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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:
Billben · 30/12/2017 20:12

Whether the TV licence woman was looking for the previous tenant or not, makes no difference. Your DD didn’t have a licence, end of. And because of this, I doubt she’s gonna achieve much with her complaining.

ShovellerDuck · 30/12/2017 20:12

I have no TV and no licence. Once I received a form to declare that I did not need a licence but have never been called on or harassed or threatened.
Apparently those detector vans were a sham and couldn’t actually detect anything.

Viviennemary · 30/12/2017 20:13

I don't work for the TV licensing company so I don't make the rules. They do. Which is why your DD should have had a licence.

whyohwhy000 · 30/12/2017 20:16

Apparently those detector vans were a sham and couldn’t actually detect anything.

They were used to obtain search warrants from the courts. Evidence gathered by detector vans was never directly used in prosecutions.

ilovekitkats · 30/12/2017 20:17

She should have got the licence when she got the tv. There is no leeway for these things and it’s best that your DD realises that.

A friend forgot to renew his car insurance and was fined. The law is the law.

Original poster
LapdanceShoeshine · 30/12/2017 20:18

@Viviennemary

I don't work for the TV licensing company so I don't make the rules. They do. Which is why your DD should have had a licence

Yes, she should. She & I both recognise that & she signed up immediately.

But do you seriously condone the inspector’s attitude and behaviour?

OP posts:
Billben · 30/12/2017 20:19

So in your opinion there’s no leeway? Get a licence the moment you start using a TV or else face the full force of the “law”?

Yes. Why should there be leeway?

MontyPythonsFlyingFuck · 30/12/2017 20:19

Well, there clearly is leeway, isn't there, OP? Because otherwise your DD would have a hefty fine rather than a shiny new TV licence.

Very little sympathy here. Whether you like the BBC or not, it produces amazing amounts of high-quality content in return for the licence fee (just try being in the US for a bit and you'll see what I mean), and I don't begrudge a penny of it, even when that fucker John Humphrys wakes me up on R4.

Original poster
LapdanceShoeshine · 30/12/2017 20:20

Sigh Confused

OP posts:
susiegrapevine · 30/12/2017 20:21

I don't think they can shove there way in. However once they are in they do have powers. Once when i was a student. A long while ago now one came into our property as we were moving in - because the doors was open and as my dad was carrying the tv in for me! He read me a caution and made me buy a tv licence there and then! The tv wasn't even plugged in yet. Even tho i had intended to buy one as soon as i could get to the post office. This was pre netflix and the like so if you had a tv you were pretty much gonna watch live tv unless you were just gonna watch videos

Thedriftofstars · 30/12/2017 20:22

Ffs - yes OP's daughter should have had a licence, but she is presumably young, we've all been young once. Doesn't give the TV licence enforcement woman the right to barge her way into her house though! This place is fucking bonkers at times Hmm
Hope she's not too shaken up OP - make sure she definitely complains!
I once had the TV licence enforcement people round the day I moved house because I hadn't changed my address from my previous one. I pointed out that we were in the middle of moving with two young children, we wouldn't even have Sky for a few days let alone the time to watch TV, and that I would sort it out as soon as I got internet. they were still rude and upfront. I don't know why they think it's ok to talk to people like that.

eastlondoner · 30/12/2017 20:23

My advice would be to tell your daughter to buy a licence next time Grin

Unicorn81 · 30/12/2017 20:23

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/about/our-roles-and-responsibilities-AB3

They have a database which is likey linked to council office and trying to catch your daughter out by asking for the old occupant. Their site does say they catch 1000 people a day trying to avoid which is probably why she was a bit rude. She was likely quoting the section of the law that states a tv license is required (even if she doesng have a tv but watching or downloadjng on laptop etc). I would let it go unless your daughter feels she should complain, i doubt much would be done about it.

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/about/foi-legal-framework-AB16

EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard · 30/12/2017 20:28

Those saying “she should have a licence” are (deliberately?) missing the point Hmm

As per your above post OP it's actually six of one and half a dozen of another.

