TV licencing

[catso]

XCP said:

I can see a radio licence being even trickier to enforce than a TV licence.

Don't know if it's still the case? but when I lived in Italy, car tax was more for a car with a radio fitted.

Back on topic though, I received many of these threatening letters at my business address. They send them for a while and then stop for a while, often threatening to send someone round but they never have.

I don't have a TV at work and never have but wouldn't let them in if they visit. The reason being that the letters, from the start are written in a nasty accusing way, rather than just a simple question as to whether I have a TV or not. If they can't be civil then they'll get the same treatment back I'm afraid.

[dxg]

technodup said:

I couldn't care less about the letters. Their empty threats are intended to scare the stupid, the elderly and the poor, and again I don't fit any of those categories.

The one that gets me when it crops up in the cycle is the "what to expect when you appear in court" letter. It's immoral. Plain and simple. I can imagine many people panicking when they receive that one and "paying up to make the problem go away" even when the "the problem" doesn't exist.

That one gets my goat.

[dxg]

catso said:

I don't have a TV at work and never have but wouldn't let them in if they visit. The reason being that the letters, from the start are written in a nasty accusing way, rather than just a simple question as to whether I have a TV or not. If they can't be civil then they'll get the same treatment back I'm afraid.

Yup. Exactly my views on the matter too. If they're going to accuse me of something that I haven't done, then I'm not going to play their game.

[pip t]

catso said:

Don't know if it's still the case? but when I lived in Italy, car tax was more for a car with a radio fitted.

Back on topic though, I received many of these threatening letters at my business address. They send them for a while and then stop for a while, often threatening to send someone round but they never have.

I don't have a TV at work and never have but wouldn't let them in if they visit. The reason being that the letters, from the start are written in a nasty accusing way, rather than just a simple question as to whether I have a TV or not. If they can't be civil then they'll get the same treatment back I'm afraid.

This is it for me - it's not what they do, after all, at the moment that's the law and they're only doing their job trying to enforce it - it's the thoroughly unpleasant way they go about it.

[ashleyman]

Have a TV, use it to watch movies and iTunes rentals. Don't have an aerial plugged in and there's no stored channels.

We sometimes watch things on catchup but very very rarely. I'm assuming I don't need a TV license. Correct?

[Aphex]

ashleyman said:

Have a TV, use it to watch movies and iTunes rentals. Don't have an aerial plugged in and there's no stored channels.

We sometimes watch things on catchup but very very rarely. I'm assuming I don't need a TV license. Correct?

Yep

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one...

[Slidingpillar]

Radio licences did exist in the UK until February 1971, with cars requiring another one. Abandoned due to the sheer impossibility of anyone enforcing it.

[technodup]

Aphex said:

You tell them you don't need it and they say 'thanks, we'll check again in 2 years time in case anything has changed'. After 2 years, you tell them again. Simple stuff guys

They used to address the letters to me, now it's changed to 'the legal occupier'. So if they don't have a record of me at my address I'm sure as hell not telling them who and where I am. For what? An increased chance of a visit from some hired goon salesmen quoting a load of quasi legal bullst?

Not in my lifetime.

The whole thing from the mythical 'tv detector vans' to the threatening letters to the unscheduled visits is based on fear and intimidation. They can fk right off.

[4rephill]

technodup said:

hey used to address the letters to me, now it's changed to 'the legal occupier'. So if they don't have a record of me at my address I'm sure as hell not telling them who and where I am. For what? An increased chance of a visit from some hired goon salesmen quoting a load of quasi legal bullst?

Not in my lifetime.

The whole thing from the mythical 'tv detector vans' to the threatening letters to the unscheduled visits is based on fear and intimidation. They can fk right off.

You really do seem to be getting very aggravated and het up over something that in reality is actually quite trivial and easy to sort out!

I'd hate to see you when you have a genuine, serious issue to deal with!

[technodup]

4rephill said:

You really do seem to be getting very aggravated and het up over something that in reality is actually quite trivial and easy to sort out!

I'm not aggravated at all, and I have sorted it out by ignoring them year after year.

I just take a dislike to the assumed guilt and threatening behaviour, all in the name of a crap TV broadcaster. In any other walk of life you and anyone would be exactly the same.

[funkyrobot]

ashleyman said:

Have a TV, use it to watch movies and iTunes rentals. Don't have an aerial plugged in and there's no stored channels.

We sometimes watch things on catchup but very very rarely. I'm assuming I don't need a TV license. Correct?

