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Original poster

Cancelling TV license

137 replies

Halfheadhighlights · 08/07/2024 00:13

My husband wants us to cancel our tv licence. We barely watch live tv, have had it on for the euros and will probably watch some of the olympics.

I watch Netflix and Amazon but I’m not bothered about having live channels.

just wondering people’s experiences of cancelling, did tv licence people bug you with letters and threatening to visit? I just can’t be bothered with any hassle, especially as it didn’t cost much really.

H is very passionate about not giving money to the BBC though.

OP posts:
S0livagant · 09/07/2024 19:47

MrHarleyQuin · 09/07/2024 19:37

That was just in a few hours not per year.

Sky, Prime, Netflix, it all adds up. BBC seems a bargain to me.

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I don't pay for any streaming subscriptions so nothing adds up to nothing. I have one free with my bank account that a couple of my family members use. Most of my friends and family only have one or two, CoL.

MrHarleyQuin · 09/07/2024 19:37

S0livagant · 09/07/2024 15:34

You pay over £150 a month for subscriptions? Not everyone has a spare £150 a year for a bit of Wimbledon (or a bit of whatever else another night).

Show quote history

That was just in a few hours not per year.

Sky, Prime, Netflix, it all adds up. BBC seems a bargain to me.

CommeUneVacheEspagnole · 09/07/2024 18:15

That's what pisses me off the most @S0livagant - you pay 6 months in advance and never get it back! I questioned it at the time (almost 20 years ago) and the person on the phone didn't see why I would have a problem with it. I asked if she would ever give that 6 months advance back, for example to my estate when I die, and she understood but said that's how it's done. If only I could bill everyone that way!

S0livagant · 09/07/2024 17:21

If you don't have a tv but use iplayer, it costs £169.50. If you have a black and white tv, it's about a third of the cost. Can you watch iplayer if you only have a black and white tv?

summeroccupation · 09/07/2024 17:13

SeismicSalad · 08/07/2024 09:42

This. We filled in the declaration years ago and never heard from them again. It’s really not a problem.

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Same. I don't have a TV and don't watch anything live. Filled it in, sent it back and haven't heard from them since.

WestofaCrave · 09/07/2024 17:09

Whattodo1610 · 09/07/2024 15:27

You need a tv licence for this 🤷‍♀️

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It categorically does not. Check your facts.

S0livagant · 09/07/2024 17:04

x2boys · 09/07/2024 16:50

I didn't say that ,but I dont think they produce much good quality stuff any more
I also didn't say people have to agree with.me .
If you think the BBC is great I'm delighted for you I don't, it's a matter of choice isn't it?

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It's also a matter of whether they produce enough of what you want to watch to justify the cost. At a minimum you'd be paying £28 a month for the first six months if you don't already have a licence.

Whattodo1610 · 09/07/2024 16:55

Wotcher · 09/07/2024 16:11

No I didn’t.

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My mistake, I’ve literally read it wrong 🤦‍♀️

Whattodo1610 · 09/07/2024 16:55

Lellochip · 09/07/2024 15:32

No you don't, ITV catch up is neither live broadcast nor BBC?

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My mistake … I’ve literally read it wrong 🤦‍♀️

x2boys · 09/07/2024 16:50

AbraAbraCadabra · 09/07/2024 16:43

So you think that literally EVERYTHING that the BBC produce and have produced over the years is “rubbish”. That doesn’t sound like an opinion, it sounds like a lazy sweeping statement.

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I didn't say that ,but I dont think they produce much good quality stuff any more
I also didn't say people have to agree with.me .
If you think the BBC is great I'm delighted for you I don't, it's a matter of choice isn't it?

AbraAbraCadabra · 09/07/2024 16:43

x2boys · 09/07/2024 07:32

But that's just your subjective opnion
How hard is it to grasp different people like different things ?

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So you think that literally EVERYTHING that the BBC produce and have produced over the years is “rubbish”. That doesn’t sound like an opinion, it sounds like a lazy sweeping statement.

