Page 4 | To stop paying the bbc my license fee.?

bemorebernard · 2023-10-05T03:27:42+00:00

I'm thinking of stopping paying the bbc Anyone know the rules ?

Wiccan · 05/10/2023 11:06

WillowCraft · 05/10/2023 10:58

BBC is one of the few decent British things we have left, everything else that used to be a source of pride (our democracy, the NHS, railways etc) has descended into an embarrassing barely functioning state. The BBC is respected around the world and gives us a lot of soft power. It should be funded from taxes not from a TV licence.

The TV licence makes no sense to me - lots of people who ought to have one just don't bother, it's complicated as to whether you actually need one, it doesn't include radio use which is the best part of the BBC, it makes the BBC produce rubbish entertainment programmes to appeal to the masses, when they should be doing stuff that no one else will do.

😂😂😂😂 you've got to be kidding ? The BBC are an embarrassment. One scandal after another .

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 05/10/2023 11:12

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What a lovely example of Muphry’s Law…

Wiccan · 05/10/2023 11:13

Anyway OP yes you can legally sign the BBC's no need of a licence declaration if you don't watch live or scheduled TV . 👍

Fightyouforthatpie · 05/10/2023 11:27

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DysonSpheres · 05/10/2023 11:34

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Actually it's just nasty. I have an illness that affects my cognition. Someone mocking my spelling on a bad day - it's not nice. I am struggling. And yes, many people do have dyslexia. It is one thing to say: are you aware you misspelt [insert word]? And quite another to pour withering scorn on someone's spelling in order to sound superior, or because you have no suitable rebuttals to their argument, all whilst bring unaware as to whether they have a condition. Playground level debating, is what it is.

LaaDeeDa321 · 05/10/2023 12:57

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Hecate01 · 05/10/2023 13:03

WillowCraft · 05/10/2023 10:58

BBC is one of the few decent British things we have left, everything else that used to be a source of pride (our democracy, the NHS, railways etc) has descended into an embarrassing barely functioning state. The BBC is respected around the world and gives us a lot of soft power. It should be funded from taxes not from a TV licence.

The TV licence makes no sense to me - lots of people who ought to have one just don't bother, it's complicated as to whether you actually need one, it doesn't include radio use which is the best part of the BBC, it makes the BBC produce rubbish entertainment programmes to appeal to the masses, when they should be doing stuff that no one else will do.

Are we talking about the same BBC? It's scandal after scandal from them, hardly nothing to be proud of and I hope my taxes never ever fund it.

LaaDeeDa321 · 05/10/2023 13:05

should we shut down the NHS because of Lucy Letby and Harold Shipman? 🤔

Original poster

bemorebernard · 05/10/2023 13:28

Not trying to defund the bbc , I don't watch it, I stream and pay for streaming. There is little of value i watch and I find it a very bias organisation, and ask myself really at this point is it worth the fee and the conclusion for me is no.

I can live without it and I'd rather spend the fee on services I'd use .

OP posts:

yogasaurus · 05/10/2023 13:32

bemorebernard · 05/10/2023 13:28

Not trying to defund the bbc , I don't watch it, I stream and pay for streaming. There is little of value i watch and I find it a very bias organisation, and ask myself really at this point is it worth the fee and the conclusion for me is no.

I can live without it and I'd rather spend the fee on services I'd use .

Just go online and sign the declaration that you don’t need it any longer, it’s easy.

ApolloandDaphne · 05/10/2023 13:39

I don't know of anyone who doesn't have a TV licence. I love the programmes/channels that my license pays for. I find that Netflix and Prime eg don't have the breadth of variety i like in my TV watching.

newnamethanks · 05/10/2023 13:41

@Thoughtful2355 Just paying for Netflix? How is it I have never seen any posts about using a streaming service but refusing to pay for it? You can't do that can you, rebellious non-licence holders? Happily for you, licence payers will continue to give you free access to the huge amount of BBC services available. If you use them and get fined, don't bother posting.

Wiccan · 05/10/2023 13:54

newnamethanks · 05/10/2023 13:41

@Thoughtful2355 Just paying for Netflix? How is it I have never seen any posts about using a streaming service but refusing to pay for it? You can't do that can you, rebellious non-licence holders? Happily for you, licence payers will continue to give you free access to the huge amount of BBC services available. If you use them and get fined, don't bother posting.

What's rebellious about not paying for something you don't use ?

AvengedQuince · 05/10/2023 13:59

newnamethanks · 05/10/2023 13:41

@Thoughtful2355 Just paying for Netflix? How is it I have never seen any posts about using a streaming service but refusing to pay for it? You can't do that can you, rebellious non-licence holders? Happily for you, licence payers will continue to give you free access to the huge amount of BBC services available. If you use them and get fined, don't bother posting.

How many posters on this thread have said they use a service that they don't pay for? It's not rebellious to not want to pay for a subscription you won't use.

AvengedQuince · 05/10/2023 14:01

I am at no risk of getting fined for not paying for what I don't use, nor do I talk to threatening sales people at the door.

Wiccan · 05/10/2023 14:02

We do not have a TV Ariel or any TV broadband or satellite service . Just broadband internet only I do not use any BBC or TV services I signed the declaration , TV licencing can come to our home anytime to check . It's that simple . Same as If I don't have a car I'm not required to pay road tax .

theduchessofspork · 05/10/2023 14:03

AvengedQuince · 05/10/2023 07:39

Having a public service broadcasting system in this country also means that C4 and ITV are held to account, and also made to news gather as part of their licence agreements.

Do these stations receive a share of the fee?

No, they are advertiser funded - although C4 might get a cut of the licence fee in the next licence fee negotiation.

