Experiences of cancelling tv license?
Discussion
We cancelled sky back in 2019, we dont have an aerial or a sky box. 100% of what we watch is netflix, prime or youtube, and we are happy at that. Seeing modern bbc output in peoples houses I am working in leaves me absolutely convinced we are missing nothing of any value. Being forced to listen to 1xtra in one workplace was the final straw.
I think its time to cancel the tv license but my mrs is worried about enforcement coming to the door and harrassing her while I am at work. How likely is that? And how pushy are they? You hear a lot of accusations of dishonesty and underhand tactics, but how much of that is coming from people who were scamming the system and watching licensed content and lying about it?
She doesn't want to get harrased, as she doesnt do conflict well with people who think they have authority, she is too nice to tell someone to go f
k themself to their face which is a good trait, but there are plenty of times in life where that is just whats needed.
Has anyone on here legitimately cancelled the license and did you receive harrassment?
I think its time to cancel the tv license but my mrs is worried about enforcement coming to the door and harrassing her while I am at work. How likely is that? And how pushy are they? You hear a lot of accusations of dishonesty and underhand tactics, but how much of that is coming from people who were scamming the system and watching licensed content and lying about it?
She doesn't want to get harrased, as she doesnt do conflict well with people who think they have authority, she is too nice to tell someone to go f
k themself to their face which is a good trait, but there are plenty of times in life where that is just whats needed.Has anyone on here legitimately cancelled the license and did you receive harrassment?
You’ll get threatening letters. Ignore them
You might get enforcement officers at your door demanding to be let in. Ignore them as they have no power.
Basically they cannot do anything unless you let them in. Sounds like you don’t want live tv/ tv as it’s broadcast so don’t worry about it
You might get enforcement officers at your door demanding to be let in. Ignore them as they have no power.
Basically they cannot do anything unless you let them in. Sounds like you don’t want live tv/ tv as it’s broadcast so don’t worry about it
If you do not need or use your licence for live programs then you can either cancel the subscription or fill out the declaration that you no longer need a licence as you want no live tv or Iplayer.
They will struggle to prove it even if you do, but obviously if you have subs to stuff like SKY, Virgin etc it is obvious you are likely to be watching live tv.
Secondly, if you cancel their letters just become a pain, they are sent out every month and they will just keep sending them relentlessly if you do nothing, literally every year they will send the same basic letters. It must cost a small fortune.
You may get a visit, but don't give them any details, or simply ask who they are and that you do not wish to talk, or simply ignore the visit. They have no power at all. I know this is not easy especially if you partner is concerned, the letters are designed to come across as threatening. I could suggest watching YouTube vids about it, you will learn a lot about what little power Capita goons have.
They will struggle to prove it even if you do, but obviously if you have subs to stuff like SKY, Virgin etc it is obvious you are likely to be watching live tv.
Secondly, if you cancel their letters just become a pain, they are sent out every month and they will just keep sending them relentlessly if you do nothing, literally every year they will send the same basic letters. It must cost a small fortune.
You may get a visit, but don't give them any details, or simply ask who they are and that you do not wish to talk, or simply ignore the visit. They have no power at all. I know this is not easy especially if you partner is concerned, the letters are designed to come across as threatening. I could suggest watching YouTube vids about it, you will learn a lot about what little power Capita goons have.
Just fill in the online form. Google says it's here -
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/cs/no-licence-needed...
I've filled it in each time I moved home but I ignore any reminders. They've never tried coming to the door as far as I know.
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/cs/no-licence-needed...
I've filled it in each time I moved home but I ignore any reminders. They've never tried coming to the door as far as I know.
BabySharkDooDooDooDooDooDoo said:
You’ll get threatening letters. Ignore them
You might get enforcement officers at your door demanding to be let in. Ignore them as they have no power.
Basically they cannot do anything unless you let them in. Sounds like you don’t want live tv/ tv as it’s broadcast so don’t worry about it
This but expect increasingly threatening letters.You might get enforcement officers at your door demanding to be let in. Ignore them as they have no power.
Basically they cannot do anything unless you let them in. Sounds like you don’t want live tv/ tv as it’s broadcast so don’t worry about it
Cancelled while we had a home not in use except for holidays and there was no TV in the place. (In fact the Sky dish rotted and fell down and you couldn't get TV via an aerial).
I kept telling them we had no TV but it fell on deaf ears.
I get hassled despite the address being a warehouse used for freight forwarding to end customers, we've had hundreds of tvs through the doors for people but never plugged one in!
Because of the delivery address for the tvs being us we also get the threatening letters.
We tried to tell them but to be honest I gave up, if they visit they won't be allowed on site anyway as its gated with no public access.
Because of the delivery address for the tvs being us we also get the threatening letters.
We tried to tell them but to be honest I gave up, if they visit they won't be allowed on site anyway as its gated with no public access.
I had a property sitting empty for a few years and the Capita letters were quite entertaning.
