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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

TV license

326 replies

Sky1992 · 27/12/2022 00:57

So AIBU to stop my direct debit towards TV license since the kids only watch netflix, you tube or Disney and I only watch eastenders and most times I watch it at my parents?

Also is it worth cancelling it and only watching eastenders when I'm not at home or downloading it at my parents who do have TV license and watch it mine once its downloaded?

OP posts:
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7
FaazoHuyzeoSix · 27/12/2022 10:12

I said she can watch at her parents house. that's fine as the licence her parents are paying covers all devices used at that property while they are on the property. what OP was proposing was to download at her parents house then watch it later back at home, which wouldn't be covered.

the thing about not charging the device is for the opposite-way-around scenario. if her mum, who has a valid TV licence, comes around to OP's house (if OP stops being a license payer) and brings her own device, then OP's mum can access BBC TV content in OP's house so long as the device doesn't need charging. this also allows licence payers to access bbc content if they are on a train or at a cafe etc.

Wanderingoff · 27/12/2022 10:15

@TwoMonthsOff its absolutely disgusting. And people - mostly women - go to JAIL for not paying it.

i think the BBC is an immoral rort.

Good news it is an unsustainable model in the new world of content and it won’t last too much longer.

Ansumpasty · 27/12/2022 10:21

orbitalcrisis · 27/12/2022 10:11

@Ansumpasty Did your letter not say that they had to send someone to check? Mine always have done. Admittedly, now I don't live in a rough area I get fewer visits. I've only had 2 in 11 years. The first was a bit of a dick, I asked him if he was here to read the meter and he said, "It's worse than that I'm afraid" but didn't tell me who he was until I verbally prodded several times! He looked disappointed when I just said, "Ok" invited him in. The second guy though... Kept muttering under his breath that they'd get me next time and when I'd say I hadn't done anything to 'get' me for, "That's what she thinks" but wouldn't tell me how or what they would 'get' me for! Something to do with iPlayer on my smart TV. Something I didn't even use when it was allowed! 6 years later and they haven't tried to 'get' me even once! So maybe that's why you have never had a visit thinking abut it, I didn't realise I hadn't had one for over 6 years!

Never, it’s a certificate of exemption and that’s it! Also, I’ve moved from the North West to South West, and had a request for a visit in neither! The friends and family I’ve had cancel theirs also haven’t have, but they’ve all phoned.
The friend who didn’t call and did it online got letters a few times (until they phoned) but never threatened with a visit.

Ansumpasty · 27/12/2022 10:22

Please excuse my grammar, I’m currently multi tasking on my phone 😅

Ansumpasty · 27/12/2022 10:28

Wanderingoff · 27/12/2022 10:15

@TwoMonthsOff its absolutely disgusting. And people - mostly women - go to JAIL for not paying it.

i think the BBC is an immoral rort.

Good news it is an unsustainable model in the new world of content and it won’t last too much longer.

That was an incorrect claim. The fear of jail has already been spread to force people to pay. You cannot be sent to prison for not paying your TV licence. You can end up being sentenced for repeatedly refusing to pay court fees. Our prisons are bursting at the seams and people are not sitting in jail for watching Eastenders without a licence.

Here is the debunk:
fullfact.org/news/liz-truss-tv-licence-prison/

Fuwari · 27/12/2022 10:32

For a couple of quid more a month than a TV licence, I have Netflix and prime. Huge range of programmes, prime delivery etc. So no I don’t see a tv licence as being good value at all. I only ever really liked some of the dramas on bbc but in more recent years I’ve found the dramas on UK channels to be a bit of a letdown. Some of them end up on Netflix now anyway. Happy valley is on there currently (which I did enjoy).

EmmaAgain22 · 27/12/2022 10:35

I haven't had a licence for years

when you say you watch at your parents, do your mean their TV? I do that but mum's paid for a licence.

but thinking to renew it because - Happy Valley!

I bought the licence for a year when I needed it before. Am I allowed to just cancel the DD?

user1964097 · 27/12/2022 10:46

BBC can't move with the times until 2027 when the licence contract is up

Wanderingoff · 27/12/2022 10:49

@Ansumpasty i note the technicality but think that makes no substantive difference

TwoMonthsOff · 27/12/2022 10:53

@Wonnle
i love CJC

TwoMonthsOff · 27/12/2022 10:58

@EmmaAgain22
Which is why you should be able to drop in/out as needed

They are fully aware the current system is unsustainable but at the same time know that their publicly funded gravy train will stop if it became a subscription service

