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!

@Egghead68

You need a licence for iPlayer.

You don’t have to let them into your home in the unlikely event they turn up. Just send them away.

Those TV detector vans they used to have were a load of nonsense too imo.

I don't watch iPlayer. I definitely won't let them in but just the thought of someone hammering on my door is so unpleasant and feels so invasive.

The whole idea that everyone must be watching BBC is so out of date. 20 years ago it was unlikely that someone wouldn't have or watch a TV, but now I barely know anyone who does, so it seems crazy that you should have to prove you don't!

I had an inspector come round once - showed him the TV which didn't have an aerial, he pointed at my laptop and said "do you watch live TV on that", I said no, they never bothered me again. I just fill in a form every 2 years saying I still don't need a license, although that seems ridiculous.

@Egghead68

You need a licence for iPlayer.

You don’t have to let them into your home in the unlikely event they turn up. Just send them away.

Those TV detector vans they used to have were a load of nonsense too imo.

Well quite I mean they can detect whether you are watching live TV now ,so how they could pin point ,it in the 60,s with a "Detector van " is ludicrous 🤣

Can't detect*

Their letter is worded exactly as if it came from a bunch of cheap and inefficient debt collectors.

It does - Capita have the contract and their inefficiency is well known.
The only company that sends out its bug fixes for an upgrade before it's been installed...

@Grida

It annoys me and it also annoys me that I have to fill out a form declaring that I don’t have a tv. Imagine it you had to fill out a form for everything you don’t use!

Exactly - I very rarely go to LIDL but I don't get threatening letters or have to fill in a form online to say so.

Considering some of the stuff the BBC have done they ought to be a bit more contrite.

Can you believe that it was ever considered acceptable to literally lie about detector vans to bully people into paying? How was that legal?

Yanbu, at all. The letters are unnecessarily unpleasant in tone and seem to assume that we must have a TV ( we don't) or watch BBC iPlayer ( we don't). Being falsely accused of breaking the law would feel unpleasant to most people, I think.

Our approach is to just let them in and see that we don't have a TV. But the point is, we shouldn't have to do this!

@dabbydeedoo

Can you believe that it was ever considered acceptable to literally lie about detector vans to bully people into paying? How was that legal?

I can't believe we all believed it!

I didn't need a TV licence for over ten years. The only time I got threatening letters was if I forgot to immediately update them that I still didn't need one, when asked. The letters are awful though if you're vulnerable in any way, what with the red font and statistics about how most people who claim to not need one actually do. I'd hate to think of an elderly relative or anxious friend receiving that.

I don’t even watch live tv and haven’t for 10 years but I still pay the tv license as I’m so scared not too!

They sent quite a few letters when I moved to my new house. All of which I ignored, they got threatening each time about how they will come in to check, address being investigated blabla, it got to a point where I threw the letters in the bin without opening, I haven't got one in a while now.

Also a boon for scammers. I have a TV licence and have done for years, but I sometimes get scam emails asking me to click a link or else someone will be turning up at my house. I just delete them, of course, but an elderly or vulnerable person might easily be frightened into handing over their details.

If you don't watch live TV or Iplayer you don't need a license.
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 e.g. if your license used to run Nov-Nov and you cancel but then decide to renew again in July- they will charge you a FULL year (if you were previously paying monthly direct debit tough tits they won't offer you that again for another 12 months) AND will expect you to buy a further license/renew again in November. This is what happened to us. I was so livid. Especially as having to pay for annual license up front was costly and then to find out we were only actually being given 8 months before needing to renew again. I had to email ENDLESSLY requesting details of their ombudsman to report them to until eventually someone deigned to 'extend' our licence for 12 months. How they could consider it an extension when the product we paid for was called 'annual licence' I really dont know. They're absolutely awful and I wish I didn't need Cbeebies in my life so much or we would never get another TV Licence again.

Just tell them you have also have cheese and milk in your fridge, which doesn't mean you have bloody cow in the garden. Don't let them in.

@Duxiejhrhrvjz

I don’t even watch live tv and haven’t for 10 years but I still pay the tv license as I’m so scared not too!

What on earth do you thinks going to happen?

I get these letters all the time and my son & I joke about who's got what letter and from whom.

I file all the letters into my recycling. They have never visited.

I don't have a TV. I got a visit years ago when I lived somewhere else and they did knock on the door - I let them in because I didn't have a TV then either.

My son had them visit recently - it was from a company that the licence people must outsource to. He invited them in - he does have a telly but no ariel/sky box/etc - they were happy and said they'd record that he doesn't watch and his letters ceased.

I didn't have a tv for 12 years and was constantly being told we'll get a warrant. I always said to them ok then you go off and get a warrant and come back when you have one, you aren't coming into my house otherwise.
Surprise, surprise they never did.
If you write to them to say you don't have a tv licence and don't watch tv live they will leave you alone.

I just chuck any letter from them straight in the bin.

We had one a few months back saying we were being investigated, and to expect a visit any day. Never happened.

@HarrietsChariot

They have to prove you guilty, you don't have to prove yourself innocent. They use bullying tactics like this because the only way they can prove you are watching TV without a licence is to catch you in the act or if you admit it.

If they turn up, don't let them in. Sure they can waste licence-payers' money getting a warrant, in which case you have to let them in. But unless you're watching live TV or using iPlayer at the time, they can't prove anything.

Remember you need a licence if you watch live streaming programmes. The TV Licensing website is deliberately vague about what this means. I understand if I watch a live stream of something that is also being broadcast I need a licence, but what if it's a live Youtube stream that is live on Youtube only and not a simulcast of a television channel? My interpretation is that it's not "live TV" therefore a licence isn't needed.

This is quite clear:

^The law says you need to be covered by a TV Licence to:
watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel
watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.)
download or watch any BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer.^

YouTube is not an ‘online tv service’ it’s a video hosting site which may also have live streaming
Netflix and Amazon Prime are an ‘online TV services’ - but if you only watch from their catalogues on demand then you don’t need a licence, but if you use them to watch a broadcast then you do

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one

@Duxiejhrhrvjz

I don’t even watch live tv and haven’t for 10 years but I still pay the tv license as I’m so scared not too!

Don't be so ridiculous. If you look on their website or ring them they have a procedure for people who don't watch tv, just follow the procedure. You have to sign an agreement and that's that they will leave you alone. If they do come round they are not allowed access to your home without a warrant so under no circumstances let them in without one.

Simple, follow the procedure and they will not bother you.

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

If you watch the TV5 Monde channels broadcast (or you record the broadcast) then you need a licence
But if you’re only watching content as catch-up then you don’t need a licence

@dabbydeedoo

Can you believe that it was ever considered acceptable to literally lie about detector vans to bully people into paying? How was that legal?

Well they were facilitating Savile and Stuart Hall's Child sexual abuse too so it's not really a stretch is it?

They have destroyed their credibility as an organisation by their actions - repeatedly.

[quote Shehasadiamondinthesky]Simple, follow the procedure and they will not bother you.

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence[/quote]
This, as previous posters have pointed out, doesn't always work due to Crapita's inability to run anything, and in any case should not be needed - I don't have to write to DVLA to tell them I don't need a driving licence.