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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

TV Licensing just tried to walk into my house!

107 replies

StudentMumArghh · 30/10/2017 19:03

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!!!

OP posts:

Frequency · 30/10/2017 20:00

I'm also not surprised.

I had one try to force their way past me into my house. The same guy kept coming back every day for about a week until I made a complaint about him.

The others I had were before him perfectly polite, therefore I let them in, they checked the TV was not connected to an aerial and left.

We've had zero visits or annoying letters since I complained about the man trying to force his way into my house. He'd knocked me out of bed after a night shift, so I tried to ask him to come back later when he tried shoving past me.

The BBC really need to get them back on a leash or change their contract to a more professional company. Crapita do them no favours.

JWrecks · 30/10/2017 20:03

Could be TV license there quite aggressive ime.

This. They can be really rotten!

However, I think I'd have been terrified it was a burglar, as well! Can you ring up and verify they had a worker in the area today??

JudasInTheTescoVan · 30/10/2017 20:06

Might have been TV Licence people. Exact same happened to me he just let himself in.

MistyMinge · 30/10/2017 20:08

It was many years ago, but when I was at uni we had a tvl man turn up at our shared house. He pretty much walked on in once we answered the door and started looking in all the rooms. For 18 year old girls living away from home for the first time it was quite intimidating. So, it would not surprise me if it was a tvl man. I bet they work on comission like traffic wardens.

ArchchancellorsHat · 30/10/2017 20:10

They really can be very aggressive. I had two of them - one who showed ID and his enormous, unidentified mate - try to threaten their way into my flat when I was alone. Told them they could come back when my flatmate was there and they started threatening me. I banged the door in their faces. Thugs.

grannytomine · 30/10/2017 20:13

I thought they wrote first. We had several letter when we moved house, the old house didn't sell for months so we were living in one and the other was empty. They must have written 3 or 4 times and I always phoned them and said the house is empty and they would apologise and then send another letter.

AdoraBell · 30/10/2017 20:19

Sounds dodgy to me too. I would call and check they had someone checking in your area, and if they say they did then complain about his approach and attitude.

rollingonariver · 30/10/2017 20:19

You can declare online that you don’t need a tv licence. We did this and I’ve never had another letter last year I just paid it because I didn’t want someone to check even though I didn’t need one. I cancelled it and they still took our money (about £50) I tried to complain but they said they couldn’t do anything. Disgusting thieves. I think they rely partly on people like me who are too scared to not pay even though they don’t need one

HooraySunshine · 30/10/2017 20:22

I've never heard of the tv license 'inspectors', but something similar happened to me a couple years ago with the electricity metre reading.

A man turned up, tried to open my door and then banged on the glass so hard I thought he was going to break it. I went to the door, he said he was there to read the metre, I said it wasn't a good time and he tried to shove the door open and push past me. I managed to get the door closed and he screamed through the door for 20 mins before leaving. He had quickly flashed a company id at me when he was trying to force his way in.

I phoned the electric company to complain. They told me they hadn't sent anyone to my house and told me he was 'clearly trying to break into your home' and advised me to phone the police. Later that day, the man showed up again!! Again banged on the glass so hard I thought he was going to break it, yelling that I had to let him in, I was breaking the law, etc. I told him through the door (didn't open it) that I was phoning the police and had already phoned the electric company who told me he didn't work for them. He screamed abused and eventually left.

He showed up at my house every day, several times per day for just over 2 weeks! I didn't open the door to him, but he would threaten to break in, screamed abuse, 'I know you're in there', etc. I phoned the police (as did my neighbours) and I kept reporting to my electric company and questioning 'Are you sure you haven't sent this guy?? He keeps showing up and claiming he works for you!' they kept 'assuring' me he didn't work for them, they hadn't sent anyone to my home and they had my current readings because I was reporting them online (with photos as proof). I was speaking to senior management at that point and even they were telling me to report this guy to the police.

Eventually it all came out that this guy did not work for the electric company (like he said he did). He actually worked for the company the electric company had hired to do readings. The hired company said they were being told to come to my house, the electric company was saying they never told them that.

Needless to say, we switched electric companies. But I do agree with a pp, these contracted companies hire thugs and it's scary to think they're given your private details (name, address, phone number, etc.) and let loose to behave in that way towards unsuspecting customers.

Vitalogy · 30/10/2017 20:30

You can declare online that you don’t need a tv licence They take F all notice of that. And they do have inspectors. When they've knocked my door I just don't answer it, there's nothing they can do. And their threatening letters are a joke, with lines in them saying things like "you know we know". Be glad when the whole TV license is axed, their days are numbered! It's not viable in this day and age.

Doggymum88 · 30/10/2017 20:32

This is sounding like what happened here earlier! We were watching corrie and the doorbell rang. We decided to leave it and then a few seconds later a bloke had let himself in! Luckily we have two front doors so hubby was able to get to him before the dog legged it!

