don't even bother with catch-up or any other sort. Only time I see tv is if I'm in a pub...hic!
A few years back I worked in a butcher shop and the boss asked me if I watched such n such last night I told him I don't watch TV as I don't want to pay the license. He asked me why haven't I got a TV? I told him I have a TV I just dont watch any broadcast TV on it only netflix, dvd/BR etc. He said I still need a license as I have a TV. Then it was a case of explaining to him the usual that some people (like him) don't seem to grasp. He told me after, so what do I do on holiday? I asked what do you mean? He just told me, You dont watch TV on holiday? WTF ?????? the discussion ended there. I have no time for people who think going on holiday involves watching TV. Sorry but that is just stupid.
I still get asked at my current job if I watched this or that last night and they suddenyl remember I dont watch TV and they juts say, Oh yeah you dont watch tv and the conversation turns to something else. At least they understand.
They target certain groups of people and certain areas for example if you are elderly or a single mum they think you are easier to intimidate and so target you. They also target areas with high job seekers areas and poorer neighbourhoods basically anyone they think they can intimidate. How the TVL treat you will change based on what area you live in and your circumstance.
Soldato
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I completed on my house the beginning of August, had one letter from TV licencing, ignored it and surprisingly haven't heard anything since. We literally don't have a TV in the house at the moment as we aren't moved in and I'll purchase a licence as soon as I need one but going by their usual bombard with letter tactics I've had in the past, I'm surprised they haven't been chasing for confirmation on whether or not I need one.
Nothing to do with seeing that a specific area has a much lower number of licences than the "norm"?
Telling them to come back with a search warranty for a start.
No its well known they target what they consider easier marks.
Soldato
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Or if you genuinely don't need a TVL, tell them they can come in and check. I did and guess what? The man said no it's ok. If people are just honest and have nothing to hide then you can be sure they won't even need to come in and check. The bloke I had was a nice enough chap and very polite and pleasant. He didn't get in my face and I didn't get in his. Crossed me off his list and since then I have had 2 or 3 letters just asking if my circumstances have changed, (he came about 3 years ago). They have not changed so I just spent a few minutes filling the form out online saying I don't need a TVL.
Simple, no hassle.
You shouldn't need to keep telling them you still do not need a license, they overstep their limited powers.
Ignore them, I had licence my first 18 yrs in my own home (left parents) but no longer watch TV or Iplayer and have done all the form filling but to no end so now I simply ignore them but they have came to my door 2-3 times and I politely tell them to go away and do not knock again when I close this door.
Ignore them, I had licence my first 18 yrs in my own home (left parents) but no longer watch TV or Iplayer and have done all the form filling but to no end so now I simply ignore them but they have came to my door 2-3 times and I politely tell them to go away and do not knock again when I close this door.