AIBU TV Licence

[LouBlue1507]

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!

I believe they are going to experiment with some sort of subscription service during the next few years. It's part of their attempt to try and work out a more sustainable funding model.

There is no excuse other than they don't want to give the nation the choice.

That doesn't make sense. Changing it to subscription/log in would stop the free loaders full stop so it doesn't make sense from the BBC's point of view not to do it. The nation still has a choice - watch and pay, don't watch and don't pay or watch "illegally"

I suppose the only thing the Beeb gains from not moving over to a subscription/log-in service is the kudos of having legal enforcement powers.

I think they just like turning up on people's doorsteps and threatening them TBH.

Headdreamer I use Amazon music all the time! And while the Amazon first books aren't great, the kindle owners lending library has a great selection - but you do have to own a kindle and only get one loan per month.

The BBC knows it will lose a huge amount of revenue if it moves to subscription. That's why they are trying to cling on to the licence fee. Someone's got to fund the million-pound payoffs -

www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24818636

The BBC has direct competition and is failing and floundering to keep there position

A neighbour used to write for the BBC, but work has dried up over the years as they use more and more reality shows which are cheap. Bargain auction shows, dancing & singing shows, house moves etc

I honestly think the BBC should concentrate on stuff they can (and do) do well, and leave the soaps, talent shows and populist crap for others, but I know that's not a popular view.

To the poster who got a letter saying they'd be round with a warrant - that is extremely unlikely! It's just another scare tactic.

I can't find the info at the moment as on my phone, but when someone ut a Freedom Of Information Request in to find out how many search warrants had been granted ever, the number was something ridiculously low (I think it was 5 but may be wrong).The chances are that they will not waste money obtaining a search warrant as it would cost them a lot of money if they are not certain that you watch live TV.

Pretty much 100% of people who are prosecuted for licence evasion have just let them in to check, thinking that they had to, or they've been daft and had their TV on within sight of the front window, then denied having a TV.

I notified them about seven years ago that I didn't need a licence due to not watching live TV - at that time I did watch iPlayer very occasionally, but didn't need a licence then to do that. I heard nothing from them except for a form to complete if I still didn't need a licence every two years.

At my previous home, they had the address mangled up with the neighbours, so I had a huge skinhead bouncer type guy on the doorstep. I would have been terrified tbh if I wasn't 100% sure I had a licence and was able to go and get it to show him. He was actually lovely, and said he'd let them know to sort their database out.

A disabled friend of mine, who also has MH issues, regularly gets really scary sounding letters from them. He has asked me to drive him to the post office to buy a licence several times before, as he's convinced they are taking him to court and he'll be locked up forever. He doesn't even own a TV or computer! I have to reassure him every time a letter comes - have complained as it is harassment and he is very vulnerable, but they still persist. It really pisses me off that they can get away with this.

Can anyone help?

I don't have a TV licence at home as I don't have a TV end only really watch YouTube documentaries oh my iPad. I don't have catch-up apps on my iPad

However, I have now been in hospital for a month. I have been paying for use of the wifi, and during this time I have been watching some BBC programmes (catch-up) so I have downloaded the app just for ease.

Do you think I am legal in watching iplayer? I assumed that I would be covered by a hospital licence? Also, when I go home, if I delete the app, will they have a way of finding out that I used it if I got investigated? I suspect they would be suspicious about my [entirely true] explanation....?

We don't watch live tv only Netflix so we don't pay for tv licence. Up until the new rules changed my DC used to watch postman pat, mr tumble etc on I player. When they changed the rules do you know what we did? Bought them the DVDs instead. Cheaper than £12 a month. I don't like the bbc much and don't fancy paying for it. My choice not bothered if some people have this weird 'legal but not moral' view. Life's too short. It's legal that's all there is to it.

Rooombs you are correct with the very low number for a year it's somewhere around 5 warrants.

This is due to the fact the TV licencing need strong evidence that you need a licence and without access to your home it is rare they can get the proof for a warrant to access your home to prove you are watching live TV

Inspired by this thread to get on and do it at last, I have just soent the last twentyminutes in the tv licensing website trying to cancel. What an unintuitive and customer-unfriendly website!! So, I think I have now followed the right steps, in the right order, but, despite being of pretty decent intelligence, pretty tech savvy, and very patient, I am not 100% sure I have done so 😄 I have used their contact form to request a cancellation, accompanied by all the correct details, and have also completed and printed out a refund form to send by post as requested...but the evidence I need to send with it seems to suggest that the rfund is due to a hous emove (e.g. new housing contract, property solicitor's letter, final water bill etc) so I hope it will be ok send a bornig old utility bill that simply shows I really live here and am staying put!

