TV Licensing just tried to walk into my house!

[StudentMumArghh]

So my door handle has just had a good bashing by a man. Luckily it was locked. Opened the door and it's a man from TV licensing.

I told him we don't need a Licence and that he can't come in, he left.

AIBU to be furious at this. You can't just walk into someone else's home!!!

Are you sure he was from TV licensing? Sounds like scouting houses for burglary.

I would go mad. He has no right trying to enter your property x

Legally if the door had of been unlocked they would have been trespassing. At which point I would have phoned the police regardless to their job role.

Also as it is coming up To xmas and I have suspicious I would have been taking details and confirming with tv liscencing that this person was indeed employed by them and making a formal complaint.

Sounds like a pretty rubbish cover story for a would be theif. TV license people wouldn't try to just walk in. Did you ask for ID?

Do they go knocking on doors?

I haven't got a license, but luckily I'm never home.

I'm not so sure it wasn't tvl. They let themselves in the backyard of my brother's house and had a good snoop before he asked what the hell they were up to.

Sounds more like a burglar to me

That sounds very very unlikely for a TV licensing person. When we had one visit I said that I was sorry but I was just putting DS1 to bed and could he wait? He waited on the doorstep for 10 minutes in the rain and then simply asked me if we had a television and if we would need one in the future, to which I responded "no" and off he toddled.

Had I realised that's all he wanted to do I would have of course answered him without making him wait - I assumed that he'd have to come in and check for illegal TVs and the like.

I would phone TV licensing if I were you and see if they had someone in the area. If not, I would then phone the police and suggest there's some chancer in your area.

Could be TV license there quite aggressive ime. I had one demand to come in and check I didn't have a tv. Needless to say I didn't let him in but he was very intimidating.

He showed me an ID that had at a quick glance looked legit but I didn't look in detail.

I was taken by surprise as I was trying to get DD ready for bed so just told him no and closed the door.

Yeah that doesn't sound right, I had to licensing turn up, he was waffling a bit, I said so what do you want?
I'm from arc licencing, id usually ask to come in and inspect..." that's fine, wait here, I'll go in the kitchen with my dog. My husband will take you upstairs to the livingroom.
Ok, thank you madam.
Hisband went to front door,,, oh no it's ok, you've obviously got nothing to hide. And off to toodled.

You know you’re allowed to have a tv without having a licence, you just can’t watch live tv (I.e. have the aerial plugged in) or watch catch up tv. You can use a tv for gaming or watching dvds. Same goes for pc, tablet, laptop use. You also don’t need a licence to listen to the radio, and it’s always your right to let the tv licensing people into your house, unless they have a police warrant which is highly unlikely.

I had one hammering on the door threatening me with prison and refusing to leave my front garden. I called the police. Then I complained to tvl and withdrew the implied right of consent for them to come onto my property.

you need a licence for iplayer now, also.

Sounds like the lamest burglar in the history of the universe

I know someone who was told by tvl guy that they had every right to come indoors and inspect thier tv and licence and tried to walk into her house past her.
She told them where to go and had to shut the door on them to shut them up. So its entirely possible the ops guy was genuine.

You would probably also have had letters 'inviting' you to get a license before sending someone round. Certainly sounds suspicious to me.

I'm not shocked. The same thing happened to my SIL.

They had just moved in and the guy had the cheek to stand in her kitchen (back to front house IYKWIM?) and argue with her.

She told him to get the fuck out of her house but it really scared her.

Ring them up and complain.

I am old and remember Esther Rantzen on That's Life on a Sunday night. Back then a TV licence inspector had 'a statutory right of entry' to your home. Is that not the case any more?

Enquiry officers do not have any legal powers to enter your home without a search warrant granted by a magistrate (or sheriff in Scotland). They (like other members of the public) rely on an implied right in common law to call at a property as far as the door, while going about their lawful business and making their presence known. Enquiry officers must explain to the occupier of the premises why they are visiting, be polite, courteous and fair, and abide by rules of conduct.
This is from the Official TV licensing Web site - www.tvlicensing.co.uk/about/foi-administering-the-licence-fee-AB20

He would be from Capita, I think.

Twats.

www.theguardian.com/media/2017/feb/27/bbc-investigation-tv-licence-enforcement-outsourcing-firm-capita

I had TV licencing turn up the week I moved into my house..It had been empty for a while..The TV was visible from the front door.and my DS was watching bob the builder but it was a DVD .. I deliberately didn't get sky put in for the first month to save a months licence fee.

I would also check and complain about trying to enter.

What happened to the old Statutory Right of Entry has that been withdrawn? Even so, and regardless, he can fuck off. Good job he did.

www.inbrief.co.uk/property-law/who-can-enter-your-house/

handy list, but I see TV licensing people need a warrant. So he can still fuck off.

I think you'll find the people employed to inspect on behalf of TV licensing are only a whisker above criminals themselves. Certainly fairly thuggish and knuckle-scraper-esque.