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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Who should pay for TV licence

64 replies

TeddyBare · 02/10/2012 17:12

My DN is a student living in a house with other students. Her new house mates have decided to get a TV for downstairs and therefore need to get a TV licence. DN has been presented with a bill for her share of the licence although she doesn't want to watch TV and therefore won't need a licence and wasn't consulted in the decision to get one. She is going to pay "her" share in the interests of having a peaceful house but as it's about £35 each it's going to mess up her budget or come out of her overdraft and she is a bit miffed about it. Of course smooth relations in the house are more important than quibbling over this, but I can't help but feel like she is being taken advantage of a bit. AIBU to think that the house mates who want to watch TV should be the ones to pay for the licence?

OP posts:
MrSunshine · 02/10/2012 18:31

If they decided to install a landline phone that she didn't want and won't use, should she have to pay for that as well? Or if the others decided to throw a party without asking her, would she have to spilt the cost of booze?

Not all bills in a shared house need to be shared. Only the fair ones.

CakeBump · 02/10/2012 18:39

Its one of those things when you live in a shared house.

Not quite fair, but she should suck it up.

I'm sure there are other things which are paid for jointly which she might use more than someone else, it'll balance out.

whois · 02/10/2012 20:56

LRDtheFeministDragon seriously? Are you a student in a third world country or something?

In 1st year practically no one had a TV in their room in halls as that would have been unsociable and also expensive to have a tv license.

In 2nd and 3rd year in shared houses EVERYONE had a TV in the sitting room. Not 'a few rich people' but every siudent house. TVs are cheap as chips when you buy a big CRT from the local student focused charity shop for £40 between 5 of you. Plus a lot of leaving 3rd years just left the TVs in the shared house for the next lot of students.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 02/10/2012 20:58

No, I'm in the UK.

None of us have licenses. It's normal. I've been to three universities and have good mates at about ten more. TV licenses are for rich kids, or for a treat.

I am sure it's different in different places, just giving my experience and trying to explain why the OP's niece isn't necessarily being unreasonable to not want to pay for a luxury she doesn't use.

Original poster
TeddyBare · 02/10/2012 21:45

I'm a lecturer in Wales and as far as I know most of my students watch TV but most of them only seem to watch Doctor Who. I don't know if that's iPlayer or not. DN is in England though so perhaps it's different across the border although she did say that her house in 2nd year didn't have a TV.

OP posts:
LRDtheFeministDragon · 02/10/2012 21:53

That's iplayer, yes.

So you can watch it as soon as it goes up after the live showing (usually about an hour late).

My students seem all to watch TV down the pub or in common rooms - they don't shell out for one in the house, usually.

Obviously it must vary, but I don't think it's likely most students would see a TV as an automatic expense.

EllenParsons · 02/10/2012 22:02

I think YABU and a TV licence is a household bill which should be split equally. I am a bit Hmm about people claiming they will never watch the TV and don't want a TV and therefore shouldn't pay, though not quite as bad as those who try to claim they've hardly used any electricity and therefore shouldn't chip in on that either! Bills should just be split, simple as that. £35 per year is hardly the end of the world.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 02/10/2012 22:04

Eh? Why are you 'hmm' about it, ellen? Confused

It's nice you're rich, but we're not all, hence 35 quid being an issue in the real world.

Toombs · 02/10/2012 22:05

Don't pay it, I've never had one in my adult life.

WorriedBetty · 02/10/2012 22:07
  1. I haven't paid a TV licence for five years - iplayer is fine for me!
  2. £35 isn't that much over a year. Drink a can of special brew with ice on the way out and you will save a tenner each time you go out!
  3. Put forward a communal veggie/lentil based meal a week and the house will easily save the TV licence money
  4. But then again, if you don't pay the TV licence people will take way more than a year to catch up with you and enforce. I stopped notifying that I had no TV and arguing after two years because they never believed me anyway. I have only recently had a 'ok this time we really mean it, we are sending someone round (a month ago) and still no enforcer has arrived!
Llareggub · 02/10/2012 22:07

TVs were pretty common place when I was a student in the early 90s. Licences were not.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 02/10/2012 22:10

The license people do pay much more attention to students without licenses. It's a stupid idea to cheat by watching when you don't have a license (besides being dishonest).

