TV Licence Super Thread

[steve5424]

Why should we have to contact them to say we don't need one? Put up with harassing letters and threats of visits.

As previously mentioned, I don't drive and don't need a licence but I don't get harassing letters off the DVLA telling me a need one to be able to drive and that I should get one.

 

[arknor]

If you only need a license if you watch live BBC or stream off the iplayer? With Fire sticks and Roku devices just delete the BBC off them. Their content is woke garbage anyway and their news service is government propaganda and is not unbiased in any way shape or form. Just like the high street, terrestrial TV is dead. The internet killed them all.

it's any live streaming of tv channels, I think it even counts like any american obscure channels you can't get in the UK

 

[LeeUK]

it's any live streaming of tv channels, I think it even counts like any american obscure channels you can't get in the UK

With the exception of iPlayer, you can watch all the other TV service's on demand content without a licence. So just don't watch the obscure American stuff as it's being broadcast.

 

[LeeUK]

I've been licence free for getting on 12 years. No one has been at my door in over 6 years and I rarely get a threat-o-gram through the letterbox addressed to the Legal Occupier now. The longer the time passes the less likely you are going to get bothered by TVL as they obviously know they'll be wasting their time.

Also why should I fill in a form and give them all my details to say I don't require a licence. I don't fill a form in at TESCO to say I don't use their services.

 

[LuckyBenski]

it's any live streaming of tv channels, I think it even counts like any american obscure channels you can't get in the UK

No, it doesn't.

It's simple: if it's not coming out of a broadcast in the UK it doesn't fall under the TV license.

People take the word "live" and just ignore common sense, rather than reading the actual facts. Live broadcast means live, UK, TV, broadcast.

 

[Hades]

It takes 30 seconds of ones life to fill in the online form. Got to laugh.

These people are literally spending more time moaning about it than it takes to fix it!

I know

I think you're missing the point that people have already explained. There is no legal requirement to fill in the form and some people don't want to have to fill out a form they simply don't need to. So their solution is to bin the letters and laugh at them. It's the BBC who need to fix this issue because it's them that lose revenue when people cancel and it's them that it costs money to send the letters. In fact it's not even the BBC that actually has to pay for this problem. The people who actually pay for this ridiculous situation are those people who continue to buy a license, because it puts the price of the license up. The BBC need to fix this by either providing content that people want to watch (and therefore subscribe to via a license) or petition the government to make the form mandatory in the same way you have to SORN a car.

Most of us get so many unsolicited spam letters that it is absolutely no effort to bin another letter. A small number of people may be scared into either buying a license unnecessarily (which is what I object to) or to push them into filling in a form they really don't need to. But the impact on most other people without a license is a silly letter that the BBC license fee payers have to pick up the cost for.

So the problem mostly affects those people that have a license already, because it is pushing their fee up. Yet there seems to be an expectation here that the burden of fixing that issue should go on those people who mostly aren't affected by it.

 

[moogle]

You don’t have to accept it for the TV there is a simple process to follow in all those letters you receive to get them stopped. Follow the process letters end then the obvious anger and stress this causes you can all fade away while you spend your time on something else.

It doesn't though, they come check anyway to verify you don't need a license and then after 12 months or some time you have to fill the same bloody form out to say you're not using it and another check.

 

[Deleted member 77746]

I think you're missing the point that people have already explained. There is no legal requirement to fill in the form

So don't fill the form in then. For how much time it's just taken you to right that post you would rather post all of this than fill in a form that takes 30 seconds?

 

[Hades]

So don't fill the form in then.

My family watch TV. As previously stated I do currently have a license. But I understand the issue people are raising here.

Furthermore I just looked at the form required to register the fact you don't need a TV license. The "No License Needed Policy" document on the form states they will visit a sample of properties to check that the declaration is valid. I am not a lawyer but potentially this could be taken as a consent for the visit to take place. By not filling in the form they aren't given that consent. That is one very strong reason not to fill in the form. Why would anyone want a stranger walking around the house? If/when I cancel my license in the future I will not be filling in the form as I do not agree to anyone coming in my house.

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/ss/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheadername1=content-type&blobheadervalue1=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1370006620212&ssbinary=true

Visiting addresses
6.1 TV Licensing will visit a sample of NLC addresses to confirm that a licence is not
needed. A methodology will be used to determine which addresses will make up the
sample for visiting. This methodology is outlined in Appendix II

 

[Deleted member 77746]

My family watch TV. As previously stated I do have a license. But I understand the issue people are raising here.

I understand the issue people are raising here but what's it going to change blabbing on this forum about it. The GOV won't do a thing.

Either fill the form in or bin it. I don't see what the problem is.

 

[LuckyBenski]

So don't fill the form in then. For how much time it's just taken you to right that post you would rather post all of this than fill in a form that takes 30 seconds?

It's impressive that you can come and drop the same comments every few months, like you've never read the thread. This thread is full of stories of people being unnecessarily hassled by the agents. I'm a license payer and my wages are part funded by it, but you can't refute the small but not insubstantial group of people who've been properly harassed.

The issue IMO is Capita, the actual firm handling the letters/visits/"collectors". They're well known for being aggressive, unreasonable and difficult to negotiate with across several fields e.g. parking enforcement. Awful track record and detestable company. They treat this role as loss prevention rather than a licensing admin task.

 

[Hades]

I understand the issue people are raising here but what's it going to change blabbing on this forum about it. The GOV won't do a thing.

Either fill the form in or bin it. I don't see what the problem is.

