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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to not let the tv licensing inspectors in?

113 replies

RevoltingPeasant · 04/09/2013 22:04

DH and I have never had a tv, and we periodically get the letters threatening to come around, fine us, throw us into a dungeon etc. No one ever actually has come to the house.

Today when we got back from work there was a note through the door saying they'd been to look around and as we were out, they'd come back.

I have already let them know we don't have a tv. I don't really like the idea of some total stranger wandering through my house, especially going into bedrooms, which I guess they must do as lots of people have tvs there. Also, I'm not the sort of person who's scared of "strange men" but it seems to me it would be so easy for someone to create a fake id and then try to gain entry to,the house. I wouldn't really fancy letting someone in for these reasons.

They may not come back, but if they do, WIBU to refuse entry? Is this illegal? Or would you let them in?

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 04/09/2013 22:54

ladygoinggaga - but why should you keep letting people into your house to have a look around? Why should you be continually treated like a criminal and in some case even when you are over the age of 75 and you don't even need a flipping tv licence if you did have a tv?

LRDMaguliYaPomochTebeSRaboti · 04/09/2013 22:55

I know it may be repeating things, but NO you do not have to let them in.

Why on earth would you?

It is a crock of shit that they can 'tell' whether or not you use things for live TV. DH and I never watch TV live, but our laptops could receive live TV, and when we've spoken to them on the phone, they have tried very hard to lie and say this means we must have a license. Then we checked the law and found it was not the case.

If you let them in, you will have to bear in mind that their basic assumption will be that you are lying and trying to cheat them of their money. They will not consider it's likely you might tell the truth. This is how they operate.

specialsubject · 04/09/2013 22:57

OP, do you ever watch any TV as it is broadcast, on whatever device?

If yes, then you should have a licence.
If no, then you don't need one.

either way, you do not have to let them in unless they have a warrant. The presence or absence of a TV is irrelevant. The system has not really caught up with modern tech and is impossible to police correctly.

The operation is run by Capita who are incentivised by fines. That's why they go for the easy targets.

MorphyBrown · 04/09/2013 23:00

It's pretty ridiculous. All you need to watch tv is a laptop or an iPad or a phone! Even having a tv without a license is legal as you could just be using it to watch DVDs.

ouryve · 04/09/2013 23:00

Why should you let a stranger into your house who has no reason to be there, Lethologica? Yes, it is an inconvenience and a massive intrusion to be accused of breaking the law or being dishonest, time and time again.

BerylStreep · 04/09/2013 23:01

I wouldn't let someone in to obtrusively search my home without a warrant.

ladygoingGaga · 04/09/2013 23:02

I would prefer letting someone in for two minutes then putting up with letters, phone calls and visits all the time.

I don't see the issue here Confused

You are right that there is no power of entry of course, and you don't have to let them in, but then don't complain if you keep getting letters and phone calls.

They are just trying to do a job, look at how many people they do prosecute successfully who flaunt the law. They can't tell who is telling the truth on a doorstep.

halfwayupthehill · 04/09/2013 23:04

They also lie. One inspector shouted through the door that it was the law of the land that i had to let him in or get a 1000 quid fine.
Pointless and nasty. They are stuck in the 70s where th only form of home entertainment was watching live tv. Me, i mn and browse the internet.
I cannot think of any other situation where you would allow someone to invade your privacy to prove your innocence which is impossible anyway if you have a phone or computer etc.

ivykaty44 · 04/09/2013 23:06

But ladygaga - they dont' stop after you let them in, they continue to send the letter and threaten you with another visit - so they call again, you phone and tell them you don't have a tv so don't need a licence and they say ok we will call to check. Why should they be able to harries people in their own homes and some OAP over 75 have had such bullying they have spent 140 quid on a licens to shut them up - when legally they don't have to have a licence.

ivykaty44 · 04/09/2013 23:10

lady - would you be happy to empty your handbag every three months in a shop incase you had stolen something - just on the off chance of course. How would you feel being taken to one side and told to empty your handbag to see what is in their and then told it was just because the store detetives can't catch all the shop lifters and they thought you might be a shop lifter.

Would you be happy with that protocol?

mouseymummy · 04/09/2013 23:11

I once let them in to sort out my direct debit... Later found out that this act was an admission of guilt and I had been fined... Found out when I changed my address, they cancelled the dd in error and the week after I had the fecking police at my door to arrest me... Twats

I sorted it all out and have had no issues since. Bloody hell though, didn't half shit me up!