The woman's attitude and behaviour was over officious and unnecessary, but ultimately she wasn't wrong, the household needed a licence. They should have sorted that out and didn't but they then acquired one because of her vist and demands.

Best case scenario is daughter wises up about answering the door and the demands of unknown callers.

Original poster
LapdanceShoeshine · 30/12/2017 20:29

This isn’t (& never was) about whether people should have a licence, & whether we should be funding the BBC.

I’m a passionate supporter of the BBC (& so is she)

I’m actually quite shocked & horrified at how many people here think that is what this is about Confused

OP posts:
CrochetBelle · 30/12/2017 20:30

@fizzthecat1

You sound bitter Hmm

About?

CosmicCanary · 30/12/2017 20:31

This happened to me.
TV inspector demanded I let him in and I felt I had no choice my 4 dc were home and asking what was wrong.
He asked my name and once I confirmed it started reading me my rights.

DS13 who has SEN started to panic as he thought I was going to jail. He had a complete melt down.
I kept trying to tell him i did have a fully paid license while trying to calm DS and 3 other younger DC but he just carried on reading me my rights.

I told him I had paid in full in Feb but he said I was not being truthful.
I showed him the confirmation e-mail plus I had to show him my bank statement to prove payment was taken.
He said that a mistake had happened no apology then left.

I did not tenew the following year and we do not watch live tv or iplayer anymore.

WiddlinDiddling · 30/12/2017 20:31

But it doesn't matter if this woman saw the TV or not - you do NOT need a licence to own a TV.

The licence is required if you are watching certain live or on demand broadcasts.

Not for the equipment that has the capacity to recieve such broadcasts.

So IF the OP's daughter was watching stuff that requires a licence then yes she should have had one - but she may not have been!

Nothing justifies this woman barging in and demanding irrelevant information though - that's like saying its ok for the policeman to punch you because you broke the law!

Detector vans btw... are a myth, or rather the equipment they supposedly contain is, it just isn't possible as they'd need to be able to distinguish between content you need a licence for and content you don't (and there is more of the latter than the former).

DownstairsMixUp · 30/12/2017 20:32

Too many people bow down to these idiots. I’m glad more people are wising up to them, eventually it will to as no one takes these idiots seriously anymore

Original poster
LapdanceShoeshine · 30/12/2017 20:34

@CosmicCanary that’s awful Shock

I’ve been googling this evening & discovered that inspectors used to be in line for 4-figure bonuses for bringing cases to court Angry

No idea if that’s still true but it never should have happened in the first place!

OP posts:
PonderLand · 30/12/2017 20:35

We also got harassed by the tv license people. So many warnings in capital letters, red ink blah. YOU WILL GO TO JAIL unless you don't watch live tv or radio written in small print. This was before iPlayer was included so we watched things on the laptop.

We had a tiny flat screen tv that didn't work for television but used for PlayStation, it was in a room that was visible through the window. Despite complying with the visits and filling out forms etc they never left us alone, we had a nasty letter monthly or weekly until we moved out. Now we have a tv and pay the license fee.

The way they harass and intimidate people who aren't doing anything illegal is crazy and they continue to get away with it. This doesn't apply to your daughter as she did use the TV to watch live broadcasts but if she felt intimidated then I do think she should complain.

Also I can't remember who mentioned the vans that went round with the big satellite but I'm fairly sure that was another tactic used by the company to intimidate people into buying a license.

Fuckit2017 · 30/12/2017 20:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VivaLeBeaver · 30/12/2017 20:36

I bought my first tv when I was 18 and got the licence the same day. Being young is no excuse for being stupid.

Would you drive a car round with no licence or tax and think you'll get round to sorting it in a few weeks?

DoNotWorry · 30/12/2017 20:37

Apparently those detector vans were a sham and couldn’t actually detect anything.
Not true! I am not sure how they work on digital TVs but on the old analogue sets they were able to detect the IF Oscillator and thus identify which channel you were tuned to.

CosmicCanary · 30/12/2017 20:37

Viva the OP is not saying her DD was faultless. She knows she should have hot one.
The point of the OP is how forceful and rude the inspector was.