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Original poster

Cancelling TV license

137 replies

Halfheadhighlights · 08/07/2024 00:13

My husband wants us to cancel our tv licence. We barely watch live tv, have had it on for the euros and will probably watch some of the olympics.

I watch Netflix and Amazon but I’m not bothered about having live channels.

just wondering people’s experiences of cancelling, did tv licence people bug you with letters and threatening to visit? I just can’t be bothered with any hassle, especially as it didn’t cost much really.

H is very passionate about not giving money to the BBC though.

OP posts:
x2boys · 08/07/2024 20:07

PassingStranger · 08/07/2024 18:03

They can tell if your watching tv with the detector vans.
So don't say your not then watch.
I personally find it not to expensive for all you get.
Love sports so football and tennis coverage is good also Glastonbury Attenborough programmes and a few others.
Love BBC radio too.
I wouldn't want to be without those enjoyments.
The football and tennis coverage is something they do well.

Oh bless you believing in the detector vans 🤣🤣🤣

WestofaCrave · 08/07/2024 20:48

PassingStranger · 08/07/2024 18:03

They can tell if your watching tv with the detector vans.
So don't say your not then watch.
I personally find it not to expensive for all you get.
Love sports so football and tennis coverage is good also Glastonbury Attenborough programmes and a few others.
Love BBC radio too.
I wouldn't want to be without those enjoyments.
The football and tennis coverage is something they do well.

😂😂😂

Bet they're pleased (and gobsmacked) there are still people that believe the detector van BS. That nonsense died a death years ago. Bless you 😂😂

hopscotcher · 08/07/2024 20:56

If you don't watch live TV you don't need a licence and won't get any hassle, except for having to declare at some stage that you don't need one.

Whenwillitgetwarm · 08/07/2024 21:32

I’m not saying this is OPs motivation, but I think some people like the drama of announcing they are no longer going to have a license, learned from the more angry parts of the net. Just fill in the form and switch it off. It’s not some massive sticking it to the man/establishment act.

I personally think Netflix has pretty average content for a service that costs more than the BBC. We’ve got a couple of streaming services plus BBC but I still find myself scrolling through stuff.

Couldn’t live without BBC radio though.

PassingStranger · 08/07/2024 21:44

EmeraldRoulette · 08/07/2024 18:32

@Halfheadhighlights yes I had a license before I cancelled it. I also deleted my iPlayer login.

A previous poster mentioned the radio.

. I am not a big radio person, but you are allowed to listen to the radio without TV licence, I think.

Yes but
If you like BBC local radio that has to be paid for out the fee. It wouldn't be fair to listen and not pay towards the presenters salarys and the running of the local radio station.

WestwardHo1 · 08/07/2024 21:45

magicmole · 08/07/2024 19:06

It isn't true. It gets repeated often though so I'm not surprised you've read it. https://fullfact.org/news/liz-truss-tv-licence-prison/

It IS true that the majority of those prosecuted for TV licence evasion are women. They don't end up in prison though. In many years nobody (of either sex) goes to prison because of TV licence-related fines. Which is a good thing frankly as it's ridiculous to imprison someone for non-payment of a TV licence when crimes that are far more harmful to society imo (such as men in possession of child abuse images) routinely get suspended sentences.

For what it's worth the majority of women who are in prison are there for a range of violent offences, drug offences and theft (which itself is often related to drugs).

Show quote history

Thank you. That's good to read.

S0livagant · 08/07/2024 21:50

Whenwillitgetwarm · 08/07/2024 21:32

I’m not saying this is OPs motivation, but I think some people like the drama of announcing they are no longer going to have a license, learned from the more angry parts of the net. Just fill in the form and switch it off. It’s not some massive sticking it to the man/establishment act.

I personally think Netflix has pretty average content for a service that costs more than the BBC. We’ve got a couple of streaming services plus BBC but I still find myself scrolling through stuff.

Couldn’t live without BBC radio though.

Standard netflix is £10.99, with the option to add someone else who doesn't live with you for another £4.99. So it might cost you only £4.99. A TV licence is over £14 a month.

kirbykirby · 08/07/2024 21:57

Just stop paying, you will get reams of threatening letters that are generic and sent to every address without a licence. Ignore them, eventually the will send to the "legal occupier". Don't answer the door, if you do, just don't say anything and shut the door. Don't sign anything, don't let them into your house. They have no legal powers and are basically salespeople. You don't need a licence if you don't watch live tv and owning a tv is perfectly legal (you don't need a licence to own a tv!).

kirbykirby · 08/07/2024 22:01

PassingStranger · 08/07/2024 18:03

They can tell if your watching tv with the detector vans.
So don't say your not then watch.
I personally find it not to expensive for all you get.
Love sports so football and tennis coverage is good also Glastonbury Attenborough programmes and a few others.
Love BBC radio too.
I wouldn't want to be without those enjoyments.
The football and tennis coverage is something they do well.

Do you work for the BBC by any chance? The "detector" vans are a load of bollocks.

WhyThatsDelightful · 08/07/2024 22:02

I filled in the declaration around 3 years ago, and haven't heard anything since. It was an irritating web site to complete, not a smooth experience like a Netflix or Amazon, just made me more determined to get it done at the time.

No license is needed for radio including Sounds, just for live TV and iPlayer.

I haven’t missed live TV at all which surprised me as I thought I would at least a little. I’ve saved £500 so far and watched a bigger of variety of programmes after having to go out and look for them.

TinaMariah · 08/07/2024 22:22

EmeraldRoulette · 08/07/2024 00:26

They don't need to be let in to check

TinaMariah · 08/07/2024 22:25

kirbykirby · 08/07/2024 22:01

Do you work for the BBC by any chance? The "detector" vans are a load of bollocks.

