Bullying TV licence inspector

[LapdanceShoeshine]

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!

They have no legal right to enter your home. Don't let them in, if they push themselves in then shove them right back out. You have no obligation to talk to them at all. That woman was trespassing on your property and using bullying tactics to try and intimidate you becasue they is the ONLY way they can get evidence.
I had no tv licence for 20 years as I had no tv and I didn't open the door to them and didn't speak to them in all of their visits all of that time not even to tell them I have no tv.
If they want to prosecute someone they have to get a search warrant from the police. The police did not grant them one in my case, they are too busy, they need rock solid evidence such as a tv being clearly visible playing from an outside window.
I recently got a tv and a licence for the first time and they have been as quiet as the grave.

I was intimidated by a tv license guy on the doorstep once, trying his best to get in. I was off work sick after a bike accident, swollen mouth, couldn't talk properly due to stitches. Really scary actually, I sympathise with your daughter OP.

I pay sky for the TV I actually watch, no way am I paying for something i haven't used or intend to use

You do need a TV licence as you are watching live TV. Also, the broadcasting of all of the free to air channels (around 200 of all channels) that you receive is paid for by the BBC and ITV, and has nothing to do with Sky.

TV licence inspectors do not have legal right of entry
www.tvlicensing.co.uk/about/foi-administering-the-licence-fee-AB20

Police state

@Nicknacky

Does it even matter if they get bonuses? Doesn't take away from your daughter not having a licence

Seriously? You think it’s ok for Govt employees to be rewarded financially for persecuting people, regardless of circumstances? (Which also happens with the DWP 😡)

How is it living in a police state for someone who should have had a licence and was breaking the law by not having one to be made to get one?!?

There are ways of enforcing the law other than physically entering premises & demanding identification

I understand the allusion to police state somewhat.
If you want to watch tv then you are forced to buy a licence. That's pretty controlling if you ask me.

State tv is more appropriate perhaps.

The tv licence inspectors need a search warrant issued by a magistrate to legally enter premises. Otherwise any forced entry is illegal

You can get a free TV licence if you're 75 or over. You still need a licence, you just have to apply for a free one.

You don’t need a tv licence if you haven’t got a tv, so why should you be bullied into buying a licence 🤔

Persecuting?!

For pete's sake, get a grip. Your daughter was breaking the law, she got caught, the woman wasn't all smiles and roses about it. That's not persecution by any stretch of the imagination.

Oh, and TV licenses are needed for non-live TV as well these days.

Oh, and TV licenses are needed for non-live TV as well these days.

Only iPlayer

TV licence should be abolished.

Capita do use bullying techniques. They are also happy for two licences at one abode. I remember how they used to write to me weekly when I didn't have a tv. Letters worded as court summons etc. I wouldn't open the door for capita.

However DD is lucky not to have been fined as you are not supposed to watch tv without a licence. Capita wa wrong for behaviour, it wouldn't surprise me if staff got praised for end result.

They are hardly persecuting her. She didn't have one.

Who cares if there are bonuses (which I seriously doubt there are)!

They’re known for being intimidating to convince people to let them in but I think you’ll find that the majority will be very careful to stay just on the right side of the law. There might be the odd rogue individual who will try physically pushing in (which of course is very wrong) but I imagine such events are very infrequent. People get upset about being talked to in such an intimidatng way but that isn’t illegal and Capita won’t give a shit....it’s what they train there staff to do.

It’s so depressing to experience how many people feel the need to give us the benefit of their opinion without having actually RTFT...

Capita are being investigated for aggressive tactics

www.theguardian.com/media/2017/feb/27/bbc-investigation-tv-licence-enforcement-outsourcing-firm-capita

I couldnt careless as I haven't watched it in years

Used the website, listened to the radio stations, checked the weather, watched channel 4? Guess what pas for the towers which transmit the other stations?

If the BBC went commercial it would reduce the money available to the other TV stations, they probably wouldn't be able to show some of the big sporting events. The big documentaries like Blue Planet might go as well.

It's not persecuting! Honestly OP, you're not doing yourself any favours here. I appreciate that you would be concerned about your daughter being upset but it's not an unjustified visit and better than being prosecuted.

Some of the replies here make it easy to see how the BBC rake in the money they do through the stupid bloody license.

Owning a TV doesn't require a license. Watching live broadcast or using BBC iPlayer does. That's it.

They are fucking bullies with no rights to push their way in. Same goes for debt collectors and bailiffs (unless they have a warrant, most of the time they don't, but will lie and bully and intimidate, including refusing part-payment.) Sorry your DD has had such a nasty experience.
I don't answer the door unless I am expecting visitors.

OP. The inspector cannot legally enter your dd premises without a warrant and therefore have to leave if asked.

@CotswoldStrife

It's not persecuting! Honestly OP, you're not doing yourself any favours here. I appreciate that you would be concerned about your daughter being upset but it's not an unjustified visit and better than being prosecuted.

Seriously, can you not see how this situation should have been handled?

“Mrs X?”
“No, she lived here before”
“Have you got ID?”
“Yes, here’s my driving licence”
“I’m from TV Licensing, do you have a TV?”
“Yes we do”
“Do you have a TV licence?”
“Oh god, sorry, we only moved in this month & didn’t even get TV reception until last week, we’ve been a bit busy & didn’t think of getting a TV licence”
“OK, I’ll just log your details, please make sure you get a TV licence ASAP”

This is precisely how the woman should have handled it but didn’t.

If she had done it like this I wouldn’t be here now!