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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:
Original poster
LapdanceShoeshine · 30/12/2017 20:38

@VivaLeBeaver
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?

Not quite the same thing, is it?

OP posts:
Fintress · 30/12/2017 20:38

It doesn’t matter if she came looking for the last occupant. Your daughter didn’t have a licence and that’s an offence. Yes it was handled badly but it still doesn’t take away the fact there was no licence in place.

Billben · 30/12/2017 20:39

yes OP's daughter should have had a licence, but she is presumably young, we've all been young once

She is 32 and a Social Services manager apparently.

Hope she's not too shaken up OP

I have no answer for this one, apart from 😂😂😂

VivaLeBeaver · 30/12/2017 20:40

You may also find they still get prosecuted even though they bought a licence yesterday. Tv licensing have six months to bring a prosecution and the fact she was read a caution suggests they might.

HermioneAndMsJones · 30/12/2017 20:40

Op I suggest that you read a recent thread about TV licence etc....

The woman had no right to come into the house at all.
She should have shown her badge with her name on.
Seeing the TV sing proof enough that you need a licence. I have a TV that isn’t connected. It’s only used to play with the Xbox and to watch films from Amazon prime, YouTube videos etc...

Yes I think it would be fair to complain about the woman behaviour but I suspect you will struggle to put a complain in if you d8ntdontdont know the name of the woman or who she was working for,

Your dd did need a licence though so actually signing up for it was the right thing to do,

EggysMom · 30/12/2017 20:40

DD2 is 32 & a Social Services manager. She pays her dues

And yet she didn't think "We're getting a TV, we really should get a TV Licence"? I'm afraid that just sums up my experience of those working in social services these days ... they don't have a clue.

PonderLand · 30/12/2017 20:40

@WiddlinDiddling you do NOT need a licence to own a TV.

I wish someone would tell the tv license people that.

Weebo · 30/12/2017 20:42

Is it really beyond your comprehension that some people may find a stranger barging into their home demanding personal information upsetting, Bill?

Original poster
LapdanceShoeshine · 30/12/2017 20:42

@EggysMom

.DD2 is 32 & a Social Services manager. She pays her dues
I'm afraid that just sums up my experience of those working in social services these days ... they don't have a clue

You have a lot of such experience?

OP posts:
DoNotWorry · 30/12/2017 20:42

How comes they read you your rights. I have only ever heard this said by police and tv licence people But tv licence people are not the police. So I don't really get thst bit?
Presumably as licence enforcement officers they have some legal powers. Actually she got off lightly, the alternative might well have been a court appearence and a heavy fine.

Ashamedandblamed · 30/12/2017 20:43

Today 19:09 HorseDentist

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.

Favorite post ever.

SilverySurfer · 30/12/2017 20:43

I am intrigued by your idea that your DD should be entitled to some kind of leeway. For how long do you think she should be allowed to watch tv without buying a licence? A month? A year?

Get a licence the moment you start using a TV or else face the full force of the “law”?

Yes, of course, your DD was lucky not to get a hefty fine.

Weebo · 30/12/2017 20:43

Are you serious Eggy? :o

This thread is bonkers.

meredintofpandiculation · 30/12/2017 20:44

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? Because it allows the BBC to do stuff that is not necessarily guaranteed to pull in a huge audience, whereas anything depending on advertising is going to need to be much more conscious of audience numbers. From my point of view it gives the advantage of advert-free TV.

HermioneAndMsJones · 30/12/2017 20:44

Nope they dint have ANY legal powers.
They cannot enter a property.
They cannot read your rights etc..

These are tactic to scare people to make them pay for th8ngs they might actually not need. Or pay twice (eg if you haven’t kept the confirmation email of the payment etc...)

Ashamedandblamed · 30/12/2017 20:45

@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!

LOL!Yes because people should have a license including your daughter.

DoNotWorry · 30/12/2017 20:45

WiddlinDiddling True but you do need one as soon as you turn it on!

PricillaQueenOfTheDesert · 30/12/2017 20:47

she more or less pushed her way in so which was it? Did she push her way in? (I doubt it)

They were not looking for previous residents, previous residents had informed them of their move, so they were after a name for next occupant.

Your dd didn’t have a tv license when the lady arrived, she did by time the lady left, job done.

Original poster
LapdanceShoeshine · 30/12/2017 20:50

@Ashamedandblamed

@CosmicCanary that’s awful shock

LOL!Yes because people should have a license including your daughter

www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/10621833/BBC-pays-100000-compensation-to-viewers-harassed-by-licence-fee-officers.html

OP posts:
Scrumptiousbears · 30/12/2017 20:51

There's two sides to every story. It's human nature to exaggerate. I suggest you take what your daughter says with a pinch of salt.

VivaLeBeaver · 30/12/2017 20:51

The critical point of the OP is "She more or less forced her way in"

Either she did or she didn't. If she did then thats assault and I would ring the police. If she didn't physically force her way in then there's no grounds for complaint. They are trained to intimidate people into thinking they have a right to enter. A complaint will probably result in a gold star.

Your dd shot herself in the foot by buying a licence therefore admitting guilt. She'd have been better off slamming the door shut.

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 30/12/2017 20:52

Your daughter is not going to receive compensation for being forced to buy a tv licence Hmm

Original poster
LapdanceShoeshine · 30/12/2017 20:53

@PricillaQueenOfTheDesert

They were not looking for previous residents, previous residents had informed them of their move, so they were after a name for next occupant

Then why did she ask for previous resident by name?

OP posts:
MongerTruffle · 30/12/2017 20:53

How comes they read you your rights. I have only ever heard this said by police and tv licence people But tv licence people are not the police. So I don't really get thst bit?

I think they just said the section of the Communications Act which requires you to have a TV licence if you watch or record TV as it is being broadcast or use BBC iPlayer.

VivaLeBeaver · 30/12/2017 20:54

They can read you your rights because what a person says needs to be admissible in court if they prosecute. The inspector will file a report and a decision will now be made whether to prosecute.