To stop paying the bbc my license fee.?

[bemorebernard]

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

You do not need a licence to own a TV + dvd / video player / games console / streaming

You need a licence to watch live scheduled TV .

I cancelled mine once I realised the BBC was now a propaganda machine for the Johnson government...

As long as you don't watch any live TV or the BBC player you don't need a licence.

I only use my TV to watch DVDs and I watch stuff online from the ITV and Channel on demand (so nothing live) website.

I find the idea of licensing in itself or that people could be prosecuted for not having a licence outrageous by the way.

We considered it as we’re very low users of BBC, and I find it biased

However we did watch Wimbledon and women’s World Cup plus dd likes Hey Duggee on iPlayer so we pay

The content on the bbc is so much better than the repeats on Netflix - most of their content is old, very old in some cases which just a few glossy dramas which lack substance usually.

I find the idea of licensing in itself or that people could be prosecuted for not having a licence outrageous by the way.
Yes, the threatening letters if you don't tell them online that you don't wish to subscribe and sales people turning up at people's homes to intimidate them into subscribing. I've never had any other service behave in that way towards people who don't want to buy what they are offering. I don't want to be any part of that.

Not at all comparable. You need to consume food in some form in order to keep alive. Food is a necessity.

No one in our information rich world needs to watch the BBC (or any TV content). That is why the obligatory licence fee has become outdated.

And increasingly, even major topics of British and European concern are covered by other international broadcasters or media presenters, which is nice.

A better comparison might be: I don't understand why people hate the BBC, it's like saying you hate chicken, or beef or cheese or any other specific food group.

Well there's other food I (might) like better, that I'd rather pay for.

Not going back to that quote but we’ve not used CBeebies (hey duggee on iPlayer excluded), sport can be good. We do listen to the radio a fair bit - music, political and science programmes - and in the past paid due to that

You don’t need to though for radio, and feeling less favourable to BBC have considered not

The law is the law, but it's a pretty archaic and cruel law.

The BBC is known for taking mostly women, single mothers, immigrants and people from the lower strata of society to court and fining them for non-TV licence paying. Those more well off who refuse to pay for reasons other than poverty are mostly left alone.

As for telling them you don't watch live TV, this leads to problems. They tend to want to check this is really so and send someone round to your house to 'inspect.' They have no scruples sending an intimidating man to a woman's house, as these are the people they fine most.

Now you may have a TV for game playing, or for your DVD and feel you a door stop visit is fine. But it's ambiguous, because the person who turns up will simply swish aside any claims that you don't actually watch live TV UNLESS the ariel is not attached, but even there, simply having a means to access a Smart TV via broadband can become an issue. Also, you just might not like strangers who aren't mandated tradesmen, First Responders or Police Officers in your house. You may have strong ideas about your personal liberties.

I've found it best not to respond, and put up with the letters, although personally, they can come and have tea. There's nothing to see.

Watch what you want @DysonSpheres Nobody else cares. My point is some people brag about not paying for content not realising or caring that means people don’t get payed for their work.
I stand by my other comments. Stop trying to use your dyslexia as a weapon against people. It’s ridiculous.

My dear, I don't have dyslexia, but I have sympathy for those who do.

I think you care a great deal about what I watch or you wouldn't have taken the time to mention it. But let's agree that at the very least, you care about me not supporting the BBC or people watching without paying as it means UK based creatives don't get paid fairly for their work.

In regards to that, my question would be, is the creative output of the BBC serving the majority of the UK audience now? What demographic(s) are they serving, and do said demographics feel served?

I haven't really been paying a lot of attention, but I believe there has been some argument recently that it's not, and a lot of people are disgruntled. Is this observation wrong or untruthful?

Personally, I think above all the BBC does world class wildlife programming and costume/historical dramas. Hands down it does these the best.

I'd be happy to pay for a BBC package that was mostly science or history based. I think they should do a subscription service with specific bundles like this.

In regards to that, my question would be, is the creative output of the BBC serving the majority of the UK audience now? What demographic(s) are they serving, and do said demographics feel served?
I haven't really been paying a lot of attention, but I believe there has been some argument recently that it's not, and a lot of people are disgruntled. Is this observation wrong or untruthful?

I think your average Daily Fail reader might be disgruntled and comment that they aren’t being super-served by the BBC these days 🤷‍♀️ I would say that means that the BBC must still be doing something right for the wider society we live in and especially for those that don’t have the means to sustain multiple costly subscriptions.

I'd be happy to pay for a BBC package that was mostly science or history based. I think they should do a subscription service with specific bundles like this.

I might be interested in a bundle as well, for a lower fee and without any of this paying £26 a month for the first six months or else £40 quarterly in advance, rather than just monthly like anything else. I have no interest at all in paying for Strictly, or Drag Race, or celebrity anything.

You absolutely do not have to let them in the door. They may act like it's a legal requirement but it definitely isn't.

I think your average Daily Fail reader might be disgruntled and comment that they aren’t being super-served by the BBC these days 🤷‍♀️ I would say that means that the BBC must still be doing something right for the wider society

Why does it mean that?

I don't believe this story for one moment. simply Owning a TV does not mean you need a licence and that has been the case for probably 20 years by now. And in order to get a warrant there would have to be some evidence of watching live TV, which usually comes from either an admission or the old trick of looking through the window. And even with that it would be hard to prove it was live TV as opposed to a service or DVD or whatever.

And absolutely do not let the sales person pressure you into subscribing at the door as they could use that as an admission that you have been using the service and fine you.

Aren’t you the poster that called PPs ‘idiots’ for misspelling licence/license?
Ironic…..

I still occasionally watch something, but so infrequently that I sometimes wonder whether I should cancel the direct debit.

I'm put off because of the hassle. I remember they had a reputation for aggressively pursuing people who cancelled to check they weren't watching TV. Was that during the times where most had aerials though?

@Judashascomeintosomemoney was about to say the same…

I'm put off because of the hassle. I remember they had a reputation for aggressively pursuing people who cancelled to check they weren't watching TV. Was that during the times where most had aerials though?

I've personally had no hassle aside from the 'no licence needed' declaration (which should not be required but I do it to avoid hassle). I've heard stories about their aggressive and threatening sales tactics but it hasn't happened to me. It makes me less likely to want to subscribe and support that kind of behaviour though.

We've not paid ours for about ten years. We only watch streamed stuff and no bbc anyway.

FIL cancelled his last weekend too.

True story: I forgot to change the address on my licence when I moved house, genuine oversight which I only realised when an agent called at my door. Not in any way aggressive when I answered, yet he called with the assumption that I was watching TV without a licence, so had every right to not be friendly, as such. He actually provided me with ways of checking HIS identity before we spoke further and stood back from my doorstep. All I had to do was give my previous address and listen to him mansplaining how I should ensure all my documents are updated with my new address (such as driving licence and others out of his scope🤣) no further action, even though I had obviously been watching tv at that address without a licence for the property. Based on his attitude towards me, -who he assumed hadn’t paid for a licence- they employ perfectly level-headed people who are just getting their job done and they must get some threats and attitude back from people too? It certainly wasn’t my experience that an aggressive nightclub bouncer type was trying to get me to sign up or he would take my tv away and get me sent to jail.

'Payed'?

Not in any way aggressive when I answered, yet he called with the assumption that I was watching TV without a licence, so had every right to not be friendly, as such.

He could see there was no licence but why would anyone assume you were watching television?

If you’re watching Al-Jazeera or other channels live on YouTube, you would technically need a license (but not if you’re watching pre-recorded segments).