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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:
Petrine · 08/07/2024 18:44

I simply stopped paying for it. I got a visit after about 18 months and it was agreed that I don’t need a licence as I don’t watch live tv. It doesn’t stop the stupid letters though… I just bin them.

S0livagant · 08/07/2024 18:39

Changingplace · 08/07/2024 15:40

It is, you stop paying and complete the declaration to say you don’t need one, as many people have confirmed that’s all you need to do, no drama.

Show quote history

Netflix doesn't require a declaration or ask your name if you've never subscribed.

S0livagant · 08/07/2024 18:37

They can tell if your watching tv with the detector vans.

Myth

S0livagant · 08/07/2024 18:36

Chucklit · 08/07/2024 00:31

Tv license have been sending endless letters to me for 9 years, always addressed "to the occupant" as they don't know my name. I haven't declared that I don't need a license, I don’t, but don’t want to give them my name as I’m aware that they still follow up to "check". It's an endless round of escalating letters then backing down and just sending generic ones. They have no right to know my name. Honestly google this, for all of their "legal" threats, they're full of shit and have no right to enter your home unless you invite them in. They can try to fine you if you show them the apps on your tv and happen to be logged in.
I’m not buying into their bullshit. You can read extensively online about that.

I used a throw away email address and put 'The Occupant' or similar as my name.

EmeraldRoulette · 08/07/2024 18:32

@Halfheadhighlights yes I had a license before I cancelled it. I also deleted my iPlayer login.

A previous poster mentioned the radio.

. I am not a big radio person, but you are allowed to listen to the radio without TV licence, I think.

Womanofcustard · 08/07/2024 18:28

I cancelled mine about a year ago. It was straightforward, I got a refund from my direct debit and a follow up email to tell me: I can’t watch live tv or use iplayer. Only time I missed it was on Thursday, election night. There’s enough for me on youtube.

wineandcheeseplease · 08/07/2024 18:19

PassingStranger · 08/07/2024 18:03

They can tell if your watching tv with the detector vans.
So don't say your not then watch.
I personally find it not to expensive for all you get.
Love sports so football and tennis coverage is good also Glastonbury Attenborough programmes and a few others.
Love BBC radio too.
I wouldn't want to be without those enjoyments.
The football and tennis coverage is something they do well.

Detector vans aren't a thing.

They can only tell if they enter your property.

PassingStranger · 08/07/2024 18:03

They can tell if your watching tv with the detector vans.
So don't say your not then watch.
I personally find it not to expensive for all you get.
Love sports so football and tennis coverage is good also Glastonbury Attenborough programmes and a few others.
Love BBC radio too.
I wouldn't want to be without those enjoyments.
The football and tennis coverage is something they do well.

Yuope · 08/07/2024 16:46

I havent had one for years, I just put in the declaration that i don't need one every 2 years i think it is? which stops the letters, they can come out, but they never have for me but I wouldn't be letting them in if they did.

Changingplace · 08/07/2024 16:43

WeeBenny · 08/07/2024 16:33

I don't have a TV licence they send letters every couple of weeks threatening to come round but I'm never in and I don't watch TV

Complete this form;

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence

Aligirlbear · 08/07/2024 16:42

Halfheadhighlights · 08/07/2024 11:08

Thanks for your responses. The people who filled the declaration in, did you previously have a tv licence? @Treelichen @Wotcher @SeismicSalad @EmeraldRoulette @Chucklit

I did at my previous address then filled in the declaration as I wasn’t watching any TV due to moving away with work. No dramas just an acknowledgement to the declaration asking that if my circumstances changed i contact them to get a new licence. I kept the house for a further 3 years and no more correspondence received.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 08/07/2024 16:41

We did it years ago, didn’t hear from them again. Started it again for the formula one.

