TV license/iplayer letter

[Shoe465]

I don't have a TV license as I don't watch TV.

I have netflix and Disney. And youtube.

All the arial wires in my home are cut at the wall and I don't watch any live TV or any catch up etc on Iplayer or any other terrestrial streaming account.

I've just got a letter saying they've detected someone using iplayer several times at my address and I have to buy a license now.

But we don't??

Can I ring them and ask for more information about when this happened and what was watched?

No. This is not remotely true.

Just wanted to add I did ask TV licensing and said I don’t have a BBC account (I even checked to see) and their reply wasn’t much help. Mystery!

“This was sent as we can see this email address was used recently for BBC iPlayer. However, TV Licensing was advised via this email address that no licence was needed at the address given in the notification.”

along with a load of info about how I can login to my nonexistent BBC account to check my data etc haha.

There's also absolutely loads of films, series and documentaries elsewhere. Most films, series and documentaries ever made are not on iplayer. I don't understand why you're so set on OP's teens watching things on iplayer specifically.

Just ignore it then. Nothing will happen.

Oh just pointing out that it’s more than Bake off (not bbc anymore anyway) and corrie. The iPlayer is (a) free to download and (b) does have plenty on it so I would reckon many/most teenagers have used it at some point.

They can't detect someone at your address using iplayer unless someone has logged in, which you are sure they haven't. Potentially someone could have used your address by mistake when filling in details.

I think its a case of "if you don't have a licence then you must be watching it illegally" ie they assume every single home in the UK must be watching it.

I wouldn't worry about it, you can fill in the "I don't need a licence" declaration if you want or if you ever get them at your door say "I don't need a licence" nothing more, then close the door (they are trained to get people to admit to watching it illegally).

The people charged/in prison are those who have been watching it either illegally or without realising the content that requires a licence and admitted when asked more in depth questions about their TV watching habits.

HAve you had any visitors to your house that have used your Wifi? Could be as simple as they used your wifi to watch the news or something while they were there.

That would be covered by their own TV licence, not yours, so you're still right to tick the "I don't need a TV licence" box.

The TV licence people (and a lot of people on this thread by the look of it!) refuse to believe that some people just don't watch live TV, so be prepared for it to not be the end of it unfortunately.

1. Freeview includes live and streaming channels.
2. Many people misunderstand what is meant by "live" in this context. They may think it means a live broadcast, like the 6pm News or a football match. In fact it means any service that is broadcasting to a schedule. A Freeview channel could be playing repeats of "Terry and June" all day and night and still be considered "live".

I think most people understand live, op definitely does based on her posts, she is not watching live tv.

I can't watch iPlayer because I don't have a licence. I've tried on a few occasions, I'm asked to log in or open an account. When I opened an account I was asked for my licence number which I obviously don't have.

I'd love to know how others are watching.

Wow I’ve never been asked for a license number! Just ‘do you have a license’.

And what do you answer? If you've no license do you just tick yes?

Respect their independence for one thing.

If Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc had been around for as long as the BBC, in the pre-me-too era, I expect they would have had a similar number of scandals.

Netflix etc promote modern ethics as much if not more than the BBC, so I'm not sure why you're singling them out.

If it does say that then it's lying because that isn't the law. If that were the case anyone with a laptop or smartphone would need a TV licence because you can watch live TV on those too.

@wineandine maybe because it's a conversation about the BBC specifically... the BBC as an institution are not worthy of respect in many people's eyes. If similar stories come out about the likes of Netflix or Amazon (which is unlikely as they don't function in the same way) I'd hold the same views. No organisation that harbours such people and hushes up their activities is worthy of respect.

Maybe asking for a licence no. is a new thing when you sign up for it

They don’t ask follow up questions, but it is illegal so you’re taking your chances.

Yeah I wondered that. It would make sense tbh.

No. Absolutely never. And never record live TV either.

This has been all over the no tv license groups
On Facebook the past couple of days.

Clearly their next tactic in trying to get people to pay for something they don't want.

I haven't had a tv license for five years now. I have a tv. Just don't (can't!)! watch any live tv or bbc player.

Haven't missed it once.

I just throw the letters in the bin.

ok, but they have your real name and email or a throwaway?

I've not had a TV for many years. I get a letter about once every two months which goes straight in the bin.

I did arrange for an TV license inspector to come round many years ago to check I had no TV.🙄 I won't bother here.

For anyone who's wondering, you can have as many TVs as you like as long as they are not tuned in to receive a signal then you don't need a license.

About 9 years ago, I was home alone with my three children under three, one being about 9 days old. We had just lost my baby nephew as well and had moved house a month before. With all that going on, I had forgotten to sort tv license (no excuses, just overlooked!).

A bloke turned up at my door shouting about talking to me under caution. Me being naive let him in and admitted I had watched some tv without the license. I stupidly didn't ask for any ID, any authority information.

He said if I signed up there and then no further action would be taken. Being flustered with three kids needing my attention and me grieving, I didn't read everything (again, my fault!) and signed up for what I thought was a tv license.

The next thing I know, I have letters taking me to court for not having a tv license. I contacted capita who said it was a mistake and they would sort it.

Never heard anything so assumed it had been cancelled. No letters from anyone - capita or court. Dutifully Paid my tv license.

Two years later, on my sons 2nd birthday, at 8.45 on a Saturday night, bailiffs turned up.

Fortunately, my grandmother could help us pay the £1000 fine or whatever ridiculous amount it was.

I'm more with it now. I don't have a tv license but don't watch any tv, and I certainly wouldn't let any bully boy 'inspector' try and con his way into my house and blatantly lie to me.

Tv licensing goons have no authority to enter your house without a warrant, of which only around three a year are issued by courts.

They do not have any detecting equipment, they have as much authority to come into your home as a postman.

I haven't told them i don't need a tv license - I don't need to prove to them I don't watch tv. I get the letters regularly and bin them, but I'm eagerly awaiting a visit where I will have great pleasure in telling them where to go.

Could be Prime. That one is a fucker for mixing live programs in with the preloaded ones and only says on now at the beginning of the roll. You might not have realised.

See the pic, if you're just scrolling and program was just starting it would be easy to miss.