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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU cancelling my TV Licence direct debit?

261 replies

Heliosdeep · 27/03/2023 08:25

In the wake of the Gary Lineker saga and the weakness of the BBC I cancelled my direct debit. Currently at £159 for a yearly licence I thought this was a waste of money. The only thing I would have missed would gave been the Great British Bake Off but now that Alison Hammond is fronting it I would have struggled to get past her incredibly irritating voice.

I've not watched it once since cancelling and haven't missed it. Has anyone else done the same and AIBU cancelling?

OP posts:
CherryCokeFanatic · 28/03/2023 21:23

User386421986 · 28/03/2023 21:08

*You have sky?

If you have watched even a second of any channel on it you have broken the law*

What a load of old twaddle, you can watch catch up and box sets on Sky without needing a licence

Yes but as soon as you turn on sky box and a channel appears then you are watching live TV?

LlynTegid · 28/03/2023 21:28

There are many things the BBC provide that I don't watch. I don't like Top Gear, never watch opera or ballet, don't have children so CBBC is not viewed, and I think Mrs Brown's Boys is a disgrace.

However, I would not want to have to rely on The Paper that Supported the Blackshirts and tv channels such as GB News for news. I want to keep the BBC, much as I think the licence fee is a flawed way of funding and expensive to collect.

CryHavok · 28/03/2023 21:35

WalkAwaySugarbear · 28/03/2023 07:31

Urgh MrCadburysParrot attitude on this thread makes me less likely to ever want to watch or listen BBC ever again. Fully institutionalised and cannot understand other people's point of view. Aggressive and pretentious to posters who don't hold the BBC on the pedestal.

Haha she’s been proper cock womble posting. Even said SoFt PoWeR

User386421986 · 28/03/2023 21:37

CherryCokeFanatic · 28/03/2023 21:23

Yes but as soon as you turn on sky box and a channel appears then you are watching live TV?

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Surely you just leave it on the intro channel, that's just a rolling sky advert

CherryCokeFanatic · 28/03/2023 21:39

User386421986 · 28/03/2023 21:37

Surely you just leave it on the intro channel, that's just a rolling sky advert

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Being broadcast live. So it’s live tv and in breach of the law?

Florenz · 28/03/2023 21:41

LlynTegid · 28/03/2023 21:28

There are many things the BBC provide that I don't watch. I don't like Top Gear, never watch opera or ballet, don't have children so CBBC is not viewed, and I think Mrs Brown's Boys is a disgrace.

However, I would not want to have to rely on The Paper that Supported the Blackshirts and tv channels such as GB News for news. I want to keep the BBC, much as I think the licence fee is a flawed way of funding and expensive to collect.

You wouldn't, there'd be a significant demand for a left leaning commercial broadcaster and one would be started to fill the gap in the market left by the absence of the BBC. But only those that wanted to watch it would have to pay for it.

CryHavok · 28/03/2023 21:45

Florenz · 28/03/2023 21:41

You wouldn't, there'd be a significant demand for a left leaning commercial broadcaster and one would be started to fill the gap in the market left by the absence of the BBC. But only those that wanted to watch it would have to pay for it.

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Much like Americans have the choice between Fox, CNN and can watch PBS (with the option to donate to keep it on air if they value it).

Hardtopickaname · 28/03/2023 22:02

Not unreasonable but make sure you fill in the declaration that you don't need a license. We cancelled ours last year as we never watched live TV and realised we only watched one thing on iPlayer all year. Haven't missed it at all.

Irridescantshimmmer · 28/03/2023 22:02

I have not watched any TV since 2014, I was told by tv licensing that I have to have no TV connected to an aerial, so they told me they would send someone to check up on me and I'm still waiting!

I still have no tv plugged in anywhere and miss-it-like-a-brain-haemorrhage haha! Have nutflix instead, it great and saved a fortune.

2X4B523P · 28/03/2023 22:03

Cancelled mine a few months ago. Haven’t really watched much live TV or anything from the BBC for years but didn’t mind paying as I got good value for money from Radio 2 before they destroyed it.

I have also cancelled my Virgin TV package and just watch on demand through Amazon and occasionally UKTV play, All4 and ITVX. With the money I saved I upped my phone data allowance and took out subscription to GHR premium. 6 more sleeps to Ken!

Adelant · 28/03/2023 22:05

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 27/03/2023 16:41

The Communications Act 2003. I believe the amendment in question passed in 2016 but was the brainchild of the coalition government rather than Cameron's post-2015 majority government.

