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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Lolimax · 30/12/2017 22:01

Years ago the Licensing people knocked on the door of a lady my parents knew and asked if she had a TV license. She said politely that she didn’t need one thank you her TV worked fine without one.

inabeautifulplace · 30/12/2017 22:16

Yes, they can be aggressive and try and intimidate their way in. Of course they are not supposed to force their way in physically. Is this what happened? If so I would consider complaining. Bear in mind though that perhaps a complaint could influence whether your daughter is prosecuted or not. Hopefully not, as she's chosen to buy a licence now.

I also don't think it's great to reinforce a lackadaisical attitude to this sort of thing. It really isn't that different from not having a valid driving licence or MOT(obviously it IS very different if you don't have a licence because you can't drive!). Always good to learn from these things, I've just checked my photo driving licence and it expires in 2 months. Not having a go, I've been poor at this sort of thing too. Better that it kicks you in the arse like this rather than having a car accident and discovering you're not insured.

inabeautifulplace · 30/12/2017 22:20

Just from your last post, this is probably what they'll get a lot of the time

“Mrs X?”
“Eh?”
“Have you got ID?”
“Fuck off”
“I’m from TV Licensing, do you have a TV?”
“You can't come in”
“Do you have a TV licence?”
“No”
“OK, I’ll just log your details, please make sure you get a TV licence ASAP”
"Fuck off"

FilthWizard · 30/12/2017 22:25

There was a thread the other week about how awful and bullying the inspectors are and how ridiculous the whole thing is.

The way that woman behaved was totally unacceptable, even if your daughter had been watching live TV for months without one rather than a week or so. I mean, it's Christmas, she's just moved house, these things fall through the cracks sometimes. I'm pretty sure most of us have forgotten something like that in similar circumstances.

I hope she does complain.

Original poster
LapdanceShoeshine · 30/12/2017 22:28

Seriously, there is no lackadaisical attitude being reinforced here. We’ve had a TV licence for 30+ years, & the BF’s parents will have had too.

DD2’s never been personally responsible for a TV licence before; her BF has, but not for 18 months or so. It just never crossed their minds this month (or mine, & I’m most law-abiding!)

It’s really disturbing to see how many MNers are so keen to impugn my account of the situation Sad

OP posts:
FreudianSlurp · 30/12/2017 22:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
LapdanceShoeshine · 30/12/2017 22:35

Thanks for that interpretation Hmm

OP posts:
CotswoldStrife · 30/12/2017 22:37

The enforcement officers visit when the address does not have a TV licence. OP, don't you don't think they asked for the previous resident because they already knew she wasn't there and that they were speaking to someone different? The officer that visited would be well aware that the address had no licence.

In your daughter's situation, we'd all be pretty flustered at being caught out. But the enforcement officer visited to ensure that - if required - a TV licence was obtained.

CotswoldStrife · 30/12/2017 22:39

Your account of the situation?! You weren't there!

SouthWindsWesterly · 30/12/2017 22:39

Did they get a second hand tv? As I’ve been asked and reminded about tv licenses when I’ve bought new about 5 years ago. Apparently it’s standard practise.

And as for the TV license peoples attitude, it’s going to be defensive like traffic wardens. People don’t like shelling out money especially when they’re in the wrong so they have built up a persona to deal with the aggro they get. You may not like it but it gets the job done and usually with minimal abuse. However if they were looking for the previous occupant, then they should have barged in and also they should allow for scenarios where the occupant isn’t actually using a TV to receive live signal or catch up TV.

Look at the plus side - your DD’s all legal now with no legal repercussion.

FreudianSlurp · 30/12/2017 22:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
LapdanceShoeshine · 30/12/2017 22:41

@CotswoldStrife

Unless the intention is to seriously piss off the new residents at the address & generate a formal complaint, maybe they should rethink their approach?

OP posts:
Original poster
LapdanceShoeshine · 30/12/2017 22:43

@FreudianSlurp

It's not an interpretation, it's a made-up conversation - similar to the made-up conversation you posted at 21.58

Bollocks Smile

OP posts:
FreudianSlurp · 30/12/2017 22:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Neverender · 30/12/2017 22:44

Just tell her to buy a licence - she's a grown up. If she doesn't she may be prosecuted. It's part of being a grown up, with a telly, no?!

Neverender · 30/12/2017 22:46

It's similar to car tax...do you have a car? Ok, then tax it. It's really not hard at all and one of the first things my DM told me about when I left Home.

inabeautifulplace · 30/12/2017 22:47

"Seriously, there is no lackadaisical attitude being reinforced here."

It's when you keep insisting that it's ok to not have a TV licence immediately, for example. It's obviously not, because then you get an inspector at your door. Surely the right message is - you fucked up, lots of people do it, try to learn from it?

Original poster
LapdanceShoeshine · 30/12/2017 22:50

@inabeautifulplace

"Seriously, there is no lackadaisical attitude being reinforced here."

It's when you keep insisting that it's ok to not have a TV licence immediately, for example.

Ok - quote where I said that?

OP posts:
JustanotherJP · 30/12/2017 22:51

On days where there is a tv licensing court (once a month in our local magistrates court) there is usually a list of 100ish cases.

By the time anything gets to a court listing the person has already been given several chances to set up a tv license.

Then if anyone actually turns up to the court the prosecutor has a word outside court and tries to get it set up without actually taking the court case through.

I have no sympathy for those actually convicted in the end, there are so many chances to put it right that there is no way the licensing officers are being given bonuses for actually prosecuting. They bend over backwards to avoid actually going through with the case.

OP it is right that your daughter was read her rights, the officer had to make sure that anything she said was admissible. They had the right to ask for her details (not sure about NI number though). Whether she ‘forced her way in’ may be up for debate if the front door opened onto the room in question. They don’t of course have a right to force their way in but at the end of the day your daughter was breaking the law and got away with it. I wouldn’t be complaining too hard.

Giraffesarequitetall · 30/12/2017 22:52

Problem with your former ‘ifeal’ conversation is that many people lie about how long they have lived there etc and promise to get a license but never actually do.

Original poster
LapdanceShoeshine · 30/12/2017 23:00

@JustanotherJP

Whether she ‘forced her way in’ may be up for debate if the front door opened onto the room in question. They don’t of course have a right to force their way in but at the end of the day your daughter was breaking the law and got away with it. I wouldn’t be complaining too hard.

Did she need to be inside the house at all?

Due to previous tenant (Mrs X) having had dogs inside a ‘no pets’ property, DD2 has had to pay towards new carpets downstairs, & the woman concerned was inside, beyond the large doormat, & on the new carpet in wet/dirty outdoor shoes.

‘Breaking the law and got away with it’?

Jesus.

OP posts:
inabeautifulplace · 30/12/2017 23:01

"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”?"

Here's one.

inabeautifulplace · 30/12/2017 23:02

"“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”

And another one.

TenancyTroublesAgain · 30/12/2017 23:02

@arethereanyleftatall where are you getting a month from? They didn't have live TV until shortly before Christmas. I take this to mean within the past week or so...

bridgetreilly · 30/12/2017 23:04

OP: AIBU?

Everyone else: Yes.

OP: Lalalala wrong answer lalalala

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