You only need a licence if you watch TV as it is aired on any device.

We don't have working to aerials, and only watch the odd but of catchup and YouTube. Have a NowTV movie subscription which covers she what we need.

[mph1977]

dxg said:

The one that gets me when it crops up in the cycle is the "what to expect when you appear in court" letter. It's immoral. Plain and simple. I can imagine many people panicking when they receive that one and "paying up to make the problem go away" even when the "the problem" doesn't exist.

That one gets my goat.

or you could just complete the declaration and 1 - 2 years peace from them ...

[mph1977]

ashleyman said:

Have a TV, use it to watch movies and iTunes rentals. Don't have an aerial plugged in and there's no stored channels.

We sometimes watch things on catchup but very very rarely. I'm assuming I don't need a TV license. Correct?

so what is it connected to ?

can it recieve live broadcasts in it;s current configuration ?

[INWB]

You can't blame them for being aggressive in their methods. They have shows like Celebrity Strictly Dancing on Ice to fund.

No wonder it is a criminal matter rather than a civil (as everything comparable would be)

[creampuff]

4rephill said:

You really do seem to be getting very aggravated and het up over something that in reality is actually quite trivial and easy to sort out!

I'd hate to see you when you have a genuine, serious issue to deal with!

I think if those TV Licensing fkers actually wrote in a polite and civil manner, you wouldn't get responses like that. When you move into a new place and the first item of mail you get is a threatening letter from TV Licensing threatening to come around and take you to court, when they can get fking cancer and fking die as far as I'm fking concerned. fk those fkers. And fk the BBC; some good nature documentaries but hour after fking hour of fking drivel otherwise. fk those fking fks.

[ashleyman]

mph1977 said:

so what is it connected to ?

can it recieve live broadcasts in it;s current configuration ?

It's connected to the power and then to an Apple TV.

I tried earlier and when it scans for channels it doesn't pick up a single one. So I'm assuming it doesn't even have a built in aerial. Not even sure where the communual aerial socket is in my flat.

Either way. There's no way that TV can receive a live broadcast. Everything that's shown on it is all from my iPhone over the Apple TV.

[dmitsi]

I refuse to buy a TV licence since they created the one show.

[Who me ?]

Hi said:

There is a VERY simple way to stop the letters arriving if you actually read one of the leaflets. There is a very simple process for letting them know that you do not need a TV licence, it can be done online in about 1 minute, the instructions are on the leaflets that you will have had through the door. Once you have done it you won't get any letters for 2 years, after 2 years they will check if your situation is the same or if it has changed.

!

And for empty properties? For a few years I kept an eye on my daughter's empty place, whilst she tried to sell it . Letters follow a set pattern. First couple are quite polite, and get more aggressive to the "when we get you in court" and then the threat of a visit. There's no record of a visit, so I suppose no one called. Then it was ,after a few weeks back to the polite ones etc. At one stage, I opened one, filled in the "no one lives here " section, sealed it back up ( they expect a stamp if you return it) and sent it back-"NO OCCUPIER, SURCHARGE" .Next reply wanted the name etc of the person responsible. that went back RTS and as they would not accept that house was empty, I sent any others back "no occupier -RTS" .Had they sent someone out, then neighbours would have told them house was empty,and situation resolved. But since they seem to have lots of time /effort and money to waste, I let them carry on . Ah well - possibly one OAP who struggled to pay for constant repeats fell through the net.

[powerstroke]

The place next door is being converted into 4 houses we have been getting 4 lots of letters which go in the bin!! they are getting more and more aggressive , and how much do these s waste on this st ????

[Timbuktu]

Hi said:

There is a VERY simple way to stop the letters arriving if you actually read one of the leaflets. There is a very simple process for letting them know that you do not need a TV licence, it can be done online in about 1 minute, the instructions are on the leaflets that you will have had through the door. Once you have done it you won't get any letters for 2 years, after 2 years they will check if your situation is the same or if it has changed.

It couldn't be simpler. I don't see the point in having to go through all the stress of dealing with the people knocking at your door and arguing with them about whether or not they are allowed entry when it can all be avoided by just letting them know you don't need a TV licence.

People baffle me!

Quite...

At my old house I filled in the declaration and had no letters from them for 5 years.

At my new house I filled in the declaration when I moved here and I've had no letters since.

Filling in the simple online form will end your worrying, misery and depression caused by these shocking, awful letters [/sarcasm] - why would you not do it and continue to let yourself get worked up about it??

It really couldn't be easier:

CLICK HERE