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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To just ignore the TV licensing people?

76 replies

unlucky83 · 28/12/2013 11:50

So I bought a house, previous occupants had moved to a home - would have been over 75 or whatever and on free TV licence.
Currently house is empty - being renovated, resembles a building site - no tvs etc. They sent me a letter that I can only assume was a licence renewal (addressed to previous occupant so didn't open) in September. In retrospect I don't know why I bothered - it was a lot of waiting and pressing this number for this etc - a pain- but I phoned them up, explained the situation and said I would be transferring mine from present house when I moved in...the guy said that was all fine, just to let them know when I wanted to transfer.
Now I keep getting letters from them saying I need a TV licence etc - latest one is 'visit is being authorised' 'Ignoring this could cost you more than a TV licence', you have been transferred to our investigations team etc - all quite threatening...
So IABU to think fuck you just to ignore the letters - bear in mind I've already told them the score and they don't seem to believe me - let them waste their time and effort to investigate, and come and see for themselves - maybe more than one visit as there will probably be no-one in when they do call anyway?

(Do have to say have a bad experience of TV licensing inspectors anyway - shared house, licence was in someone who had moved out name but we had renewed it (with a cheque in my name!) - inspector (creepy) told me that meant we didn't have a licence, read me my rights, looked at TV etc and then said something about if I was nice to him, cup of tea and biscuits etc (winked) he might turn a blind eye and not report us ...Yuk! -I didn't so he must have and we heard no more about it anyway.)

OP posts:
DoYouLikeMyBaubles · 28/12/2013 11:53

I despise the TV licensing people.

We don't watch TV, so we don't need one. We have 3 massive TV's though that we watch films on so trying to convince them we don't need a TV license is impossible.

You've done your part, sod them.

DeckTheHallsWithBonesAndSkully · 28/12/2013 11:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

eurochick · 28/12/2013 11:54

You know you are not using an unlicensed TV at the property so you can safely ignore.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 28/12/2013 11:55

Ignore them. You have no tv in the house so they can do nothing.

meganorks · 28/12/2013 11:58

Just ignore. They are standard letters. Their records will show house has new owners, house doesn't have owners. Clearly there is no capacity their end to note your situation so no point calling again. If they turn up you most likely won't be there and if you are there wont be any TVs

RandyRudolf · 28/12/2013 11:59

Send them a copy of the council tax status for the property proving that it's empty with a polite letter asking them to stop harassing you!

chocoshopoholic · 28/12/2013 12:01

The TV inspector turned up at ours whilst there were renovations happening and we were living elsewhere (with a license). He was lovely and noted that we had half a roof and no power at the property on his clipboard and trotted off again.

Tulip26 · 28/12/2013 12:04

Do it online and get proof sent to your email inbox. I've had to do it twice as they were still badgering me. I had 18 letters and three visits this year until I declared myself for the second time. Not a whisper after that.

Original poster
unlucky83 · 28/12/2013 12:17

Thanks - I don't really care if they badger me - letters can go straight in the bin ...inspectors can inspect all they like ...they are just wasting their time and resources ...and I don't see why I should waste my time if they can't get themselves organised or don't believe me...
Then on the other hand I think that is all adding to cost of the licence for myself and others...and do feel a tiny bit guilty ...
But no-one seems to think IWBU to ignore them ...so I'll stop feeling guilty Smile!

OP posts:
livinginawinterwonderland · 28/12/2013 12:22

They do the same with us. In a flat with no TV aerial and no way of watching live TV. We own two TV's but watch everything on catch-up or on DVD/Netflix. We don't need a license. They still don't believe that three 20/30 somethings would live without live TV, though Hmm

Sleepwhenidie · 28/12/2013 12:26

We've had similar, they are a joke. We turned two adjoining properties, one of which we had lived in for years and had a licence at, into one. We ended up with a visit after trying to tell them why the second property no longer existed as such and therefore no licence needed. So the inspector, during his visit, switched my licence from the original property into the 'unlicensed' one. We are now getting letters and threats for the original property Hmm!

BrianTheMole · 28/12/2013 12:28

If you have no tv then ignore it.

NigellasDealer · 28/12/2013 12:33

absolutely ignore them

Tinuviel · 28/12/2013 12:39

I used to get his when I didn't have a TV. I told them once and then ignored.

DownstairsMixUp · 28/12/2013 12:41

I hate them to. Totally ignore. I really want to invest in an xbox 360 just so i can use catch up/netflix only to not pay the tv license!

specialsubject · 28/12/2013 12:43

do it online, takes 5 mins. It's not hard.

did it for a currently empty rental that I own. No letters or emails since the acknowledgement.

BTW ownership of a TV is not relevant. If you watch ANY broadcasts live, on any device, you need a licence. If you watch everything delayed, you don't. You can have a TV and use it to watch iplayer broadcasts as long as they are delayed.

of course if too many do this, no BBC and we will truly find out the meaning of shit TV.

specialsubject · 28/12/2013 12:43

ps ignoring is a bit juvenile. Spend the 5 mins.

yes, we all hate Capita, but just do it.

NigellasDealer · 28/12/2013 12:44

oh please ss...

Jengnr · 28/12/2013 12:48

Ignore. You've told them once.

stooshe · 28/12/2013 12:49

Ignore. Now that I am not such a luddite, I watch most t.v online (stuff and series that i never had the time to watch from years ago. hence i'm not up to date with normal t.v). The Flatscreen is in the living room, next to the cabinet with my pretentious and ridiculous DVDs. I brandished both to the VERY insistent inspector about two years ago. I haven't heard a peep since.

ajandjjmum · 28/12/2013 13:20

Years ago, DH was living in a shared house and they were always being visited by 'friends of friends'. Someone arrived at the door as they were watching a big match, so he was told to sit down and join them......you know what's coming!!!! They received the fine in the post,

LadyBeagleEyes · 28/12/2013 13:26

Ignore, ignore, ignore.
It's the first letter in your letterbox when you move whether you watch TV or not and they'r always vaguely threatening.
I don't believe in conspiracy theories but the Big Brother power of the tv licencing board is out of control.
Many years ago I had a registered blind great aunt who was hounded by their letters, it took my uncle to sort it and things haven't changed.

redgate · 28/12/2013 13:27

The delights of TV licensing, apparently my (new build) house exists twice! After all the fines letters and threats of a visit, the man on the helpline was just as bemused as me and we agreed that the people who live in the parallel universe house don't own a TV and we have never had any problems since. Shame cause watching them try a visit to a non-existent house would have been funny.

hopskipandthump · 28/12/2013 13:43

livingin - I may be wrong but I think you officially need a licence to watch iplayer or similar - so watching catchup does need a licence.

BakeOLiteGirl · 28/12/2013 13:49

Hopskip - You really do not need a licence to watch iplayer on catch up. You only need a licence if you are watching something as it is being broadcast at the same time.