Page 7 | To cancel my TV licence

trampoline123 · 2024-05-29T07:18:12+00:00

I want to cancel my TV licence because I'm fed up of the way they broadcast the news. The language they use and the way they report is biased and quite frankly sickening. I don't want to fund it in any way shape or form. AIBU to cancel my tv license for this reason?

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 29/05/2024 14:37

titbumwillypoo · 29/05/2024 13:21

I don't use the London Underground so by your logic that public service should privatised and paid for by the people that use it? Of course not, because I'm not so insular to understand that a: London having subsidised transport indirectly benefits the rest of the country, b: I can't name one service that's improved through privatisation.
The funding model does need tweaking and personally I favour a block grant of about £3 billion a year from taxpayers so that it can keep doing what it does well without the need for advertising.

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Not quite.

I don't use the London Underground, so I don't expect to be chased and harassed by TFL, or whoever runs it these days, for fares for a service I do not use.

That does not prevent TFL seeking central funding, nor does it prevent them in any way taking fares from people who do use the service.

I live at the other end of the UK, so I don't see why I should be taxed to pay for a public transport service hundreds of miles away, when we have public transport needs where I am. That does not mean I think the London Underground should be privatised.

cwoffeee · 29/05/2024 14:39

QualityDog · 29/05/2024 14:13

Well yes, they will. They will harass OP with letters until they eventually turn up on her doorstep to check that she hasn't got a tv. Happened to me when i moved in with my other half who already had a license and then again when we cancelled because we were moving out of our house, we then had letters to say they were coming to check as there wasn't a license registered to that property. We warned our tenant, but she claims she doesn't have one. Responding to them that you have no requirement for one anymore is like talking to a brick wall (in my experience).

I haven't had one letter.

Why would they check that she doesn't have a tv, you are allowed a tv.

Yes, it's not illegal to own a TV without a TV licence.

As for the 'detector vans', that was utter bollocks.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 29/05/2024 14:42

QualityDog · 29/05/2024 14:13

Well yes, they will. They will harass OP with letters until they eventually turn up on her doorstep to check that she hasn't got a tv. Happened to me when i moved in with my other half who already had a license and then again when we cancelled because we were moving out of our house, we then had letters to say they were coming to check as there wasn't a license registered to that property. We warned our tenant, but she claims she doesn't have one. Responding to them that you have no requirement for one anymore is like talking to a brick wall (in my experience).

I haven't had one letter.

Why would they check that she doesn't have a tv, you are allowed a tv.

IF you confirm verbally that you own a TV set, they will then ask to come in and check that it is not connected to an aerial point and can not receive, or at least, shows no sign of being set up to receive live broadcasts.

If they come in and your TV is connected to an aerial outlet, then they have you bang to rights and, at a minimum, will expect you to either produce your licence, or sign up for one right there and then.

Best thing to do is just have no interaction with them whatsoever. If you open the door to them, do nothing until they confirm who they are, and then simply close the door on them.

SparrowBarlo · 29/05/2024 14:49

Lifestooshort71 · 29/05/2024 09:22

Do you drive with no licence as well or just watch TV without one?

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Oh give it a rest 😂

NoSnowdrop · 29/05/2024 14:53

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 29/05/2024 10:52

I think it's a shame that people don't want to pay for a TV licence. The fee enables wonderful programmes to be made that aren't necessarily profitable, like Springwatch, or the David Attenborough programmes, which must be awfully expensive. I've heard that in the US they are very envious of University Challenge - highbrow stuff like that just wouldn't be made over there. Personally. I very much value the opinions of people like Jeremy Bowen to shed light on the ME conflict. But you could get your news from elsewhere but still value the BBC"s other programmes.

I think it’s a shame that the BBC has become what it has. No one is envious of our great “impartial” public sector broadcaster anymore. They shoehorn ideology and their agenda k to all their programming whilst not giving sufficient weight to anything that opposes it. They’re not fit for purpose. The taxpayer should not be funding them or the ridiculously inflated salaries.

