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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU TV Licence

322 replies

LouBlue1507 · 03/01/2017 10:02

I don't have a TV licence and don't intend to pay for one.

I don't have access to live TV and only watch Netflix, Itv player, 4od and channel 5. Not BBC iplayer.

I have declared this to the TV licence people and now property is under investigation.

AIBU to refuse them entry if they turn up? I've read horror stories of them being bullies, intimidating and even lying!

OP posts:
AndShesGone · 03/01/2017 10:04

So you don't have iPlayer app downloaded on any devices?

They have to prove (using your IP address) that you view BBC channels. If you don't then you've nothing to worry about.

AndShesGone · 03/01/2017 10:05

You don't have to let them in. If they are accompanied by police officers with a court order then you do Grin

Newtssuitcase · 03/01/2017 10:06

Do you actually have a TV?
If so then you're going to be hard pushed to persuade them that you never turn it on.

Original poster
LouBlue1507 · 03/01/2017 10:07

Nope don't have iplayer, we used to. Months ago. But don't have it anymore!

OP posts:
Original poster
LouBlue1507 · 03/01/2017 10:07

Yes we have a TV and a ps4!

OP posts:
Newtssuitcase · 03/01/2017 10:08

I don't know exactly how the investigations work but they're highly unlikely to buy the assertion that you have a TV but never switch it on to watch it.

AcidBird · 03/01/2017 10:09

No live TV here either. I've been getting letters telling me I will be visited soon for around a year now.

Nobody has been yet.

When I've been visited in the past I have calmly explained that I don't have a tv, and that I won't be letting them in as I don't invite strangers into my home.

Original poster
LouBlue1507 · 03/01/2017 10:11

Newtssuitcase Yes I have a TV but no aerial or viewing box. It's not possible for me to have live TV with no signal!

OP posts:
lovelycuppateas · 03/01/2017 10:11

So you had iplayer "months ago"? You still have to pay for it!

Amithenormalone · 03/01/2017 10:11

You know what I have actually just realised that we are paying our tv licence and don't actually watch live TV. We watch netflix and catch up only.

user1477282676 · 03/01/2017 10:12

We don't turn ours on. Loads of people don't these days. We just stopped when we realised there was feck all on it!

MunchMunch · 03/01/2017 10:13

You can turn your tv Newts but if she doesn't watch tv she doesn't need one and she doesn't need to let them in.

Why should she be forced to pay for one if she doesn't need it even though, yes, she watches on demand (not including BBC) which she is legally allowed to do.

It's up to them to prove she doesn't watch live tv/BBC on demand not for her to prove it.

TabithaBethia · 03/01/2017 10:13

Well, she does switch it on only she uses tv to view paid for channels. It's a blurry area that the BBC has yet to resolve imo.

SoulLove · 03/01/2017 10:13

Not if it was before September teas

Newtssuitcase · 03/01/2017 10:14

Apparently 1 in 5 of those who claim not to need a TV licence are actually prosecuted. They will come and check that you have no ability to receive live TV or BBC iplayer. If you have nothing to hide then let them in.

The new rules come in shortly about Iplayer. Currently you just have to tick the box to say you have a TV licence. In a few weeks you'll have an account and have to input your licence details.

Original poster
LouBlue1507 · 03/01/2017 10:14

lovelycuppateas We were paying for it back then. We cut back on things and realised we never watched bbc or live TV, so didn't need a licence. Saves us £140 a year :)

OP posts:
TataEs · 03/01/2017 10:14

if you have a tv and aerial then i definitely wouldn't let them in cos they'll do you for it, even if it isn't plugged in. if you have a tv but no aerial on the property at all u can possibly argue it...
we had no tv license for a year as we had no tv. was a while ago, and they wrote a few times but we wrote back explaining we had no tv and didn't access i player and they threatened to come but never did.

bearfishdoodle · 03/01/2017 10:15

If you don't you watch iplayer or other BBC input then you don't need a to licence. They can monitor your IP address though.
It's ridiculous IMO that people living abroad can access iplayer without having to pay for it.

SoupDragon · 03/01/2017 10:16

You know what I have actually just realised that we are paying our tv licence and don't actually watch live TV. We watch netflix and catch up only.

If you watch BBC on iplayer you need a license.

Original poster
LouBlue1507 · 03/01/2017 10:16

TabithaBethia We don't get a signal, meaning a big black screen with 'no signal' displayed.

OP posts:
MunchMunch · 03/01/2017 10:16

So you had iplayer "months ago"? You still have to pay for it!

Op has never said she didn't pay for it months ago! Maybe she realised she was paying for something she rarely used so cancelled it. Just because she watched it "months ago" doesn't mean she has to continue to pay for it now.

TondelayaDellaVentamiglia · 03/01/2017 10:18

as pp said, unless they turn up with the Polis in tow then they can gtf!

We had NO END of aggro with their "threatening" letters....small village with less than a dozen houses....addresses are odd in that we are The Tondelayas, xxxxx House, then the number and village name. One other house is NOT the Tondelayas, xxxxx Cottage, Village name (no number)

as the cottage belonged to the farm and went with a job there was a reasonable turn over of tenants and every time it was empty we'd get letters to NOT the Tondelayas at OUR address about not having a tv licence. Took about ten years and lots of a thousand phone calls for them to separate the two addresses/names.

lots of "oh I see you Tondelayas have YOUR licence all up to date, no, there's no reason that the NOT Tondelayas are registered at your address" Wait six months until another letter arrives.

I was desperate for them to turn up so I could waste their bloody time, I really think they thought I would pay twice just to shut them up.

DailyFail1 · 03/01/2017 10:18

Don't you need a license to watch ITVPlayer 4 on demand too, as someone with a TV can't opt out of a TV licence just because they don't watch BBC channels.

Gem90 · 03/01/2017 10:19

lovely as long as she wasn't watching live tv on iplayer months ago she wouldn't have needed a licence. (I'm assuming the op means months ago before they changed that )
I have no tv licence, we cancelled our virgin box and now only watch catch up, net flix etc, apart from iplayer. We have had "agents" at the door twice, I explain to them I have a no licence needed declaration (which I do) and I refuse them entry. I get no letters, the only time they write to me is when I need to update the no licence needed declaration which is every two years I think.

Original poster
LouBlue1507 · 03/01/2017 10:21

No - I'm 99% certain I don't need a licence.

  • No access to live TV
  • No BBC iplayer apps

I'm just wondering what power they have if they turn up on your doorstep and you answer the door!

Surely they have to prove me guilty not me prove my innocence?

OP posts:
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