Show quote history

I got caught without a tv license years ago. They told me in a letter what time I (actually my idiot brother who was staying 😅) had been watching live tv and what channel. It was spot on.

Northernnature · 08/07/2024 22:34

We canceled 3 years ago haven't heard anything since. Still watch itv player and the 4 one which toys allowed to do just not iplayer. And Disney and netflix which together come to about the same as tv licence but much better. Can't stand the bias and london centric worldview of bbc if I want current affairs I watch gbnews on YouTube.

AbraAbraCadabra · 08/07/2024 22:36

Whenwillitgetwarm · 08/07/2024 21:32

I’m not saying this is OPs motivation, but I think some people like the drama of announcing they are no longer going to have a license, learned from the more angry parts of the net. Just fill in the form and switch it off. It’s not some massive sticking it to the man/establishment act.

I personally think Netflix has pretty average content for a service that costs more than the BBC. We’ve got a couple of streaming services plus BBC but I still find myself scrolling through stuff.

Couldn’t live without BBC radio though.

This. No need for any drama. Just cancel it, do the declaration and move on with your day.

I love the BBC and watch a lot of content including BBC sounds and radio. You get an awful lot for your money..

Changingplace · 08/07/2024 22:51

kirbykirby · 08/07/2024 21:57

Just stop paying, you will get reams of threatening letters that are generic and sent to every address without a licence. Ignore them, eventually the will send to the "legal occupier". Don't answer the door, if you do, just don't say anything and shut the door. Don't sign anything, don't let them into your house. They have no legal powers and are basically salespeople. You don't need a licence if you don't watch live tv and owning a tv is perfectly legal (you don't need a licence to own a tv!).

Or avoid all that unnecessary drama and reams of letters by just telling them when you stop paying that you don’t need one, and that’s the end of it.

I swear some people just want to create some kind of unwarranted ongoing personal conflict about this, which is completely avoidable.

OonaStubbs · 08/07/2024 22:55

Why can't the BBC be an opt in service instead of opt out?

Why are they allow to harass people for not subscribing to their service? You don't get it from any other content provider.

Opinionwontchangeluv · 08/07/2024 22:57

I told them ages ago I don't watch live TV, I barely watch TV netflix ect in general but yes they keep harassing you now I'm just the "legal occupier" so they go in the bin

x2boys · 08/07/2024 22:57

AbraAbraCadabra · 08/07/2024 22:36

This. No need for any drama. Just cancel it, do the declaration and move on with your day.

I love the BBC and watch a lot of content including BBC sounds and radio. You get an awful lot for your money..

Show quote history

Only of you watch it many people don't and think its a load of rubbish.

Newnames123 · 08/07/2024 23:00

My ex husband paid for TV licence and obviously transferred it to new his new house when he moved out. I didn't bother getting new one and got a letter about every two weeks for six months then one day actually got visit from TV inspector! I wasn't in but they left hand written note and I had nosey at security camera.
I did actually have smart TV that for long boring reasons to do with cables buried in wall was still capable of live TV so I now have a shiny new TV licence.

FraeBonnieBentos · 08/07/2024 23:03

I personally think that the licence fee is well worth it for all that you can get from the BBC - although I treat it purely transactionally and, whilst I enjoy a lot of their content, I certainly don't love the BBC at all, nor swallow the propaganda that they are impartial. Of course, others will very much not think it is worth it at all.

That said, it is outrageous that you have to pay the BBC if you only watch live TV from other providers, whom you are already paying by watching/enduring their adverts.

I also agree that it's appalling to demand that people tell them if they don't use their services. Their bullying, lying tactics (were they ever prosecuted for corporate lying with their TV detector van fairytales?) should be illegal, and I'm amazed that they aren't.

It's all very well saying to just tell them if you don't need a licence and they'll strike you off their list and leave you alone; but this very rarely happens. You see it that you're telling them you don't need to pay; but they see it that you have stepped up a gear from just not contacting them to officially lying to them, because they cannot get it into their thick, arrogant, bullying heads that anybody might choose not to buy and use their services.

Much as I like traditional TV transmissions, at least this should finally come to an end once all TV is streamed and you can just subscribe (or not) and enter your account details and password.

Jennaveeve · 08/07/2024 23:05

We don’t have one but I’m going to get one literally just so I can watch the Olympics!

Original poster
Halfheadhighlights · 08/07/2024 23:09

Thank you for your responses and sharing experiences of cancelling it

@Whenwillitgetwarm I’m all very a very drama free life, I won’t be announcing to anyone if I do cancel it

OP posts:
itwontletmechoose · 08/07/2024 23:09

After moving to the uk the bbc app is the only paid for one I watch. Don't have any live tv as never worked it out here 😂

Netflix is appalling now so that's been cancelled after 13 years. Had Disney for free for 12 months, none of us watch it so won't renew. Still have Prime as it's linked to my account but haven't watched anything on there since Bosch about 7 years ago...

Most used are C4 and BBC.

British TV watchers absolutely spoiled with great content.

x2boys · 08/07/2024 23:12

Newnames123 · 08/07/2024 23:00

My ex husband paid for TV licence and obviously transferred it to new his new house when he moved out. I didn't bother getting new one and got a letter about every two weeks for six months then one day actually got visit from TV inspector! I wasn't in but they left hand written note and I had nosey at security camera.
I did actually have smart TV that for long boring reasons to do with cables buried in wall was still capable of live TV so I now have a shiny new TV licence.

Do you watch live TV though ?
If not what on earth would you buy a licence. .