To think TV licensing are complete bullies?

[dabbydeedoo]

I went online and said I didn't need a TV licence because I don't watch live TV (I don't). I then received a letter telling me someone would be round to check, and they could apply for a search warrant from the court if I didn't let them in.

Is it just me or is this absolutely ludicrous? We're in a pandemic and I have absolutely no intention of letting someone into my flat. And even if I did, what exactly are they going to do? I have a TV connected to my laptop that I use for watching streaming services and YouTube. Completely legal, but how on earth can they prove I don't watch TV on it?

It feels so bullying and scammy!

@CornucopiaTVLR

Ask away it’s much more entertaining the the BBC at this time of night, then again my cat litter tray is ….

@dabbydeedoo

It’s good value for money.
Pay it.

Possibly we have some Crapita/BBC employees on the thread ? - with some not very valuable and not informative input (as one would expect)

CornucopiaTVLR yes, ask away, as your comment was to me...happy to answer any questions

I don't work there any more. I did say....and I never worked for Capita. RTFT.

Anyway OP, hope that's helpful. It will stop them knocking and solve the issue x x x x

@Royalbloo

I used to work for them.

Declare WOIRA (the withdrawal of the implied right of access), then they can't legally knock on your door to check.

It's true!

Yep, perfectly true!

forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5343824/woira-standard-letter

Thank you Ceri80 - it seems my knowledge around this specific area has irritated some. No idea why. It's really simple and hassle free if you know the process (which I designed for them).

"Just be wary that if you ever decide to reinstate your license they are likely to charge you full whack up front but ONLY give you a license until the end of your previous period"

They'd have a job, backdating my licence by 10+ years.

"You have to sign an agreement"

You don't HAVE to sign anything.

They don't charge 10+ years lol! They just charge the first year in the first 6 months and then more regular payments after that as it's in advance. After that, it's 6m in advance and 6m in arrears.

No, you don't need to sign anything at all.

It's all on the TV Licensing website and as clear as it can possibly be made.

"Unfortunately due to the huge number of people who don't pay"

Large number?

From the TVL Website:-

"This is because when we visit and make contact, we find one in eight people* that tell us they don't need a TV Licence actually do need one."

So seven in eight don't need a licence.

It's still in the hundreds of thousands...so many people by a black and white licence so they have one! Haha!

It's just cheaper

Well, it used to be anyway

@Royalbloo

CornucopiaTVLR yes, ask away, as your comment was to me...happy to answer any questions

Okay, given that these might be my only question...

• When you work at BBC/TV Licensing do you get trained on the actual legal position of TV Licensing, or is there some kind of alternate reality induction process that you go through?

• Assuming the former, how does the situation arise where TVL sends so many millions of misleading letters of the kind that the OP is querying? What's the rationalisation there between reality and subterfuge?

@ShaneTheThird

AHH then the fuckers conned me. I only watch YouTube on the Xbox and was told that was classed as a streaming service as you can access live news on it. How the hell do I cancel my TV licence, bastards

Well that’s £140 odd quid saved for you each year.

Call them ASAP, they’ll issue you a refund with no problems.

"it kind of is the best we've got"

I dread to think what the worst is.

@araiwa

Why are people bashing the BBC?

They don't do anything about chasing TV licenses- all done by capita, a private company

'TV Licensing' is a trade mark of the BBC and is used under licence by companies contracted by the BBC to administer the collection of the television licence fee and enforcement of the television licensing system.

The BBC is a public authority in respect of its television licensing functions and retains overall responsibility.

CornucopiaTVLR they use land registry to find out about new addresses and the data is notoriously inaccurate.

They also have a big issue with people re-naming their home from "35" to, "Rose Cottage" and then have no way to tie the two together.

There is a charter in place which governs what they can and can't do and everyone understands it except the general public.

Does that make sense?

If they cannot tie up an address to a purchased licence then everything that falls between the cracks gets letters.

R0BERTA spot on.

They just outsource the collection to Capita.

Other broadcasters - ITV, for example, create a revenue stream from advertising which then can then use to make programmes. The BBC only makes money from the TV Licence and selling stuff abroad.

And, in answer to the question, "Why are they such bullies?"

It works - most people need a licence and will buy one after a few letters have been sent. It works.