Mabelface · 27/12/2022 11:02

I don't have anything to do with the BBC, and don't live stream anything. I'm not funding the politically biased, paedophile protecting service.

user1964097 · 27/12/2022 11:07

Out of the lot, Netflix is the biggest waste of money with its awful cheap shows, imagine how awful it would be if all TV was like that

EmmaAgain22 · 27/12/2022 11:09

user1964097 · 27/12/2022 11:07

Out of the lot, Netflix is the biggest waste of money with its awful cheap shows, imagine how awful it would be if all TV was like that

I'm tempted to say "ringarde" but I'm too polite 😂

EmmaAgain22 · 27/12/2022 11:11

TwoMonthsOff · 27/12/2022 10:58

@EmmaAgain22
Which is why you should be able to drop in/out as needed

They are fully aware the current system is unsustainable but at the same time know that their publicly funded gravy train will stop if it became a subscription service

But maybe I can? If I start a DD then I can just cancel after Happy Valley?

maybe it's not wort the bother, at least they have learned that I don't use them and I'd have to sort a log in etc for iplayer.

Talaforniababe · 27/12/2022 11:12

I think not paying the licence is very tight. I lived in the UK a long time and considered it my duty to pay the licence there. Why be so miserly? The money is going towards your national broadcaster.

EmmaAgain22 · 27/12/2022 11:21

Talaforniababe · 27/12/2022 11:12

I think not paying the licence is very tight. I lived in the UK a long time and considered it my duty to pay the licence there. Why be so miserly? The money is going towards your national broadcaster.

I stopped paying the licence fee because I didn't watch live TV or BBC iplayer

when I worked a 60 hour week and streaming services didn't exist - no, I'm only 46! - I watched DVDs at home.

it's horses for courses. The day my sister moved home, she wanted her TV set up as soon as she got there.

I don't think I unpacked mine for about two weeks. Now I love my TV but flick in and out of Netflix.

x2boys · 27/12/2022 11:24

user1964097 · 27/12/2022 11:07

Out of the lot, Netflix is the biggest waste of money with its awful cheap shows, imagine how awful it would be if all TV was like that

Well it's a good job there is plenty of choice ,for people with different viewing habits .

user1964097 · 27/12/2022 11:25

It depends if you watch it, if you do then it is good value considering the high cost of the other streaming channels and Sky.

TwoMonthsOff · 27/12/2022 11:25

@EmmaAgain22
well, you aren’t obliged to declare Legally Licence Free to them, but if you want to watch a certain show then I think paying to see it would be the right thing to do, and a good idea, I do believe that they charge you in advance though so you would pay 2 months, I’m not sure on that though.

x2boys · 27/12/2022 11:27

Talaforniababe · 27/12/2022 11:12

I think not paying the licence is very tight. I lived in the UK a long time and considered it my duty to pay the licence there. Why be so miserly? The money is going towards your national broadcaster.

Even if you legally don't have too?
Would you give Asda ,say £50,even though you shop at Tesco ,because you wanted to support them?

BrassMarbles · 27/12/2022 11:28

No chance would I give such a bullying organisation any of my money.
What other organisations send you letters threatening to send thugs to your door simply because you don't use their services? I've had one such thug try to physically force past me into my home. They can fuck off. I will never use their services.

EmmaAgain22 · 27/12/2022 11:31

TwoMonthsOff · 27/12/2022 11:25

@EmmaAgain22
well, you aren’t obliged to declare Legally Licence Free to them, but if you want to watch a certain show then I think paying to see it would be the right thing to do, and a good idea, I do believe that they charge you in advance though so you would pay 2 months, I’m not sure on that though.

confused
I have been legally licence free and have the declaration

I'd get a licence if I use BBC again.

I could easily just watch at mum's though, I probably will. She won't want to watch Happy Valley but I can always watch when she's not around.

I've no intention to break the law. If I use it, I'll pay for it.

if anything, this thread makes me think that's best, I have heard stories from people who get visits even after filling in the declaration. Plus the TV aerial has been away in a drawer so long, it might not work!

TwoMonthsOff · 27/12/2022 11:31

@user1964097
good value is subjective though, it’s a lot of repeats I would go berserk if that was my only choice, also some streaming services are only £4 a month now, Now TV is SKY content and has really good multi month deals, it’s not just Amazon and Netflix anymore

x2boys · 27/12/2022 11:31

user1964097 · 27/12/2022 11:25

It depends if you watch it, if you do then it is good value considering the high cost of the other streaming channels and Sky.

That's my point some people enjoy what Netflix et c has to offer and are happy with the subscription ,but there's alot on offer these days we have lots of different viewing platforms to choose from