He asked hubby (whos 28) if his parents were in. Hubby just answered no (technically true! We are the home owners and only ones who live here). Man then apologised and left. Never said who he was or what he wanted but its put me right on edge thinking it could be a criminal checking out potential targets

Frequency · 30/10/2017 20:41

And their threatening letters are a joke, with lines in them saying things like "you know we know

I get those too. And when I phone up to tell them I don't watch TV they have a similar threatening script along the line of 'We have ways to check if you are lying...'

Well, bloody well use them and stop sending thugs to my door to intimidate me.

Vitalogy · 30/10/2017 20:44

Yeah I know! There are no detector vans either, never was any. They work on people with intimidation, that's all they've got. Don't fall for their lies people!

Annieshop · 30/10/2017 20:56

Trying barging in to a house in America and you’re liable to get shot.

Allergictoironing · 30/10/2017 21:03

I bet they work on comission like traffic wardens.

Actually, many traffic wardens don't work on commission but are standard employees of the local council. So they get a set wage and that's it no matter how many cars they book - though they can get hauled up to explain if they get a consistently lower number than other wardens on a similar shift/area. No bonuses, nothing.

Vitalogy · 30/10/2017 21:13

bet they work on comission like traffic wardens. I heard it was £10 per signature they got.

Goshthatwentwell · 30/10/2017 22:08

I 'm happy with the tv license .Sick to death of adverts. Everything everywhere has adverts.

Beerwench · 30/10/2017 22:43

Though it does sound a bit dodgy, I've experienced first hand how arsey tvl can get if they think you're watching TV without a license.
I live in a top floor flat, and there's a bottom floor flat, then the number then street. So my address is Top Floor Flat, 1 The Street. Downstairs is Bottom Floor Flat, 1 The Street. There is no actual 1 The Street, because it's 1 The Street split into 2 flats. Pretty simple to grasp? You'd think so, tvl had serious issues grasping it. I set up my license online when I moved in. Got standard letter, ignored it as I'd just set it up. Then got a visit, explained. Fair enough, they'll sort it officer says.
Had a further 2 visits and some letters, I called and explained, promised it'll be sorted. 3rd visit and I'm threatened with court, fines etc by stroppy officer because I don't pay my license. I give him license number, he checks, agrees that there is a license for top floor flat 1 The Road, but not for 1 The Road, I explain AGAIN but he's not having it, wants to come and check the property for TVs that I agree I have but also have a license for which I've proved! I refuse and am again threatened with court and fines and warrants. Funnily enough when I rang tvl and got told I was registered there and liable, I told them to go ahead and take me to court for not having a license on a property that doesn't bloody exist! And having a license and proof FROM them for my actual address, I'd counter sue for harassment. Was all sorted after that!
Check that it was tvl, and if it was then complain.

dratsea · 30/10/2017 23:47

For about 15 years I had no license, because I had no time to watch TV and if I really really wanted to watch, say rugby, I would stay on at hospital after work and do so. Each time I moved I got regular visits "because I did not have a license" and I just said no when asked if they could come in. One house I owned was on a steep slope. the living room was at back and the window had a fantastic view but was about 9ft off the ground. Having had a huge weed eucalyptus cut down I stacked up the logs round the back and over a couple of years managed to light the fire about twice a year. After several letters through the door that I needed a license I went round back to find the log pile disturbed and blood on top logs. I did not get any more visits or letters at that property.

MayFayner · 30/10/2017 23:55

Everything everywhere has adverts.

Netflix doesn't, gosh

Stormzy · 31/10/2017 00:11

One house I owned was on a steep slope. the living room was at back and the window had a fantastic view but was about 9ft off the ground. Having had a huge weed eucalyptus cut down I stacked up the logs round the back and over a couple of years managed to light the fire about twice a year. After several letters through the door that I needed a license I went round back to find the log pile disturbed and blood on top logs. I did not get any more visits or letters at that property.

Did you kill them dratsea

AwayInLalaLand · 31/10/2017 00:19

I had one reach over the side gate and unlock it and try to let himself in through my backdoor. He didn't even attempt to knock the front door. When he came to the front door - I refused to open it - he became increasingly aggressive and agitated about how he had absolute authority to walk into my home. Nope. That was the first time I discovered the "fuck you" mindset my Mum swears comes around 30. I was 23; clearly precocious

HamSandWitches · 31/10/2017 00:27

I got told about a month ago if you don't let me in I will send a van, this is the last warning I just said okay then and shut the door.

gg1234 · 31/10/2017 00:28

I have never ever heard anyone come from TV licencing. YOU need to check

JWrecks · 31/10/2017 00:35

Ohh these stories are making me furious with tvl. It's atrocious, nasty behaviour! Why do we put up with it??

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