Slightly intimidating email from TV licencing...

[SneakyGremlins]

"
Dear X

We emailed you recently because you need a TV Licence to watch BBC programmes on iPlayer, or to watch or record live TV on any channel, no matter what device you use.

You've previously told us that you don't need a TV Licence at X, with postcode ending XXX.

We need you to get in touch now, as our records show you've used BBC iPlayer on a number of occasions over recent months.

To avoid a visit from our enforcement teams – and the risk of a fine of up to £1000 – buy a TV Licence today. "

I haven't used iPlayer

I use Netflix and prime. And YouTube. That's it! I LOOK on iPlayer sometimes to see if shows I like have started again, but I legitimately don't watch them on iPlayer

Can I just ignore this? Really don't want people showing up at the door..

How would they know? In order the TV licencing to know you have been using iPlayer your internet provider would have had to given them your personal details. Which I'm pretty sure they are not allowed to do. That is a phishing email.

If you have logged into the iplayer app, then BBC will have a record of it. They use a database of un-licenced addresses and also pull data from the iplayer log in page.

It would be difficult (not impossible) for them to prosecute without being able to evidence which programmes you actually watched.

The email is probably legit, and an electronic version of the letters they send to un-licenced addresses.

Just ignore it. It's computer generated.

BBC tv licence inspectors actually work for CAPITA BUSINESS SERVICES, they are minimum wage sales reps. They get £20 commission for every licence they sell, and £50 commission for every prosecution.

They have no legal powers. You do not have to give them the time of day. If you find one outside your front door, just ignore them. Literally. Do not get into any conversation and DO NOT sign the form they offer you. They will say something like

"Could you just sign this to say I have been here , it's so I don't have to come back again"

DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!

What they are giving you is a TVL178 form. It's the paperwork they use to submit to court to prosecute you and is an interview form. Once you sign it they will fill it out later and the questions you have "signed" will be used as evidence in court.

Do not believe the nieve posters who will state

"They're just people doing a job, they wouldn't do that"

They can, they will, and they have.

They are just salesmen. Do not speak to them. Ever.

You'd be foolish to login with your actual email without a license. You can type any old gobbledegook to sign-up and watch anything straight away without having to verify your email.

I keep getting scam emails to the same effect. We have a TV license. It's a scam. If you're watching iplayer or tv - just buy a license.

The BBC has never been able to get its head round the fact that some people just do. Not. Watch. TV. You can fill out and return as many forms as you like telling them that no, you don't have a TV, you don't ever watch their programmes, but their assumption is that everyone does and you'll admit it if they just nag enough.

Confused, I didn't know they were Crapita. They were shit when they were just the Beeb, 20-odd years ago, so I dread to think what they're like now that gang of gouging shysters is in charge.

Ignore it. If it's genuine, they will write to you.

Have you previously told them you don't have a licence? That bit sounds a little dodgy, why would you need to tell them? They know who has and hasn't got a licence. Have you double checked the email address it's come from?

I own a property that was literally empty for two years while I renovated it. Definitely no Telly in the house. They wrote to me every three months telling me they'd come round and investigate me and I needed to get a licence.
I was tempted to publish a short novel and then send the BBC licencing people a letter every 3 months pointing out that they had yet to purchase a copy of my book and I would shortly be visiting to investigate why they hadn't and to make sure they didn't have a copy they weren't admitting to......
But then I'm very childish......

This is definitely legit.

I had one a few weeks ago. Basically Capita have been employed to match up the email addresses you use to log in to IPlayer with the email addresses associated with licenses and to contact people who they think aren't paying.

The wording on the TVLicensing website is very specific - "you need a licence to watch or download programmes on iplayer" watch or download being the operative phrase just browsing imo doesnt qualify.

The page does say you need a license to use Amazon Prime though as it does, unlike netflix, provide LIVE tv streaming,

Delete the player cookie from your computer, op and don't sign in to it anymore.
I'd use radiotimes.com to check TV progs.

*Iplayer

Fixthebone - are sure about Amazon prime, this says differently

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ104

I'm not sure these emails are real tbh.
I got one and we only ever watch tv on tv and we have a license, pay by dd every month, so know we haven't missed a payment.
I don't click on them.

@caughtinanet

I went on the homepage, clicked the l first li k do I need a licence and then online TV services.

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

Click on the first question "what is live TV...."

@MissTook thankyou, will do!

@FixTheBone what if I'm watching something that's never been on live TV

Like if I watch an Amazon original. Or a really old show that hasn't been on TV for years. Surely I don't need a licence for those?

The question is whether you watch any thing broadcast live though, I don't see where it says that you need a licence for Amazon prime per se, there aren't any special rules for amazon prime, it's the live watching/recording/iplayer use that determines whether you need a licence.

I'd be interested to see exactly where the prime rules is stated, I know my Dsis has been told she doesn't need one as she doesn't watch anything live but does use both Netflix and prime.

How would they know your email address?

@caughtinanet absolutely nothing live!

Yes sneaky but fixthebone is saying you have to have one for amazon prime because it sometimes broadcasts live, I don't think that's correct so. asking where that's coming from

I agree with you, Amazon itself doesn't mean you need a licence.

@sneakygremlins

Old programs... If its a BBC programme on I player you do need a licence.

I don't know how they police whether you use the live TV service on amazon prime or not.

Re: email addresses, you need to register to use Iplayer and to sign in and watch, and I do my TV license online so they have an email address. I got the exact email as the OP because I used Iplayer in my work flat after telling them I didn't need a license there and the email I used was a different one to the one registered with TV licensing

I hadn’t realised you need a TV Licence even if you only watch, for instance, Sky Sport!

I DO have a TV Licence as I do watch TV and actually think the Licence is quite good value.

Could a neighbour be piggy-backing off your wi-fi?

The email address that the email came from is the genuine email address it's the one that I get my confirmation of payment from. It is probably because you was logged in, so to them being on the website triggered an email.
But you didn't watch anything so didn't actually do anything wrong. If I was you I would probably clear my cookies for bbc iplayer and just not go on there again without a licence