TV Licence Super Thread

[Maple Leaf]

Because the government can.
Its far away from what it was originally. So moving the goalposts is fine.

What can anyone do anyway?

You can vote for another party? But that would only be reform I expect. And 200 quid a year sucks. But I'm not voting for reform over it.

Tbh, I don't even think reform would do it.

That's not how democracy works. You don't just do what the government wants because only one other (objectionable) political party agrees with you, you fight back until they change their policy. Media campaigning, lobbying MPs/Ministers, peaceful protest, civil disobedience etc have all been used to get unpopular government policies changed in the past. For example, the Poll Tax was revoked that way.

If they put the TV license into Council Tax I expect there to be an uproar. Council Tax inflation is already very unpopular. People on low/fixed incomes and pensioners will be furious. A lot of people will refuse to pay it and get sent to prison. The negative publicity from that will be very damaging for the BBC.

 

[413x]

That's not how democracy works. You don't just do what the government wants because only one other (objectionable) political party agrees with you, you fight back until they change their policy. Media campaigning, lobbying MPs/Ministers, peaceful protest, civil disobedience etc have all been used to get unpopular government policies changed in the past. For example, the Poll Tax was revoked that way.

If they put the TV license into Council Tax I expect there to be an uproar. Council Tax inflation is already very unpopular. People on low/fixed incomes and pensioners will be furious. A lot of people will refuse to pay it and get sent to prison. The negative publicity from that will be very damaging for the BBC.

Disagree.
Many people are paying already.
Many people will get a net Discount this way.
It won't be enough people to make a difference to any voting.

Its just a **** situation can't really do anything about.

People will not refuse to pay it. That's just not going to happen.

The only people it's really going to irk are people who don't pay. Which means the sooner they make the change the better for whoever does it.

I genuinely do not think any party would allow the BBC to fail.

 

[GIBURROWS]

Disagree.
Many people are paying already.
Many people will get a net Discount this way.
It won't be enough people to make a difference to any voting.

Its just a **** situation can't really do anything about.

People will not refuse to pay it. That's just not going to happen.

The only people it's really going to irk are people who don't pay. Which means the sooner they make the change the better for whoever does it.

I genuinely do not think any party would allow the BBC to fail.

I will refuse to pay it.

 

[Shadowness]

I will refuse to pay it.

This. You can't force people to pay for something they don't want/need.

 

[200sols]

Sure you will refuse, people said that before about others things like energy and water. 99.999% paid up, the others were prosecuted.

 

[Shadowness]

Sure you will refuse, people said that before about others things like energy and water. 99.999% paid up, the others were prosecuted.

People sort of need energy and water. They don't need to watch Eastenders.

 

[200sols]

People sort of need energy and water. They don't need to watch Eastenders.

Totally missed the point, well done.

Also this point

This. You can't force people to pay for something they don't want/need.

Your taxes already pay for things you dont use but others do, this would be nothing new. This idea that your taxes must only be used for something you specifically use is nonsense.

 

[Shadowness]

Totally missed the point, well done.

Also this point

Your taxes already pay for things you dont use but others do, this would be nothing new. This idea that your taxes must only be used for something you specifically use is nonsense.

Yes but they are for the betterment of the general public/life. Does the BBC contribute to that in the same way? So yes, there's lot of things listed on my council tax that don't really benefit me directly - but I can see how they help generally.

 

[413x]

People sort of need energy and water. They don't need to watch Eastenders.

Once it's bundled into CT people will have to pay it.
There will be people who say "I'll refuse to pay it" but they will.

No ones going to gain CCJs etc over a 200 quid CT increase.
Sure we will moan. But we will suck it up.

 

[Shadowness]

Hopefully we'll 'do a France' and just have a nation wide protest

Their speed cameras didn't last long as a result of that!

 

[Tavis75]

Yes but they are for the betterment of the general public/life. Does the BBC contribute to that in the same way? So yes, there's lot of things listed on my council tax that don't really benefit me directly - but I can see how they help generally.

The BBC is a lot more important than plenty of things my tax gets spent on.
Even in the news right now we're seeing the case of MI5 having been found to be lying to the courts which was uncovered and pursued by BBC journalists, and that's just one example that comes to mind. Even from a purely entertainment perspective having a national broadcaster providing varied content rather than only what makes the most money seems pretty important.

 

[JonRGV250]

For every good news article they put out, they also shoot themselves in the foot by putting out either blatant bias or just plain make up stuff.
If you like paying to be told what to think, then have at it, but a lot of us dont feel the BBC is in any way good vfm.
As has been said before many many times, if they were so confident their content was so excellent then go subscription.
But we all know how that would work out.

 

[Tavis75]

As has been said before many many times, if they were so confident their content was so excellent then go subscription.
But we all know how that would work out.

Yes, they'd have to start aiming to only make the most profitable of programs, rather than a wide array of stuff, there would also be no financial incentive for any deep investigative journalism etc. they'd basically just become the same as all the other services.

 

[JonRGV250]

They’d be plenty of financial incentive for deep investigative journalism if the public thought it was worth paying for.

 

[413x]

The BBC is a lot more important than plenty of things my tax gets spent on.
Even in the news right now we're seeing the case of MI5 having been found to be lying to the courts which was uncovered and pursued by BBC journalists, and that's just one example that comes to mind. Even from a purely entertainment perspective having a national broadcaster providing varied content rather than only what makes the most money seems pretty important.

I actually have no issue paying for this part.
Its the entertainment/ expensive sport. The bit that's totally personal. That wouldn't matter if if it went.

Why not save money and show some cheap obscure sports?
Why not ditch the trash soaps? People can get that elsewhere.
Why not get rid of the game shows etc.

There's a lot of fat that can be trimmed and actually move the BBC to something of value.

Its got bloated with tat and personal preferences.

I like f1, I don't like football. Both have exposure else where. This sort of spend is not needed.

 

[MissChief]

Changed my licence address online and it was easy enough to do as well. I do watch a lot of live TV, probably more than I do streaming but it's mostly Sport.

 

[GIBURROWS]

Once it's bundled into CT people will have to pay it.
There will be people who say "I'll refuse to pay it" but they will.

No ones going to gain CCJs etc over a 200 quid CT increase.
Sure we will moan. But we will suck it up.

Just because you are weak do not bunch everyone else into your group, if it goes ahead I can assure you my direct debit will stop and I will withhold payment.

 

[NetMan]

Just because you are weak do not bunch everyone else into your group, if it goes ahead I can assure you my direct debit will stop and I will withhold payment.

Then they can send bailiffs or ask the court to just take it from you:

County court judgments for debt

What to do if you receive a county court judgment (CCJ) - how to get it set aside or change what you pay, what happens if you do not pay, how to search the register. Includes information from the withdrawn EX320 and EX326 guidance.

www.gov.uk

"Actions the court can take against you to force you to pay
The court may decide to:

order a deduction from your earnings
freeze money in your bank or building society account
deduct the money you owe when you sell your property (such as a house, land, stocks or shares)
order you to come to court to answer questions about things like your earnings or employment status"


It they change it so there is no opt out and it gets added to council tax there's no getting out of it unless you are homeless or in jail and you will also have to pay the CCJ / bailiffs fees on top and potentially ruin your credit score at the same time.

 

[GIBURROWS]

I'm happy to take it that far

 

[413x]

Just because you are weak do not bunch everyone else into your group, if it goes ahead I can assure you my direct debit will stop and I will withhold payment.

I'm not weak. I'm not stupid. I'm not going to risk my job, my mortgage renewal etc for 200 quid a year.