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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

TV Licence one

41 replies

Haveimessedup123 · 27/07/2023 09:14

currently providing respite for my mum so my bro can go on holiday

he wants to live “off the grid” as possible (not caring that it makes mums life unpleasant and uncomfortable)

one thing is that he has stopped playing the tv licence he’s v strict about it - even though I’ve offered to pay

while I’m here I’ve been watching David Attenborough on iPlayer with mum on an iPad - I’ve a TV licence and thought it was covered.

now I’m concerned that it’s the address not the device which I was sure it was and they’ll get a fine

should I pay the tv licence (Aibu)
or respect my brothers decision that he does not want to not pay as he is the resident (ainbu)

OP posts:

Whowhatwherewhenwhy1 · 27/07/2023 10:45

You cannot be fined just for having a tv on display!
They can only enter your home if you invite them or they have a warrant. With a warrant they have to have a police officer present.

RegentCafe · 27/07/2023 10:46

I have a TV licence in my main home
I dont have a TV or a TV licence at my work flat
I filled out a form to say that I didnt have a licence when I moved into the flat.
1st time I used iplayer at my flat I received a letter saying I needed a licence
I emailed back saying that the device was not connected to a power source and that I had a licence at xx address in my name
I received an email back saying ok- noted
I have never received any correspondence since (I use iplayer maybe once a week but log into BBC sounds daily)

millsiem · 27/07/2023 10:49

I don't think they can access your property to check whether you use a TV? Or is that a myth?

CecilyP · 27/07/2023 10:52

I am going to annoy him on mums behalf fairly soon so want to minimise any other damage (and a £1k fine or getting a Tv licence would come under this category)

Subject to the other advice you’ve been given here, the likelihood of anyone coming while you are there is small. They will then generally give you the opportunity to buy a license. If it goes to court the fines a usually far lower (at least they were when I did criminal record checks as part of my job!)

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 27/07/2023 11:00

I don't think they can access your property to check whether you use a TV? Or is that a myth?

They have no right of entry to your property whatsoever. A knock at your door is nothing more than a polite request that you answer, and you are under no obligation to do so. If you do open the door and find one of the goons standing there, you are also under no obligation whatsoever to interact with them in any way. You can simply close the door on them, or if you are feeling slightly more charitable, a polite 'no thank you' and then close the door.

The only time they can compel you to permit entry is if they turn up with a warrant from a local sheriff or magistrate. They will be accompanied by police in that instance, however, they will not be able to attain a warrant by simply approaching the court on the suspicion that you may be watching TV without a licence because you closed the door on them. There would have to be substantial evidence before a court would consider granting a warrant, so if they have perhaps witnessed you watching TV through a window while approaching your door, and then you refused to engage with them, or you invited them in, they saw a TV on, and then you flung them out the door.

Quite simply, the letters are circulars that they send to any address without an active licence. They are not personal, they are not printed off because of 'suspicions', and the 'active case' stuff is purely a scare tactic. Their enforcement officers are employees of Capita. They have no authority or powers beyond that of any other random member of the public. They can not compel you to engage, and if they try the nonsense of 'reading you your rights', which they have been known to do, try not to laugh, and just close the door on them.

The people who end up being fined are invariably those who naively engaged, and then incriminated themselves, either through admissions, or by permitting entry to their property whereupon a TV was witnessed to be in use by the Capita officer. If you simply ignore any and all communications from them, and refuse to engage in any way, there is not a damned thing they can do, because they have absolutely no powers of their own.

CecilyP · 27/07/2023 11:00

GenieGenealogy · 27/07/2023 09:52

Your poor Mum. People with dementia often find their world shrinks and watching TV is pretty much the only thing they can do. My dad got so much pleasure out of watching sport on the telly, even when his dementia meant days out and other activities weren't possible.

Your brother is an utter arse for making it about him.

Totally agree with that. When there is so little she can do, it’s good to have at least one thing she can enjoy!

Original poster

Haveimessedup123 · 27/07/2023 13:31

Thanks for the supportive comments I feel a bit sad and less resilient as leaving today

just to say there’s no TV on the property it was just my iPad - which wouldn’t have been plugged in

when they came round they wouldn’t have been able to see anything except a very frail old lady stroking an ancient cat on a hospital bed

I’ll leave it

OP posts:

inloveonholiday · 28/07/2023 11:44

If you are concerned can't you just buy your mum a tv licence , register it in her name, your brothers address and use your email.

Then you'll get the notifications, your mum is covered and your brother doesn't need to know unless he asks as it's for your mum in your mums name paid by you.

x2boys · 28/07/2023 11:57

Haveimessedup123 · 27/07/2023 09:23

My brother is rather controlling

I don’t like to annoy him and it makes it worse for mum who needs 24/7 care and has dementia

I am going to annoy him on mums behalf fairly soon so want to minimise any other damage (and a £1k fine or getting a Tv licence would come under this category)

The only way you will get a fineis if you don't have a tv licence and ADMIT,to.watching tv without a licence ,these people have no.posts to enter your property and check nor do they have anyway of proving without someone admitting to watching tv without a,licence that you are watching tv without a licence its all bluff.

Nosunhere · 28/07/2023 12:02

If you buy it online using your own email address for your mum’s address will your brother know. I don’t think you get actual paperwork anymore. He’s selfish not think of your mum.

HowcanIhelp123 · 28/07/2023 12:02

If your mum is elderly and in receipt of certain benefits can you not get a free license for her in her name?

x2boys · 28/07/2023 12:06

vix3rd · 27/07/2023 09:58

Honestly you don't have to let them in if they do come round.
Look it up on youtube. They have no legal right to entry into your house.
If - and it's a big if - they come to the door you just say sorry I'm not letting you in. It's not my house & my mother is ill. - and shut the door.

They can only fine you IF they see a TV in the house.

They can't fine you for just having a tv people use tv,s these days for, Netflix ,Prime ,you tube etc ,they have to.prive you are watching live tv without a licence .

Megifer · 28/07/2023 12:15

I've not paid my TV licence for years and have watched iplayer, live TV etc.

I get the occasional threatening letter and once had someone turn up wanting to check my TV set up but I told them to do one and the letters go in the bin

Carry on as you are you'll be fine 🙂

countrygirl99 · 28/07/2023 12:27

So you're brother isn't so off grid there's no WiFi? So off grid for your mum but not him.

B72 · 28/07/2023 13:05

I've never bought a licence in my life and I watch terrestrial TV as well as iPlayer.
I once had a letter which I ignored.
A bloke from capita knocked on my door about a licence and he got told where to go.
No one has bothered me since, and that was several years ago.

Dinopawus · 28/07/2023 13:07

OP I know you have said you are going to upset your brother fairly soon so you may have this covered, but i'm wondering if there are safeguarding issues here?

Depriving an elderly lady with dementia of a completely normal form of entertainment could be considered abusive depending upon other circumstances. Obviously - before I get jumped on - no tv does not equal neglect, but as part of a bigger picture it's not great. Especially when you describe your brother as controlling.

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