I'm unsure precisely which 'platforms' you are referring to that have been around for 'decades' other than analogue broadcast, but with specific regard to subscription services there was no legal requirement for them to provide BBC channels. It was the norm for the few cable providers, certainly, because of customer expectation, but even if they had chosen not to then people could still access analogue broadcast of BBC channels in any case. The switch off meant that people no longer had that option, hence the requirement to compel providers to include BBC, and in turn prevent end consumers from 'opting out'.

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Both Sky and Virgin Media have been around for decades. They’ve always had to carry the PSB channels.

TenTwentyAtCheltenhamSandwich · 28/03/2023 22:10

I’ve not had a licence for over 2 years now, I didn’t watch anything so I don’t miss it. I get a monthly letter from them telling me they may come out on any day of the week, & at any time. They did actually visit once, but I was out.

DdraigGoch · 28/03/2023 22:15

Adelant · 27/03/2023 08:28

YANBU. I haven’t paid the license TV in years and still watch live TV. I just never watch BBC stuff. I just bin the letters, they’ve never visited my house that I know of.

They've visited my house twice. Both times they came during normal working hours so funnily enough I wasn't home. They just put a note in the letterbox like you might get for a missed parcel. Still recycling the letters - it's funny to watch the cycle, they get more and more threatening before reverting to the beginning again.

PogoThePunk · 28/03/2023 22:16

I've never bought a licence yet.
A bloke once knocked on my door, he got told where to go and the door slammed in his face.
No one has ever bothered me since.

DdraigGoch · 28/03/2023 22:17

abigailsnan · 27/03/2023 08:39

Thats awful of you do you cancel paying for everything you don't agree with I object to be paying towards others its just sociably unacceptable you don't just pay for BBC,do you not pay for Council Tax etc because you don't use the Fire Brigade/Police etc or are you exempt from them also.

How many cats have the BBC ever rescued from trees?

Pemba · 28/03/2023 22:44

CherryCokeFanatic · 28/03/2023 21:23

Yes but as soon as you turn on sky box and a channel appears then you are watching live TV?

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Wouldn't it be better if you don't want live TV but do want Sky programmes to subscribe to Now instead of Sky? They have virtually the same programmes and it's a lot cheaper and more flexible, you can sign up for a month at a time if you want, whereas with Sky they want to tie you in for 18 months.

DdraigGoch · 28/03/2023 22:55

jcyclops · 27/03/2023 16:17

You also need a TV licence to watch live TV in the UK from non-UK sources whether this is by streaming or, if you have a suitable dish, from satellites that are not aimed at, and not marketed to the UK. Often the only BBC channel these broadcast is BBC World.

You also need a licence to watch live TV on streaming services, such as the 20 Premiership matches shown on Amazon Prime.

Well that gives me an excuse not to watch the football. As if I needed one.

DdraigGoch · 28/03/2023 23:22

BarbaraofSeville · 28/03/2023 07:15

Could the TV licence be replaced by funding the BBC by general taxation?

Then it could remain as it is as a national resource without the need for households to pay directly. It would also be more progressive as the cost to low income households would be lower.

Also the cost of enforcement and administration of free TV licences for older people would be saved.

For those eople who don't value the benefit of the BBC to society, its probably a case of not appreciating it until its gone, then you'll miss it.

I'm quite happy to fund the infrastructure, plus the likes of Radio 4 and the Natural History Unit through general taxation. I wouldn't be happy to be forced to fund soaps, game shows, popular music, Sport etc. If you want to watch that, then pay a subscription.

massivenamechnage · 28/03/2023 23:37

You used to be able to get a radio only licence
You cant any more.
You dont need a TV licence to listen to the radio

Florenz · 28/03/2023 23:39

You can listen to the radio with only a black and white TV license.

Pemba · 28/03/2023 23:43

You don't need any licence to listen to the radio

Adelant · 28/03/2023 23:43

Florenz · 28/03/2023 23:39

You can listen to the radio with only a black and white TV license.

😂

massivenamechnage · 28/03/2023 23:45

Florenz · 28/03/2023 23:39

You can listen to the radio with only a black and white TV license.

It isnt 1986

You dont need a licence to listen to the radio

MrCadburysParrot · 28/03/2023 23:53

This reply has been deleted

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MrCadburysParrot · 28/03/2023 23:55

MrNook · 28/03/2023 08:52

Can you imagine getting SO worked up over someone not wanting a TV license? Bonkers

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Can you imagine not being able to argue a coherent case for a stupid idea? Bonkers