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TV Licence Investigation

202 replies

Wannabe2017 · 19/05/2017 10:31

Apologies if this has be raised before.

I have received a letter today stated that we're under investigation and to expect a visit from the TV Licence people, I think this is due to us declaring we didn't need a licence. Which we don't.

What are my rights here? Can I refuse entry? Can I record them if I answer the door. I don't have anything to hide but don't feel comfortable letting in a stranger, I've also read/seen videos of how intimidating they can be. I'm usually alone here with DD during the day and feel quite vulnerable.

OP posts:
kaitlinktm · 19/05/2017 11:34

Maybe you won't have to.

I have a friend who has never had a tv or computer in her house. She is only too willing to let TV Licencing in to verify this (to get them off her back). However, whenever they come, they knock, drop a card through the door to say there was no answer and peg it back to their van and are off before she can even get to the door.

Mulledwine1 · 19/05/2017 11:35

Throw away the letters.

If people knock on your door, open a window and ask them what they want. If they are from the TV licensing people just say you are not opening the door because you don't need a licence. I assume they have to get a warrant of some kind if they want to enter your property? Unless they have one, you don't let them in. But don't open the door, an upstairs window is better for all unwanted visitors from TV licensing to cold callers.

But as people say, if you watch BBC on iplayer, even time-shifting, you need a licence.

LurkingHusband · 19/05/2017 11:35

You need a licence if you use iPlayer.

When the iPlayer app (on TV, or via internet) loads up, it tells you, and you have to click "I have a TV licence" before it continues.

GabsAlot · 19/05/2017 11:36

sorry i was wrong cant watch iplayr without license

No TV? Not watching live TV on any channel, or BBC programmes on iPlayer? Empty property? You can let us know here.

You don’t need a TV Licence if you:

never watch or record programmes on any channel as they’re being shown on TV or live on an online TV service, and
never download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand.

This could be on any device, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.

PersianCatLady · 19/05/2017 11:40

I don't believe the detector vans work in anyway shape or form
Me either, I have always thought that they are just a prop because otherwise why do they knock on the doors of people who don't have TVs at all??

HundredMilesAnHour · 19/05/2017 11:41

Have you contacted them? I moved overseas for a couple of years with work but still kept my UK property. Obviously I stopped paying for a TV licence in the UK as my property was mainly unoccupied so no-one was watching TV (and broadband and phone had been stopped so nothing could be viewed online). I got a semi-nasty letter about not having a TV licence so I just rang up and explained my circumstances. The man I spoke to was lovely and marked my address in their system so I wouldn't get any letters from them for a year. He said when the year was up, if I was still overseas to just give them a call and he could mark my address for another year. Simples.

LostMySanityCanIBorrowYours · 19/05/2017 11:45

I just say "No, thank you," and close the door.

Sometimes they get a bit wanky over it, knock again and tell me they have to come in and look at my TV (you can see it clearly from the front door) again I just close the door. If they knock a third time, I tell them through the letter box to leave before I call the police.

I wouldn't mind allowing them in to check but from past experience some don't just check and leave, they interrogate you like you're some kind of criminal. The one who pissed me off enough to stop me allowing them entry at all even tried 'interviewing' my eight year old child.

The BBC should be ashamed of themselves. They hire thugs to intimidate people into paying for things they don't need.

ChildishGambino · 19/05/2017 11:52

Please read this as I used to work as the complaints manager for TV Licensing! Outing but who cares.

You first declare NLN (no license needed). Following that you need to declare WOIRA - you are withdrawing the implied right of access.

They may write to you periodically to check you still don't need a licence, but this is really to see if any new owner/tennant needs one as occupants change all the time. Just continue to do both and they won't visit.

IF they do then tell the guy that you have declared WOIRA and he will run away.

ChildishGambino · 19/05/2017 11:53

If you do this they aren't even allowed to knock on your door.

