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Original poster

TV Licence bafflement

101 replies

LividMush · 25/11/2023 08:12

Hang on what. I go to buy a TV License for the first time in years (Doctor & Donna 🤓) and they seem to want me to pay for a whole year by April?

What, why? Why is it like tax years? No. I’m not paying over £50 in December just for Doctor Who. What’s going on with it? Why are they charging me for a year when it’s not a year?

To be clear: I know the legal requirements for a TV Licence and am very clear to not legally need one ie no broadcast TV or iPlayer. Until now, when the good Doctor nearly lured me in. But I just can’t justify this if it’s charging me a year by April.

TV Licence bafflement
OP posts:
Toooldtoworry · 25/11/2023 08:14

They always do 6 months up front and then monthly. I imagine you chose 22nd of the month as direct debit date and that's why you've got 2 going in December as first payment is usually 14 days after set up.

sorrynotathome · 25/11/2023 08:14

It’s an annual licence, not a monthly subscription.

hazelnutlatte · 25/11/2023 08:14

I think Dr Who is going to be on disney plus - so forget tv license and get that instead, it's much cheaper

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ElinoristhenewEnid · 25/11/2023 08:15

It is always organised when you pay monthly that you pay 6 months in advance.

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 25/11/2023 08:27

Like other have said, the first 12 months is paid over 6 months, then after that you are always 6 months in advance.

Pemba · 25/11/2023 08:30

They make it difficult to dip in and out, as with a streaming service. They just assume you will have the annual licence and be continuing each year. The way they demand double payments for the first six months so you are always paid up in advance is so greedy and rigid of them.

I mean technically I think you can subscribe for say 3 months and then cancel and get a refund? But then you have to do a declaration that you are no longer watching TV etc, it gets complicated.

The BBC needs to get with the times. DD says the same, she'd happily pay for a month or two while something she enjoys is on, but the way it is, she just won't bother.

PelvicFloorClenchReminder · 25/11/2023 08:51

I think Doctor Who is only going to be on disney+ in the rest of the world and BBC iplayer in the UK.

Original poster
LividMush · 25/11/2023 08:52

Ohhh, so you end up six months in advance. Thanks.

Nope, I can’t justify it.

I understand the importance of the BBC, and I would’ve paid it for the equivalent of a monthly payment. But that’s just too expensive for one show. Like someone else suggested, I’ll get back to Disney for a month and then cancel (like i did for Bluey 😳).

OP posts:
Iudncuewbccgrcb · 25/11/2023 09:00

Where does the law stand on someone without a TV licence watching something on BBC iplayer or TV in someone else's house who does have a TV licence?

If I have a TV licence but my friend doesn't and I take my Ipad to their house to watch something on iplayer does my TV license cover me still?

Sat on a park bench using data to watch something on iplayer?

Pemba · 25/11/2023 09:08

Yes I am pretty certain you are covered in that case, park benches, trains, staying away from home, friends house etc. What you shouldn't do is allow your friends with no licence to watch on your licence at their place when you're not actually there with them.

Onceuponaheartache · 25/11/2023 09:11

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 25/11/2023 09:00

Where does the law stand on someone without a TV licence watching something on BBC iplayer or TV in someone else's house who does have a TV licence?

If I have a TV licence but my friend doesn't and I take my Ipad to their house to watch something on iplayer does my TV license cover me still?

Sat on a park bench using data to watch something on iplayer?

I don't think so as it is the last
Physical address that is covered not the person which is why you have to have a licence at university rather than. Just watching it on your parents licence.

penjil · 25/11/2023 09:21

A TV licence is for individual properties.....those with 2nd homes or holiday homes also need to buy one for there too. Even caravans and chalets.

PosteriorPosterity · 25/11/2023 09:24

Anything battery powered is covered by your home licence, but as soon as you plug it in at a new address then that address needs a licence.

So you can’t watch your iPad at the park, but you can watch on your friends TV or if you plug your iPad in while you watch there.

Terfosaurus · 25/11/2023 09:28

Pemba · 25/11/2023 09:08

Yes I am pretty certain you are covered in that case, park benches, trains, staying away from home, friends house etc. What you shouldn't do is allow your friends with no licence to watch on your licence at their place when you're not actually there with them.

Its the other way round. Its the address that's covered not the person.

I have a TV licence. My friend doesn't. She can watch BBC at my house. I can't at hers. (Unless it's on a device that isn't plugged in)

NigelHarmansNewWife · 25/11/2023 09:33

We have a licence at work although we don't have TVs anymore because everyone can watch on their devices on the premises.

PuttingDownRoots · 25/11/2023 09:33

Doctor Who is NOT on Disney in the UK. Thats the license agreement.