They like to make it seem difficult to cancel your licence and put the fear of god into people for non payment and consequences.

Many people stream TV and don’t watch live programmes. The best BBC stuff was made over 50 years ago, evidenced by the fact it’s still on demand.

University Challenge? High brow? Do me a favour, I like Amol but oh boy that series has been dumbed down with some ridiculous questions.

I hate the amount of hectoring that goes on from those who dumbly continue to pay with a severe lack of critical thinking.

YANBU OP. Cancel the damn thing, you’ll wish you’d done it sooner.

LakeTiticaca · 29/05/2024 14:57

The BBC needs to be a subscription channel. More and more people are cancelling their licence because the so called "impartial" presenters are spouting the views which we didn't ask for and don't want to listen to.Also their "selective" broadcasting

Abitofalark · 29/05/2024 14:59

MikeRafone · 29/05/2024 11:24

Is that any BBC channels, or any channels?

you must not watch any live tv or streaming tv of any channel

you can't use catch up for abc channels only

so you can watch non live tv on any other channel and Netflix Disney plus etc

You send them a letter withdrawing rights of access and they don't send you threatening letters either

if you purchase a new tv, the shop is duty bound to ask for your address - so the threatening letters etc starts again - so don't give your address or send another withdrawing rights of access letter

What is ABC? And there was no requirement to give a name and address the last time I bought a tv. There may have been such a law at one time but it was repealed and I don't believe there is currently.

shrodingersvaccine · 29/05/2024 15:03

Genevieva · 29/05/2024 09:57

PS
For me reasoning was twofold:
Around the same time that I was finding myself no longer enjoying BBC news and programming because of political messaging being relentlessly shoved down our throats, I found out that the biggest single reason why women in the U.K. are in prison is non payment of the BBC licence fee. Most are classed as vulnerable. They are widows who never managed their finances before their husbands died. They are single Mums living precariously on food bank donations. Non-payment if anything else would be a civil offence that might result in a fine. But the BBC gives criminal records to otherwise law abiding, poor and vulnerable women. I won’t get one on principle now. Not unless it is decriminalised.

They prosecuted my mum when I was little for not paying a TV license.

My lovely mum, who was being battered and raped by my father, who didn't pay the bills because he drank all the money he earned, was dragged through the courts for not having a TV license and having a TV because of the many bailiffs she had to deal with one of them was actually a scummy TV license inspector who noted she had a TV - which, btw, didn't work because we had no fucking electricity because as I said, my father didn't pay the bills.

By the time they even took her to court we had run away from him, were living in a women's shelter and had absolutely nothing. And they STILL convicted her of it, and made her pay a bunch of fines. She could barely feed us or herself, had never put a foot wrong in her life and they genuinely thought it was in the public interest to convict her of refusing to pay for a service we didn't even use.

I've never paid the bastards a penny, and I never will.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 29/05/2024 15:05

Just a little heads-up about this "withdraw implied right of access" thing. This is English Law only. There is no such thing in Scotland. If you are Scottish and you do this, then if anyone at Capita bothers to read your letter, they'll likely have you down as a chancer and pencil you in for a visit. Just don't bother with it.

MaidOfBondStreet · 29/05/2024 15:11

Hereyoume · 29/05/2024 09:21

Those vans were a myth. They were based on the radio signals that Cathode Ray Tubes produced. In theory, with the right receiver, you could pick up the signal from a TV set if it was switched on.

They never had any "detector vans". And CRT sets haven't been made since the 90s.

TV Licencing is a brand name of Capita Business Services. They are a PRIVATE firm, which take on a lot of Government and LA admin contracts.

Their "enforcement" methods consist of using a database which lists all addresses with a current licence, so by deduction, any address not listed is likely to be unlicensed.

The "inspectors" are just sales people, they have absolutely no statutory authority what so ever. They get £20 commission for every licence they sell and £50 for each successful prosecution. This tops up their basic salary.

