Not to need a tv licence

[bestthings]

My friend says she doesn't need a licence because she doesn't watch BBC. Is it really that simple, i mean do they have to believe you? It just seems very trusting of them. I don't watch BBC myself, but have always had a licence. She says i shouldn't. Does anyone know the actual facts about this?

[LIZS]

If you have equipment capable of receiving live tv and/or radio then you need a licence.

[HighwayDragon1]

If you watch ANY live TV, regardless of station you need a license. Your friend is wrong and is heading the right at for a large fine!

[DeStijl]

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

[daisychicken]

If you watch live TV on any channel, you need a TV licence. If you only watch catch up (not incl bbc) or dvds or Netflix then you don't need a TV licence. BBC catchup still requires a TV licence - they (bbc) changed their rules last year I think it was.

We dont have a TV licence. We watch mostly dvd boxsets or amazon/Netflix and occasionally ch4 catch up.

[rjay123]

The TV licence funds more than just the BBC

[daisychicken]

LIZS isn't correct. You can have a TV or. Computer capable of watching live TV but detuned the TV and not watch live via pc and still be within the rules.

[etap]

Luckily these things are but a mere google away!

[thecolonelbumminganugget]

I think it's the case that if you watch any live t.v. (live as in, you receive a live signal and you watch a programme as it is broadcast regardless of what channel it's on) or watch anything on iPlayer then you need a license. You don't need a license to listen to the radio.

[Bellamuerte]

If you own equipment capable of receiving tv channels, you need a licence. Even if you never turn the tv on! Watching tv online also requires a licence.

[IrkThePurist]

Do I need a tv licence?
www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one

You need a TV licence to;

• watch or record live TV programmes on any channel on any device.
  

• download or watch any BBC programmes on iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand. on any device.
  

Whats the fine for not having a tv licence?
www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/detection-and-penalties-top5

The maximum penalty is a £1,000 fine plus any legal costs and/or compensation you may be ordered to pay.

If you cant pay, you could be imprisoned. (New guidelines will hopefully mean that single parents will no longer be sent to prison for being too poor to be able to afford the licence.)
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/24/tv-licence-evaders-could-get-slap-wrist-new-sentencing-guidelines/

[bestthings]

I have googled and it does actually say you don't need a licence if you don't watch BBC. I'm thinking i'm missing something though, surely that can't be the case.

[Lazypuppy]

Everyone above your post has answered your question, your second post makes no sense. If you watch live tv you need a licence

[bestthings]

How draconian to send licence evaders to prison. Punished for being poor, unfortunately still goes on in other areas.

[Lazypuppy]

It's £12 a month for a licence and freeview is free so not really expensive to be able to watch tv is it!

You sound like you are looking for an excuse not to pay for a license, if you want to risk the fine and prison crack on. But for £12 a month i'd rather just pay it

[DeStijl]

Well no, if you're that poor you can't pay for your tv licence it's probably advisable not to have a tv.. It's not punishment for being poor it's punishment for not having a licence.

[ArbitraryName]

If you own equipment capable of receiving tv channels, you need a licence. Even if you never turn the tv on!

This is completely untrue. I wish people would stop posting hysterical misinformation about tv licenses on MN.

You need a tv license if you watch live tv on any channel (not just bbc) and/or if you watch tv on bbc iplayer. You can listen to the radio on iplayer without one though.

[DorisDangleberry]

You definitely don't need need a licence. If an inspector comes to the door just swiftly knee them in the knackers. Legally that voids any investigation they are doing into your TV watching

[PoppyCherry]

How draconian to send licence evaders to prison. Punished for being poor, unfortunately still goes on in other areas.

My eyes are literally rolling into the back of my head.

It isn’t punishment for being poor. Watching BBC is not a fundamental need, FFS.

[BurningStar]

I don't pay for a licence because I don't need to. They came and tried to get into my house. I told them I have filled in a declaration saying I have no need for a licence and told them to get lost. Haven't heard from them since.

[onceandneveragain]

As others have said - why do people bother asking this on MN when there is a very clear site that says (in highly specific detail, including down to what happens if you don't have a license, but downloaded a programme at a friend's house who does, and then you want to watch that programme on a train/black at your house) when you do and don't need a license.

OP - I don't know what you have googled, but as per Irk's post right above yours, the actual TV licensing website says very clearly

"You need a TV licence to;

• watch or record live TV programmes on any channel on any device."
  

So if your friend is watching ITV or whatever live then she needs a license.

If she is watching ITV/Ch4/anythign else non BBC on catchup she doesn't need one.

If she watches BBC live or on catchup she needs one.

It really is quite straightforward yet every few months these threads come up on MN and all the 'experts' jump on with their (often erroneous) ideas. Just look at the website!

[specialsubject]

The wilful stupidity of so many on here beggars belief. You have internet access, use Google and it will lead you straight to the answer.

It may not be the answer you want but that's life. Suck it up.

[IrkThePurist]

DorisDangleberry I'm in court soon, will you be my solicitor?

[bfgdreamtree]

I have googled and it does actually say you don't need a licence if you don't watch BBC

Somebody on the internet probably says that. The law does not though.

Why ask if you won't listen to the answers?

[c3pu]

I've not had a licence for years, much to my disappointment the TV licencing goons haven't so much as knocked my.door :(

[BlossomRussoAndSixLemeure]

@IrkThePurist she can’t. She’s in prison for kneeing someone in the knackers.