WestwardHo1 · 08/07/2024 16:38

Chucklit · 08/07/2024 00:31

Tv license have been sending endless letters to me for 9 years, always addressed "to the occupant" as they don't know my name. I haven't declared that I don't need a license, I don’t, but don’t want to give them my name as I’m aware that they still follow up to "check". It's an endless round of escalating letters then backing down and just sending generic ones. They have no right to know my name. Honestly google this, for all of their "legal" threats, they're full of shit and have no right to enter your home unless you invite them in. They can try to fine you if you show them the apps on your tv and happen to be logged in.
I’m not buying into their bullshit. You can read extensively online about that.

I read somewhere - I have no idea if this is true or not - that a large number of specifically women (as opposed to men) prisoners are there because of non payment of TV licence.

I tried to not pay mine last year but the escalating letters and threats of imprisonment/prosecution alarmed me so in the end I did pay it.

WeeBenny · 08/07/2024 16:33

I don't have a TV licence they send letters every couple of weeks threatening to come round but I'm never in and I don't watch TV

Wotcher · 08/07/2024 16:12

Halfheadhighlights · 08/07/2024 11:08

Thanks for your responses. The people who filled the declaration in, did you previously have a tv licence? @Treelichen @Wotcher @SeismicSalad @EmeraldRoulette @Chucklit

I had one (continuing) at my own home, but completed the declaration for my second home through work. So no, I didn’t cancel one, just said I don’t need one at this particular address once I moved in.

Zimunya · 08/07/2024 15:44

KStockHERO · 08/07/2024 12:07

My mum cancelled her TV license earlier this year.

I filled in the declaration for her and she's heard nothing since.

She's gutted.
She's been brainwashed by Youtube lunatics who've convinced her that the BBC will send burly aggressive men round.
She's desperate for these men to appear at her door so she can film them, upload the video to Youtube (both of which she has no idea how to do) and then rant about the mainstream media.

But, she's heard nothing.

I love your Mum and your username!

Changingplace · 08/07/2024 15:40

OonaStubbs · 08/07/2024 11:24

Everything about the TV license is an anachronism. Cancelling it should be as easy as cancelling Netflix.

It is, you stop paying and complete the declaration to say you don’t need one, as many people have confirmed that’s all you need to do, no drama.

Changingplace · 08/07/2024 15:39

Cheesewiz · 08/07/2024 12:23

Stopped paying for TV licence years ago, didn't declare it, I don't watch live TV, they send me letters every 2 weeks threatening to come round, or take me to court.

So just do the declaration, like everyone on the thread whose done it has confirmed, they then leave you alone.

Cheesewiz · 08/07/2024 12:23

Stopped paying for TV licence years ago, didn't declare it, I don't watch live TV, they send me letters every 2 weeks threatening to come round, or take me to court.

garlictwist · 08/07/2024 12:21

We don't have a tv licence. We get letters all the time despite filling in the thing online to say we don't have a tv or laptop. But no one has ever come round despite saying they will in the letters so you'd probably be fine cancelling it and just binning the letters which is what we do.

Iheartmysmart · 08/07/2024 12:14

I cancelled my licence several years ago and filled in the declaration. I get asked if my circumstances are still the same every couple of years but don’t have any further communication from them at all.

KStockHERO · 08/07/2024 12:07

My mum cancelled her TV license earlier this year.

I filled in the declaration for her and she's heard nothing since.

She's gutted.
She's been brainwashed by Youtube lunatics who've convinced her that the BBC will send burly aggressive men round.
She's desperate for these men to appear at her door so she can film them, upload the video to Youtube (both of which she has no idea how to do) and then rant about the mainstream media.

But, she's heard nothing.

CookStrait · 08/07/2024 11:49

We’ve not had a TV licence since 2019, Netflix is so much better. We get a letter every month where they usually threaten court action, & give a date when they will be out, or say they will be out at any time of the day or night. But they’ve only ever come out once & shoved a card through the door to tell us, but we were out.

OonaStubbs · 08/07/2024 11:24

Everything about the TV license is an anachronism. Cancelling it should be as easy as cancelling Netflix.

rosalynd34 · 08/07/2024 11:21

I filled in the declaration around 4 years ago, haven't really heard anything since

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