TheSecondComing · 04/09/2013 23:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ladygoingGaga · 04/09/2013 23:12

Okay, I understand the annoyance if you have let them in once and still they continue. I suppose I would suggest you document any visit, take names of the inspectors/photos of them and make an official complaint.

I am sure they should have a codes of practice and guidelines on the number of visits etc.

ringaringarosy · 04/09/2013 23:15

i have a suspiscion the reason they still want to look round even though you have no tv is because the equipment they claim to have to detect tvs doesnt exist,they probably just use it to scare people.

yanbu to let him in you dont have a tv ffs.

ringaringarosy · 04/09/2013 23:15

and report them too.

LRDMaguliYaPomochTebeSRaboti · 04/09/2013 23:17

Yes, they're just trying to do their job. A job that involves deliberately harrassing and intimidating people.

No thanks.

ladygoingGaga · 04/09/2013 23:22

Ivy no of course I wouldn't be happy with the scenario you pose, like anyone else as its not proportionate.
Like everyone else though I'm happy that I'm searched at airports by security or customs as its for our own protection or to prevent serious crime. I don't take that personally.

The inspectors are just doing a job at the end of the day, I make no apologies about going back to my point that plenty of people lie to them, probably the vast majority! They can't tell who is and isn't form a conversation through a letterbox, if you have nothing to hide then whats the problem!.?

Its not an accusation that you are a criminal, its a simple check that your self declaration is accurate.

ivykaty44 · 04/09/2013 23:29

lady At an airport we are all being searched for our own safety and everyones safety on the plane, unfortunately people could die which is totally different.

A store detective would just be doing their job yet you would not be happy with having a handbag searched but think someone should just let a man in off the street and have them search your home.

Plenty of people shoplift and if you have nothing to hide why would you be concerned about emptying the content of your handbag, it wouldn't be accusing you of being a criminal it would just be treating you the same as a criminal

holidaysarenice · 05/09/2013 01:06

I let him in, he just asked where's the living room, opened the door about 6 inches said 'that's great, ill make sure noone hassles you for the year' (I had told him we were staying a year) and left.

No letters or calls after that.
It was easy. Never cared about anywhere else.

cumfy · 05/09/2013 01:17

YANBU

License should come out of general taxation.

Much easier. No wages bill.

Campari · 05/09/2013 01:40

I have a question - since it is the BBC that the licence money goes to, what happens if your aerial can't pick up BBC channels??

For example some freeview signals are poor in rural areas, my parents only get a limited number of "non-BBC" freeview channels like Dave, ITV3 etc

Morloth · 05/09/2013 01:53

I had 7 visits from the TV Licensing people in 3 years when I lived in the UK.

It was pretty funny, they would come, I still wouldn't have a TV (we did in our first flat but then it blew up and given how shit it was we didn't bother getting a new one when we moved).

It got to the point where I was deliberately wasting their time because I didn't have a lot on a that point in my life and it gave me a warm glow that they were wasting their precious licence fees on stalking me...

It is utterly bizarre but mildly amusing.

StuntGirl · 05/09/2013 02:13

I have a question - since it is the BBC that the licence money goes to, what happens if your aerial can't pick up BBC channels??

A small portion of the licence fee goes to other channels too, it's not entirely BBC.

We do not watch live television on any device, we will once in a blue moon watch something on catch up but for the most part we watch Netflix, use legal streaming sites and watch dvd's. Our TV was bought primarily for gaming, so it's a pretty decent TV but obviously the licensing people can't fathom that anyone might not want to watch TV.

I've often thought their logic flawed anyway. I could get rid of my TV altogether and yet still watch tv as it streams live on my laptop, PC, mobile phone or tablet. Yet all they're checking for is a TV. Such ridiculously flawed and out of date logic.

LessMissAbs · 05/09/2013 08:08

Once they have a search warrant, they will also have to obtain proof that you are watching tv. Usually this would mean two officers would have to actually see you in the act, as it were. Or they could take photographic evidence and use it as extrinsic evidence in court.

coco27 · 05/09/2013 08:14

How can they detect ? TVS receive a signal which is all around us.They don't transmit a signal so what is there to detect?

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