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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Tv licence ?

251 replies

AlwaysHopefull89 · 14/11/2025 11:34

Does anyone still pay their tv licence? If NOT, why not?

we don’t watch bbc at all, stream any live tv or even watch live tv to be honest.

our bill was £180 and I can’t justify paying that anymore if we aren’t using the services? I’m worried if I don’t pay next year when it’s due I’ll get a knock at our door 😂😂

AIBU to cancel ours?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
x2boys · 16/11/2025 12:57

AutumnLeavesFallingFast · 16/11/2025 12:01

Why not?

Do you also happily brag about shop theft (lifting)??

Nobody is shoplifting 🙄🙄

AutumnLeavesFallingFast · 16/11/2025 12:58

Specialfatfurrycat · 16/11/2025 12:51

@AutumnLeavesFallingFast might be time for you to take a break here. You’re posting a bit obsessively and repeatedly. Deep breath, it’s a Sunday!

Mind your own business.

AutumnLeavesFallingFast · 16/11/2025 13:00

x2boys · 16/11/2025 12:57

Nobody is shoplifting 🙄🙄

🙄🙄🙄

x2boys · 16/11/2025 13:00

gudetamathelazyegg · 16/11/2025 11:37

I find it amusing all the people being like "don't lie you definitely watched the traitors" like nah I honestly haven't watched a single minute.

Right now I'm watching YouTube on my TV - Tasting History with Max Miller, he's wonderful. I'll probably watch YouTube content all day, or play a game on PS5. No licence required.

Well exactly, I dont even know what traitors is about let alone watch it
I just don't get why people who are fanatical about the BBC think everybody should be too🤔

Specialfatfurrycat · 16/11/2025 13:03

AutumnLeavesFallingFast · 16/11/2025 12:58

Mind your own business.

Ok, just the last two pages you’ve written over 70% of the posts. It’s just a friendly reminder that the birds are still singing and the grass growing, and arguing online really isn’t that important

x2boys · 16/11/2025 13:06

AutumnLeavesFallingFast · 16/11/2025 12:56

It's not in the least bit embarrassing for me, but thank you for thinking of me 😂😂

people shop lifting puts up the price of goods for everyone

people not paying their licence fee puts up the cost for honest people who do pay it.

(Again, no issue with people who don't use any of the service not paying, but they're as rare as golden hens teeth)

Going by the amount of threads on here about peoole who can't stand the BBC ,they might not be as rare as you think.

EasternStandard · 16/11/2025 13:14

AutumnLeavesFallingFast · 16/11/2025 12:56

It's not in the least bit embarrassing for me, but thank you for thinking of me 😂😂

people shop lifting puts up the price of goods for everyone

people not paying their licence fee puts up the cost for honest people who do pay it.

(Again, no issue with people who don't use any of the service not paying, but they're as rare as golden hens teeth)

Why would it be that rare? It’s not actually hard to avoid, there is other stuff to watch.

Aggiemidnight · 16/11/2025 13:14

I don’t use any bbc or live tv, I don’t think it’s that rare , a lot of people I know are streaming only via Netflix or prime. I know about traitors as it’s often popping up as a discussion in the online games it’s based off and I’ve read the wiki. But I haven’t watched it and won’t unless it ends up on Netflix or whatever in the future and even then I’m fairly indifferent to watching that type of show.

Lorrymum · 16/11/2025 13:29

A few years ago I had a very officious woman knock only door. She announced that records showed I didn't have a TV licence. I took huge pleasure in presenting her with said licence and demanding a full apology. Watching her huff and bluster was a joy to behold.

Doingtheboxerbeat · 16/11/2025 13:48

Lorrymum · 16/11/2025 13:29

A few years ago I had a very officious woman knock only door. She announced that records showed I didn't have a TV licence. I took huge pleasure in presenting her with said licence and demanding a full apology. Watching her huff and bluster was a joy to behold.

Did you have an actual licence like a paper certificate ,a card or something, or is it just in an email - it's been so long since I had one, I can't remember .

Megifer · 16/11/2025 13:50

AutumnLeavesFallingFast · 16/11/2025 12:04

So do you & your friend (later post) enjoy going in shoplifting sprees together as well?

No.

Doingtheboxerbeat · 16/11/2025 13:52

Megifer · 16/11/2025 13:50

No.

No. I prefer to shoplift alone 😉.

Megifer · 16/11/2025 13:55

Doingtheboxerbeat · 16/11/2025 13:52

No. I prefer to shoplift alone 😉.

No we dont do sprees its better to space it out, spread the risk.

LabourOfLoathing · 16/11/2025 13:56

I’ve cancelled mine. I’ve been wanting to cancel it for a long time and the video splicing incident is the straw that broke the camels back for me. I’m sick of paying my money to a left-wing media organisation. When are they ever accidentally biased in favour of Trump? Never. When are they ever “accidentally” biased against Trump? Constantly. And I’m not a fan of Trump, but you can apply this to lots of other examples, some of which have been mentioned by other posters on this thread.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 16/11/2025 14:27

people not paying their licence fee puts up the cost for honest people who do pay it

I'd like to see your working for this incredibly dubious claim.

The BBC is notionally a non-profit organisation. It costs the same for them to produce and air a programme irrespective of how many people ultimately watch it, and since their UK viewing figure has no bearing on the return, it's entirely irrelevant how many UK people actually watch the programme. You are essentially using the exact same "lost sale" fallacy that software companies have always applied to acts of software piracy.

