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!!!

So is it not actually a legal requirement to have the license? I'm sure I've heard people saying they don't have one before and that there's nothing anyone can do about it but what can you do when there's someone barging into your house and you're getting court letters through the door?

You can buy a licence..

You can buy a licence..

Honestly, I imagine there are plenty of people who do just that, even though they don't use or watch any television at all, just to stop these crooks from breaking into their homes and threatening them. It's almost worth the money if you have it. It sounds quite a lot like gangster "protection" money, where you pay some ruffians to... not beat you up and take your money forcefully!!

You know, thinking about it.... actually I am one of those people. Neither DH nor I have watched a moment of anything outside of netflix, youtube, or downloaded videos in several years - no over the air, no iplayer, nothing - but I maintain that bloody licence anyway.

And after reading all these horror stories, I think I'll just keep it that way. :(

You be firm with them as you know your rights. They seem to go through gazes here. They leave you alone for 9 months then for a month they come constantly. I just tell them no your not coming in then they argue and tell me I have to let them in. No I don't.

We definitely choose to pay for no adverts, TV licence is on DD and we have sky/netflix. Its always a shock when an actual advert comes on these days.
I used to love (the old) Dora the Explora and thought it was worth the ads until my 2.5yo invited me into his playhouse and gave me a word for word, move for move Ocean Finance advert. We stopped watching Nick Jnr after that.

Tbh the bbc/tv licence is theft itself. Good that you told him to do one. what a vile man.

If more people who don’t need one stopped paying out of fear. Then this would force them to look at alternatives.
Since we have become digital this is so much easier to do.
The old argument was but you can watch iPlayer. They sorted this and you now require a license.
Netflix, amazon have shown that you can have an online service just for subscribers.

Sky, virgin etc provide subscription only channels. Beeb could easily do this.

Instead they work on fear and bullying.

They knock at your door. Tell them not interested in anything they are selling and close the door. Don’t want people walking in, lock your door.

Not surprised at all. A few years ago when we lived in a flat on 1st floor, we didn’t have a doorbell so the TV licensing man threw stones at our window!!! You can imagine the mouthful he got when I went to the door. I had a TV license as well! Can’t stand them.

Stones at the window

I'm sure I've heard people saying they don't have one before and that there's nothing anyone can do about it but what can you do when there's someone barging into your house and you're getting court letters through the door?

I don't have one.

I used to allow them in to check the TV aerial was not working etc and phone them to let them know I did not need a license (not that they ever made note of that/believed it) but since dealing with the thug they sent to my door, I just say "No, thank you," and close the door.

We still get the threatening letters. I ignore those. They're not court letters, they're from Crapita/BBC but they include lines such as "If you're caught watching TV without a license terrible, horrible things will befall you and everyone you love. To prevent this massacre call us now to arrange your license." or something along those lines.

The onus is on them to prove I watch TV not me to prove I don't and as I don't they can send all the silly letters they wish to send and employ as many overweight, balding men in bomber jackets to knock on my door as they feel is necessary.

I honestly wish the "We have ways to tell if you're watching" line was true and they'd use them rather than going to the lengths they do. I'm sure with the technology we have today they could create a way to check, if they wanted to.

Instead they work on fear and bullying.

It's not the BBC. It's Capita who are bullying people (as they do with everything they acquire contracts for).

In fairness it is the BBC. They continue to contract these bullies despite all the complaints they've heard about them and the supposed investigation they launched into Capita's conduct a while back.

It's part of the reason why I don't have a license. If they stopped working with thugs and allowed me to pay only for the content I want to watch as per Amazon Prime Video/Now TV et al, I might consider paying for some of their stuff.

Doesnt surprise me, some of them seem to think they can do whatever they want, I had one try to push passed me before.

They get a swift door shut now if I answer it to them.

@PumpkinSquash I don’t pay it because I don’t have to. Just like I don’t pay for someone else’s mortgage because I don’t have to / need to.
I don’t watch live tv and I don’t watch iplayer. We pay for Netflix and Amazon Prime so I don’t have to pay for a tv license. I shouldn’t be bullied because I don’t watch live tv surely?

The TV licensing people are heavy handed. I inherited my Mum's house just before the financial crisis in 2007/8 and couldn't sell the house.' I informed them that my Mum had died , I owned the house and that it was uninhabited so therefore didn't need a licence. They started sending letters every few months threatening what they would do if I was watching without a licence. They wanted me to ring them at my expense each time. In the end I ignored them. I lived 50 miles away, they eventually started putting cards through the door saying "WE SAID WE'D CALL" in big red letters and finally sent me a letter threatening to come and interview me under caution. (I think only the police can actually do that and they need evidence before they can.) I still ignored them and they never came, or at least I wasn't there. The house is now rented and has a licence.
My.husband doesn't drive, but the DVLA don't send him letters threatening to interview him to make sure he's not driving without a licence!

If more people stick together we can force them to go subscription based. It's only matter of time, they're hanging on by tooth and nail. If more people knew their rights it would give them more confidence to stand their ground. You can do it people!

Please don't be fooled by "You don't need a license if you are only using it for games, watching DVDs etc" that is not the case. If you have a receiving device of any kind ( including a PVR or VCR is you're old enough to remember those)) regardless of whether or not you use it for receiving TV signal, then you need a licence.

I didn't have a TV for about 12 years and I would get letters every six months. I had a TV licence man come round once and I''m not one for seeing threats in people so just opened the door and said oh yes come in. After looking in the lounge I said do you need to see upstairs.
Obviously because I was willing to show him around the house he knew I had nothing to hide.
At that time I had a Radio 4 play on so he knew I was listening to a radio so I do not think you need a TV licence for listening to Radio, I think that is an urban myth.

Jolinda I'm not sure if both of the paragraphs in your post are yours but the first paragraph isn't correct and the second one is correct, you don't need a TV license for listening to the radio.

Rubbish, check the official website:

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence
"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."

that is not the case. If you have a receiving device of any kind ( including a PVR or VCR is you're old enough to remember those)) regardless of whether or not you use it for receiving TV signal, then you need a licence.

incorrect.

You only need a TV license if you are viewing content as it is aired. Or if you are watching iPlayer.

Anything on Netflix, 4oD, Prime etc you do NOT need a license.

I have a DVD player, a VCR, games console, laptops, tablets etc. I do not need a license.

If I had a tv connected to an aerial, dish, virgin box, bt tv box thing then I would need a license. Or if I watched sky as it was aired through my games console.

The radio license for homes was abolished in 1971 for homes. You MAY need one for business purposes.

Oh and another thing to consider, which I why I haven't bothered contacting them. You have to renew this every 2 or 3 years, otherwise, you are guilty until they see for themselves.

One thing that catches people out is that if they are watching live TV on Now TV or TVPlayer (for example) they still need a TV licence.

TV Licencing have no right to enter your property just as the police haven't unless they have a warrant

I think you may have caught someone scouting out houses to burgle! It's a myth that TV licensing people can march in.
They may have been expecting a little old lady. Better ring 101 with a description.

Nice refreshing change this thread. Usually full of posters fawning over the BEEB.