Do you pay your TV licence fee?
Discussion
Randy Winkman said:
James6112 said:
Always had a TV licence as much prefer the BBC output to the other channels. Both TV, Radio, iplayer etc.
Cheap as chips.
No SkyTv or Virgin etc.
Same for me. Total bargain.Cheap as chips.
No SkyTv or Virgin etc.
But I do symathise with those that dont use the BBC and therefore don't want to pay for it. I'm sure the current model for funding it will go at some point.
I just watch YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, etc. I don’t even have the other channels’ catch up services…
Ken Figenus said:
Genuinely think this is going to end up in a mini Post Office like sh show as what TV Licensing declare in writing as being an illegal activity and threaten people with prosecution for often isn't consistent, accurate or based on the actual legislation. They purposefully mislead and overstep, in writing, and may have convicted people based on that. Capita must be performance based so lever...?
Also don't forget that many of the prosecutions use the Single Justice Procedure which even the magistrate's association are criticising.https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/magistrates-unco...
Some might say that if someone doesn't respond in 21days to an enforcement notice they have only themselves to blame. On the other hand by selecting your case to be heard by the SJP and thus avoiding a court appearance there is absolutely no guarantee that any plea or mitigation will actually be seen and the case will be decided upon in seconds, literally seconds. Some of the most vulnerable people in society potentially thus suffer harm by a flawed prosecution.
Cotty said:
Are you sure that wording is correct. I know they like to act belligerent, but they can't interview you under caution, they don't have that power.
It’s nearly verbatim. It definitely used the words “under caution”. What they mean is that they’ll have body cameras and will warn me when I open the door that they are recording and could use it in court. As usual the language they use is designed to make it look like the door steppers have more power than they do - which is basically, zero.Each of their questions will be blanked and I’ll ask them the same question in return, because I have no more obligations to them than they do to me.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m not going to tell you. What’s your name?”
Etc. I recognise that this is dick behaviour and it’s very unlike my usual way of behaving, but their whole approach to this annoys me - including their blatant disregard of the law.
Suspect this post will not sit well with many of the posters on here.
They should listen to the first part of this, just call me a lefty luvvie, but in my opinion there's a lot of quite reasonable points made. First part, roughly up to 15 mins.
https://youtu.be/4k_KNjSfH7s?si=5Ci5DvjvhgIL7qhN
Having said all that was quite amused by a revelation on another edition discussing W1A, and Marina's husband was reported as admitting that BBC staff were bewildered as to why viewers were laughing at W1A as "it's just our normal day!"
Pay licence fee, happy to do so, have lived and travelled in other countries and recognise that BBC is both outstanding, and simultaneously infuriating sometimes the latter dependant on the strength of personal political opinion, and that applies from both left and right. As are other broadcasters especially in USA.
Cue usuals going "but Lineker."
Let there be sensible discussion moving forward to 2027.
They should listen to the first part of this, just call me a lefty luvvie, but in my opinion there's a lot of quite reasonable points made. First part, roughly up to 15 mins.
https://youtu.be/4k_KNjSfH7s?si=5Ci5DvjvhgIL7qhN
Having said all that was quite amused by a revelation on another edition discussing W1A, and Marina's husband was reported as admitting that BBC staff were bewildered as to why viewers were laughing at W1A as "it's just our normal day!"
Pay licence fee, happy to do so, have lived and travelled in other countries and recognise that BBC is both outstanding, and simultaneously infuriating sometimes the latter dependant on the strength of personal political opinion, and that applies from both left and right. As are other broadcasters especially in USA.
Cue usuals going "but Lineker."
Let there be sensible discussion moving forward to 2027.
FiF said:
Suspect this post will not sit well with many of the posters on here.
They should listen to the first part of this, just call me a lefty luvvie, but in my opinion there's a lot of quite reasonable points made. First part, roughly up to 15 mins.
It’s an interesting listen, and despite not paying the licence fee I do think the BBC has a place. If they just used £15 a month out of my tax to fund the BBC I’d be fine with that in a way that I’m sure a number of the posters on this thread would not be. They should listen to the first part of this, just call me a lefty luvvie, but in my opinion there's a lot of quite reasonable points made. First part, roughly up to 15 mins.
However, if they give me an option to not pay for something that I don’t personally use, I’m going to opt out of paying it…
Cancelled mine last year. The bbc does some great stuff but it also has some big issues. I really hate the way it's used mainly to fund the bbc and yet its hidden behind a licence and with certain conditions to use it. Why should someone pay to fund the bbc if they only want to watch live streams of whatever on YouTube. It's not right. The bbc has major problems coming down the road it either needs to move with the times or it's going to struggle to survive anything like it is now. The bbc own attitude really doesn't help itself either.