Wotcher · 09/07/2024 16:11

Whattodo1610 · 09/07/2024 15:27

You need a tv licence for this 🤷‍♀️

Show quote history

No I didn’t.

DysonSphere · 09/07/2024 15:35

I feel the need to point out that the licence also covers live TV on any channel, not just the BBC.

S0livagant · 09/07/2024 15:34

MrHarleyQuin · 09/07/2024 15:25

We’ve not had a TV licence since 2019, Netflix is so much better.

Really? I've probably watched one series on it a year since we've had it. I could barely find something to watch for an evening let alone rely on it for my sole source of TV viewing.

Whereas in a few hours yesterday I listened to Radio 2, watched a bit of Wimbledon and listened to a series on BBC Sounds. Costs me in a year nearly what we pay per month for all the other subscriptions.

You pay over £150 a month for subscriptions? Not everyone has a spare £150 a year for a bit of Wimbledon (or a bit of whatever else another night).

Lellochip · 09/07/2024 15:32

Whattodo1610 · 09/07/2024 15:27

You need a tv licence for this 🤷‍♀️

Show quote history

No you don't, ITV catch up is neither live broadcast nor BBC?

Gape · 09/07/2024 15:32

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

MrHarleyQuin · 09/07/2024 15:32

x2boys · 09/07/2024 15:28

It,s all subjective isn't it you think the BBC is great and are happy to pay for it other posters don't
People have different viewing tastes.

Edited
Show quote history

I just wish you could be more selective with a Sky subscription. I don't ever watch satellite channels live because of the endless ads and don't really even want any of them except the ability to watch live Premier League and Champions League football.

MrHarleyQuin · 09/07/2024 15:28

Though one of my first tests of using knowledge of the law to our advantage as a law student was when we got a request for a second TV licence at our house as my housemate also had a TV in her bedroom.

As we all signed the same tenancy agreement and were jointly and severally liable for the rent I told the TV licence people politely to take a running jump.

x2boys · 09/07/2024 15:28

MrHarleyQuin · 09/07/2024 15:25

We’ve not had a TV licence since 2019, Netflix is so much better.

Really? I've probably watched one series on it a year since we've had it. I could barely find something to watch for an evening let alone rely on it for my sole source of TV viewing.

Whereas in a few hours yesterday I listened to Radio 2, watched a bit of Wimbledon and listened to a series on BBC Sounds. Costs me in a year nearly what we pay per month for all the other subscriptions.

It,s all subjective isn't it you think the BBC is great and are happy to pay for it other posters don't
People have different viewing tastes.

Whattodo1610 · 09/07/2024 15:27

Wotcher · 08/07/2024 09:44

I didn’t have one in a second home that I had for work. I just watched ITV catch up on my laptop.

They never bothered me after I sent the form to say I wasn’t watching TV/didn’t need a licence.

You need a tv licence for this 🤷‍♀️

MrHarleyQuin · 09/07/2024 15:25

We’ve not had a TV licence since 2019, Netflix is so much better.

Really? I've probably watched one series on it a year since we've had it. I could barely find something to watch for an evening let alone rely on it for my sole source of TV viewing.

Whereas in a few hours yesterday I listened to Radio 2, watched a bit of Wimbledon and listened to a series on BBC Sounds. Costs me in a year nearly what we pay per month for all the other subscriptions.

VolvoFan · 09/07/2024 15:22

We cancelled ours years ago. We don't watch any live broadcasts or any BBC content. We had a few letters bugging us after cancelling it to try to encourage us to buy one, but each one was shredded and put in the bin. Not a peep since.

PurpleBugz · 09/07/2024 15:19

I get a letter about once a year to check if I need a license setting out the rules. I used to fill in the form every year saying I still do t watch tv but can't be bothered now so just ignore. They never have visited

OonaStubbs · 09/07/2024 07:49

Or just get rid of it entirely.

OonaStubbs · 09/07/2024 07:49

Just pay for it from general taxation. If the government have to approve the TV licence every few years, what exactly is the difference?

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