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?

Vitalogy I believe it is computer generated as they seemed to know when I’d moved, both times. As I ignored the letters (because I had a Direct Debit) they came to the house. I imagine if being registered on the electoral sooner would have made them connect the dots without a visit. I think they just see a house sale, see no one is yet registered to vote at that property and start sending letters/visits?

I am actually starting to feel really lucky that’s I got a good one. Some of these stories

to you OP, just know you're not the first person to be left in tears by these disgraceful thugs with a badge.
When I was 18, i had my first self contained flat, no TV as was so poor! Got a knock one morning, unusual as there was a coded entry door with phones. I answered and 2 huge guys walked in, reading my rights. I told them to leave, they were in cupboards and in and out my rooms, but they shouted over me and were abusive as hell. Luckily my next door neighbour heard and chased them off.
A year ago, one turned up. As I opened the door, he put his foot in it- now to me, that's aggressive. I told him to remove his foot and he refused saying he was there to caution me, as I had committed a criminal offence. He then quickly flashed a badge I could barely see, started reading my rights and then asked for my name. I refused to give him it so he started in about tv licences. I watch streamed TV, so don't need one. I have notified them of this.
This bully would not leave my door or move his foot. In the end, I got my rape alarm from my bag, as it was hanging by the door and told him if he didn't move I was setting it off and screaming. He soon ran.
I've since written to complain and enclosed a notification removing their operatives implied right of access to my property. They now cannot come onto my property without my permission. They've left me alone since.

IamPickledRick Right, so you think it's done by the electoral register. I don't see how they could know if someone is on the closed register though?

I've recently moved into a rented house with my partner, we don't have a TV licence, have a TV but only for netflix and the ps4. Neither of us have ever had a license, but now we're bombarded with letters, I've answered three times, once on the phone. But the letters keep coming, you've all scared me a little incase they turn up. So what do I do? If I answer the door to them? (can't really see who knocks it's a side door)

Loulzze Could you get one of those spy holes for your door. They are good to have anyway.

When I was a student we had regular quite horrible visits and took to sellotaping our license to the wall by the door so it could be seen through the gap with the chain on. It's for this reason I still ask for a paper licence instead of an online version, although we've never had a visit in our current home.

It's about time they scraped the bloody tv licence and just whack in some adverts instead. Half the programmes are bloody repeats anyway.

I don't need a TV license and haven't done for years and I've moved quite a lot, every time I move I get the usual 'hey you, new person in the address - get a tv license now!' generic letter, I go online and fill in the form stating I don't need one and they never bother me again.
I have heard that capita are cunts though so this thread doesn't surprise me, sadly.

If I could have my time again Loulzze I would get my phone out and start filming whoever came to the door from TVL. I've now watched several Youtube videos where people do just that and the guys simply turn and walk away, they don't even argue. The thing is though, you can't have your phone at the ready every time someone knocks at the door. However given my performance when it happened to me I'm the last person to give advice, but I know so much more now than I did then.

I used to have a flat that I lived in during the week for work. I had no television there (although we had a valid TV licence for the TV at my permanent address). The TV licence people did not seem able to conceive of a flat with no TV, and kept sending letters whose tone was absurdly intimidating. I answered, inviting them to come and look for the non-existent TV, but kept getting the letters. I eventually managed to speak to someone on the phone (wouldn't happen now - this was about 15 years ago) who promised the letters would stop, and they did. It was unpleasant - not nearly as bad as the OP's experience, but still weird to be effectively accused of non-payment of license fee.

@loulzze you can tell them you don't need a licence online, and the letters should stop

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence

you can tell them you don't need a licence online, and the letters should stop Doesn't make a blind bit of difference.

After those questions and signing the form it’s quite possible they’ll slap you with a fine so keep an eye out and be prepared to fight it.

I myself had moved into my property the day before tv licensing turned up. I hadn’t yet sorted a license but had already got everything sorted for tv & Internet the day I moved in. Even though it was only one day the man told me he had rights to enter (I learned after he didn’t) and that I had to sign (I also found out after I didn’t) I was then slapped with a £500 fine having no court date before hand. First I knew of it was bailiffs turning up and forcing their way through the door when I opened it and threatening to remove goods. There is a very good group on fb called beat the bailiffs and the bank, the advice I got from them was fantastic and had the bailiff put on hold whilst it went back in front of a judge and allowed me to pay at an amount I could afford.

