TV Licensing (Business) letter
TV Licensing (Business) letter
Author
Discussion

trickywoo

Original Poster:

14,229 posts

260 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
Anyone else received a TV Licensing letter to their business?

Its got my back right up as I've had to reconfirm that no TV license is needed at my business or risk a £1,000 fine or visit by 'an officer'.

Its a business. I don't have a TV in the office, I've never bought any receiving equipment in the business name. I have an internet connection but no one watches TV or iPlayer because its a business.

I had to tick a box from a list of reasons as to why the business didn't need a license and none of the the options were 'because its a business where people work rather than watch TV'. I had to tick an option along the lines of only watching DVDS (don't do that either) to be able to advise that I don't need a license.

What a dreadful way to conduct your licensing.


13m

28,176 posts

252 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
trickywoo said:
Anyone else received a TV Licensing letter to their business?

Its got my back right up as I've had to reconfirm that no TV license is needed at my business or risk a £1,000 fine or visit by 'an officer'.

Its a business. I don't have a TV in the office, I've never bought any receiving equipment in the business name. I have an internet connection but no one watches TV or iPlayer because its a business.

I had to tick a box from a list of reasons as to why the business didn't need a license and none of the the options were 'because its a business where people work rather than watch TV'. I had to tick an option along the lines of only watching DVDS (don't do that either) to be able to advise that I don't need a license.

What a dreadful way to conduct your licensing.
Was the bin full?

trickywoo

Original Poster:

14,229 posts

260 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
13m said:
Was the bin full?
Its the second letter they sent. First one straight in the bin. This one said I had to respond by 19th September or risk £1,000 fine / visit.

Its the tone I've taken exception to as apart from being a waste of my time I'd quite like to waste an inspectors time in seeing my two PCs used for work and not even a radio present.

Its a full on guilty until proved innocent letter which being sent to a business seems completely beyond the pale. They probably send similar letters to every business address at regular intervals.



Scotty2

1,477 posts

296 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
Yup.

Just got one for my storage unit!

Mind you I also get regular letters stating "you have not put much credit on your electricity account...is anything wrong? we will send an Engineer to check..."

Told them it is a storage unit and a few tools, ramps and a little heating in the office in the winter.

Another letter...

Engineer came round. "Mind if I have a look inside?" "Oh it's a storage unit" Yes it is. I told you.

Queue a few months later.. "you have not put much credit on your electricity account...is anything wrong? we will send an Engineer to check..."


CoolHands

23,578 posts

225 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
I don't see why you bother responding.

By the way do you have your PPL licence?! tongue out

Edit or is it PRS? Or is it both!

Edited by CoolHands on Monday 12th September 14:08

13m

28,176 posts

252 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
trickywoo said:
Its the second letter they sent. First one straight in the bin. This one said I had to respond by 19th September or risk £1,000 fine / visit.

Its the tone I've taken exception to as apart from being a waste of my time I'd quite like to waste an inspectors time in seeing my two PCs used for work and not even a radio present.

Its a full on guilty until proved innocent letter which being sent to a business seems completely beyond the pale. They probably send similar letters to every business address at regular intervals.
Can they fine you for not returning it then? I would be surprised. A visit would cost you nothing and provide an opportunity for a bit of fun.

I am not an anarchist licence refusenik by the way, but Capita (I think it is) are an irritating shower of bds.


spookly

4,393 posts

125 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
Just ignore them and let them expend as much time and money as possible.
They do not have any right of entry even if they send an inspector.

The only way they can get right of entry is via the courts and to get it they will need to produce evidence that you have been doing something which would have required a TV license. Catch 22 for them, so that's why their only option is to bully people and hopefully find some who don't know their rights and just pay up.

And, yes, I do have a TV license.

Magic919

14,550 posts

231 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
It's a licence.

Danattheopticians

375 posts

132 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
Magic919 said:
It's a licence.
Rather than a license you mean? Why what's the difference?

Magic919

14,550 posts

231 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
Noun versus verb. Unless you are American, when it's license for both.

Danattheopticians

375 posts

132 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
I only ask because I have a similar grammatical problem with my work. I think, Where I work is My "Practice" the person carrying out the eye exam carries out his/her practise?

Magic919

14,550 posts

231 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
People can struggle with advice/advise too.

Danattheopticians

375 posts

132 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
Magic919 said:
People can struggle with advice/advise too.
Or Left/Right biglaugh

Magic919

14,550 posts

231 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
Tell me about it. We do 'my way' and 'your way' in the car.

Danattheopticians

375 posts

132 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
I had, "go that way" pointing straight on at a fork in the road!

Nimby

5,719 posts

180 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
trickywoo said:
... I have an internet connection but no one watches TV or iPlayer because its a business...
At my last place staff were allowed personal use of the internet over lunch time. I suppose now with the change in the TV licencing law they ought to block the BBC iPlayer site via the firewall (or buy a licence).

21TonyK

13,352 posts

239 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
Nimby said:
trickywoo said:
... I have an internet connection but no one watches TV or iPlayer because its a business...
At my last place staff were allowed personal use of the internet over lunch time. I suppose now with the change in the TV licencing law they ought to block the BBC iPlayer site via the firewall (or buy a licence).
Exactly what we have at work. Can listen to radio on iPlayer but not watch TV.

herewego

8,814 posts

243 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
spookly said:
Just ignore them and let them expend as much time and money as possible.
They do not have any right of entry even if they send an inspector.

The only way they can get right of entry is via the courts and to get it they will need to produce evidence that you have been doing something which would have required a TV license. Catch 22 for them, so that's why their only option is to bully people and hopefully find some who don't know their rights and just pay up.

And, yes, I do have a TV license.
I expect the letter explained the circumstances in which the business would need to buy a licence so I'm not sure which rights they would need to know.

t400ble

1,804 posts

151 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
I get loads

All in the bin

PurpleMoonlight

22,362 posts

187 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
I have a business.

I have a business premises.

I have a TV in the business premises.

I have a TV licence covering the TV in the business premises.

See, it happens.

tongue out