They got increasingly threatening with more and more red ink print on them with lots of threats to enter the property and even being interviewed under caution!
They just go round in an circle then start again,
Just ignored them, had a pile about 2 inches high in the end
They got increasingly threatening with more and more red ink print on them with lots of threats to enter the property and even being interviewed under caution!
They just go round in an circle then start again,
Just ignored them, had a pile about 2 inches high in the end
Cancelled my TV License 16 months ago via this web link
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/cs/no-licence-needed...
Never heard from them again.
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/cs/no-licence-needed...
Never heard from them again.
slk 32 said:
I've not cancelled myself but a mate did 4 years ago.
I asked him if he got any hassle and he's heard nothing. Apparently you simply fill in an online declaration (which I think you may need to renew every couple of years) and they leave you alone.
Same here. Had pretend threatening letter a few times even after declaring online, ignore them. I asked him if he got any hassle and he's heard nothing. Apparently you simply fill in an online declaration (which I think you may need to renew every couple of years) and they leave you alone.
If they do ever visit, a polite “no thanks” and just close the door.
I cancelled (or rather moved, and declared I didn’t need a licence) two years ago. Heard nothing until last month, when they wrote to me to ask me to reconfirm that I didn’t need one.
Did that, and I assume I won’t hear from them again for another two years.
There’s a load of stuff about how they might send someone to check, which is fine. They can send someone, I’m not particularly inclined to let them in, talk to them, or even make any effort to be in when they visit.
Like you, I’ve not watched live TV or and BBC stuff on iPlayer for years now, so I have no need for a TV licence.
Did that, and I assume I won’t hear from them again for another two years.
There’s a load of stuff about how they might send someone to check, which is fine. They can send someone, I’m not particularly inclined to let them in, talk to them, or even make any effort to be in when they visit.
Like you, I’ve not watched live TV or and BBC stuff on iPlayer for years now, so I have no need for a TV licence.
Mainly out of curiosity, it wont really change anything but I take it you dont need a license to watch the bbc archive stuff that bbc put on youtube if it isnt live?
Their science and technology programs from the 70s to the early 90s were great, a perfect example of how they have went downhill over the years to just turning out braindead ste and propaganda now.
Their science and technology programs from the 70s to the early 90s were great, a perfect example of how they have went downhill over the years to just turning out braindead s
te and propaganda now. 
OldGermanHeaps said:
Mainly out of curiosity, it wont really change anything but I take it you dont need a license to watch the bbc archive stuff that bbc put on youtube if it isnt live?
Their science and technology programs from the 70s to the early 90s were great, a perfect example of how they have went downhill over the years to just turning out braindead ste and propaganda now.
Correct, YouTube doesn’t need a TV licence, unless you’re live streaming broadcast TV. The archive stuff isn’t that, so isn’t covered.Their science and technology programs from the 70s to the early 90s were great, a perfect example of how they have went downhill over the years to just turning out braindead s
te and propaganda now. The iPlayer does require a TV licence to use.
I’ve never understood why, if you cancel then get a visit, you don’t just show them that your tv has no aerial connected.
They say thanks, then go away.
Instead, people will spend far more time and effort not cooperating, behaving like they are trying to cheat the system, then get irate when they get more letters and visits.
They say thanks, then go away.
Instead, people will spend far more time and effort not cooperating, behaving like they are trying to cheat the system, then get irate when they get more letters and visits.
Because they have no right to enter your home when you havent done anything wrong and there is no evidence to suggest you are doing wrong. Do you invite the police in to search your house for drugs at regular intervals just in case? Why not? You have nothing to hide.
I have 13 tvs in the house, if you count the one in the car, the one in the campervan and the one in the boat, do I invite them round every room?
I have 13 tvs in the house, if you count the one in the car, the one in the campervan and the one in the boat, do I invite them round every room?
Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Sunday 24th April 21:25
Alex Z said:
I’ve never understood why, if you cancel then get a visit, you don’t just show them that your tv has no aerial connected.
They say thanks, then go away.
Instead, people will spend far more time and effort not cooperating, behaving like they are trying to cheat the system, then get irate when they get more letters and visits.
If someone from Sky or Netflix knocked on your door asking to have a nose round your property would you let them in?They say thanks, then go away.
Instead, people will spend far more time and effort not cooperating, behaving like they are trying to cheat the system, then get irate when they get more letters and visits.
Why should the BBC be any different? These “enforcement officers” are really just salesman and should be treated as such
I cancelled my license following “Sachsgate” and got sick of their ridiculous letters so I wrote to them withdrawing their “implied right of access” to my property. Haven’t heard a peep from them since.
I haven’t missed live broadcast TV in the slightest incidentally. Quite liberating in fact…
Unless they’ve wound their necks in recently, the letters are bang out of order too. One told me what to expect if I was taken to court, another had “final demand” on the envelope in red letters. Didn’t bother me but I’m sure a little old lady would find it intimidating. Again if it’s not judged reasonable for Sky or Netflix to behave like this, why should the BBC?
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