cancelling TV licence

[DBSV8]

we haven't watched live TV in over 8 months ,

so really no point in continuing with TV licence , at the moment , Ariel is removed , SKY cancelled , and only use TV for Netflix / Amazon Prime , ITV / channel 4 catch up , Have not logged in to BBC iplayer in over 8 months kids normally use TV for X Box .....
looking on line we do not watch or record live broadcasts or BBC iplayer so meet requirements

So if i inform BBC that we are cancelling licence , i presume this opens flood gates for Capita goons , to want to visit , which i don't understand why ?

The law states you must not watch live broadcasts , so how do we prove this

Anyone been through this process

cheers,

[chr15b]

There is a disclaimer you can fill in, ‘due to gdpr’ they’ll insist you do this every 2 years, irritates me, but appears to keep them away.

[georgefreeman918]

Been thinking this myself for last few weeks. Never watch any TV, only YouTube, Netflix and Amazon so why are we paying £13 per month for it. If it were any other unused direct debit it would be cancelled already. Anybody actually been busted for not having one? How can they prove you haven’t watched live TV?

[hotchy]

georgefreeman918 said:

Been thinking this myself for last few weeks. Never watch any TV, only YouTube, Netflix and Amazon so why are we paying £13 per month for it. If it were any other unused direct debit it would be cancelled already. Anybody actually been busted for not having one? How can they prove you haven’t watched live TV?

Iv been in my new place for 3 months and only recieved 1 nasty letter. It's not that I'm not paying, i just do my usual and put the letter on the side to deal with later and I forget. You actually reminded me so probably will get it sorted sometime soon. In reality iv not watched anything but Netflix or prime since I moved in. However I have virgin media package for the internet so cant prove I dont watch it.

[Sheetmaself]

Cancelled mine about three months ago as only at my house about two/three days a week with no time to watch a lot of tv. No problems at all no letters asking for entry or proof that I don’t watch tv.

[SlowcoachIII]

For the past 3 years I’ve signed the disclaimer saying that I don’t need one and I’ve never had any issues. I imagine it’s when you don’t buy a licence or don’t inform them that you start getting the threatening letters etc.

[steveo3002]

id fill out the form to just try and avoid hassle

but yeah its a bit like having to sign a form for the police , "i can confirm i didnt rob anyone last night"

[Cotty]

steveo3002 said:

id fill out the form to just try and avoid hassle

but yeah its a bit like having to sign a form for the police , "i can confirm i didnt rob anyone last night"

Thats the bit I don't like. Also they say they may still send someone round to check.

I just stopped paying and bin the letters when they come. They are easy to spot as they are adressed to "the homeowner" I don't even open them these days. They can waste their money keep sending them.

[anonymous-user]

georgefreeman918 said:

Been thinking this myself for last few weeks. Never watch any TV, only YouTube, Netflix and Amazon so why are we paying £13 per month for it. If it were any other unused direct debit it would be cancelled already. Anybody actually been busted for not having one? How can they prove you haven’t watched live TV?

Same here so I cancelled it about 3 years ago. Due to same reasons as you above and the OP.
Not been an issue.

Don't they have to prove/catch you watching live TV or iplayer and that may be difficult given it's unlikely if you don't use it and they don't have a straightforward right of access into your home.

I did some work last year in an apartment block and the biggest pile of junk and vicious threats to empty unsold apartments were from the BBCs collection goons

The workaround will eventually probably end up being an Internet tax or something to fund the BBC.
That reminds me I still need to rip the old redundant sky dish and cabling off the wall. The old TV Ariel went off the roof a few years ago.

[Skyedriver]

We had a place, was our home but we moved out and used it for holidays. No TV so dropped the licence.
The letters or rather threats we received were tantamount to harrassment and i wrote to them and said i'd be taking them to court for it.
letters stopped for a while, then it all started over again....

[untakenname]

I think the non payment of the licence fee has now been decriminalised as lots of serious crimes weren't reaching court due to them being clogged with licence fee evaders.

Moved into a rental a couple of years back and the letters were so threatening (giving specific date that they would try and enter) that it upset my gf.


Long running thread was running a couple of years back showing the lengths they go, the sooner the fee is scrapped the better.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

untakenname said:

, the sooner the fee is scrapped the better.

Be careful what you wish for. No ads on the Beeb pretty much keeps the other channels ads reasonable.

Have you ever tried to watch American TV? Probably 1/3 of the time is ads. Nightmare.

I think the 30p a day or whatever it is is the best six bob I spend

[DBSV8]

chr15b said:

There is a disclaimer you can fill in, ‘due to gdpr’ they’ll insist you do this every 2 years, irritates me, but appears to keep them away.

thank you , do you have a link much appreciated

[Drezza]

At my house I just ignored the letters and got visits about 4 times, each time I just don't answer the door, they get the idea and leave. Now I just send the form that says I don't watch TV and haven't had a visit in months.

[Welshbeef]

DBSV8 said:

we haven't watched live TV in over 8 months ,

so really no point in continuing with TV licence , at the moment , Ariel is removed , SKY cancelled , and only use TV for Netflix / Amazon Prime , ITV / channel 4 catch up , Have not logged in to BBC iplayer in over 8 months kids normally use TV for X Box .....
looking on line we do not watch or record live broadcasts or BBC iplayer so meet requirements

So if i inform BBC that we are cancelling licence , i presume this opens flood gates for Capita goons , to want to visit , which i don't understand why ?

The law states you must not watch live broadcasts , so how do we prove this

Anyone been through this process

cheers,

Do you listen to any of the BBC radio stations? (Why do you feel that should be free to you)
So you ever use the BBC website - again if you do why do you feel that should be free to you?

[Welshbeef]

The BBC dramas have been extremely good as we all know winning many awards /and at the top of watch lists.

6 Nations
Boat race
Strictly
Dark materials
Top gear
All the radio

Given lockdown I’d say it would be an extremely bizarre option to cancel it

[anonymous-user]

Welshbeef said:

Do you listen to any of the BBC radio stations? (Why do you feel that should be free to you)

Do you think the BBC needs 40 odd different radio stations, 300 million odd.

Why not have a model like channel 4 which is both commercial and importantly non profit.

[Welshbeef]

The Spruce Goose said:

Welshbeef said:

Do you listen to any of the BBC radio stations? (Why do you feel that should be free to you)

Do you think the BBC needs 40 odd different radio stations, 300 million odd.

Why not have a model like channel 4 which is both commercial and importantly non profit.

Didn’t know CH4 provided as free radio.

Also the commercial TV model may find significant reduction in advertising revenue following Covid and if BBC are also in the game then those who do pay for advertising might pull funds away from ITV CH4/5 etc as somehow the advertising needs to provide what £1billon a year

[dundarach]

My mum died in January, and I cancelled her TV licence.

I'm planning to rent out her house now probate is done, took a great deal of pleasure ripping up the letter sent to her house saying it was unlicenced.

Complete and utter scumbags.

I'm cancelling mine next year when Sky runs out.

I hope anyone, connected in any way with the licence, burns in a firey hell!

Scum!

[Cold]

Welshbeef said:

Do you listen to any of the BBC radio stations? (Why do you feel that should be free to you)
So you ever use the BBC website - again if you do why do you feel that should be free to you?

What are you blathering on about?