Do you pay your TV licence fee?
Discussion
I'm late 40's and stopped paying sometime last year. Just replaced it with a couple of Roku boxes and and piggyback off my brothers Netflix account. However if that goes I wouldn't be bothered.
Stopping was relatively easy. I just had to fill in a declaration form and this would have me sorted for two years. It's a shame you have to continue doing this but it's not as scary and odious as some make it out to be. Maybe it was more difficult a few years ago but it's not a big deal these days.
Stopping was relatively easy. I just had to fill in a declaration form and this would have me sorted for two years. It's a shame you have to continue doing this but it's not as scary and odious as some make it out to be. Maybe it was more difficult a few years ago but it's not a big deal these days.
Lotusgone said:
deckster said:
Lotusgone said:
There's an awful lot of tax I pay where I have little choice - income tax, VAT on some items, council tax, insurance premium tax etc etc. Do I approve on how all of it is spent? - like virtually everyone, no.
In this instance I do have a choice. When this archaic tax is killed off, I might subscribe to the Beeb or I might not.
Let's be clear: if you watch live TV then you don't have a choice any more than you have a choice of paying income tax or VAT. Which is rather the point that gets people upset; you are legally obliged to pay, or face the prospect of going to court.In this instance I do have a choice. When this archaic tax is killed off, I might subscribe to the Beeb or I might not.
You don't have a choice. You are legally compelled to pay the license fee if you watch live TV. The fact that you don't leaves you open to legal action.
Just as you don't have a choice about paying tax. You are legally required to, if you earn an income. If you don't, then you are liable to legal action.
Just as you don't have a choice about speeding. You are legally required to drive to the speed limit. If you don't, then you are liable to legal action.
The fact that you might choose to do any of those things doesn't actually mean that have a choice. If you see what I mean
GetCarter said:
I pay.
The most 'soft' influence the UK has in the world is largely due to the BBC. (Endless evidence to support this).
You'll never get that back if you defund it, and make it a commercial operation.
BBC radio can never support itself via subscription, so would all pretty much grind to a halt. Including, and especially BBC world service.
Lastly. I think the funding issue has to be revised as it's just not fit for purpose in the 2020's.
But until someone comes up with a viable construct that will maintain a great and influential British institution, to those on here that have decided not to pay, I can understand why, but by not doing so you are not helping one of the finest and most successful industries we have in the UK.
Two things regarding overseas influence. Firstly, I am not sure I trust the BBC to operate the World Service as an editorially-independent output. The most 'soft' influence the UK has in the world is largely due to the BBC. (Endless evidence to support this).
You'll never get that back if you defund it, and make it a commercial operation.
BBC radio can never support itself via subscription, so would all pretty much grind to a halt. Including, and especially BBC world service.
Lastly. I think the funding issue has to be revised as it's just not fit for purpose in the 2020's.
But until someone comes up with a viable construct that will maintain a great and influential British institution, to those on here that have decided not to pay, I can understand why, but by not doing so you are not helping one of the finest and most successful industries we have in the UK.
Secondly, if the BBCWS is to continue, then it can be funded from the foreign aid budget.
deckster said:
Lotusgone said:
deckster said:
Lotusgone said:
There's an awful lot of tax I pay where I have little choice - income tax, VAT on some items, council tax, insurance premium tax etc etc. Do I approve on how all of it is spent? - like virtually everyone, no.
In this instance I do have a choice. When this archaic tax is killed off, I might subscribe to the Beeb or I might not.
Let's be clear: if you watch live TV then you don't have a choice any more than you have a choice of paying income tax or VAT. Which is rather the point that gets people upset; you are legally obliged to pay, or face the prospect of going to court.In this instance I do have a choice. When this archaic tax is killed off, I might subscribe to the Beeb or I might not.
You don't have a choice. You are legally compelled to pay the license fee if you watch live TV. The fact that you don't leaves you open to legal action.
Just as you don't have a choice about paying tax. You are legally required to, if you earn an income. If you don't, then you are liable to legal action.
