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AIBU?

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Original poster

Questioned under caution by TV licensing guy - I have a TV licence

252 replies

mainlymoderate · 16/01/2019 11:29

TV licensing guy turned up on doorstep and was very aggressive. I was so frightened I just answered his questions.

We'd moved very recently and have a TV licence, just hadn't notifiied TVL. I checked with them and that's no problem. The guy found the licence but then didn't seem able to control himself and began to ask me questions and fill in what I now realise was a caution sheet. Thankfully two people who were quoting for works to the flat turned up otherwise he would have entered the property. He asked me all kinds of personal questions in front of them. I know it sounds pathetic but I was just so frightened and confused by the whole thing, I signed the sheet of paper which I didn't even know was a caution sheet. I called TV licensing and they said once he knew I had a licence he should have stopped.

I reported him to the Police and they were shocked I'd been questioned under caution when I'd committed no offence. I was in tears. I also feel such a fool for not having understood what was going on and allowing myself to be intimidated.

I read up on it afterwards and discovered that BBC outsource this to Capita. The DG of the BBC ordered an investigation into their tactics last year. But it looks as though they are still operating in same way and they actually target vulnerable people. I've always been a supporter of the BBC but this experience has shocked me. Should the BBC really be allowed to outsource to Capita knowing how they operate?

OP posts:
UbercornsGoggles · 16/01/2019 11:39

That sounds awful, OP. We get aggressive letters all the time due to our address appearing multiple times on databases. No visit so far but I fully expect them to be aggressive and intimidating in person, just as their letters are. I think the letters are designed to exploit vulnerable people too.

I think you should make an official complaint. Good on you for contacting the police - will they follow up?

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 16/01/2019 11:42

The horrible bullying cunt. and before anyone starts. No he wasn't 'only' doing his job. I bet his approach would have been entirely different had a 6ft tall 4 ft wide body builder would have answered the door. Not that itd excuse bullying but He didn't even have a case anyway. Once he had established you had a licence. He should have apologized and gone on his way.
Also surely asking you personal questions in front of other people breaches Data protection and confidentiality.
Also I'm sure but cannot be certain its illegal to target vulnerable people. Theyre supposed to have special measures in place.
I hope you are going to kick up an absolute stink over this. This bully needs carpeting.

bigredmachine · 16/01/2019 11:44

TV Licensing entirely rely on intimidation, sorry to hear you were on the receiving end.

SparklyLeprechaun · 16/01/2019 11:44

Total jobsworth, I hope he gets sanctioned for his behaviour.

Original poster
mainlymoderate · 16/01/2019 11:44

Ubercorns the Police were so concerned and kind, they took down a description and asked if he was still in the area, which I was impressed by when you consider the Met has many more serious issues to cope with.

I was just in tears, partly because how can people even do that when you have a licence and why was I such an idiot to be intimidated like that?

OP posts:
londonmummy1966 · 16/01/2019 11:46

Flowers for you OP - what a horrible experience.

DO complain - it was bad enough for you but could you imagine what would happen if he were to use similar tactics with perhaps an old lady living on her own or someone with learning difficulties?

Shitlandpony · 16/01/2019 11:47

Crapita are agressive bullies, anything that is outsourced to them seems to be handled badly. I have no idea why any company or govt dept would use them.

Keep going with a complaint and stand up to the sad little jobsworth.

IncomingCannonFire · 16/01/2019 11:47

How strange. I wouldn't be able to prove we pay TV licence as dh does it all online. But I would have told them to come back later. They don't have any authority. How do they know you even have a TV?
Are you sure he was legit and not after your personal details to scam you?

Original poster
mainlymoderate · 16/01/2019 11:48

Thank you for your support, I woke up this morning in tears - my DH is working abroad and I am on my own, I consider myself strong and if I had known what was happening I would have reacted but he just started shouting at me the minute I opened the door. I had to take a sleeping pill last night. It's an over-reaction, I know, but I feel so unsafe now, if this kind of thing is sanctioned by an organisation like the BBC.

OP posts:
Idontbelieveinthemoon · 16/01/2019 11:50

Goodness yes, stand up and push your complaint further on. They rely on people just giving up and allowing complaints to be forgotten. They also rely on intimidation and bullying, which is vile.

