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

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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?

Email a complaint to [email protected]. he's the CEO. Explain what you've explained here and demand a personal apology.

You don't get it but it will waste some of their company time.

Little victories, Godber, little victories.

God, that's horrible! My dad has moved in recently and unbeknownst to me, had been watching iPlayer on the fire stick in his room. He thought I had a tv licence (didn't know you didn't need one if you just watch Netflix etc).

I got an email yesterday saying that I've been watching iPlayer over recent weeks so I need a tv licence. Bought one. Was happy at their soft approach (not sending anyone round/ whacking me with a fine immediately). So your story is even more horrific to me today - as I was genuinely in the wrong so I would have been terrified!

op.

You have my total sympathy OP and I don't think you overreacted at all. A few years ago I had one of these charmers turn up on my doorstep while I was in the bath ( and for the benefit of an earlier poster, I live in a "naice" area).

My crime? To purchase a small portable for one of the bedrooms some weeks before ( I already had a licence).

He bullied my teenage daughter appallingly for several minutes, refusing to accept my relayed messages that we had a licence, until I was forced to get out the bath for the sake of the poor girl. I sent him away with an absolute flea in his ear, and he was SO aggressive and intimidating, shouting and threatening me with all sorts as I saw him off my property. I wish I'd reported him to the police at the time, you showed great presence of mind to do so OP. Well done.💐

"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. "

I totally agree. I live in a rough bit of Liverpool. We don't have police cars, we have the Matrix, dog unit etc.

We don't see Telly Licence inspectors. Most people don't have a licence, but it's ignored.

It's the same with the litter enforcers, Kingdom. They had been found to pick on easy targets and ignored the group of lads dropping the Macdonalds containers.

Jumped up no-good twats.

Genuine question- how do Daily Mail journalists go about getting their stories from Mumsnet? Do they (a) loiter, waiting for someone to post something juicy which they can then run or (b) initiate discussions themselves under (for example ) a completely new username, on a subject likely to make a DM reader salivate like, oh I don’t know, immigrants or perhaps even the BBC, and then wait for other MN users to give their own stories to pad their article out a bit or (c) both? Asking for a friend. A moderate one.

I updated my address online, as soon as I moved, was really easy & got confirmation email too. 2 years on, we get threatening letters weekly. I'd complain. I'd have shut door as soon as he got abusive & rung & complained there & then: but I'm a gobby nightmare if provoked with attempted bullying.

Our Mayor got involved with Kingdom's antics and they've now been stopped from operating in Liverpool City Center.

OP, contact your MP, you'd be surprised, but they take notice of this sort of thing.

QR your feelings sound just like mine -I'm angry with myself. I don't understand how someone like me (I am not usually weak) could react like that. I am dealing with all kinds of people for the works to the flat and I have to be quite tough sometimes, but all my life I have been frightened by men shouting at me. I get what everyone says also about not opening the door to people but eg I nearly didn't open the door to the DPD delivery guy with my internet router. I will be ok, just have to reflect on this a bit and get a grip. Am on the phone to Capita.

TV licence goons have zero authority. They are obliged to leave as soon as you ask them to or tell them they are trespassing.

You don't have to tell them a single thing about yourself.

The exception being if they turn up with a warrant.

Crapita were outsourced to look after medical records in my area. They have lost them, 25 years of important records. Gone, no one can find them.
I hope that company collapses never to be seen again.

Just paid my tv licence, was asked whether I wanted an e-mail copy or posted one. I always insist on posted one. That way I can wave it in their face, tell them to jog on and close the door.

As for the media, of course they lurk. I suspect they plant threads as well.

HopeIs how on earth did they know you'd just bought a television?!

Similar thing happened to us once.
My partner wasn’t up for taking any more bullshit so he told the woman to have a nice day and shut the door in her face. We didn’t hear from them again.

@justasking111, agreed. And I suspect this will end up in the DM for exactly that reason.

I have an empty house (you don't need to know why it's empty) and I get a TV licence letter every week. They try to make it appear threatening but they have no jurisdiction.

I don't need a TV licence but it will be a cold day in he'll before I let of those scumbags into my property.

I've never know anyone to visit but if they did the only thing I'd tell them is that they were trespassing and need to leave.

Without a warrant nobody has any right to make you tell them anything or force you to allow them on / in your property.

Capita are utter scoundrels but the government and quangos keep giving them contracts. They are all scum.
Sorry you had this fright op, pursue your complaint if you feel up to it, glad police were sympathetic and this person didn't get in your house, hope they would be discilplined (doubt it) and think more carefully in future. You may be able to get the fraudulent caution removed but don't worry, it won't carry any weight or affect anything. Try not to let it ruin any more of your time

That's outrageous... the police need to get these people under some bloody control. It's a TV licence, not a military draft fgs

If only the government/courts could be so effective at collecting child maintenance.

BBC licence fee is out of date and needs reform (like the fucking courts and CMS) but the BBC is clinging on to it as long as they can.

I wonder if his pay is dependent upon the number of "cautions" that he issues, and that's why he persisted, even when it was apparent that there was no fault on OP's part.

What a horrible, frightening experience fo the OP. A woman alone is very vulnerable to this sort of bully, as are the elderly and people with health problems.

Please take it as far as you can - you may even be able to have him cautioned for assault. He doesn't have to have laid hand on you - assault is a verbal offence. I hope he doesn't get away with this.

Excellent point badly drawn. These people need to chase up child maintenance payments with the same ruthless efficiency

how on earth did they know you'd just bought a television?!

You have to give your name and address every time you buy a TV. I assume Curry's, Argos and the like have to send this info off to the licencing people.

You have had to do this as long as I can remember.

I used to work for one of those stores @Mayrhofen and names and addresses were only taken for people who bought in credit or who were purchasing extended warranty.

If someone came in with cash and bought a small portable, as the pp said they did, we just happily took their money and sent them on their way.

Also surely asking you personal questions in front of other people breaches Data protection and confidentiality.

Asking questions doesn't breach GDPR @Awwlookatmybabyspider. The OPs personal data is hers to give as she chooses though. So she's within her rights to say she doesn't want to answer.

However, by answering and giving her information she is implying consent, so again there would be no data breach, even if it was in front if others. Because OP chooses who can and cannot have her information.

A data breach would occur if the man had started reading her infotmation out where the workmen could overhear without OPs consent.

They are vile. They pretend they have more authority than they do and send out letters designed to look like court summons.
Yesterday as I was leaving my house, I noticed a man hollering and pacing up and down at an old man's house across the road. I thought it was either bailiffs or tv licensing the way he was being so aggressive. He was shouting 'get yourself down here right now I know you're in I've seen you looking out your upstairs window you'd better speak with me now!'
I reported that I'd seen a thug threatening an elderly man and trespassing as that's what he was doing.