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?

Even if he was technically from Capita, sounds like a would-be scam to me - trying to intimidate you into giving your bank/card details.
There are no depths to which some of these arses won't stoop.

These guys are awful and so intimidating. I hope you are ok op. I wonder if you can report to somewhere like watchdog or Ofcom?
Years ago when i moved in to my first flat at 17 i had no aerial connection and did not own a tv, or computer and it was before the days of streaming/downloading etc. Some one let an inspector into my building and he just walked straight in to my living room. I screamed at him to get out but he bullied his way in saying i could be arrested if i did not let him in! I told him i don't own a tv or have an aerial connection in my house and he called me a liar asking where had i hidden the tv! He pushed past me in to my bedroom and started opening the wardrobe doors accusing me of hiding my tv because i had seen his van in the street, telling me i was going to get arrested! I ended up calling the police but they refused to come out!
I was petrified, i didnt know what else to do so went in to the hallway and started screaming, my lovely 6ft built like an out house neighbour came running out and kindly escorted him out. Kind neighbour came back the next day and put a chain on the door for me and bought me a bunch of flowers! I would have hoped that 20 years later their tactics of intimidation would have changed!

I appreciate sometimes it's easier said than done but next time anyone is in this kind of situation - put two fingers up and tell them to get fucked. What are they going to do? Seriously? No point being intimidated by these kind of chumps.

PP said an 85 year old was harassed by one of these clowns. But at 75 we automatically get a free tv licence anyway.
What a shambles of bullying and lies Capita are perpetrating.

I don't have a t.v or a licence. I had a letter which asked to tick a box, so I ticked the have not got a t.v box and returned it.
I had a visit a few months later from capita.
He got told in no uncertain terms where to go and where to stick his clipboard.
I've not heard a thing since. That was around four years ago.

You do NOT have to allow them into your home. NEVER sign anything on the doorstep. Do NOT fall for their patter, for it is all bollocks, designed to intimidate and create fear.

op I'm glad you found some resonance in my post, I meant every word of it. Your complaint may or may not lead to change..but again that is their problem and not your problem! You have absolutely done your bit - now don't go stealing their shame, and their failures for yourself. They belong to them...so leave it with them.

I hope you are feeling better about it all soon.

These guys are awful and so intimidating. I hope you are ok op. I wonder if you can report to somewhere like watchdog or Ofcom?

I think that there is a clause in the licence that a portable set can be used by a family member at uni or simlar away from home in tempoary lodgings.

But i may as said, be wrong.

Wow. The exact same happened to me, but I showed him my direct debit and he just changed the address on the account and left. Couldn’t have been nicer, very chatty and friendly. Poor you, that does sound horrid

Sorry to hear that OP. These guys are seriously rotten (although having dealt with Capita over a pension after my father died, I am not surprised). My mother died last year and despite writing to the TV licensing people to tell them this she is still getting harassed - I've written to complain about the way they are treating a vulnerable person, but haven't had so much as an acknowledgement - which reflects the level of care Crapita showed when they were dealing with my father's death. I'm looking forward to my day in court when I remind them the person they are threatening has been dead for a year. They are bullies.

justaboy only students in very limited circumstances
"as long as you only watch iPlayer on a mobile device that can function without being plugged into power mains and that you avoid charging while you watch on demand shows, you’re exempt from paying (as long as your parents have a valid TV Licence, of course, and that their home is registered as your primary address – so your home when you're not at your temporary accommodation during uni)."

How can some jumped up prick question you under caution? What powers did he think he had ?

Years ago when I was a single mum of 25 living alone with my young baby (too poor to buy carpets let alone a tv license). I had a tv license man visit my house and push a bit of paper through my door, he must have heard my daughter inside as he proceeded to bang and shout, 'I know you're in luv'. He then sat outside my house for 45 mins. Every few mins he would come to my door and bang repeatedly and shout through my letterbox. I was terrified. He even looked through my letterbox. He used to come back every few days and bash on my door. Eventually he caught me coming home one day & came into my house cautioning me. It really was a horrendous experience.

I never open my front door unless I know for certain who it is .
That door is your defence against anyone who would want to do you harm or enter your home by force.
Sounds melodramatic but these things do happen, I have a viewing device on my front door so I can see who is the other side.
If I do not know them they can fuck off, tv license checkers as well.