Shallishanti123 · 16/01/2019 11:50

Are you sure he was truly who he said he was?

CastleCrasher · 16/01/2019 11:53

What details did he ask for? It sounds more like a scam to me too

joanmcc · 16/01/2019 11:53

We'd moved very recently and have a TV licence, just hadn't notifiied TVL.

I'm not an expert in this, but are therefore actually licensed at this address? In reality, I would hope there would be leeway when you eventually proved that you had just moved, and were about to transfer the license from your previous address, but as far as the guy at the door was concerned, he was standing at an unlicensed house.

ImNotKitten · 16/01/2019 11:54

Don’t be tough on yourself - anyone would be taken aback by a stranger shouting at them on their doorstep. Can you be gentle on yourself today? Lots of warm drinks and take it easy. What sort of questions did he ask you? I would definitely make a formal complaint in writing. It’s not your responsibility but he needs to be pulled up on his bullying tactics. Flowers

LadyFidgetAndHerHandbag · 16/01/2019 11:55

I've always found the TV licensing people to be rude and awful. I didn't have a TV for a number of years and kept getting letters saying they knew I was watching TV illegally and would fine me, imprison me, flay me in public, etc. I rang a number of times and said "I don't have a TV, you're welcome to come to my flat and inspect it" and they kept saying "it's fine, we'll put it down that you don't have a TV" but the letters didn't stop. I gave up trying in the end and just put the letters straight in the recycling. Nobody ever came and challenged me though. That sounds awful for you. I hope you feel calmer today.

ImNotKitten · 16/01/2019 11:55

Even if the op didn’t have a licence he shouldn’t be aggressive and abusive joan

ReanimatedSGB · 16/01/2019 11:56

Horrible fucking jobsworth. This sort of thing, like debt collecting, seems to attract the type of people who really get off on scaring and distressing others. I just won't answer the door to people I'm not expecting.

Original poster
mainlymoderate · 16/01/2019 11:56

Shalli I have the charge sheet from TVL with his ID number - he was definitely from Capita/TV licensing - that's what makes it more frightening - if he was a real criminal I'd kind of feel the world wasn't turned upside down. To me the BBC is Pogle's Wood, the Woodentops and Reith (giving away my age there)

OP posts:
regmover · 16/01/2019 11:57

I don't know why anyone is asking for details of Op's licence. If you read her posts it's already clear that she's done nothing wrong, also that they "guy at the door" should have known that he shouldn't have continued as he did. That's already been established FGS.
Op - from what you've posted you've established that the BBC don't endorse this at all. Also that you've done the right thing reporting it and it will be dealt with. You need to give yourself a break now and recognise that you did nothing wrong and all will be fine.

Pk37 · 16/01/2019 11:57

Are you 100 % he was legit?
There are scams and intimidation is their number 1 tool

femidom12 · 16/01/2019 11:57

joanmcc Read the OP's post properly. She checked with TVL about the address change and was told it was no problem. Sorry you had to suffer this OP.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 16/01/2019 11:58

No its not an over reaction
Don't down play it. That's how bullies get away with such despicable behavior.

Meangirls36 · 16/01/2019 11:59

He was shouting at you ? It happened to me once in my council house. Strangely in the posh area I live in now no bothers anyone. No charity pushers no Avon no random knocks on the door. Its like they know who to target. The next time look through your peephole and don't answer the door. If he starts on you again call the police while he is still there. Also note his name on his badge and call capita.

joanmcc · 16/01/2019 12:00

Even if the op didn’t have a licence he shouldn’t be aggressive and abusive joan

I agree, but OP seems quite sensitive here. OP states there were two witnesses to the exchange. I have to believe that if he was actually as aggressive as OP believes, the two people on OP's doorstep would have stepped in (hopefully out of decency, but at least to win her favour for the quote they were giving). I do believe her distress is genuine though.

ginghamstarfish · 16/01/2019 12:01

Awful behaviour, yes please pursue this and get this bully stopped. I hate the TV licence issue with a passion, and can't believe it still exists really. We just had a letter from them saying it is two years since our last declaration that we don't want or need a licence, and asking us to fill in a further one. Binned it.