Thy really need to rethink the TV license... I don't mind paying for BNC as we actually use a lit of it... but its a lit compared to other services, plus the year thing!

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 25/11/2023 23:02

PosteriorPosterity · 25/11/2023 09:24

Anything battery powered is covered by your home licence, but as soon as you plug it in at a new address then that address needs a licence.

So you can’t watch your iPad at the park, but you can watch on your friends TV or if you plug your iPad in while you watch there.

But how would they know?

Or do anything about it?

It's a farce.

I have a TV licence - sometimes in desperation I let the kids watch Bluey on iplayer on my phone e.g whilst I have a dentist appointment. I assume I'm technically breaking the law. But who would know?

If I wanted to put the same episode of Bluey on Disney for them to watch I'm covered by my Disney subscription wherever I am.

Perhaps a much much cheaper 'basic' TV licence (like £5 a month) with an extra subscription charge to access iplayer (another £5 a month) is the answer going forward. You could pay them together as the general licence fee, or subscribe to either separately. Works for older people who don't use iplayer, works for younger people who only use streaming services (and justify not paying the licence fee because they only watch it occassionally) and for those of us who use both we still pay similar to what we are paying now anyway.

CantThinkOfAUsername100 · 25/11/2023 23:08

I wouldnt bother. Im not renewing mine next year. None of us in my house watch live tv/iplayer

Pemba · 26/11/2023 01:35

Of course you can watch iplayer on your phone in the dentist's waiting room, at the park etc or at a friend's house, so long as it's not plugged in. The TV licence is set up for that.

Students can piggyback on their parents' licence while at uni too, as long as the device is not plugged in (so phone, laptop, tablet but not a proper tv). That's the rule. You have to wonder how anyone would know whether it's plugged in though.

abominablesnowman · 26/11/2023 03:42

Pemba · 26/11/2023 01:35

Of course you can watch iplayer on your phone in the dentist's waiting room, at the park etc or at a friend's house, so long as it's not plugged in. The TV licence is set up for that.

Students can piggyback on their parents' licence while at uni too, as long as the device is not plugged in (so phone, laptop, tablet but not a proper tv). That's the rule. You have to wonder how anyone would know whether it's plugged in though.

If you don't have a licence yourself, you wouldn't be covered at the park.
At a friend's house or waiting room, you would need to be covered by their own licence.
The 'not plugged in' rule has zero relevance to people who don't actually have a licence for their home in the first place.

But I agree, it's bizarre. I'm sure nobody will really notice watching Doctor Who on iplayer a few times anyway

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 26/11/2023 04:01

The way they demand double payments for the first six months so you are always paid up in advance is so greedy and rigid of them.

To be fair to them (much as it irks me), if you don't pay in instalments, the annual licence is due completely in advance; so they likely see it that they're kindly allowing you to delay half of it.

Something like VED for cars also costs extra overall if you pay for that less frequently than annually - the government cashing in on the poor (again).

The days of the TV licence as we know it are really numbered. Younger people mainly see it as an anachronism and thus don't buy a licence, preferring to consume TV in other ways. I'd say it has two generations at the very, very most (probably a lot less in reality), then it will be completely gone, as nobody will see any reason why they should ever buy one.

I think the BBC will probably become a subscription service within the next ten years - so you will pay if you want the BBC channels and they will find a way to block them if you don't pay. At least, that way, you won't be forced to pay the BBC if you want to watch ITV or Channel 4 - just like you don't have to pay Tesco for the right to shop at Asda.

Broadcast TV as a whole probably has a maximum of another ten years, after which it will all be delivered online - so it will be very easy to charge people for viewing your content (whether as a subscription or pay per programme) and no need/justification for charging them if they don't want to (and thus won't be able to) watch your content.

Toooldtoworry · 26/11/2023 05:54

They are getting rid of it 31.12.2027

FarEast · 26/11/2023 06:48

So you want to watch BBC productions but you don’t want to pay for them? Selfish.

crownexchange · 26/11/2023 07:19

I agree OP, it's a strange system and introducing a limited monthly subscription option would probably be great for them!

I cancelled my TV licence a couple of years ago after realising nearly all my TV viewing was through apps or via catch up. It was great to be able to fill in the form and cancel the DD. I occasionally spot something on BBC that I'd want to watch but I just push the thought away by remembering the annoyance of the monthly fee!

It's such a dated model and I can't see it lasting for many more years to come.

crownexchange · 26/11/2023 07:21

FarEast · 26/11/2023 06:48

So you want to watch BBC productions but you don’t want to pay for them? Selfish.

No, the OP said she didn't want to watch TV for one month but have to pay a fee for six months for the privilege.

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