Just as you don't have a choice about speeding. You are legally required to drive to the speed limit. If you don't, then you are liable to legal action.
The fact that you might choose to do any of those things doesn't actually mean that have a choice. If you see what I mean
Writing to the Beeb? Tried that, got nowhere. Ever seen or heard Feedback or Newswatch? Every single time, the response is "we were justified, we know best". The only language these people understand is the loss of funding.
There is a choice, the issue is that for decades the licence fee has been presumed as being normal, people are now realising that it is not and when you have been confronted by numerous things such as extra licences being sold for the same house already covered by one, false declarations to try and nail a payment, and the pressure goons are under and the measures they go to to get payments you do realise this is all a huge con.
I have read so many websites about this, one guy kept all his letters over a 10 years period, the money wasted in paper alone was staggering, same person, different signatures, the threats and veiled wording, none of this is really necessary, and most of comes from Capita.
Sadly that is your point of contact, a totally corrupt basic debt collection agency who are only interested in that 150 quid out of every house and will waste millions on letters, printers, staff and paper to get it, as they still push the same narrative, even though people are a lot wiser to the narrative now.
I have read so many websites about this, one guy kept all his letters over a 10 years period, the money wasted in paper alone was staggering, same person, different signatures, the threats and veiled wording, none of this is really necessary, and most of comes from Capita.
Sadly that is your point of contact, a totally corrupt basic debt collection agency who are only interested in that 150 quid out of every house and will waste millions on letters, printers, staff and paper to get it, as they still push the same narrative, even though people are a lot wiser to the narrative now.
LukeBrown66 said:
Sadly that is your point of contact, a totally corrupt basic debt collection agency who are only interested in that 150 quid out of every house and will waste millions on letters, printers, staff and paper to get it, as they still push the same narrative, even though people are a lot wiser to the narrative now.
I wonder if the increase in authoritarianism is a reaction to how people can disseminate info between themselves now, without need for the establishment to dish it out slowly, in expurgated increments.29 moved into my first house at 28 haven't paid it don't watch BBC or live TV watch everything on YouTube Netflix Amazon discovery+ etc. Even my dad I've got hooked on YouTube he's always messaging me saying have you seen the latest episode from whatever channel he is watching.
The content on YouTube specially car related is far better than mainstream TV.
My sister Alos thinking about getting rid of it but still watches BBC iPlayer but as months roll on using it less and less.
License fee needs to end hopefully by end of the decade if not sooner.
The content on YouTube specially car related is far better than mainstream TV.
My sister Alos thinking about getting rid of it but still watches BBC iPlayer but as months roll on using it less and less.
License fee needs to end hopefully by end of the decade if not sooner.
Stopped paying a year ago after massive decline in the amount of BBC or live TV that I was consuming. I suspect over 2020, the last year I paid, my viewing worked out at around £10ph, with 4 of those hours being the Superbowl.
I now pick and choose the subscription services as needed on a monthly basis, but most of my viewing is now YouTube.
I do still listen to TMS on occasion but even this is starting to lose broadcast rights to the commercial sector.
If I was to return to paying the TV licence, it needs to change to a monthly subscription model. It's current model is outdated and I can see it going through a lot of pain until it realises the current funding model is no longer satisfactory to an ever increasing section of the population.
I now pick and choose the subscription services as needed on a monthly basis, but most of my viewing is now YouTube.
I do still listen to TMS on occasion but even this is starting to lose broadcast rights to the commercial sector.
If I was to return to paying the TV licence, it needs to change to a monthly subscription model. It's current model is outdated and I can see it going through a lot of pain until it realises the current funding model is no longer satisfactory to an ever increasing section of the population.
simonrockman said:
This was the topic of conversation at a Christmas party I went to.
The room was very divided. Those of a certain age, I'd guess over forty were in the camp I'm in "yes, of course, everyone does".
Those in their twenties "no, no one does".
Polling friends of my kids and an intern at work it seems that they all think the licence fee should be regarded as optional and they choose not to take that option.
