Tv license

[Sleepyquest]

Why are the TV licensing people allowed to be so threatening and rude? Imagine if any other company sent you such threatening emails and letters, you'd be horrified. At the end of the day, they are providing a service and I don't want their service which I've told them already.

I have Netflix, Prime, Disney and Apple. I can watch ITV and channel 4 and 5 on catch up. I have two small children and only watch about 60 mins a day so do not want to pay out £160 for BBC.

I just find the language in their correspondence really unpleasant.
Anyone else agree or found a way to get them to back off?

I've not watched live TV at home for years, when I gave up my licence I just filled out the form saying I don't use the TV for that and they've only been in touch once every 2 years to check.

I agree their letters can be very condescending assuming that everyone watches live TV and therefore anyone that doesn't pay the licence fee is dodging their obligations, but I had no issues getting them to back off.

you can send the tv licence a letter withdrawing rights of access, google the standard letter template for this.

then they are not allowed to send you any letters threatening or not, they will send you one more and then thats it for several years

they are not allowed to visit your front door either

simple job done

We won’t watch tv and hold no licence and if anyone turns up here we’ll set the dogs on them! 😉

Don’t not won’t.

Haven't paid it in years. Dh and I had a good laugh as the last threatening letter they sent was to say that their 'enforcement team based at their Surrey offices' would be paying us a visit. 😂We live pretty far from Surrey, but if they really want to drive all the way out here to the arse end of no where, dodge some sheep and navigate down a bumpy farm track to find us, they can be my guest!

I filled out an online form so I'll have to do this letter thing. I don't want to be threatened on a monthly basis. It's so wrong in my opinion! Shouldn't be allowed.

I don't get it either. No other company is allowed to carry on like this. The threatening letters my student dd got were unbelievable. She nearly paid it because she was so worried about it. They told her they knew she was watching TV. Which they didn't because she wasn't.

They dont say that ,i have had hundreds of them ,they start of quite cordially saying we notice you dont have a tv at this address blah blah ,and they become increasingly threatening ,saying they will conduct an investigation ,there investigations are not worth the paper they are written on btw ,as they have no power of entry and you dont have to engage with them ,and then they go back to the cordial letters ,you get them on a loop .

My dad is over 75 and eligible for a free licence. Despite us sending all the paperwork in, they still sent an enforcement officer around who banged so loudly on the door, the frame shook. I complained at this person's aggressive tone but just had a condescending reply back to say the officer apparently 'knocked enthusiastically but not in an aggressive manner'.

Oh right, sorry for us not being able to tell the difference between an enthusiastic knock and an aggressive knock!

But anyway, I cancelled my licence in the summer and just filled in an online form. I got sent a refund of about £11 and a letter confirming it was now cancelled. I just watch TV now on catch up or via Netflix etc.

I fill out an online form every 2 years or so. They send emails to remind us to reconfirm we don't need a license. That's it.

There are three basic facts about TV Licence enforcement-

• Unlicensed households are not answerable to the BBC/TV Licensing.
• Routine "Visits" by TV Licensing are strictly voluntary on the part of householders.
• Interviews under caution are subject to a requirement for informed consent (and have various other associated rights).

When the BBC/TV Licensing contradicts those facts (which it does, a lot), it is lying to us. And shame on them for that.

In terms of getting them to back off, there are various suggestions on that. One of the problems with BBC/TV Licensing is that they treat different households differently, even if they have complied with the BBC's wishes (e.g. in terms of telling them that a Licence isn't required).

Personally, I simply send back the letters I get from them that are addressed to the "Legal Occupier". They don't know who I am, so I can't see any downside in doing that. If everyone did it, the system would be over.

The letters themselves are packed with lies and misleading language. If you do read them, please don't take them seriously because they are a joke.