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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not pay my TV license?

200 replies

Spaghettibol · 20/12/2018 18:13

Just wondering if anyone else here is part of the TV licence resistance. I’ve never paid for one and I don’t watch live tv, but don’t want them having my details

OP posts:
Coldshoulders · 21/12/2018 11:09

The screenshot was just saying that you only have to let the police in your home with a warrant for tv licence. The rest of it was saying you don't actually go to prison for not paying for the licence you can go prison for not paying the fine issued at court over not paying tv licence. I 100 percent know that if tv licence came to my door now I wouldnt have to let them in or answer any questions as they ain't the police and have no right or power to enter my home without a warrant and police officer and even then you don't have to answer any questions. Like I said you don't actually go prison for not paying tv licence you go for not paying the fine. Maybe the screenshot isn't 100 percent regarding the 2nd paragraph but the first paragraph is.

WhyDontYouComeOnOver · 21/12/2018 11:09

But how do they know if you've watched the Beeb?

Cheeeeislifenow · 21/12/2018 11:12

In Ireland there is a significant amount of mostly women in jail for not paying TV license.
They go in for a. Day I believe..get processed and then come out.
Most of them just cannot afford it.

LoniceraJaponica · 21/12/2018 11:51

“I think it’s a pile of shit and haven’t watched any of their channels in years.”

How do you know it is a pile of shit then? Confused
We don’t have Sky, but I don’t say it is a pile of shit because I have never watched it. Admittedly the BBC, along with all other providers, make some terrible programmes, but to write off all BBC output as a “pile of shit” is like saying that all food is horrible, or all clothes are horrible. Among the “pile of shit” are probably some programmes that you might actually enjoy (or foods or clothes that you like)

IMO most of the crime drama on BBC4 is really high quality stuff. Also, programmes like The Bodyguard, Line of Duty, Mrs Wilson, anything with David Attenborough might not be to your taste, but they aren’t a “pile of shit” Hmm

Oh, and our internet isn’t great so we use our aerial and tend to record programmes live to watch later to avoid the buffering.

tryinganewname · 21/12/2018 12:00

I don't even know why I'm paying mine, I watch sky through my Xbox and it doesn't have any access to the BBC channels. I don't use iPlayer either.

It's also rare I put Sky on at all, usually just watch Netflix or Amazon Prime! So it's just a waste of money for us.

I may cancel.

Thisnamechanger · 21/12/2018 12:12

I think not paying a licence for a service you don't use and branding yourself 'the resistance' is a bit grand. It's hardly Vichy France in the 40s is it Grin

Thisnamechanger · 21/12/2018 12:13

FWIW I like the Beeb - I like all their food shows and sports coverage and the news and Radio 5. Grin

badlydrawnperson · 21/12/2018 16:41

I think Sky is an utter pile of wank.

Rupert Murdoch must think people are really stupid to pay him a monthly fee AND have more adverts than ITV C4 etc AS WELL.

Seems like really poor value to me, although I wish the BBC would give it rest with all the adverts for their own products and services all the fucking time, including "news" items plugging their own programmes.

MrMeSeeks · 21/12/2018 18:18

*Just be honest and say you're tight or can't afford it, so don't want to pay.

You risk a fine.

Tv licence resistance indeed*

Why do people need to be tight or unable to pay, maybe they just don’t watch it? Is that so hard to believe?Confused
I haven’t watched-the bbc channels for several years now and i mainly watch a lot of dvds ( i do have a license) I wish it was opt in though.

Bluntness100 · 21/12/2018 22:01

Why do people need to be tight or unable to pay, maybe they just don’t watch it? Is that so hard to believe

Eh because she's already said she does watch it, she watches channel four occasionally.

Could you just not be arsed to read the thread then, not even the ops posts?☹️

MinecraftHolmes · 21/12/2018 22:04

I listen to BBC radio every day, and have had more than £12 a months worth of value out of CBeebies alone, never mind anything else. Thinking about it, most of the things I actually make a point of watching are on the BBC just now, or were made for the BBC and now showing on Sky.

CheshireChat · 22/12/2018 23:28

What annoys me is that you have to pay for a TV licence even if you get foreign channels through satellite or similar so none of the revenue will go back to them. What's that all about?

M1dnightMadnesss · 22/12/2018 23:57

I don't own a television and haven't had one for years. You don't need a license to listen to the radio

bridgetreilly · 23/12/2018 00:18

What annoys me is that people like the OP seem to think it's fine to boast about breaking this law. How do I report them to the TV Licensing authorities?

bridgetreilly · 23/12/2018 00:19

Because really, if you aren't chaining yourself to railings and staging hunger strikes, what sort of a resistance is it anyway?

Bezir8 · 23/12/2018 00:27

I don't pay it (legally) no live TV and no iplayer usage.

what if a major event was happening and you wanted to see what was happening, live?
Telegraph, guardian and other newspapers both normally have updating news pages with timelines for major events, also you can find out news incredibly quick on social media, I haven't watched a news item on the TV for years now.

IClavdivs · 23/12/2018 05:12

I don't live in the UK, and we don't have TV licenses here at all.

I am curious, however - if you watch BBC catchup or iplayer on your computer, but NEVER on a TV, do you still need a license? Or is it blocked somehow on your computer so you can't use it or is it just assumed that you have a license?

MrsTerryPratcett · 23/12/2018 05:35

I never quite totally believe anyone who says the don’t watch live TV whatsoever, never at all. What about the news, or any sort of major event that unfolds over a few hours

I hang out here. And on other interweb places. Twitter and MN are always before the news anyway.

Pemba · 23/12/2018 05:44

When you go onto iPlayer a screen comes up (usually only once)where they ask you if you have a licence, and get you to create a username and password and take your email address. They don't ask you again. As far as I can remember I wasn't asked for my physical address, so not sure what they then do with that information.

It doesn't matter what device you watch it on, it's just whether you are watching live TV and BBC iplayer or not. So if you watched iplayer on your smartphone occasionally you are supposed to have a licence. But equally you could have a TV set that's not tuned in and use it for non-BBC catchup, Netflix, YouTube, DVDs etc and not need a licence. That's what my DD and her partner do. I really think that watching live TV is dying out in the younger generation, not sure how long the BBC will be able to keep the licence fee going.

Itssosunnyout · 23/12/2018 06:42

I don't pay it. We only watch Netflix or Amazon tv which don't fall within tv licence payment rules.

The only thing is that at work I can't really join in when colleagues are talking about something they've watched but I'm not bothered enough to pay it.

DopeyDazy · 23/12/2018 07:10

pay a licence but watch Netflix and Amazon . But anyone thinking there are no Ads on BBC,there are loads but for their own stuff. Selling tickets for party in park, for example.
I pay because I watch iPlayer occasionally and you have to declare that you have a licence and I'm sure they could trace through ip address or something

GimmeGimmeHellYeah · 23/12/2018 08:56

@maddiemookins16mum

I never quite totally believe anyone who says the don’t watch live TV whatsoever, never at all. What about the news, or any sort of major event that unfolds over a few hours.

There's this thing called the internet... Hmm

Hubanmao · 23/12/2018 09:01

So you seem to be saying you do watch live tv about once a month. In which case YABU and I hope you get fined

LoniceraJaponica · 23/12/2018 09:07

We will never get rid of our TV licence as OH loves watching rugby. He moves heaven and earth to watch the Six Nations live.

Racecardriver · 23/12/2018 09:08

Yes. I’m also a part of the rice milk resistance Hmm