Page 5 | To have told the to licence man to piss off?

DontGoRhiannonStay · 2017-01-20T12:50:41+00:00

I have phoned them so many times and told them we don't need a licence. I have a no licence needed declaration. So when this guy stood on my doorstep and tried to read me some Sort of "rights" was IBU to tell him to piss off before shutting the door on him? (It felt amazing)

ATailofTwoKitties · 20/01/2017 14:52

This sounds totally unworkable, though!

I can see the logic of someone checking whether you have a TV, and even whether it's capable of receiving live programmes, but how on earth do you prove that your phone is never used (and never will be used) for iPlayer?

WankingMonkey · 20/01/2017 14:53

It really is time the BBC moved to subscription only. I know a very small part of the fee goes to every channel (satellite upkeep and such) but the huge majority goes to the BBC and so many people I know don't watch BBC content at all. Its clear that the BBC gets most of the cash or they wouldn't pay capita to bully people into paying it...if it really was for 'all live TV'

Stick adverts on BBC like every other bloody channel, or make it an opt in service

ElsieMc · 20/01/2017 14:53

I paid for a licence for my dd when she was at uni. I paid by direct debit and when I rang to renew they said they had no history of a licence at her flats and threatened me. Fortunately I had the statements showing the payments taken. This was over the phone.

When she finished uni, I rang to cancel and they said they could not talk to me and they had to talk to her. She rang and they said they had to talk to me. They were absolutely horrible. And I was paying. Lord help anyone else.

LivingOnTheDancefloor · 20/01/2017 14:55

I am wondering: in theory if we had a functioning TV, with aerial, and just decide never to turn it on, we wouldn't have to pay a license, right?
In this scenario, wouldn't it be harmful to let the TV license people in? As they would suspect you even more (even if you were telling the truth)?

I don't get why they don't use a password type system, at least for the live channels/BBC on demand. Would remove a lot of suspicion from people who just can't believe someone doesn't watch any of the BBC programs.

roseshippy · 20/01/2017 14:55

"Rose actually they can apply for a search warrant and execute it with the police present. And they can take you to court. And yes they do have legal powers. People have been taken to court and fined for not having aicence."

What legal powers? Why are you talking rubbish?

This is how they work:

Licence man arrives and manipulates you into making a statement saying you have no licence but need one

2a. If you then buy a licence, they don't do anything 2b. If you don't buy a licence, they prosecute based on the statement.

They don't just get search warrants and summons without any evidence. They work using salesmen. The salesmen get the statements. No contact with the salesman = no prosecution.

ChocChocPorridge · 20/01/2017 14:56

In two houses I've lived in, I had so many calls (evenings, sunday lunchtime etc), plus visits and letters DESPITE HAVING A TV LICENSE that I used to keep it pinned to the board by the door and phone so I could easily read out the number to the people on the phone/show the people at the door.

Twice. It happened in two entirely different addresses, in two entirely different towns.

Then the first time I moved country and tried to get a refund apparently my visa for the second country, my employment contract and my rental contract weren't proof enough that I wasn't living a the house any more, so I wasn't entitled to a refund of 6 months license.

I almost fell off my chair when I moved again recently just filled a form in online and with no evidence at all they sent me a 35 quid refund! I thought they might actually be improving!

roseshippy · 20/01/2017 14:59

"I know a very small part of the fee goes to every channel (satellite upkeep and such)"

No it doesn't. Only BBC & S4C

WankingMonkey · 20/01/2017 14:59

I am wondering: in theory if we had a functioning TV, with aerial, and just decide never to turn it on, we wouldn't have to pay a license, right?
In this scenario, wouldn't it be harmful to let the TV license people in? As they would suspect you even more (even if you were telling the truth)?

A friend of mine is unsure if she has to pay. She has a TV, with a satellite dish...and a sky subscription...but only uses the box sets and catchup (not meaning +1 or recorded...only the catchup part). She figures its cheaper than buying the box sets separately...she refuses to go with my advice and just use a bloody streaming site like others as 'the internet is evil' and she doesn't have it. Bit of a nutter. But yes, kinda the same scenario given the license is only for live/recorded/BBC TV.

WankingMonkey · 20/01/2017 15:00

*doesn't have it. = doesn't use it.

She has an internet connection as her sky box is connected wirelessly to it...

WankingMonkey · 20/01/2017 15:02

No it doesn't. Only BBC & S4C

Oh, I usually see it said (and never challenged it) that its not just the BBC, its for all channels. If its just the BBC and S4C..how come you have to have one to watch ANY live TV (even that from other countries)? Even more of a fucking con

kath6144 · 20/01/2017 15:03

My mum died almost a year ago. My DB took her TV away after funeral, as we were only going to be emptying the house after that, on day trips, and I am not bothered about watching it anyway.

I rang and cancelled the licence, due to Bereavement. Told them we would be selling house, but no idea how long it would take, could be months.

For weeks after, whenever I went to her house, there was a letter from them asking if there was a TV there. I can understand one, to ensure the new owners re-registered their licence, but repeated ones? Following a death? Definitely harassment.

roseshippy · 20/01/2017 15:15

".how come you have to have one to watch ANY live TV (even that from other countries)?"