It is optional in the same way as paying for a car is optional. Yes, if I want the car/service of course I have to pay for it, but I don't have to buy either.The room was very divided. Those of a certain age, I'd guess over forty were in the camp I'm in "yes, of course, everyone does".
Those in their twenties "no, no one does".
Polling friends of my kids and an intern at work it seems that they all think the licence fee should be regarded as optional and they choose not to take that option.
Haven't had a TV licence in at least a decade. (37 or 38 here, I can't remember)
Lotusgone said:
From a purely legal point of view, all of that is correct. But how do you change an unsatisfactory situation?
Writing to the Beeb? Tried that, got nowhere. Ever seen or heard Feedback or Newswatch? Every single time, the response is "we were justified, we know best". The only language these people understand is the loss of funding.
Ever considered that they are making content for more than just you or is that a bit of a mind blowing concept to grasp? Writing to the Beeb? Tried that, got nowhere. Ever seen or heard Feedback or Newswatch? Every single time, the response is "we were justified, we know best". The only language these people understand is the loss of funding.
deckster said:
I am old(er than 40) and have never considered not paying it, but then again I have been accused in these pages before of being excessively keen to follow the rules.
I get a lot of the objections and I do think it needs an overhaul. I also watch very little BBC TV output. But I listen to BBC radio, and I read BBC news. But beyond that, I think that a public broadcaster that is free of the need to court advertisers is a valuable thing to have. My reference point here is always US TV, which is chock-full of drivel and thinly disguised info-mercials that just make me feel unclean. I know our rules about advertising are different - but even so it seems to me that the BBC serves an important role in keeping the rest of the networks in check. And simply for that I willingly pay the license fee.
I'd be happy if the government put a small amount of my tax the BBC's way to pay for the news/radio, then if you want the "entertainment" you have to cough up the rest of the licence fee. Instead of £150 a year or whatever it is, it could be the equivalent of £25-£30 in tax for the basics, then if you want the rest you pay the other £120 as per the situation now.I get a lot of the objections and I do think it needs an overhaul. I also watch very little BBC TV output. But I listen to BBC radio, and I read BBC news. But beyond that, I think that a public broadcaster that is free of the need to court advertisers is a valuable thing to have. My reference point here is always US TV, which is chock-full of drivel and thinly disguised info-mercials that just make me feel unclean. I know our rules about advertising are different - but even so it seems to me that the BBC serves an important role in keeping the rest of the networks in check. And simply for that I willingly pay the license fee.
Aunty Pasty said:
Stopping was relatively easy. I just had to fill in a declaration form and this would have me sorted for two years. It's a shame you have to continue doing this but it's not as scary and odious as some make it out to be. Maybe it was more difficult a few years ago but it's not a big deal these days.
The Road Crew said:
I pay it but I don't want to. Barely watch anything lever these days.
To those who don't pay - do you you get much grief from TV licensing?
No. You simply have to declare you no longer watch live TV via the TV licensing website. (Or follow the link on the letters you will start receiving upon stopping your payment)To those who don't pay - do you you get much grief from TV licensing?
Start here - https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-on...
Cotty said:
Aunty Pasty said:
Stopping was relatively easy. I just had to fill in a declaration form and this would have me sorted for two years. It's a shame you have to continue doing this but it's not as scary and odious as some make it out to be. Maybe it was more difficult a few years ago but it's not a big deal these days.
The Road Crew said:
To those who don't pay - do you you get much grief from TV licensing?
No they have never visited. I just bin the unopened letters every month.Ashfordian said:
No. You simply have to declare you no longer watch live TV via the TV licensing website. (Or follow the link on the letters you will start receiving upon stopping your payment)
Start here - https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-on...
But we should not have to. People who don't own a car don't have to declare that they don't need a road fund licence every two years.Start here - https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-on...
Dingu said:
Yeah, everyone knows you should just quote the Magna Carta if anyone comes to check. It’s much less hassle
No you just close the door on them. Its unnecessary harrasment.Edited by Cotty on Sunday 30th January 19:30
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