FiF said:
Suspect this post will not sit well with many of the posters on here.
They should listen to the first part of this, just call me a lefty luvvie, but in my opinion there's a lot of quite reasonable points made. First part, roughly up to 15 mins.
https://youtu.be/4k_KNjSfH7s?si=5Ci5DvjvhgIL7qhN
I watched it but its the same old comments about how great the BBC. But if its so great why is it that they want to prevent you watching live TV that they don't produce unless you pay them?They should listen to the first part of this, just call me a lefty luvvie, but in my opinion there's a lot of quite reasonable points made. First part, roughly up to 15 mins.
https://youtu.be/4k_KNjSfH7s?si=5Ci5DvjvhgIL7qhN
Also did you realise the irony of posting a YouTube link so people can watch people selling the BBC, but they don't have to pay to watch it as it isn't live?
Cotty said:
FiF said:
Suspect this post will not sit well with many of the posters on here.
They should listen to the first part of this, just call me a lefty luvvie, but in my opinion there's a lot of quite reasonable points made. First part, roughly up to 15 mins.
https://youtu.be/4k_KNjSfH7s?si=5Ci5DvjvhgIL7qhN
I watched it but its the same old comments about how great the BBC. But if its so great why is it that they want to prevent you watching live TV that they don't produce unless you pay them?They should listen to the first part of this, just call me a lefty luvvie, but in my opinion there's a lot of quite reasonable points made. First part, roughly up to 15 mins.
https://youtu.be/4k_KNjSfH7s?si=5Ci5DvjvhgIL7qhN
Also did you realise the irony of posting a YouTube link so people can watch people selling the BBC, but they don't have to pay to watch it as it isn't live?
Then complaining about paying to watch TV that they haven't made which you can't watch unless you pay? You mean like the streamers Netflix , Sky etc.
Then compare the cost of some of the streamers with their very narrow production portfolio with the wide range of programmes that the BBC makes and is legally required to make. All for the cost that doesn't cover more than a few months of Sky for example. Still if you're anti BBC that's your opinion and fair enough, it's an opinion. BBC certainly isn't perfect and neither is the licence fee and the way it's imposed and enforced.
FiF said:
Then complaining about paying to watch TV that they haven't made which you can't watch unless you pay? You mean like the streamers Netflix , Sky etc.
One of the few things that I would want to watch live is Le Mans or Bathhurst neither of which the BBC shows. Why do I have to pay the BBC to watch another channels content? over and above what it would cost to watch that conrtent in the first place.Cotty said:
FiF said:
Then complaining about paying to watch TV that they haven't made which you can't watch unless you pay? You mean like the streamers Netflix , Sky etc.
One of the few things that I would want to watch live is Le Mans or Bathhurst neither of which the BBC shows. Why do I have to pay the BBC to watch another channels content? over and above what it would cost to watch that conrtent in the first place.It's nuts isn't it and folks are getting more and more fed up with it and they can walk away in the modern world.
I do wonder if or how they would catch anyone breaking the rules. You would have to have a warrant or be able to go through personal data with your ISP I would think.
White-Noise said:
Because its a license for a TV. Not the BBC funding. Not at all.
It's nuts isn't it and folks are getting more and more fed up with it and they can walk away in the modern world.
I do wonder if or how they would catch anyone breaking the rules. You would have to have a warrant or be able to go through personal data with your ISP I would think.
It is not a licence for a TV, you do not need one to own a TV, you need one to receive broadcasts. The majority of the money goes to the BBC.It's nuts isn't it and folks are getting more and more fed up with it and they can walk away in the modern world.
I do wonder if or how they would catch anyone breaking the rules. You would have to have a warrant or be able to go through personal data with your ISP I would think.
The point being made that if you so wished by receive a broadcast from Sky for something that the BBC do not broadcast, you must pay the license fee and therefore pay for services you have no interest in.
We don't have to pay Tesco a surcharge if we wish to shop in Sainsburys, or BP if we refuel at Shell.
They catch people by sending scary letters and have their doorstep bullies overstep their remit.
Imagine a situation whereby you pay to access their services and if you don't pay, you can't get access to them, wouldn't that be simple ? unfortunately the BBC deliberately sabotaged that in order to retain the licence fee under the current rules so they can collect the fee regardless.