You do not have to talk to them, they have no powers or authority. They are literally just private citizens who go around knocking on doors and asking people questions.

They are mostly unemoyable in any other job, are about the lowest form of predatory scumbags, and are not the type of people you should lower yourself by talking to.

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That's convincing but how do you know all that? Genuinely asking

Abitofalark · 29/05/2024 15:30

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Tipollt · 29/05/2024 16:27

And as far as I recall there is some specific rule about the BBC iPlayer but I'm not sure what it is, without looking it up.

You can’t watch iplayer without one is the rule.

I’ve been without one for probably ten years now. I’m happy enough with just the various streaming services I use.

EasternStandard · 29/05/2024 16:45

LakeTiticaca · 29/05/2024 14:57

The BBC needs to be a subscription channel. More and more people are cancelling their licence because the so called "impartial" presenters are spouting the views which we didn't ask for and don't want to listen to.Also their "selective" broadcasting

This is likely affecting their viewing figures

LakeTiticaca · 29/05/2024 17:48

I got done years ago. Silly me let him in. He was what my mum would call "a small man with a big opinion of himself" He wasn't very nice. Got taken to court ( apparently the beeb , like the post office can do their own prosecutions) I didn't turn up at court. They sent me a letter saying I was fined £15. I never paid it and nobody came looking for me 😁
Fast forward 10 years, me a skint single parent . I concocted a cock and bull story that I had been ill in hospital and it had slipped my mind. He asked me if I could get a license in 7 days. I said yes and I managed to scrape the money together. He came back the next week and confirmed I had a licence.

Much nicer man than the horror that came last time!!

fiddlesticksohyeah · 29/05/2024 17:54

CranfordScones · 29/05/2024 09:15

Get rid of your television. I haven't had one for years. (I don't watch on other devices).

The BBC should be a beacon of high quality excellence providing content that isn't supplied by the commercial sector. Yet it hollows out Newsnight and reduces it to yet another discussion programme.

But what do you look at in your livingroom? Please don't say you speak to your better half?

Glorybea · 29/05/2024 18:30

I can't believe there are still people in 2024 that are scared of detector vans 🤣

Cancel it OP. It's a ridiculous and archaic. People are cancelling in their droves and the BBC don't like it 😅

Everyone should check out ChilliJonCarne on YouTube for all the info needed on cancelling etc etc and enjoying your new bullshit-licence free life 😅

PassingStranger · 29/05/2024 19:14

VolvoFan · 29/05/2024 10:18

They should raise money from advertising like everyone else does.

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But they don't, that's not the BBC is.
Not your call.

BobnLen · 29/05/2024 19:21

I wouldn't want the advertising, already pay nearly as much as the licence to not have ads on Prime, Netflix and ITV, they are all charging now if you don't want ads

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 29/05/2024 19:30

MistyGreenAndBlue · 29/05/2024 10:51

So not the same as a driving licence - which is what I said.

It's not "stealing" to drive without a licence. It's illegal for other - arguably more important - reasons.

Hence - false equivalency.

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Well it wasn't me that came up with that analogy, but whatevs, it still works for me. A civilised society that runs smoothly relies on people playing by the rules, even when no one is watching. We don't try to 'get away" with things, although we probably each draw the line in different places (I was brought up that if you took a paper clip from work, it would be stealing). Anyway, playing by the rules is why the vast majority of those with a TV pay our TV licence, whether or not we'd get caught If we didn't. Either pay up, or stop watching. If you don't pay, you're denying the BBC revenue that you owe them.

