To think the BBC license fee should be scrapped

[Flashbangandgone]

Don't get me wrong, I love the BBC, and would pay a subscription if required, but I can't see any justification in continuing with a licence fee in the age of satellite and youtube. It's a stealth tax that needs to go.

It would be a bit like British Gas charging everyone a flat fee for using gas irrespective of how much gas they used or whether they used oil, coal or electric to hear their homes. It's bat-shit crazy anachronism and must surely go.

At the very least it could be pared down drastically from its current excesses.

I made a typo the first time I typed the figure, and didn't realise until you kindly pointed it out.

I pay £12.74 per month for my TV Licence (now - it was £25 a month for the first 6 months of moving back to UK). I pay £21.49 a month for Sky. I meant to type £13 for TVL and £22 for Sky (for ease) but accidentally typed £15.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to correct my post, much appreciated.

Coincidentally I've just had a TV license person at the door.

My god, do I feel sorry for vulnerable people who have to deal with them.

My TV license expired shortly before the summer holidays. I didn't go out and immediately buy a new one because I knew we wouldn't be in to be watching TV over the holidays very often and that if we did watch TV it would be to watch a movie or binge watch Netflix as a family and I wanted to spend that £145 enjoying time with my children.

Apparently this is illegal . I have a working TV and a (very basic) Sky package (purely because our aerial is broken so we cannot get freeview. Buying a new aerial would be the same as paying for Sky over the year)

It doesn't matter that we did not watch the TV, we own a TV we could watch so we need a license.

He then attempted to tell me he could force entry into my home after I refused to let him on account of having just got back from the school run after a night shift and having a jumpy dog loose in the house.

He has the right to enter my home

He then lied on the form he filled in, stating that my TV was plugged in and on stand by (how he knew this when I wouldn't let him in is beyond me, he didn't even ask if the TV was on) and that we last watched live TV in June, when I specifically said "it was before June" and that the aerial was also plugged in, that would be the aerial we don't have

So now not only do I need to pay for a service I have no inclination to use, I'm also supposed to pay for simply owning a TV that is not currently being used

And people wonder why so many are against the current system. I've met better mannered door men.

Had you filled out the online form and not decided that 'only occasionally' does not count you probably would have had a different experience. Surely you must also have ignored a reminder or two?

Having said that, given who is used to check, I am not really surprised.

No I paid in full last year and intended to pay in full this year, once the children were back to school and would be watching TV again.

I did get a reminder and phoned them to tell them we were not home atm and would buy a license when we got back from visiting relatives and would be using the TV, they then continued to send reminders and threats, which yes, I ignored. I've better things to do with my time than repeatedly tell the TV people that I am not watching TV.

Luckily the neighbour was on his doorstep at the time and heard everything that went on.

Our license expired after we stopped watching the TV. TV is a winter hobby for my kids. I actually cannot remember when we last watched any live TV, but if I had to guess, would say the end of February/start of May at some point.

*somewhere between the end of Feb or start of May.

I filled in the online form, but they continued to send threatening correspondence until I made a formal complaint.

I once moved into a military quarter that had previously been used as student accommodation for 3 people (one in each bedroom, one in the living room).

When I moved in I told the TVL people that it had reverted to one household. For the next two years I received reminders, letters and eventually visits because they wanted payment from 1a, 1b and 1c - no matter how many times I told them it was just me. Setting aside my irritation at the constant disruption, how do they justify that? One TV aerial with 3 TVs coming off it - if they were all the same family it would be 1 payment, but they wanted 3.

Oh and it gets worse - from that house I went to Kosovo for 4 months. All my belongings were packed into boxes (in case I died) but remained in the house. I was STILL expected to have a TV licence - because I had a TV and aerial in there.

The BBC risk scoring an own goal if they do decide to high-handedly stubbornly defend every aspect of the current licensing arrangements.

At the very least the license should have provisions for those on very low income, and that it should be de-criminalised and treated like every other utility. It would be politically advantageous for the Tories to press for this too.

I was STILL expected to have a TV licence - because I had a TV and aerial in there.

Not sure that was right! We spent the last 10 years with TV and aerial in the house but not connected. 1 round of paperwork, 2 reminders and replies from us and a visit from a very bumptious pratt later and we had no more trouble from them.

Excuse me popping in, we just thought you might like to share your views on the BBC on this thread.