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AIBU?

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Original poster

Bullying TV licence inspector

306 replies

LapdanceShoeshine · 30/12/2017 19:07

DD2 moved into a new address with her BF on 1st December. They had no live TV until shortly before Christmas & didn’t even think about getting a licence (it’s an old TV from when her BF lived alone elsewhere)

Today a woman knocked on the door just as DD2 was about to go out & asked “are you Mrs X?” (previous resident). DD2 said no. Woman asked if they have a TV, more or less pushed her way in to see (small terraced house, front door opens straight into living room), started demanding information like DD2’s NI number, & wanted DD2 to hand over her bank details immediately. (Despite the haranguing DD2 managed to resist this & instead signed up for TV licence on her phone in front of the woman.)

Surely this isn’t how they’re supposed to behave? Having come to see a specific person, who moved out in October, she should just have requested to see some ID & then left with a warning to get a new TV licence asap?

Any advice? I’ve suggested she make a formal complaint. The woman even read her a caution!

OP posts:
HorseDentist · 30/12/2017 19:09

Your daughter had a TV and didn’t have a TV license. Now your daughter has a TV license. Inspector left. What is the problem here.

SimultaneousEquation · 30/12/2017 19:12

They had no live tv until shortly before Christmas.

Then did they have live TV after that point? So they needed a TV licence then. And your DD didn’t have one but has now bought one. It’s not great being pulled up on things but it doesn’t sound as though TV licensing were being unreasonable asking your DD to get a licence.

PlateOfBiscuits · 30/12/2017 19:13

’The woman even read her a caution!’
Yes... for not having a tv licence.

arethereanyleftatall · 30/12/2017 19:14

So, your dd has broken the law for a month, and got called on it? Yabu

Bubblesblue · 30/12/2017 19:15

Bullying Hmm

Lilmisskittykat · 30/12/2017 19:16

No need for leaving with a warning .. everyone knows you need a tv licence - do they have cable / sky?

They bought it as they should - her job done I think.

brizzledrizzle · 30/12/2017 19:18

You say she read her a caution, she's not the police.

Your daughter should have bought the tv licence in the first place. YABU.

paniconthestreetsofdreams · 30/12/2017 19:18

Agree with you. They are a disgrace to behave in this way. The whole thing is ridiculous. I'd love to have the balls not to pay it.

paniconthestreetsofdreams · 30/12/2017 19:19

Why should we be forced to buy a tv licence? Would much rather the bbc earned their money the way every other company does.

Jellybean85 · 30/12/2017 19:20

Whether or not you agree with the tv
License is irrelevant though, I agree the bbc should self fund tbf but that's not the point. Dd was breaking the law, the person with the authority enforced the law, if they left everyone with a 'warning to buy one asap' I doubt anyone would bother!!

GladAllOver · 30/12/2017 19:22

You pay for all the other channels, either by subscription or by products you buy that include the cost of the adverts, or both. Why should the BBC be free?

specialsubject · 30/12/2017 19:23

The woman was ( I hope she was!) From capita and they have no legal power of entry. Make a complaint.

Having a TV is not relevant. Watching live transmissions on any device or using I player is what matters.

Jojoanna · 30/12/2017 19:24

The woman pushed her way in?

foodfrax · 30/12/2017 19:25

There’s a Facebook page where people claim things like a tv license and council tax are optional Confused

I do think it’s a bit heavy handed but no harm done.

DownstairsMixUp · 30/12/2017 19:27

They literally have no power. Next time tell you Dd to shut the door in her face and tell her she doesn’t want her subscription, people are wising up to this crap. Council tax cannot be avoided tho.

MaisyPops · 30/12/2017 19:29

So she didn't have a TV licence but should have.
You need a TV licence now for some on demand services like BBC iplayer too.

I don't see why you are annoyed.
Unfortunately, people who are doing yhings they shouldn't dont tend to tell the truth so she went to have a look.

Vitalogy · 30/12/2017 19:30

It's a waste of time engaging with them, they don't listen even if you do.
I find not opening the door to randoms in the first place solves the problem.

Weebo · 30/12/2017 19:37

Yep, sounds like Capita trash to me.

They are quickly becoming infamous for their harassing ways but thankfully people are getting wise to them.

I would never let them in my home.

Basecamp21 · 30/12/2017 19:40

Jellybean Back in the day there used to be a separate tv licence for black and white that was significantly cheaper than the colour one. Many people including myself paid for b/w license but had colour tv.

At a certain point in time technology enabled them to determine which type of tv you were watching from the detector van. They wrote to everyone wit a b/w license warning them they were going to start checking and 90% I believe purchased a colour licence within 3 months.

A warning DOES work and does not leave a seething resentment that will last years like this bullying behaviour does.

What's the betting your dd decides they will no longer bother with live tv after this and cancel their license and then the money is gone. Whereas a quiet word and given a period of grace and they would have paid and contributed to the BBC for decades probably.

Yes your daughter should have bought a licence but it did not warrant this behaviour from the authorities. A reminder that the address is unlicensed would normally prompt people to correct an oversight. I was going to say the heavy handed response should happen after several reminders but to be honest I don't think it is ever justified for not having a tv licence. And before people say what if no-one paid....well we would have no BBC...and I couldnt careless as I haven't watched it in years.

SimultaneousEquation · 30/12/2017 19:40

Is it really fair to refer to people as “trash” based on the company they work for? Hmm

There is a requirement to pay for a TV license, there are people whose job it is to enforce it. I really feel for people in these sorts of professions who are on the receiving end of vitriol like this?

CotswoldStrife · 30/12/2017 19:41

Sorry OP, but your DD knew she should have sorted out the TV licence as soon as they moved in. It's not just live TV that needs it either.

She must have been embarassed to be caught out like that, but it was easily avoided tbh.

Original poster
LapdanceShoeshine · 30/12/2017 19:42

Those saying “she should have a licence” are (deliberately?) missing the point Hmm. The woman came looking for the previous occupant and had no authority to enter the house or demand personal information.

DD2 will be complaining about her attitude and behaviour.

OP posts:
Wellfuckmeinbothears · 30/12/2017 19:42

I think it was very badly handled and I’ve no doubt if the same had happened to me I’d be feeling pretty shaken but ultimately if they were using a tv without a tv license they were breaking the law. You say they weren’t watching live tv until shortly before Christmas but they should have purchased a tv license in order to watch tv before they did, just like everyone else!

It was heavily handled, anyone pushing their way into your home would be unnerving but this could have been avoided if they had purchased their license ahead of using their tv.

fizzthecat1 · 30/12/2017 19:43

Yep, sounds like Capita trash to me

They are quickly becoming infamous for their harassing ways but thankfully people are getting wise to them

I've just moved house and I they were banging on my door the other day. I asked "Who is it??" I always do this before I answer the door. BANG BANG BANG again. "WHO IS IT?!" They ignored me again! (they could clearly hear me I was right by the door) and shoved something through my door about the TV licence I mean wtf?! I'd have answered if they'd have told me lol!

ClaryFray · 30/12/2017 19:43

I don't have a tv licence, we watch Netflix and DVDs only in this house.

I get a visit twice a year and each time I tell them to sod off. I've called and sent emails but apparently they think I'm lying because I need an inspection every 6 months.

I've even had one try and tell me Netflix is covered by tv licences! There a horrid bunch quite frankly.

Although your DD was in the wrong here, the women shouldn't have been so rude.