Reporting no need for a tv licence

[DontNeedABloodyLicence]

About a year or so ago we reported we do not need a tv license. And we really don’t. Have checked the rules etc. we don’t use any of the services.

Recently however, the licensing people have started getting aggressive about it. We had a letter a few weeks back stating someone would be out to visit. No one came.

Today we’ve had a threatening letter stating that our details have been passed to an enforcement team. I’ve gone online to tell them (again) that we do not need a license. However the online form is now setup so that whatever option you pick, it leads you to ‘yes you do need a license’.!! No other options. So what do we do now?? I refuse to be bullied into purchasing a service we don’t use!

Any advice??

You ignore it. If someone turns up you don't let them in but reiterate you don't need one. You have already informed them once.

Thank you! That’s pretty much what I’d decided anyway, just needed to hear the advice from someone else. I’m so bloody annoyed that they can bully people like this! I pretty much never watch any tv at all, never mind anything that requires a licence. And it’s shocking they can set up their online forms in such a way that no matter what you input, they tell you you do need one. Any other scheme like this would be classed as extortion surely?!

Can I assume Scott Robson is the enforcement officer?

Letter has been signed by Scott Robson, Regional Manager - Enforcement

if you look closely it hasn’t actually been signed. I have had so many letters threatening and never had a visit. If they did show up I wouldn’t let them in because honestly they have been so aggressive in their letters. I don’t need a licence so if they want to go to the bother of getting a warrant that’s fine, I have nothing to hide.

No legal obligation to report you don't need a licence. Very unlikely you'd get a visit, but no legal obligation to let a licence inspector into your home or say you don't need a licence. Just ignore the letters. Nothing will happen. They send out millions of them.

My daughter had this letter and did get a visit. She let the inspector in who asked her where her television was. She explained she didn’t have one which was why she didn’t have a licence. She said the inspector was really embarrassed and couldn’t get out of the house quick enough. A complete waste of everyone’s time.

I read a post on Reddit that its his name on them all & states local enforcement.

Ive never paid TV licence in 13 years. I had someone turn up once, refused him entry and that was all.

Ignore it as others have said. I used to report that I don’t need a licence and this year didn’t bother. Within a couple of weeks the letters started, getting increasingly threatening. Apparently I’m now being investigated and a visit has been authorised. I’ve also had a few scam emails so watch out for those.

It doesn’t just cover tv’s though. It includes mobile phones, pc’s, laptops and anything else you can watch tv on (some games consoles too, I think). We’re still not in need of one though.

It’s worrying how many people get a fright from these letters and just pay up though! I definitely won’t be letting anyone in if they do turn up though.

I always ignore emails like that anyway. Tempted to just write across the letter they sent and ‘return to sender’!

Agree op it is a scam and their website is deliberately incorrect and contradictory. E.g. the q
Do you or does anyone in your household ever watch TV on any channel? For example, on itv, ch5 etc.

There should be a "live" in there.

Itv, ch5 etc all have catch up services that are completely legal to watch without a license.

They have a contact us if you wanted to complain but tbh i would just ignore.

Definitely just going to ignore. Thanks to you all for the advice/reassurance!

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence

Fill in the form.
Ignore any threatening messages.
Don't give them your money

I’ve filled in the form twice this afternoon. After confirming details it’s asks do I watch….lists of channels. I selected no for every one. At the end it says ‘from what you have told us, you DO need a license’!! Wtf?! Then that’s it. No other options other than payment in full or in instalments!

Qs 4 and 5 need to be yes, not no

I’ve had the same recently - having completed the form to say we don’t need a licence, started receiving letters basically saying ‘we know you said that but are you sure?’. I’ve done the no licence needed declaration for years and this seems to be a new thing. I just put them straight in the recycling. What a waste of licence payers’ money.

Don’t even fill in the form!
I did a few years ago and assumed that was that. Then got letters saying I needed to renew that declaration. Feck that!!!

I don’t watch the biased BBC - just a sinecure for otherwise unemployable middle class arts graduates.
So I get loads of those threatening letters.
I think it’s scandalous they are allowed to get away with scare tactics.
Total anachronism.
If they really thought their output was worth people subscribing they would lobby for a subscription service.
If anyone turned up here I just wouldn’t answer the door.
If I happened to be in my front garden and someone turned up I would tell them they did not have permission to go into my garden, and if they did I would call the police and report them for harassment (and also invoke my ethnicity (which I never, and would never, in other circumstances weaponise)

I am the recipient of numerous letters from Mr Robson. I refuse to even fill in the “don’t need one” form as I don’t see why I should. He’s always sending me letters asking what I’m doing on a particular date because he’ll be sending the heavies round. They are yet to turn up but in true Mumsnet fashion I never answer it anyway as everyone just hollers at the window if I’m needed.

As an aside. Are you in the East of England? If not that I suspect Scott Robson might not exist and like the tooth fairy be completely made up. In which case awe he can be safely ignored.

It really pisses me off tbh. I don’t have to tell any other companies/ services that I don’t want or need their services so why the hell should I have to tell the BBC? 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’ve told one of their rude enforcement officers to get off my property before now.

Ignore all correspondence. Don’t answer the door or speak to them. They have no authority. They are employees of Capita, which tells you all you need to know.

I actually never had any letters, threats or visits.
Winning 😁