But they are already Public Service Broadcasters (PSBs) so as part of their linear (non digital) license they are held to certain standards including making news and domestic programming.

Channel 4 was specifically set up to be non-profit making, so the money it makes goes back into making programmes as part of its license. Had it been privatised last year as the government planned, it would likely have been sold to Discovery/Warner which would have put a stop to much of its UK based production, as it’s more profitable to buy in a lot of shows.

ITV and C5 are profit making, so they are less likely to get a cut of it. That means they don’t have to produce the same amount of PSB content, but under the terms of their licences they still have to produce news and UK based content.

Obviously the license fee system will change, and it may well be divvied up between PSBs in future.

But if it were to disappear completely then the PSB system would go with it, which would mean very little news gathering, and much much less Uk based content. If the PSBs become part of international conglomerates like Warner, they are solely profit driven as it will be cheaper to import content, and to make sure everything made in the UK also appeals to an international audience.

You also have to remember that streamers like Netflix and Amazon prime are running at a massive loss right now in the grab for subscribers so the higher quality content they make (clearly some of it is great) isn’t likely to be the main offering going forward. Same is true for the other streamers - none of them are making money and most of them won’t last.

So maintaining a Public Service broadcasting system is basically the guarantee against virtually all TV being shit, and some of it being bespoke made for UK audience.

theduchessofspork · 05/10/2023 14:06

LaaDeeDa321 · 05/10/2023 10:27

I don’t understand people who say they hate the BBC. It’s like saying you hate food. There is so much choice and variation. You may not like Gary Lineker but that doesn’t mean CBeebies isn’t world-class and worth the licence fee. I’m just listening to Woman’s Hour now and they are having an in depth discussion about the death of the female soldier who was stalked by her boss. Come back to me when your streaming service does that.

Exactly

QueenBitch666 · 05/10/2023 14:51

I cancelled mine years ago via an email
I'm fked if I'm contributing to Linekers verbal bilge and salary

Thelittleweasel · 05/10/2023 14:59

@garlictwist @bemorebernard

The fiction that no one gets caught is just not true. An eccentric friend of mine [hoarder] was visited. There is no need to grant access so they went away and returned later with a warrant to gain entry. He had a TV so they took him to court. He did not attend so they fined him in his absence. He did not pay so they jailed him (shocking but it can be jail for non payment!). Friends clubbed together and paid the fine and got him out of Wormwood Scrubs!

Many people are fined [mainly women, sadly]

Can I go to prison for not having a licence?
No, there is no need to worry. You cannot go to prison for simply not having a TV licence. The court can only give you a fine.
But if you fail to pay that fine, the court can take further action. They can send bailiffs or sheriff officers to your home. And they can take money from your wages or benefits if you refuse to pay what you owe.
They can send you to prison if you still do not pay after all these steps to collect the debt have failed. This is as a last resort.

Bailiff Advice. Free Debt Help And Support. StepChange

https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info/debt-collection/bailiff-help-and-advice.aspx

NeedToThinkOfOne · 05/10/2023 15:12

It's scandal after scandal from them, hardly nothing to be proud of and I hope my taxes never ever fund it.

Ah, if it’s for moral reasons you don’t pay the licence fee, then thank goodness the subscription fees you pay to commercial streaming services are going directly to scandal-free global organisations, instead of supporting the scandalous creative sector across the U.K. Thankfully many good causes across Britain will still benefit, such as ‘Project Beckham’ who need both the exposure the streaming services provide and the appearance payments, in order to feed their family during this cost of living crisis. That’s something to be proud of, right?

AllWeWantToDo · 05/10/2023 15:32

I cancelled it last year, never watch live TV and once I got rid of virgin I didn't need one anymore

Wiccan · 05/10/2023 15:43

I think there are some people on here who find it really hard to believe that there are people who can get through life without watching TV .

AvengedQuince · 05/10/2023 15:45

Thelittleweasel · 05/10/2023 14:59

@garlictwist @bemorebernard

The fiction that no one gets caught is just not true. An eccentric friend of mine [hoarder] was visited. There is no need to grant access so they went away and returned later with a warrant to gain entry. He had a TV so they took him to court. He did not attend so they fined him in his absence. He did not pay so they jailed him (shocking but it can be jail for non payment!). Friends clubbed together and paid the fine and got him out of Wormwood Scrubs!

Many people are fined [mainly women, sadly]

Can I go to prison for not having a licence?
No, there is no need to worry. You cannot go to prison for simply not having a TV licence. The court can only give you a fine.
But if you fail to pay that fine, the court can take further action. They can send bailiffs or sheriff officers to your home. And they can take money from your wages or benefits if you refuse to pay what you owe.
They can send you to prison if you still do not pay after all these steps to collect the debt have failed. This is as a last resort.

How long ago was this. Having a television set does not necessarily mean you watch live television. People having been using televisions with game consoles for decades.

DysonSpheres · 05/10/2023 15:54

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The irony of telling me to grow up! You are the one who has no tolerance for opinions that differ from your own (anyone who doesn't like and support the BBC is a crank?) and have resorted to juvenile personal remarks about someone's spelling in order to shut people up. I repeat. You used that tactic because you have no real way to argue with someone whose opinion differed from yours.

Now as to the BBC TV Licence. I do not pay the licence fee. I am not in the possession of a TV, nor do I watch any live content, nor do I watch Iplayer. I am not overly fond of BBC News as I much prefer Al-Jazeera, WION, Talk TV or NewsMax which I watch occasionally on YouTube. For radio it's mostly LBC if I bother.

The threatening letters arrive monthly and are duly shredded.