You can actually watch non-EU TV, but obviously you have to figure out a way to receive it in the UK

mothertruck3r · 20/01/2017 15:15

It's funny how the BBC is supposedly the bastion of liberalism yet they employ complete thugs to harass and lie to people in order to bully them into paying for the licence even if they don't require one by law.

Areyoulocal · 20/01/2017 15:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Roystonv · 20/01/2017 15:18

Letting agent here, if we get a letter from them to an empty house we used to ring them so they could record it as empty, thought we were helping them. They did not care, would not record it and told us not to bother.

mycatwantstokillme1 · 20/01/2017 15:19

Living, I agree with you, like I said my dad couldn't understand the officers that just wanted to get people to court. And I think that's one of the reasons why he left, because he couldn't do it to people. If he saw they had a licence but were seriously poor he would try & get them to sign up to may the least amount a week so they didn't have to go to court. I don't know how different it is now (this was over 10 years ago) but then once an officer saw there was a tv but no license I think they were able to issue a court summons. My dad just couldn't do it, but I know there were some that did. I just think OP was bloody rude if the officer hadn't been rude to her.

Kath6144, that's the last thing you needed to say when you went back to the house, it really pisses me off when admin isn't done in that situation. It just adds more grief, and does feel like harassment.

VenusOfWillendorf · 20/01/2017 15:19

I think the problem is that people have changed the way they use their TVs but the way the BBC is funded has not kept up to date.
Up until even ten years ago if you had a TV pretty much the only way to watch TV was live - so if you had a TV, fair enough that you pay the licence fee. That's no longer true and fewer and fewer people watch any live TV at all. It's just not cost effective to track down who does and doesn't need a licence according to the current requirements.

I think either the BBC should be funded through the taxpayer - or start to have adverts. Or else just charge everyone who has a TV and be done with it. I live in Switzerland and here you must have a licence if you own either a TV or radio (including a radio app on your phone, or a radio in your car!).

wasonthelist · 20/01/2017 15:20

I can see the logic of someone checking whether you have a TV, and even whether it's capable of receiving live programmes, but how on earth do you prove that your phone is never used (and never will be used) for iPlayer?

Just because you have a TV that can receive live TV doesn't mean you do (or don't). As you say the system is ludicrous and outdated.

As an extreme example, my TV can receive a load of radio channels - so using my TV to listen to them isn't illegal even though I have no licence.

OurBlanche · 20/01/2017 15:25

To be clear, now the "It goes to pay for the BBC" info has started again.

You pay the license to the BBC because the government made collection part of their remit.

The government require you have a license in order to receive television and radio broadcasts - ALL / ANY of them.

The BBC gives ALL monies over to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport who vote to give it back to support all BBC channels, radio etc and BBC Monitoring en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Monitoring.

So, if the BBC went commercial, had adverts etc, it is likely that you'd still have to buy a license, to pay for the Monitoring and to add to the uk.gov coffers.

And Capita, for it is they who do the doorstepping, would be knocking in your doors anyway!

wasonthelist · 20/01/2017 15:26

I think either the BBC should be funded through the taxpayer - or start to have adverts.

The BBC should be a paid for subscription service.

Twistmeandturnme · 20/01/2017 15:26

I pay the licence fee because I think BBC radio is worth more than the annual fee to me. My TV watching is sporadic at best....and then Taboo started and I'm glued to I-player!
I understand that it's frustrating but I don't think you should swear at someone who has been sent to call: it wasn't as if he randomly selected you himself to knock at. Thus YABU.

polarpercy · 20/01/2017 15:27

Chasing you seem to be sharing a lot of misconceptions about TV Licensing. This is part of the problem, that people believe they have the right to do these things.

To make it clear 'TV Licensing' is a trademark of the BBC, with the BBC being a public authority. TV Licensing make that quite clear here in stating who they are. They could certainly try and get a warrant but I would find it unlikely that a judge/magistrate would award one on the basis of the TV enforcement officer not believing someone. They would actually need proof.

specialsubject · 20/01/2017 15:32

The licence man works for private eye's favourite (sarcasm!) Outsourcing firm Capita, aka crapita.

SingingSilver · 20/01/2017 15:38

I don't know why some people don't believe the OP. I only watch Amazon Prime and Netflix and I have a TV and a TV license. I would cancel it but I'd rather pay than have people turn up and harass me on my doorstep.

neuroticmumof3 · 20/01/2017 15:47

About four years' ago I cancelled my tv licence because i only watched things on catch up. Then they more or less killed bbc3 and i can't remember the last time i watched anything bbc apart from repeats on comedy channel which is part of my virgin package. I could watch it but i don't so do not pay a licence fee and signed the declaration online. I have had no problems so far and will not pay for something i don't use. They can send their bully boys round here as much as they like or park a detector van out front forever, i simply do not watch any bbc channels anymore.
I would never let them in my house without a warrant and don't think anyone else should, it could set a precedent for them being allowed future access (vampires and bailiffs both have these sorts of rules).

Recording visits and sending them a 'i consider this harassment' letter is the best way to go imo.