Not read full thread so someone may have said this but contact BBC Watchdog. Let them investigate it! That would be interesting

Capita are a nightmare - I have come across them a number of times in business and they are useless on all levels. They got in everywhere , insinuating themselves into business and local government in Tony Blair's era, and they really do seem to be an organisation where the left hand has no idea what the right is up to - and they don't care. My working was severely let down by them on more than one occasion. How horrible for you - I would complain, loudly, and escalate it

Another Crapita moment. They are notorious for conducting all sort of local authority services in the shittest possible way. I didn’t know they’d been awarded this task too. So sorry you’ve been treated this way. If I were you I’d make a complaint and take it as far as you can. They are incompetent bullies who have been getting away miser way too long

I was im a similar position a few years ago. I Live in a property that has two other properties nearby with very similar number and names for example (Not actual address) ours in 3 Gate Close, then the next street is 3 Gatevikle and the next is 3 Gateroad if you know what I mean. They arrived looking for a different address which I wasnt aware of at the time (that house was actually empty) then when I answered the door I explained that I was autistic and couldn't let him in without an appropriate adult but was happy to ahow my TV licenece which I did. He started to do the same and caution me demanded access to see what TV I had. He could see through the door I clearly had one. I was lucky that our local community police officer had not long walked past after doing some work in the area and I knew his phone number. I asked the guy if it was ok if I rang my community beat officer as he wasn't to far away and may come back. He told me (you do that, but I doubt very much you have a personal service with the police and they wont come out for something like this as we havw the same right to question as they do. I dropped the catch and went in and phoned him. He turned up minutes later and replayed my CCTV footage before he would even speak to the guy. The guy tried to change his tact quick and say he was just doing checks in the area he tried to leave but was told if he did he would be arrested, then stood their so put out at having to wait until the officer had seen and heard the footage which catches my front door and any sound when I answer it thankfully. He wasnt happy, he pointed out the first words out of my mouth was that I was a vulnerable adult and I made it clear I needed an appropriate adult to answer questions. This idiot tried to tell the police officer that their caution was done differently and its more of an informal questioning. The police officer then realises he had got the wrong address too and pointed out that he had a GPS device in his car that would have took him to the right address. They took his details and askes him to leave. They later questioned him over it at his office and he was cautioned over it, I cant remember the exact charges but it was something to do with questioning a vulnerable adult without appropriate adult or representation. That n using agressive techniques to try and force entry. I really feel for you because it shook me when it happened and I was lucky our local bobby had just walked past and I knew he would come back. Supposingly he changed his story multiple times and somewhere along the line it actually came up that the empty address he was looking for had actually still had a tv licenece anywhere because the last tenant had been taken into care home and hadn't cancelled it. I just remember seeing his face when our bobby had come running through a cut oppisite, vaulting a barrier to get back before anything else was said. The look just said "Shit the police do take things serioualy round here"

I would insist they take action cos it is a criminal offence to do what he did. The police officer told me taht they get calls all the time about them.

Capita. That name says it all.They assess for some health benefits and have a shocking record on dealing with people. So sorry you had to deal with this OP. Write and complain. They should not be allowed to get away with this. Bullying plain and simple.

They have a finger in every pie from benefits to building to library systems. I do wonder if they will have a spectacular belly up like other companies of similar ilk. Yeah - looking at you Carrillion.

When we sold the marital home exh just stopped the DD and didn’t tell TVL it was in my name. I got a couple threatening letters by mail forwarding and hadn’t completed on my new home yet so,was staying with family. TVL were really aggressive on the phone demanding to know where I was living, where I was moving too etc I was really shocked. Told them it was none of their damm business and when they needed to know Id inform them then.

You tell the TVL people to get to fuck. There is a letter you can send disallowing them access to even knock on your door. The licensing website should have the template. Then make a massive complaint about the chaos behaviour. Big hugs love, this behaviour is unacceptable.

There is an ongoing scam by a group pretending to be from TV licensing- I’m surprised your police haven’t followed this up more.

It’s all computerised now so there’s no need to doorstep people, you’re just fined immediately. Exactly what information did he want?

My husband and I own a rental which has been empty since last February as it's going through renovation before we put it up for sale. We notified the t l that it would be empty the first 6 months and then another 6 months. The council have inspected and are happy with the description of unoccupied. But we have had a series of threatening letters and then a personal posted one saying they had called at the address because it was unlicensed and threatening prosecution and a massive fine. We weren't in so they were going to return unannounced. The reason we weren't there is the address is unoccupied but we're happy if they want to make an appointment as we have no tv modem WiFi sky or freeview box just completely rude people who could know straight away if there's a licence at the address just need to throw their weight around and intimidate people.

It’s all computerised now so there’s no need to doorstep people, you’re just fined immediately. Could you please tell me how this works?

I got no qualms in telling them to get to fuck when they turn up on my doorstep. Regardless of the fact it is person is stood in front of me, Capita is a faceless asshole of a company. As it happens I have no need for a license and haven't done for ten years so I resent the assumption that I need one.