To wonder what will happen if I cancel my TV License?

[WhyDontYouComeOnOver]

We have three televisions, but never watch live TV. The main living room TV isn't connected to an aerial and the two bedroom TVs don't have aerials either.

We only ever watch Netflix, DVDs/streamed free movies and I now and again watch catch up of the Bake Off on All4. Never the BBC iPlayer app.

I really don't see the point in me paying £12.50 a month for a TV licence if I don't need to. I'm disabled and have very little money, so this seems like a bill I could stop.

What will happen if I cancel it? I've read some awful horror stories and I'm worried because I have severe diagnosed PTSD and an anxiety disorder and people knocking my door is one of my main triggers. I'm also a wheelchair user in adapted social housing so I'm classed as vulnerable.

I don't want to spend money on something I need, but I'm too scared to cancel it

I cancelled mine a few weeks ago because we never watch live TV nor have the BBC apps on any firesticks. I did the declaration online, they replied and cancelled my direct debit. 2 weeks later I got a letter saying I was due for renewal despite them acknowleding the online declaration and cancelling the DD, so I called and they went through questions confirming I didn't need one and then sent me a no licence needed confirmation valid for 2 years.

At any point someone can turn up asking to see it and I fully expect them to, they'll be shown my certificate and I'll close the door.

You can speak to them through the door and push the no licence needed through the letterbox them too, OP. You're complying with them so this is fine. They absolutely do not need to enter.

I've never had a TV license. I just have to sign a form now and again to declare I still don't need one. They do sometimes do inspections but I've not had one for years

They can't do anything. TV licence is an optional tax; we haven't paid for a licence in 15 years (and haven't watched live TV as a result, but have coped with life quite well...)

You'll get reminder letters with increasingly shitty tones - reminder, urgent reminder, opening case, sending out an investigator, etc etc.

I had 2 actual knocks on my door from them during the 24 months I didn't need a licence. I just shut the door. They'll try and get your name & confirm your address before saying who they are.

The worst thing you can do is talk to them or tell them you don't need a licence. They will try and find ANY reason to take you to court - laptop, TV, anything that can receive live TV is potential evidence. Don't let them in! Or sign anything.

I'd recommend if you don't need a TV Licence then ignore the letters and shut the door without a word when they knock - but be aware that they will do.

Of course, if you watch any live TV then you need a licence.

You would have to stop watching Bake Off but if you are fine with that just cancel it.

You don’t need a license for catch up for channel 4 so she won’t need it for bake off it’s only for live streaming and bbc I player

Thank you!

Why would I have to stop watching Bake Off? It isn't on the BBC and I don't watch it live.

I wonder if it would be worth doing it over the phone and asking them to put it on record that I'm disabled/vulnerable. Is that something that happens?

Tv licence people told me I had to have one if I watched any channel on catch up?

You don’t have to stop watching it

I don't have a tv licence.phoned them up about 4 years ago and told them I don't watch live tv, no one has knocked on my door. Had a letter just before Xmas asking if I still didn't need one, I told them no and that was that.

Do I need a TV Licence if I only ever watch on demand or catch up TV online?
It depends what you watch.
You don’t need a TV Licence if you only ever download or watch on demand or catch up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer (and you also never watch live TV programmes on any channel, including on iPlayer). And you don’t need a licence to watch S4C TV on demand and listen to radio on iPlayer.
But you will need a licence if you watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV or live on an online TV service, or you download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand. This applies to any device and provider you use

Only on iplayer

The TV license inspectors are sub-contractors with no real authority anyway. As you don't use the licensed services it seems useless to pay for them

Thank you everyone. I have submitted a cancellation request (what a faff) after calling them. No option on their phone line to cancel and no way of getting through to anyone. They sure like to make it difficult!

I just read this:

You DON'T have to pay (unless you're watching BBC iPlayer) ... You only need a TV licence if you watch or record TV as it's being broadcast or use BBC iPlayer – if you only use other catch-up sites, you don't need one.

I also have never had a TV licence (and don't need one.) have lived in my current house for nearly 7 years and have had maybe 2 or 3 letters, to which I've promptly gone online and said "I don't need a TV licence". Never had it questioned, never had a follow-up letter, never had anyone knock at the door.

But if you do need a licence and you haven't got one then you can be fined £1000.