Nesbi · 29/05/2024 20:02

BobnLen · 29/05/2024 19:21

I wouldn't want the advertising, already pay nearly as much as the licence to not have ads on Prime, Netflix and ITV, they are all charging now if you don't want ads

Sadly that is a strategy for these companies. Offer something at a great price, point out how different you are from scheduled tv (“come to us, no ads and you also get to binge watch our shows, no more waiting a week for the next episode”)

Then once they have killed off (or severely damaged) the competition they can start withdrawing all the things that people liked. Episodes start dropping weekly, ads start creeping in, even though you are paying them (worst of both worlds!). But they figure now you’re locked in so you will most likely put up with it.

ToRecordOnlyWater · 29/05/2024 20:09

If you like your live TV, go for it and keep your license - however, nothing will happen if you occasionally put iPlayer on and don’t have a license. From my friend’s experience who doesn’t watch live telly except once a year for Eurovision!

TV Licensing has managed to cultivate a weird fear in people, I remember when I moved and told my dad about the letters I receive (the ‘investigation opened! Will you be in on [date]?’ ones) and he was appalled and was sure I would be locked up or get into trouble for not having a license. I watch streaming (not live) and that’s it really, so I don’t need one. I could stop the letters but I don’t like the idea of filing out the online form with all my personal info - can’t think of any other service where you have to give all your info to /not/ use it?!

Now I get one about once a month, the envelopes turn Red and Scary with the date they’re sending an officer round, then it loops back round to gentle correspondence. Has been going on for the 3 years I’ve lived here.

My dad read up on it and ended up apologising. So much of it was weird lies, TV detector vans never existed. If they do visit you it’s because your address isn’t down as having a TV license so that’s how they try to catch people out.

(I’m quite passionate on this subject as I know so many people who literally do not need them and still pay out of a weird fear/feeling of obligation. That, and they sent my nan a bill that my family had to spend time sorting out and arguing against with them, as my nan had been quite dead for about a year at this point, so wasn’t watching much telly at all.)

WickedSerious · 29/05/2024 20:51

LakeTiticaca · 29/05/2024 14:57

The BBC needs to be a subscription channel. More and more people are cancelling their licence because the so called "impartial" presenters are spouting the views which we didn't ask for and don't want to listen to.Also their "selective" broadcasting

This.
We're told that everyone's happy to pay and they all think it's wonderful value for money.
Let them put it to the test.

VolvoFan · 29/05/2024 20:52

PassingStranger · 29/05/2024 19:14

But they don't, that's not the BBC is.
Not your call.

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I know they don't. The BBC is State media. It's funded and backed by the State. I never said it was my call. I didn't make a call, I merely made a suggestion.

It seems as though all this talk of people cancelling their licence fees is making people anxious, as if to say that they're worried about their TV shows being at risk of cancellation.

Although they are at risk of cancellation, not because of a lack of funding, but rather because of low ratings. Dr. Who is a very recent example of this. I believe it is a case of 'Go woke, go broke.'.

The Metro wrote a piece along the lines of "Sorry, straight white men. Dr. Who is not for you.".

https://metro.co.uk/2024/05/11/sorry-straight-white-men-doctor-never-made-20792066/

The Metro deleted their account on X and then a week or two later, the actor who plays Dr. Who comes out and complains about how viewing numbers have plummeted and goes on to accuse viewers of racism.

https://thatparkplace.com/doctor-who-actor-ncuti-gatwa-blames-racism-for-viewers-abandoning-show-its-just-really-sad-for-them/

"This show is not for you, straight white man."
all the straight white men stop watching
"Why is nobody watching my show?! It must be racism."

It's almost like actions and words have consequences.

RitaFromThePitCanteen · 29/05/2024 20:54

Just cancel it. I did and don't regret it. I don't watch live TV or IPlayer though.

SlowerMovingVehicle · 29/05/2024 22:20

Frustrated76 · 29/05/2024 10:33

The lack of understanding here is astonishing. The BBC is one of this country's greatest soft power assets. It's revered all over the world and other countries are desperate to copy it. Attack and denigrate at your peril.

Your licence is only the start of it / One licence and now you're a part of it.

Revered where exactly? The world's sewers?

Have they finished refurbishing the sick statue yet?