TV Licence- AIBU?

[Namechange10002468]

Name change as I'm sharing some personal financial background here.

OK- so in October last year we really had to tighten our belt due to DH redundancy. We basically cut everything that wasn't absolute necessity. We could only afford to keep one TV based/entertainment thing and decided to keep Netflix at 5.99/month over TV licence which was £13.25/month and at the time we hadn't watched anything live or on BBC iplayer for 5 months.
We are now thankfully in a slightly better place with finances- although nowhere near where we used to be- and would like to renew our licence so DCs can have Cbeebies and also so DH can watch all the football. We logged on expecting to be able just renew and go back to paying the £13/month. Except the website refuses to allow us to renew on any payment option other than a £159 annual payment.
AIBU to think that, considering so many people since Covid have found themselves in financially difficult times, it is really unfair of the BBC/TV licencsing people not to be offering affordable payment options for those wishing to purchase a license? I actually feel so angry. We do not have £159 to give up front and to be able to do so would mean other bills going unpaid, less food in the shopping for the next couple of months or going into a overdraft that charges interest.
Interested to know others' thoughts on this because right now I want to fire off a stinking complaint to them.

@TeachesOfPeaches I’m certain it was intentional. It was properly addressed with full address too. Perhaps it was because I’d already previously told them I wouldn’t be needing a license any longer only for dc to have been watching on the sly. Who knows, but iPlayer is definitely monitored.

Do none of you watch Sewing Bee, line of duty, Have I got news for you or listen to radio 1,2,3 or 4, or any of the local BBC radio stations?

You're missing out. (IMHO)

@LizzieMacQueen

Do none of you watch Sewing Bee, line of duty, Have I got news for you or listen to radio 1,2,3 or 4, or any of the local BBC radio stations?

You're missing out. (IMHO)

Line if duty, and least some of it, is on Netflix. And you don't need a license for radio.

@LizzieMacQueen bbc iplayer still works without a tv licence.

[quote SpaceRaiders]@TeachesOfPeaches I’m certain it was intentional. It was properly addressed with full address too. Perhaps it was because I’d already previously told them I wouldn’t be needing a license any longer only for dc to have been watching on the sly. Who knows, but iPlayer is definitely monitored.[/quote]
Knowing how sly TV licencing is (fake detector vans etc etc), I wouldn't be surprised if they sent that out to people who've cancelled their licence at random.

You can always sign back up to iPlayer with a throwaway email address. The BBC thinks I'm called Fred.

@SpaceRaiders considering how underfunded the bbc is I don't believe for a second that iplayer is monitored, they aren't MI5.

I will tell you what happened to me so you can be forewarned of what they might pull on you as I suspect only the method of payment has changed but not policy.

This was before the internet so a trip to the Post Office to fill in the form and pay.

We had a TV licence, due to end September 30th.
In husbands name as he was the one who went to pay it.

In the July, our only telly completely conked out.

We had no money for a new TV so didn't renew the licence.

Letters started coming, had a visit, told them what happened but couldn't let them in as I was naked having jumped out of the bath to answer the door. He said okay, will inform the office.

More nasty letters.

We had a little windfall the following March and got a new TV in the middle of the month.

Licence time, I thought.

I was going for it this time and got a new licence in my name. It was the day after getting the TV. I got a new one because as far as I was concerned, this was absolutely not a renewal as we had no way of watching TV since the previous July so why would we owe the BBC anything.

Paid. All good and legal, I thought. Can watch TV without waiting for a knock on the door.

Several weeks pass and I get a letter.
The letter says you have been unlicensed since September 1st hence we have backdated your licence, here is your updated licence and we will be expecting payment for next year's licence by AUGUST 31st.

I phoned them and they basically told me tough shit, piss off, ha ha ha, pull the other one you shitty licence fee evader.

Fucking cheeky cunts and they stole nearly a whole month because "licences start on the first day of the month in which they are purchased".

Watch they are not doing this or a modern day version of it to you.

They have had no money off me in years and they won't be fucking getting any ever again. Bastards. I don't need one, don't watch TV or anything live. DH can watch sport at his mates house. For me the BBC can shove it's entire shit content list up their arse.

With the threatening letters and house visits, I'm genuinely surprised that they haven't been investigated by the police.
The fact that they tell lies about coming in, COVID or none is horrendous. It makes it worse when vulnerable people are there. Disgusting.
I'm surprised they are not scared of being taken to court.

SilverGoblin How infuriating, they basically stole 8 months licence money that was not due from you, because they just wouldn't believe you'd not had a TV between July - March.