Anyone been through this process and can confirm I have done the right things? Thanks!

Awful typos 😳

I didn't do any of that Wellies.

I just stopped paying for one. Don't forget to cancel your DD if you have one.

Wellies: anyone would think that they were deliberately trying to get you to give up and keeping paying them money every month.

It's ridiculous how not user-friendly the site is for anyone who doesn't want to sign up for a direct debit.

I know, miladythesaurus 😄

The direct debit thing has me a bit stumped, saucyjack, because I am sure the refund section advised me not to cancel it yet (presumably because it facilitates them returning me my money), but I think I also saw something about remembering to cancel it in the help section...but I am not going back on that site again without a bit of caffeine to strengthen me 😂

I guess the question is how much I have paid ahead for my tv licence and they need to return what will become the unused portion. I think I will wait for the reply to my request first. I am also tempted, despite previous doubts, to allow them in to the house to prove we don't use live tv if they appear for a visit, just so it removes doubts and completes the process. My 4 yr old dd will chatter them to tears so they won't stay long 😄

Basically if you have a TV licence in your name then you can watch BBC programmes on any device you own , including an iPad on a train it's not rocket science

Only read the first six pages and the last one.... whoever said you could watch the BBC i-player from abroad without paying is WRONG - it used to be possible using a UK VPN but they put a stop to that some time ago - even if you're in the UK you can't watch using a VPN.

The system is slightly different here in France. we don't have a TV but do occasionally watch the news on our computers.... as it stands at present this is OK - we don't need a licence (they keep threatening to change the rules).
Some years ago they changed the method of collecting the licence fee - now you get the bill included with your rates. if you don't have a TV you must tick a box on your annual income tax declaration to say that you don't have a TV. It's always the first thing I do when the form arrives, but the administration ignores the ticked box and issues us with the licence demand anyway. So I have to go up to the tax office and remind them that we don't have a TV - I can't just ignore it as not paying a tax demand could really get us into trouble.
One day a few years ago I was working at home when the doorbell rang. Chap standing there says " Good morning, I'm from the tax office. No need to worry" (I imagine people keel over thinking the Fisc is going to investigate them - which is a pain even if you have done nothing wrong...) ".... you have declared that you don't have a TV".
"That's right," I said, opening the door wider "would you like to come in and check?"
"No, thank you - the fact that you have invited me to do so is sufficient proof of your good faith... just sign here to say that I've been round and checked, and don't forget that if you do get a TV you need to register it at the tax office, good day."
So that was that.
However, i'm a bit on edge at the moment as OH has repaired his niece's flat screen TV and it is in our kitchen being "tested". I've told him if it's not gone by the end of the week I'm going to declare the need for a licence, as if they catch you without one here they don't only give you a fine but they back-date the licence payment for five years!

Grindelwald: you might not be allowed to watch your iPad on a train if you plug it in.

You can't pop round to my house and watch your iPad if you plug it in. That's against the rules, that is.

This plugging in business is something that used to be relevant years ago when the only thing you could watch telly on was probably a telly or laptop, its all a bit silly now when people have to charge devices daily anyway and its normal to charge up your device or phone on the train or anywhere else, it just makes the BBC look stupid and outdated, which it is.

So can you charge up said device and then watch when it is unplugged after charging. Just not watch when its actually plugged in. How the hell is anyone going to know where it was charged up, are the BBC going to send undercover charging inspectors out.

A TV licencing inspector popped in unexpectedly and tried to catch dh out. It was painful to watch.

"I'll just be five minutes.... So, did you enjoy the match yesterday?"
"I don't watch football"
"Oh. Well, I'll just be a minute... Er, did you see that funny show on Saturday night? I love that presenter-"
"No"

I hate the threatening tone of the letters with the implied assumption that you are a liar and a thief until proven otherwise.

We watch Netflix and buy films on Google Play. We bought the new series of Sherlock from the BBC store for £8.

£145 is a lot for what we would watch. We buy good individual series from the BBC store, although some are available on Netflix anyway.

The best one I heard was about the tv licence inspector reading some poor woman her Miranda Rights!