Declared that I don't require a TV licence. What's expected if they inspect my property?

[YoGatoradeMeBitch]

I've done a declaration online to say i don't need a TV licence since we only use Netflix and Amazon Instant Video. Its says online they may come and check. Anyone had this?

I don't mind them coming to check but I'm wondering how invasive it is? Will they want to check rooms for tvs etc? Really don't want a stranger in my bedroom!

[bloodyteenagers]

Of course it bollocks.

I should now tell you all about a funny story. Not an urban legend. I was there. Sorry it's a bit long.

So mate was moving into a new house. For a week a few of us had helped clean and decorate. Final night we were all having a takeaway and drink. Mini house party before all the furniture was moved in. So spatial furniture - couple of chairs, fridge freezer, futon, stereo.
Knock on door. Mate answers it.

Guy from licensing agency. The van has detected a TV is being used on premises and read the rights. Told mate he had to come and check becuAse she was denying a TV and he had seen she was watching tv and could hear it being played.

Fuck it. Come in. So he comes in. so she asked him about the detection stuff, and for a copy of the warrant to use covert surveillance. Asked about her right to privacy and using illegal covert surveillance was in breech of this. Demanded his name, the other people in the vans names, van reg number..
He ran out of the property.

Ok she was probably spouting some shit, but so was he.
Although we have always wondered since if any of what she said could actually be remotely true.

[Coffeemarkone]

" Asked about her right to privacy and using illegal covert surveillance was in breech of this. "

well she did have a point! Maybe this is why the 'TV detector vans' are in truth something else entirely.....
any ideas anyone?

[Coffeemarkone]

I did hear of a girl in London who got rid of them by shouting 'Loony' when they asked her name.
Her real surname was Looney

[BeyondTheWall]

As a publicly funded company, do we have the right to a FOI request as to how the vans can tell that a particular TV is recieving signal?

They never came in the two years i wasnt using my tv signal (still using tv for games and catch up). Shame, i was looking forward to ranting at them mn style

I wonder if those people upthread issued with a warrant had a sky subscription or something...?

[DrHarleenFrancesQuinzel]

I can't wait until my licence is up for renewal next April, I've stopped watching TV and can't wait to stop paying for it.

If paying by DD, just cancel the DD. I have done in the past. They then work out when your licence expires going by how long you have paid for. Ive done this in the past too.

[bloodyteenagers]

Sky etc aren't allowed to pass on details.
It's something that licensing/bbc want to be altered.
althoigh the problem as well is
Some package deals that include TV work out cheaper than just getting the phone and bb

[EggOnTheFloor]

If you are connected to sky is that the same as live TV?

I'd love to ditch the fee, as we don't watch any bbc shows, but we have sky so probably still need it.

[bloodyteenagers]

Yes sky is still live.
Basically any device that isn't solely prerecorded.

[scatterthenuns]

Sky is live tv, yes.

[BeckerLleytonnever]

what annoys me is we pay our licence yet people can access BBC and whtever online, or even from abroad.

[HeadDreamer]

Sky is live TV, but now TV isn't, unless you watch the sports channel.

[HeadDreamer]

And don't use a now TV box. Go via roku, Xbox, playstation or chrome cast.

[RosePetels]

They will check every room and every door like they are the police looking for drugs

[EggOnTheFloor]

I like sky Atlantic too much to give it up, and yeah DH is the same with sky sports.

Damn. However I will pass this information on to my friends.

[paxtecum]

I had a visit from the TV licensing people. I told him I don't have a licence because I don't watch tv. He asked if he could come in and look around, I refused so off he went.

[DrHarleenFrancesQuinzel]

Why can't our licence fee be incorporated into our TV package (for those of us who pay a monthly fee for watching TV like sky etc)

[RosePetels]

So if you have sky/Virgin they won't pass on your details?

[TheRealAmyLee]

We had no license for 2 years at our current house with no inspections. Our old house was empty for a while as need work doing. I declared this when we moved and again 3 more time as they sent letters, threats and a guy came round. The front door was boarded up (had been kicked in by thugs and secured by police) and you could see house was empty for renovation. His letter kindly stated he felt sure we had a tv... he could see clearly through the window that we didn't even have a fridge I called them up and went mental. Had no issues after that.

[19lottie82]

"what annoys me is we pay our licence yet people can access BBC and whtever online, or even from abroad."

You can't access player from abroad. Unless you have some kind of proxy server to work around the block

[19lottie82]

iplayer even

[Wilford]

TV detector vans certainly did exist. They worked by detecting the oscillator frequency in old style CRT tv's. Not very accurate but would give them a good idea of where the signal was coming from . With modern flatscreen type tv's it's not as simple as the voltage isn't anywhere near as high. Plus the fact now we have homes full of electronic devices,laptops,pc's etc. All emitting a similar sort of frequency at the same time! In spite of what they may say they'd have little or no chance of detecting a TV signal with any degree of accuracy in this day and age

[19lottie82]

Sky and Virgin won't pass on your details, but if you buy a TV, the supplier will.

[googoodolly]

That makes no sense though, as you can own a TV and not watch live TV on it. Whereas if you have SKY, you're obviously watching it live.

[VinoTime]

I've just renewed my declaration online.

Have had people show up at my house twice.

The first time it was a lovely lady who I let in - all she wanted to do was check the TV was receiving no signal so I turned the TV on for her and that was it. I even offered her tea. She was really nice.

The second, most recent time it was a rude man with a horrible attitude. He woke me up at 10 am after I'd been on a night shift by hammering on my damn door. He was very insistent about needing access and I eventually lost my temper. He made all sorts of threats about fines at which point I stuck my finger towards the roof and said, "There's no fucking aerial you twit" and slammed the door in his face. Not one of my finer moments

[bloodyteenagers]

You can buy a TV without giving
Your details.
Not from a big high st store chain
That sells everything from spoons to ps4's.
But you can chuck one in with your weekly shop, pay cash, not use
Your loyalty card and no record apart from receipt.