Fingers crossed nothing comes of it but maybe give them a call in a week or so just to check.

OH has very little time for them after they did almost exactly the same to his ex (41+3 weeks pregnant at the time) because she'd bought a TV and the licence was in his name. I never got a visit when I didn't have a licence, but I was annoyed enough with the constant stream of threatening letters for the heinous sin of not having a TV (or anything capable of receiving a signal) for five years.

For the first time in a couple of years, I've just received a letter from them confirming the licence for this year. He's asked whether I have a problem with him dealing with them, as he's bought a Freesat box (and obviously doesn't have a licence in his name), if they turn up.

I have no problem with him telling them to eff off and closing the door. Which everybody should do. Never sign anything and call the police if they're threatening.

Vitalogy they didn’t have my name to start with so possibly. Just does seem to be linked to the house sale as they turned up within 3 months of both my moves. I can’t remember what the first man was like but my husband answered the door that time and he is 6ft 5 and 21 stone so that might have stopped any aggression

I didn't have a license when I moved in to my flat but there was already letters waiting on me addressed to the occupier. I didn't pay it for a year. Then when I fell pregnant I did.

However I stopped paying again this year but I was already covered because I'd paid the year in advance kinda thing. So they came to my door after I forgot to change the direct debit. Lady was lovely and understood how these things happened and I signed up to a payment plan which I now pay every month. She didn't ask for bank details etc just my email address so I could get my new license.

Infact I explained that even tho it was June I couldn't pay till July and that was fine. I missed a payment in December there and just got a letter with new monthly amounts to pay.

But I'm not sure if it's capita that deal with it in Scotland.

Write to your MP.

Same thing happened to me a few years ago. I went to court over it as tv licence thought they had a right to do it. I won.

They are a bunch a bullies.
Have you seen the videos on YouTube ?

I just slam the door in their faces. They aren't allowed inside and like Jehovas witnesses they are unwanted at my home. Same with telemarketers, I just hang up. I didn't ask to be bothered with sales in my own home. Hell no.

Sorry you went through what you did, it sounds very unpleasant. I'm glad the police were kind enough to hear what you had to say.

Like some have suggested, it could be a scammer. Be careful giving out personal information.

Same happened to me. I had paid my license in full the month before and had an email to prove it.
The knob started cautioning me in front of my children!! DDs were only 7 and though i was getting arrested they were hysterical.

Once he stopped being a prick he looked at the email and apologised. I am sorry to say I said "now fuck off out my house" in front of my children. That does not make me proud but by god I was angry.

I complained straight away but heard nothing.

Someone did the same to me when I was 16 living with my parents. My parents didn’t have a TV license at the time (I didn’t know this) and I answered the door when I was alone in the house.
He asked all sorts of questions after he confirmed I was over 16 and then a caution letter and fine turned up at our door addressed to me a couple of weeks later. It was a bit terrifying but I was quite naive and didnt know I could just shut the door and say go away.

I haven’t read all the responses but as an ex police officer I saw WTAF?

The only people able to question you under caution are appointed by the court or the police.

Tv licence or not it’s a civil matter and the burden of proof is on them. If you have a device capable of accessing BBC you need a licence. However, you do not have to answer their questions or prove anything at your door. They cannot question you under caution only report you on summons.

If you have a licence it would never go to court as you can produce it prior to court.

I am not recommending not having a licence BTW.

I’m not certain they were official and if they were they were unprofessional.

Seriously I have had a few turn up.At my door I don't need a licence , i.tell them I don't need a licence they ask if they can come in I say no and off they toddle.

@Vitalogy I have two houses. One I live in, one I don't. I have no licence at either house.

The house I live in, I have told them I don't need a licence. I get a letter once every couple of years asking me to confirm that my circumstances haven't changed. The other house gets letters every other week it feels like.

It definitely does make a difference.

There has been a warning in the media about 10 days ago about people impersonating license detector folk. Sounds like you had one at your door. Fortunate that two workers turned up. Did the impersonator allow you to scrutinise his identification. There should have been phone number on it to contact to check if authentic. Lucky escape.