...and people are choosing to bin it. The problem is that its a cost being borne by license payers. Letters are not free.

 

[Deleted member 77746]

It's impressive that you can come and drop the same comments every few months, like you've never read the thread. This thread is full of stories of people being unnecessarily hassled by the agents. I'm a license payer and my wages are part funded by it, but you can't refute the small but not insubstantial group of people who've been properly harassed.

I've read the thread from page 1. What's more impressive is people feel the need to come in here and tell everyone the same story.

Has anyone in this thread AT ALL took things higher? Protested? Harassed Capita?

but you can't refute the small but not insubstantial group of people who've been properly harassed.

Then I hope these people in the thread have made a formal complaint and also have evidence for this harassment. They could take it further if they wanted.

 

[Infidelus]

No, it doesn't.

It's simple: if it's not coming out of a broadcast in the UK it doesn't fall under the TV license.

People take the word "live" and just ignore common sense, rather than reading the actual facts. Live broadcast means live, UK, TV, broadcast.

Do I need a TV Licence? - TV Licensing ™

This will provide help and information on: whether you need a TV Licence, how to get one, types available and concessions you could be entitled to.

www.tvlicensing.co.uk

I only watch non-UK channels, do I need a licence?
Yes, you need a TV Licence to watch any TV channels live (broadcast or online), even if these are from outside the UK. This applies no matter what device you’re using.

 

[Scort]

I've read the thread from page 1. What's more impressive is people feel the need to come in here and tell everyone the same story.

Oh the irony - have you not paid attention to your replies in this thread; you seem hell on bemoaning people who have posted their experiences in this here – which I should probably remind you is in “General DISCUSSION".

I very much doubt that anyone posting in here thinks that they can change the ‘system’, if anything, I expect the bulk of posters (myself included) are simply posting updates in here just to highlight how daft Capita are… I honestly don’t think my replies will change Capita’s actions; but it’s nice to have a little British moan about the situation.

As people, for whom not wanting to bend to pressure to get a license, clearly riles you up – then maybe don’t read the thread, or post in it As for us moaners, I’m pretty sure we all understand the position: you don’t need a license if you don’t watch any live broadcast or BBC services, and you don’t need to tell Capita that fact either.

 

[Pottsey]

You don’t have to accept it for the TV there is a simple process to follow in all those letters you receive to get them stopped. Follow the process letters end then the obvious anger and stress this causes you can all fade away while you spend your time on something else.

If you have read this thread you would know that so called simple process often doesn't work and often makes the situation much worse and increases stress. Filling out the process in the letter caused them to increase pressure, increase threats and now they have our name so they can do personalised named threats and personalised court threats. Plus if you fit one of there profiles like a single mum or in a poor area they put you on the target list to increase pressure, not stop.

I guess most of you ain't following the instructions on the letter correctly then.

It takes 30 seconds of ones life to fill in the online form. Got to laugh.

These people are literally spending more time moaning about it than it takes to fix it!

If you have read the thread you would know what you saying is wrong for many people. Filling out the form correctly often doesn't work and often makes the situation much worse even if you are correctly unlicensed. It sounds like your both very naive.

 

[=XDC=FluphyBunny]

Your wrong here. There are so many posts that prove otherwise. Is not about sticking it to the man or idiots who cannot respond correctly to a letter. Clearly you failed at reading the thread while calling other peoples idiots.

No. It’s the usual few who have genuine issues and a majority of idiots. Just have to look at YouTube for the type of morons that have so many issues with their TV licence.

 

[Pottsey]

I've read the thread from page 1. What's more impressive is people feel the need to come in here and tell everyone the same story.

Has anyone in this thread AT ALL took things higher? Protested? Harassed Capita?



Then I hope these people in the thread have made a formal complaint and also have evidence for this harassment. They could take it further if they wanted.

Well since you have read this thread you know we are not all telling the same story and many have taken this further. So I am not really sure what your point is. In fact if you have read the thread since page 1 why are you asking "Has anyone in this thread AT ALL took things higher?" that question makes no sense for someone that has read the thread from page 1.

I understand the issue people are raising here but what's it going to change blabbing on this forum about it. The GOV won't do a thing.

Either fill the form in or bin it. I don't see what the problem is.

The problem is the online form often doesn't work and often makes the situation worse at which point people need help and advice on what to do. People are targeted and stressed from harassment and they come here for support and guidance which you don't seem to get and want to shut down. This thread keeps going so people who newly have problems have a place to post the new siltation and get advice/help. Or just to vent and know they are not alone. Yet we have to put up with naïve people every few months making the same naïve comments and making it sound like its our fault for not filling out a simple 30 second form or its our fault and we could simple fix it e.c.t when its been proven time and time again the form often does not work and its not always an easy fix.

 

[Pottsey]

No. It’s the usual few who have genuine issues and a majority of idiots. Just have to look at YouTube for the type of morons that have so many issues with their TV licence.

I am not talking about the idiots on YouTube. I am talking about this thread and the people with genuine problems. In regrades to this thread your comments are wrong. Its not idiots its genuine problems.

 

[Scort]

No. It’s the usual few who have genuine issues and a majority of idiots. Just have to look at YouTube for the type of morons that have so many issues with their TV licence.

I'd like to think that the good folk of OcUK posting in here, are a cut above the typical gammons you see trying to lord it up over the Capita enforcers – those people are complete and utter ****s imo. Sure, they might be in the right, but you don’t have to act like an **** about it as far as I’m concerned.

And as @Pottsey points out – this isn’t Youtube, so the reference you make isn't really valid.