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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:
Original poster
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

OP posts:
Treelichen · 08/07/2024 10:14

I filled in the declaration and haven't heard from them in years

Jc2001 · 08/07/2024 09:48

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.

Why haven't you declared you don't need a TV license? Why be martyrish about it all? Do you enjoy the drama or something?

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.

SeismicSalad · 08/07/2024 09:42

Changingplace · 08/07/2024 09:37

If you’re not using it just fill in the declaration to say so, and the letters will stop, you’ve nobody to blame for the escalating letters but yourself, just save yourself the bother.

You’re not really achieving anything by them just not knowing your name since they’ve been sending you letters for almost a decade I hardly see you’re winning here.

Show quote history

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

Changingplace · 08/07/2024 09:37

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.

If you’re not using it just fill in the declaration to say so, and the letters will stop, you’ve nobody to blame for the escalating letters but yourself, just save yourself the bother.

You’re not really achieving anything by them just not knowing your name since they’ve been sending you letters for almost a decade I hardly see you’re winning here.

Acapulco12 · 08/07/2024 00:37

They can’t check if you’re watching live TV/iPlayer unless they come into your house, so it’s pretty much up to you to make sure you don’t watch live TV after you cancel your licence.

I’m not sure whether you’ll get letters from them, as I don’t know how they decide who gets a letter from them, but you’ll be fine as long as you don’t watch live TV.

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.

Original poster
Halfheadhighlights · 08/07/2024 00:25

Yes, was not going to do anything until after olympics anyway. We barely watch it, we couldn’t find our remote for the virgin box which is where we receive our channels.

If I cancelled the licence (which is in my name) I would make sure no live channels or streaming could happen, I’m a stickler for rules and wouldn’t want to be at risk of fines or anything.

OP posts:
Changingplace · 08/07/2024 00:20

The BBC have the rights to the Olympics this year, so if you want to watch it, you need to pay, and if you watch live TV like the Euros… you need to pay - if you just keep Amazon & Netflix etc then go ahead and cancel but it’s silly to say you use it but he doesn’t want to pay for it 🤦‍♀️

I mean for people who cancel and don’t use it no they’ll leave them alone, but why should/would they if you want to cancel but keep watching it?

ilovesooty · 08/07/2024 00:16

He does watch live TV though. Is he planning to stop completely? If he wants to cancel let him deal with it.

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