Has anyone cancelled or considering cancelling their TV licence?

[Plump82]

We rarely watch live TV and have Netflix so are considering cancelling our TV licence. I know we can't watch Iplayer but looking on the TV licence website it seems we can more or less watch everything else on catch up.
I know we can declare not needing one online but will we get hassled with people knocking at our door?

I would never cancel it, I love the BBC and use iPlayer regularly.

Interesting thread. Off the bat I thought it was a pointless waste of money and planned not to renew it this year.

When I think about the series I watch though it does add up;
Death in Paradise
Masterchef (Amateur, Celebrity and Professionals)
Apprentice
Mock the Week
Have I Got News For You
Question Time (sometimes)
Luther
Line of Duty
Stacey Dooley Documentaries
Silent Witness
Father Brown
Our Girl

Plus other random dramas they put on (i.e. Dr Foster, Bodyguard, Clique etc.)

So actually maybe it is worth the money for me. But absolubtely do not be bullied ibto keeping it. If you don't watch it dob't continue to pay for it!

So what are the options for tv without a licence and without sky? Are they difficult to set up?

Not difficult to set up at all. A now TV stick costs around £20 and usually come with a movie or entertainment pass. You also get all the on demand channels. I currently have Netflix, prime and sky movies through now TV stick. There's good deals with now TV for new customers and you can buy and cancel passes monthly like Netflix. I currently have sky movies for £4 a month for 3 months then I'll cancel for a while until some new ones come out. They basically offer you cheap deals whenever you cancel a pass. Cancelled my TV licence after realising I hadn't watched live TV in over a year.

@LoniceraJaponica I watch old series I like, films on netflix and I have channels that I subscribe to on YouTube. I haven't watched television since 2005 when I went to uni and never got around to getting a licence, there is never anything I want to watch. We had one in our old house in case DH ever fancied watching it.

It doesn't make me superior, with all that extra time I have from not watching television, I spend time playing computer games. A hobby which mumsnet hates

@Lightheart Every tv has the capability to watch live tv IF AN AERIAL IS ATTACHED.

Just unplug the aerial, do a search for channels, it wont find any and then click save/confirm/okay. As long as you don't watch any LIVE tv or the Iplayer. Then you can cancel the license. Do it online, it's easy.

Even if someone from tv licensing knocks on your door to check, you are under no obligation to let them in, they might tell you they are as they lie and try to intimidate but they have no legal right to come into your house.

@longtimelurkerhelen oh really didn't know you could do it online I'm going to then don't even have an aerial plugged in just watch amazon prime and Netflix so will save me some money. Also had no idea that you could refuse them entry ? Thanks for the advice

@Lightheart Yep unless the have a court ordered warrant (they never get them) they cannot enter your property.

I saw that the demographic that is taken to court the most is young mothers as they are usually at home and don't know their rights.

BBC is so outdated, they should just have a subscription service or start showing adverts, the license is a rip off, netflix, amazon etc are all cheaper per month than the BBC and have better content.

Here is the link

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

Got rid of my tv licence last year. I have nowtv and Netflix. I have no tv Ariel , virgin media were very pissed off with me. I'm shopping around for cheaper broadband .
Had a chap at my door who I denied entry and sent on his way. Remember they have no rights of entry into your house.

I think the key here is that they have to be granted entry I along with a lot of my family have always been under the pretence that you have to let them in by law 😮

How do the non licence people get their news and current affairs?

Are you allowed to say ‘yes’ to it for a month or so a year? I love Call the Midwife and is the only thing I watch on the BBC. If I said I wanted it for a while and then didn’t want it again would they get suspicious? I genuinely only watch it then 🤔

How do the non licence people get their news and current affairs
Mainly reading on my phone and computer, I have a lot of news apps on my phone and a subscription to some niche world news websites.

www.aljazeera.com/
www.theguardian.com/uk
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/

It’s brtter tbh than the churnalism on tv

A life without Waffle the Wonder Dog? I wish I could quit the BBC. My DD would not be happy.

Justmarriedsndlivingit you can always buy the dvd when it comes out or watch on Netflix

Lonicera.
No. Can't stand theatre, opera etc.
I read a lot, browse the net which usually involves MN, chatting to my family, that kind of thing, see friends, chat to husband ( radical I know ) go to the gym or swim and work.
Nothing superior about it. I've no idea why anyone would think there is. I have nothing against anyone watching tv, I understand that there are some programs that people enjoy, and why shouldn't they. Each to their own.

This has got me thinking about cancelling.
Does radio usage come into it at all? I listen to 2, 4 and 6 alot in the car.

I can't stand the cinema either.

Does radio usage come into it at all?
Nope only TV!

I have Amazon prime & Netflix & have a TV licence!!! I phoned to ask if I could cancel as we don't watch normal TV she said of course,all good I thought,then she said do you have a radio??? I said we have a digital radio but don't really use it as we have two Alexa's!! Lol she said I need a licence for the radio😮too honest for my own good XX never mind I pay on a card but still seems alot of money X

Can you get Netflix through the now tv box??

I would love Netflix on my tv (instead of my tablet) but only have a now tv box and sky box connected. Used to access it through the Xbox but got rid of it.

Can you watch live channels on now tv box (not bbc) without a licence??

No. I would happily pay my TV license for Radio 4 on its own.

I don’t agree with non-payment being a criminal offence, though. That is completely unjustifiable, even to someone who values the BBC.

@castielchace

Then they lied to you, check the info on the bbc website. Honestly they really should be sued.

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ102

@JustMarriedAndLovingIt When you cancel it you get a refund. So you could get one, watch your series and then cancel it?