Does anyone understand TV licence rules?

[AvoidingRealHumans]

My current tv licence ran out and due to various reasons I haven't bought a new one.
I removed the tv aerial and deleted the bbc iplayer off of our devices. After receiving letters I called to inform them that I didn't need one, she said she has put on the system that I don't need one and they will be in touch after 6 months has passed.

We watch Netflix, Disney+ and I catch up on the soaps etc using itvhub, so no live tv or anything bbc.
I have received 2 letters in the past few days, one saying they will be visiting me this month and one asking if I will be in on a certain date. This has panicked me for some reason and I've done some googling and although it says watching catch up is fine, live streaming isn't. I don't live stream anything but obviously itvhub, 4od etc have the facility of streaming live tv which I can't take off. If someone turned up would they take my word for it that I don't live stream or would it be assumed that I do because I have the option on the app to do so.
I am following the rules but the letters and tone of them has me worrying now.
I just find it stressful, you wouldn't get letters off of the dvla demanding to know if you drive a car when you don't have a licence.
Thanks for any knowledge on this.

Honestly it makes me cross that you even have to make a declaration to say you don’t need a tv license. And all this ‘we’re coming to visit to check on you’ stuff too. It’s ridiculous.

We don’t watch live tv. We watch Netflix and YouTube and very occassionally catch up with bake off (nothing else). I don’t need to ‘prove’ this to anyone. In fact, the way things work in this country, tv licensing would need to prove I watched live tv/iplayer. And that’s what I’d tell anyone who came to my door frankly (rather than letting them in to check the uncheckable).

Most of my viewing these days seems to be 8 hours of rain videos on YouTube because the baby likes white noise to sleep. 😂

Surely they can't visit right now you due to Covid? But I don't think you need a licence from what you've said.

Right now I'm watching S2, Ep2 of His Dark Materials (shown live last night on the BBC) - not via iPlayer, which would require a licence, but paid for on iTunes.

Ooh @PoulePouletteEternellement I didn't know it was available somewhere other than the BBC! We didn't renew our tv licence this year (because they can fuck off) but I really want to watch this.

OP, don't let the letters get to you. I once had letters threatening to send a warranted officer round the next week if I didn't purchase a tv licence (I already had one 🤷‍♀️). You're fine to have those apps on your devices, you just can't watch anything live on them.

All my BBC TV viewing is done via iTunes. (Until things find their way to Now TV or Prime, etc.) The disadvantages are that it's excruciatingly expensive, and worse, there's no rhyme or reason as to how long it takes for things to appear. (I'm still waiting for Round 3 of Strictly.)

But it means I can be Very Firm when I call the TV licence people to reiterate that I don't do anything that requires one.

@susandelgado when they come round what exactly do they do/check in your home?

Thanks all, so the general consensus is to tell them firmly at the door that I do not do/watch anything that requires a licence and say goodbye?
Their letters really make it sound like I am doing something wrong, even though I know I'm not its making me doubt myself.

Given that the government is decriminalising non-payment of TV licence fees I wouldn't be surprised if a large part of their workforce isn't being laid off under cover of the current crisis. (Perhaps someone here knows?)

I honestly doubt that anyone will be knocking on your door any time soon. Simply reply firmly by phone/email/post and refuse to be rattled by their unconscionable harassment.

You can buy the occasional BBC series on Prime video as well. I’ll probably buy HDM series 2 at some point. I’ve yet to spend anywhere near the license fee on stuff I buy. In fact I think the last thing I bought was HDM series 1 last year.

We don't need one. We watch Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube and the odd catch up on Channel 4 and 5, but very rarely. No iplayer downloaded.

Just tell them you don't watch live programmes and keep repeating. Don't let them in or sign anything at all, even if they say they'll leave you alone if you sign it.

I do an online declaration every 2 years after they write to me and ask if I need one.