White-Noise said:
Cotty said:
FiF said:
Then complaining about paying to watch TV that they haven't made which you can't watch unless you pay? You mean like the streamers Netflix , Sky etc.
One of the few things that I would want to watch live is Le Mans or Bathhurst neither of which the BBC shows. Why do I have to pay the BBC to watch another channels content? over and above what it would cost to watch that conrtent in the first place.It's nuts isn't it and folks are getting more and more fed up with it and they can walk away in the modern world.
I do wonder if or how they would catch anyone breaking the rules. You would have to have a warrant or be able to go through personal data with your ISP I would think.
thebraketester said:
Funny isn’t it. You can sign up in 5 seconds online but to cancel it you’ve got to call them…. Of course.
or just dont pay it and bin the letters, its what i do.I dont inform tesco when i shop at sainsbury, why tell the bbc?
i quite enjoy the threatening letters.
Never had a visit, but would just say no thanks and shut the door.
I wonder how much of the license fee gets spent on the chasing up of people not paying, must be quite a bit.
i just file them in the bin along with all the takeaway leaflets i seem to get.
In fact i cant remember the last time i got any useful post,99% is done by email now, bank statements/utility bills etc.
thebraketester said:
Funny isn’t it. You can sign up in 5 seconds online but to cancel it you’ve got to call them…. Of course.
That's a good reason not to sign up for a Direct Debit for the TV License, for sure.DDs aside though, you don't need to call them or notify them in any way that you don't want/need a license. If you don't, they just will send you an endless stream of increasingly official-sounding and frankly, threatening, letters. I just ignore them all - they have no more validity or legal weight than me sending you a letter trying to intimidate you into getting a TV license.
Note: I am not advocating 'license dodging'. If you do watch the BBC (in God's name, why????) either on TV or iPlayer you need a license, as do you also if you watch *TV broadcasts on any OTA chanel or either * live* online streaming from the digital services of those OTA channels .. and you should get one, as the law requires.
However, if like me and many many other people you don't want anything to do with BBC propagandising and social conditioning, and you no longer watch other OTA television, instead viewing stuff from streaming providers or downloads, then no need for a license. I personally put the money saved towards Youtube Premium - delivers far more value to me.
I stopped paying it a couple of years ago when mum passed away. She had those news channels on 24 hours a day and I think i have PTSD from the sound of that BBC News beep music and the Sky News music.
I don’t watch anything other than YouTube and Netflix, although I just discovered in my Barclays app that I have free access to Apple TV+ as a reward or benefit.
If I were going to watch TV, I would want it to be ad free as I can’t stand commercials. They are what drove me away from watching TV. That and the utter dross of reality TV and everything having to be a competition. Competitive baking. Competitive cooking. Competitive antique buying. Competitive singing and dancing. Competitive pricing in jungles or houses. What a load of BS. All I wanted were films and documentaries and I don’t need to pay a licence to watch those online.
I don’t watch anything other than YouTube and Netflix, although I just discovered in my Barclays app that I have free access to Apple TV+ as a reward or benefit.
If I were going to watch TV, I would want it to be ad free as I can’t stand commercials. They are what drove me away from watching TV. That and the utter dross of reality TV and everything having to be a competition. Competitive baking. Competitive cooking. Competitive antique buying. Competitive singing and dancing. Competitive pricing in jungles or houses. What a load of BS. All I wanted were films and documentaries and I don’t need to pay a licence to watch those online.
I posted this on the other TV License fee thread last week regarding direct debit.
Without getting into the politics of the BBC and how they spend the money or if they can actually do anything about not paying, I decided to renew my license as I do watch the iPlayer and live BBC channels a fair bit since I ditched Sky.
Going through the renewal process, they steer you to paying by direct debit but when you choose the monthly option, it forces you to pay 6 months at £28 then the next 12 months at £14. That means you've paid the full £169 a year by January but then still paying £14 a month for the next 6 months. By my simple calculations that makes it £253 a year
Am I missing something here?
Anyway, I opted to to renew it by a one off card payment ..... no direct debit.
Without getting into the politics of the BBC and how they spend the money or if they can actually do anything about not paying, I decided to renew my license as I do watch the iPlayer and live BBC channels a fair bit since I ditched Sky.
Going through the renewal process, they steer you to paying by direct debit but when you choose the monthly option, it forces you to pay 6 months at £28 then the next 12 months at £14. That means you've paid the full £169 a year by January but then still paying £14 a month for the next 6 months. By my simple calculations that makes it £253 a year
Am I missing something here?
Anyway, I opted to to renew it by a one off card payment ..... no direct debit.
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