It's the high-handedness, isn't it, the rigid belief that everyone of course has a TV/is watching TV, and if they say not, they are just trying to evade. I don't blame you for refusing to give them your money now. And the thing is, you would probably have continued to be a customer for years if they hadn't done that to you!

I think they will find in the future that this business model will not work anymore. Young people are used to services like Netflix, and dipping in and out as they please. My DD and her partner have a large TV, but don't watch or record live television, they watch a lot of Netflix, Disney Plus etc.

The belligerent threatening tactics used by Capita (is it? the company the BBC use to chase up TV licences) just succeed in stirring up resistance. The BBC need to wake up and change their attitude. Probably slim down their services, as the licence fee seems to have a limited future. It's a shame, because for News, documentaries and drama etc they have been mostly very good over the years.

I cancelled ours due to similar reasons you had and I won't be going back. Netflix and Disney plus only now for us. Won't be going back because I feel like you're bullied into having it which is wrong. Not everyone has the money up front or on silly expensive payment plans.

[quote TeachesOfPeaches]@LizzieMacQueen bbc iplayer still works without a tv licence.[/quote]
You mean if you lie?

I've lived on my own since I was 18, 3 different houses. I'm now 35. I've never paid a TV licence in my life and nothing has ever been done. They went through a little stage of knocking maybe 5/6 years ago and I used to tell them to go away, they're over that now. Still never paid, still watch cbeebies alllll morning on a sunday

@ilovesooty yeah you have to lie . I also buy from Amazon which treats its workers like shit. I buy processed food which is ruining the environment. I buy most of DD12s clothes new from shops like H&M and New Look which we all know use non sustainable fabrics and at least some form of slave labour. I have a stash of disposable nappies and sometimes I use them just because all the proper nappies are downstairs. All these things are far far worse than lying to the BBC so my 2yo can watch Bing but unfortunately I'm not a perfect person.

Well as far as I'm concerned the liars are leeches and freeloaders quite happy to be subsidised by those who pay the licence fee.

While I struggle now with the concept of the tv license, I want a decent source of news and tv programming. I’ve yet to see that from Amazon, Netflix, and certainly not Sky.

I also don’t want news outlets which have ulterior motives and are owned by the likes of Rupert Murdoch.

I think there is an argument for a collectively funded independent source of news and educative and entertaining media. At the moment it’s the bbc but sadly it’s been infiltrated by the government who’ve effectively bribed it to act in a certain way.

@ilovesooty

Well as far as I'm concerned the liars are leeches and freeloaders quite happy to be subsidised by those who pay the licence fee.

Just out of curiosity are you also including over 75s who could afford it but don't have to pay in the category of leeches and freeloaders? Ironically in my experience they are the ones who watch it the most.

I believe over 75s who don't have to pay are in receipt of pension credit. I'd also be quite happy for people on top up benefits to have the licence fee waived. I just object to subsidising liars.

@Iggly the BBC are the worst for biased reporting! It's part of why I don't miss it. I do subscribe to a newspaper now to get the news but tbh you can get the news on the internet from the bbc website without a tv license if you're desperate to know it from that source.

I cancelled my television licence just before Christmas as I very rarely watch television (and have Amazon Prime for when the mood takes me). I cancelled over the phone which was quick and simple - They refunded me the unused months the same week.
I haven't received a letter, phone call or visit since - I do live in the absolute middle of nowhere though...

@ilovesooty

I believe over 75s who don't have to pay are in receipt of pension credit. I'd also be quite happy for people on top up benefits to have the licence fee waived. I just object to subsidising liars.

It's all over 75s isn't it?

Sadly there's no way those in receipt of other benefits would ever be afforded the same luxery or even a reduction perish the thought!

So I guess their only options are either fork out of their small budget or become freeloading liars or maybe they can find a willing 75 year old to live with them so they have the option to access all the live channels even those that are naff all to do with the BBC.

Just don't bother it's bullshit.

If the goons from capita show up tell then to fuck off.

@ScottishNewbie

We stopped ours about a year ago and would never go back to it. I won't support an organization that bullies elderly people and makes misleading threats on letters. They are absolutely disgusting and I can't believe the way they carry on is legal.

Sorry, rant over lol

Well said And thats the tip of the very dirty and corrupt iceberg

Cancel it

@Tossblanket

Just don't bother it's bullshit.

If the goons from capita show up tell then to fuck off.

I like your style 😅

I recently helped someone get back to paying it monthly. I did this by calling them up. During their business hours.