TV Licence Investigation

[Wannabe2017]

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.

Why don't you want to let them in?

When we didn't have a TV licence, they wrote to us a few times and then turned up at the door. My reaction was "Oh, hello- would you like to come in and look around?" The man said " If you're inviting me in them you've obviously got nothing to hide. " He just walked away and that was that. They're not all aggressive and rude.

Well, there's room for everyone. I'm very happy for you if you choose to ignore the obviously rampantly naked capitalist commercialism of the gold-plated BBC and support the fabulous diversity of product available from those socially-conscious, non-capitalist, enterprising public servants at Amazon and Netflix. Enjoy!

Do people who claim never to use or want the BBC never listen to any of its radio stations?
I don't listen to any radio BBC or commercial, I use Spotify to listen to music.

'Do people who claim never to use or want the BBC never listen to any of its radio stations?

Really?'

I don't listen to BBC or commercial radio, it's either really bad, or doesn't offer what I want to hear. I have a Spotify subscription for music which gives me access to pretty much any song I want to listen to, plus recommends new material I might like. And I listen to news, current affairs and audio dramas via podcast (using an app I bought), once again this gives me far more choice than radio does.

I also have Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions. Frankly, if the BBC did disappear I wouldn't notice because it has been years since I viewed or heard any of their content.

BBC radio is free for anyone to listen to. Funnily enough, the TV license is only compulsory for watching (live) TV (and now iplayer).

I sometimes listen to R4 in the car but, honestly, if it were rolled into a TV and BBC radio license, I wouldn't miss listening to it. It's mostly just noise and I don't generally have any interest in the programmes about walking in the countryside, gardening or the BBC navel gazing that is the media show that tend to be on when I'm in the car. More often than not I turn off the today programme on my way to work in the morning as it's so annoying.

I listen to audiobooks when DS2 is in the car. Actually, I should really download some I want to listen to myself and put that on rather than the radio, given how tedious I find gardeners' question time.

I tend to use Amazon music for music. I never listen to music radio as I want some control over what I'm listening to.

I want to reiterate that, yes, some of them lie and yes some of them are aggressive.

I used to let them in. One was extremely rude, accusing me of unplugging the aerial to trick him, demanding that I let him I plug it in (he even tried to caution me for 'obstruction' when I questioned this) He plugged it in, it didn't work. I called and complained about him and was basically told tough shit, you might have been lying.

The last one also insisted on turning the TV on, started quizzing me about what media we stream. Then turned to my sick child to ask if I was lying and what did she stream/watch on the tablet she was holding, what was her favourite In The Night Garden or Mr Tumble?

I don't let them in now, despite the first eleventy million of them that came round being perfectly polite.

They are bullies, paid on commission and will do anything to get you to buy a licence.

No I don't listen to any BBC radio stations believe it or not! I listen to either heart and capital, but usually my iPhone music connects to the car. Not everyone listens to radio!

@Smeaton that's what I said too. It's disgusting.

What relevance is it if people listen to the rAdio? Licensing for this ceased in 1971.

But no I don't. I haven't owned a radio for at least 12 years. Like viewing I like to be in control of what I listen to.

The whole expecting to be let into your home thing is part of the act, they want to present themselves as having authority over people, make you feel that you are obliged to let them into your personal space so that they can inspect the interior for signs of wrong doing

Amazed you call yourself 'VoiceofReason' then, more like 'Voiceofthe80s'
WFT? How to you conclude that, just because I don't listen to BBC radio?
I listen to a really wide range of different things, music streaming, podcasts, audiobooks, internet radio and some commercial talk radio.
Is everything that isn't BBC produced about the 80s?

That's it, I can't think of any other circumstance in which you would be expected to do that. Especially for something as trivial as watching television. Anyhow, I do think it's going to change sooner rather than later. Younger people know they have other options and they aren't choosing to buy television licences. The BBC is going to have to find a new way of funding itself because their current model is unsustainable.

If it was me in your position, I would probably just string them along. But that's just me.

if you can't find anything you like in any of those, you must be very hard to please

I'm not hard to please. I just don't listen to the radio - at all. I have no interest in it. I stream music from Spotify when I'm driving.

On TV, I only watch a few specific shows (mostly on netflix), and so there are actually many channels that I never watch, including all of the BBC ones.

Why do you find it SO hard to believe that some people don't like the same things as you?

My not using the BBC/Live TV/Live radio etc has as much to do with the way I consume media as the content I consume.

I rarely watch any media, I tend to read, listen to music, work etc instead. On the rare times I do watch media, I want things I enjoy to be on now. I don't want to have to remember to record them or wait until 8pm for them to start.

Netflix, Amazon, YouTube provide that. They also make it easier for me to find what I want. I don't have to scroll through hours and hours of Master Chef et al to find something watchable. Both providers suggest things to me based on things I've watched previously.

What I normally do is start a series. Once every few days, I'll feel like watching an episode. I might binge watch on a Sat night. Once that series is done Netflix immediately offers me three or four similar shows. I find their content to be more geared towards my tastes.

When I listen to music I want only music I enjoy and I don't want to wade through minutes of over paid DJ's waffle to get to it.

I don't watch any live TV or listen to any radio because it's format is not convenient to me and the way I consume media.

I'm sure the BBC does show things that might hold my interest, however I have no interest in spending the time searching for that content, waiting for it to start or paying Sky or Virgin for the ability to record it when I can access more content that suits me, for less money and more conveniently via Amazon, Netflix and YouTube.

I resent that I am suspected of criminal activity and expected to allow strange men into my house to prove my innocence simply because I don't find the BBC to be good value, entertaining or convenient.

I resent that I cannot have a FreeView box available should I decide that yeah, actually I do just want to loaf in front of Comedy Central tonight without paying £147 for the privilege.

I also feel a bit squicky about funding a company that covered up child abuse for decades and panders to the Tories.

As an aside because of this thread my YouTube suggested videos is filled with licencing goon videos. There was one where the BBC insisted on speaking to a horse

They'd been sending threatening letters to a stable. They couldn't deal with the owner of the stable, only the occupier, no matter how many times they were informed that Harry the Horse was unable to use the telephone on account of being a horse

I think that video is the first time since Button Moon that the BBC has entertained me.

Usually they can detect if a household is watching BBC

[Grin]

They can lose jumbo jets over mid-ocean, kids can disappear without a trace, but fear not - they can detect when you're watching Dot Cotton having a fag in the laundrette.

You do not need a tv licence to listen to a radio. Even BBC radio.
www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ102

I think that video is the first time since Button Moon that the BBC has entertained me.
Button Moon was on ITV, not BBC

Ah, in that case, the BBC has never entertained me. TBH, I never watched Button Moon either, that was my sister

I don't think I've ever enjoyed Live TV. Before the rise of Netflix I read or watched DVDs. I would've supported forcing the masses to pay a fee for the right to watch DVDs and VHS to keep Blockbusters going

Button Moon and The Magic Roundabout are all I remember watching as a child and both of those were my sister's obsessions.

Why do you find it SO hard to believe that some people don't like the same things as you? Because they're living in the BEEB bubble and doubt if they've ever tried all the mod cons.

One was extremely rude, accusing me of unplugging the aerial to trick him, demanding that I let him I plug it in (he even tried to caution me for 'obstruction' when I questioned this) He plugged it in
This is just shocking, along with questioning a sick child; and then tv-licensing telling the victim of this that she (!) could be lying.

I hope the BBC goes subscrition/pay-per-view soon, and then we'll see. I predict a swift (and timely) death afterwards.