Toombs · 02/10/2012 22:12

Don't tell TVL anything, they will not be able to do anything. They have no rights to inspect your home and you do not have to let them in. You do not have to prove anything to them. There is no such thing as a TV Licence inspector, they are employees of Capita, they have no powers at all, none.

If one presents himself at your door simply tell him to make an appointment and close the door (this is by the way the advice given by the police for unexpected callers). You do not have to say anything else. Any reputable company will make an appointment.

Toombs · 02/10/2012 22:16

This is why you should not engage with TVL at the door.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2033075/Rapist-TV-Licence-inspector-fantasy-frustrated-housewife-throw-him.html

McHappyPants2012 · 02/10/2012 22:17

I don't view TV licence as a bill it is a life style choice, like sky, virgin, landline and the internet.

Gas, Electricity, water and rent is Bills

ThePieWhoLovedMe · 02/10/2012 22:51

My son and his house mates do not have connected TV's and the little TV they do watch is via you tube. If one of them decided to get a TV connected to a ariel permanently in a communal area - I would think that they were taking the piss ...but I would advice my son to pay it. Keep the peace and all that.

Toombs · 02/10/2012 23:25

The problem with TVL and why you should never talk to them is that they regard the person to whom they are speaking to be responsible for the licence. In a communal house there is no specific person so whoever opens the door will be nailed, there are cases of non residents being prosecuted because they opened the door and spoke to TVL.

Never ever speak to TVL, don't try to be clever or attempt a defence, shut the door.

MrSunshine · 02/10/2012 23:33

No there aren't. You can't be prosecuted for visiting a house with an unlicensed tv, don't be daft.

whois · 02/10/2012 23:43

LRDtheFeministDragon ah, yes good point. i suppose iPlayer has come on a lot over the last few years. 7 years ago (argh, 7?!?) there were few shows an it buffered terribly, meaning DVDs or TV license was required.

Toombs · 02/10/2012 23:50

MrSunshine

You can be prosecuted if you are the one who speaks to TVL. They will not attempt to work out if you are responsible or not. If you are the one who speaks to them you are the one that will receive the summons, there are documented cases of children being summoned. Do not ever speak to an "inspector" the only words that should pass your lips should be "make an appointment".

Original poster
TeddyBare · 02/10/2012 23:54

Surely when they receive the summons and go along to court it becomes very obvious that there has been a mistake and it's just a big waste of time and money?

OP posts:
Toombs · 02/10/2012 23:58

Nope, there's a case of an American citizen being prosecuted and found guilty despite just being a guest.

The law doesn't provide a reason, the house requires a licence but does not specify which individual within it is responsible, TVL will prosecute whoever opens the door. You must never ever speak to TVL on the doorstep.

Brycie · 03/10/2012 00:00

I think the feminist dragon is right, i.e. she shouldn't have to pay but basically she will have to pay.

Toombs · 03/10/2012 00:03

Don't pay, I don't. They can F**k off.

tittytittyhanghang · 03/10/2012 00:12

Also i think TV licensing is slightly different for students as well. If she does chip in the tv licence belongs to the person whose name is on it. Technically it wouldn't allow your daughter to watch live tv on her laptop/in her own room. I found this out after i bought a telly in my maiden name, but having licence in married name. TV officers came to door and explained that despite being a tv licence registered to one name in the house, they had to check as the tv bought was in a different name and it might have been students, who would have to get a licence each. This also applies to old folks homes/nursing homes as well, have had to transfer several clients TV Licences over to their new room address at nursing/care homes.

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