It's almost hilarious how many vans they have but I can't really say on here Blush

chocorabbit · 19/05/2017 11:54

In the past (more than 10 years ago!) we had a visit and I only had to mention at the doorstep that we didn't have a TV and the gentleman thanked me and left. Later they wrote again to see if that was still the case and we wrote back and they were fine. Like others although we do have a license now we live off Amazon Prime and Netflix Wink

Oh, I have also heard of people who only had to write back to them that they only used their TV to watch DVDs but again in the faaar past.

blamethecat · 19/05/2017 11:54

Can anyone clarify this for me, out TV license is in my name for the house, does it cover all of us ?

ChildishGambino · 19/05/2017 11:55

It's for the property unless it's a hotel/barracks/prison

ChildishGambino · 19/05/2017 11:56

So it wouldn't cover a student away at Uni for example

specialsubject · 19/05/2017 11:56

the license enforcers are the well-known outfit Capita. They are incentivised to catch license dodgers.

they are not bailiffs and have no rights of entry. Just refuse as detailed above.

pay a licence if you watch ANY live TV or use iplayer.

ChildishGambino · 19/05/2017 11:56

I'm so sad - a bit of a TV Licensing geek - I helped design the website Confused

LostMySanityCanIBorrowYours · 19/05/2017 11:59

@ChildishGambino Does it depend where you live as to how incompetent they are?

I always phone to tell them we do not watch live TV and use the TV to stream media via a laptop or Xbox. I still get letters telling me they will open an investigation. They still call round every few months.

Is this because we once had a license? Or just because we do actually have a television?

19lottie82 · 19/05/2017 12:00

They're just fishing.

If they turn up at your door just tell them they're not coming in without a warrant.

They have no powers to enter, they're just glorified salesmen at the end

MikeUniformMike · 19/05/2017 12:01

You need a tv licence if you watch any BBC live tv or any tv on BBC iPlayer, or any live tv.
If you sign the form they send to declare that you don't do these things they leave you alone.

Witchend · 19/05/2017 12:02

We have had those letters lots. We've only twice had someone turn up.

Both times they were polite and nice about it.
The first time he asked if he could look round, so I showing him round, he shoved a head in each door and said "fine, no TV" without really a proper look.

The second time just asked "do you have a TV?" and I said "no, we don't watch live TV" and he said "Thanks, I'll recommend they don't bother you again".

The advantage of being nice to them is that both times we then haven't heard anything from them for 4-5 years afterwards.

We now do have a license because we wanted to watch iPlayer. That changed last September.

ChildishGambino · 19/05/2017 12:02

LostMy - it's more that the process hasn't been completed properly. All the letters are sent according to the status of your account.

As before, declare NLN and WOIRA and they will write every couple of yrs to check and just reply on the letter saying NLN and WOIRA and sign it and send it back. Then the proper process will kick in again.

ChildishGambino · 19/05/2017 12:02

It's also laughable how may people buy a black and white tv licence - I mean, really?!?

ChildishGambino · 19/05/2017 12:04

The issue is that LOTS of people have TV's without a licence. I went out with one of the door to door guys and it was incredible. It's actually a really scary job and lots of them get assaulted on a regular basis.

ChildishGambino · 19/05/2017 12:06

There are also lots of websites set up to help people do this or to 'find out' what The BBC are doing. Google 'What do they know TV Licensing' and you'll see.

LostMySanityCanIBorrowYours · 19/05/2017 12:11

Thanks, ChildishGambino, I'll do that next time we get a letter. I normally just phone them, but in all honesty, I gave up even doing that the last few letters.

We do have a TV. DD hooks her laptop up to it occasionally. We got it free, bought a Freeview box, TV license etc. Three months later, the aerial broke. We didn't use the TV enough to justify paying for it to be repaired/replaced. I think the Freeview box was used once in the entire time it worked. My kids just don't like TV. When they do feel like watching something, they hop straight onto Netflix. I'm not sure they even realise the aerial doesn't work.

I guess it does look suspicious that the TV is right there in the corner with the redundant freeview box sat under it. Still, I resent being treat like a criminal on the basis of owning a TV.

peaceout · 19/05/2017 12:15

Just ignore it, they are a bunch of bullshitters whow write misleadingly intimidating letters, you are under investigation makes it sound like you're about to be thrown into jail ffs
Smoke and mirrors

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