If people viewing the BBC without a licence pushes the BBC's costs up, then the same must also be true of people who do not watch the BBC and therefore do not require a licence, because the BBC still produces and airs programming regardless, after all, those are also "lost sales".

Except the "lost sale" thing is complete nonsense, because the bulk of those who view without a licence would simply stop viewing before they ever paid, the exact same way that people who pirate software would just go without if piracy was not an option. You can see this with software which can not be pirated. What happens, is contrary to this "piracy increases prices" lie, when companies have a monopoly due to the inability to pirate their product, prices rocket through the roof. See Microsoft and their OS prices.

"Stealing" from the BBC is in no way similar to physically shoplifting, and that is a completely asinine comparison. Goods in a shop have to be produced and purchased, the cost of which is recouped via sale. If the goods are stolen, the cost was still paid up front by the vendor, therefore they have to recoup cost some other way if they are unwilling just write the loss off. Yes, the BBC obviously incurs a cost when it produces content, however, this is produced entirely in the knowledge that "sales" are entirely speculative and impossible to guarantee. It's not like producing 100 bricks in the knowledge that you can sell 100 bricks at a set price, it's entirely in the lap of the gods how many people choose to watch TV output, and if that total is none whatsoever, you've still spent the exact same amount producing that content in the first place.

If your claim was in any way cogent, we could very well end up one day with Mrs Smith, 10 Smith Street, funding the entire BBC on her own because nobody else watches the BBC but she doesn't want to miss Eastenders, so the BBC has ramped her licence fee up to the total of the BBC's entire annual budget.

Specialfatfurrycat · 16/11/2025 15:06

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 16/11/2025 14:27

people not paying their licence fee puts up the cost for honest people who do pay it

I'd like to see your working for this incredibly dubious claim.

The BBC is notionally a non-profit organisation. It costs the same for them to produce and air a programme irrespective of how many people ultimately watch it, and since their UK viewing figure has no bearing on the return, it's entirely irrelevant how many UK people actually watch the programme. You are essentially using the exact same "lost sale" fallacy that software companies have always applied to acts of software piracy.

If people viewing the BBC without a licence pushes the BBC's costs up, then the same must also be true of people who do not watch the BBC and therefore do not require a licence, because the BBC still produces and airs programming regardless, after all, those are also "lost sales".

Except the "lost sale" thing is complete nonsense, because the bulk of those who view without a licence would simply stop viewing before they ever paid, the exact same way that people who pirate software would just go without if piracy was not an option. You can see this with software which can not be pirated. What happens, is contrary to this "piracy increases prices" lie, when companies have a monopoly due to the inability to pirate their product, prices rocket through the roof. See Microsoft and their OS prices.

"Stealing" from the BBC is in no way similar to physically shoplifting, and that is a completely asinine comparison. Goods in a shop have to be produced and purchased, the cost of which is recouped via sale. If the goods are stolen, the cost was still paid up front by the vendor, therefore they have to recoup cost some other way if they are unwilling just write the loss off. Yes, the BBC obviously incurs a cost when it produces content, however, this is produced entirely in the knowledge that "sales" are entirely speculative and impossible to guarantee. It's not like producing 100 bricks in the knowledge that you can sell 100 bricks at a set price, it's entirely in the lap of the gods how many people choose to watch TV output, and if that total is none whatsoever, you've still spent the exact same amount producing that content in the first place.

If your claim was in any way cogent, we could very well end up one day with Mrs Smith, 10 Smith Street, funding the entire BBC on her own because nobody else watches the BBC but she doesn't want to miss Eastenders, so the BBC has ramped her licence fee up to the total of the BBC's entire annual budget.

Well said

Kimura · 16/11/2025 15:17

JudgeBread · 16/11/2025 11:29

Nah I'm not giving them my details so they can just start putting my name on the letters. Everyone I know who has taken time out of their day to fill in the "I don't need a TV license" form has started getting threatening letters again within 6 months, only now they've got their full name on them. So they can fuck off with that too.

I'm aware of the law I just think how they go about enforcing it is low, scummy and ridiculous.

Bend over harder though, I don't think they can quite reach your fucking large colon from that angle.

Edited

Nah I'm not giving them my details so they can just start putting my name on the letters.

Your name being on a letter is irrelevant. You don't use their services, so they're not going to sell you anything or take you to court. Of course the only way they would know that you don't use their services is if you tell them when they ask to, which you refuse to do.

Everyone I know who has taken time out of their day to fill in the "I don't need a TV license" form has started getting threatening letters again within 6 months, only now they've got their full name on them. So they can fuck off with that too.

That's certainly not my experience. The one time I completed the No License Needed form (which took seconds), the declaration lasted two years. I think they sent me a reminder when it was due to be done again but that was it, and certainly not threatening.

I'm aware that declarations can last different lengths, but I've never heard of them lasting six months so I find it odd that 'everyone' you know has had that experience. Unless they've all had changes in their circumstances that have triggered a letter after six months, which again would be very odd.

I'm aware of the law I just think how they go about enforcing it is low, scummy and ridiculous.

How? Genuinely curious.

They provide a very simple way of telling them you don't need a license, if people chose not to engage with that, how else do you suggest they investigate whether those people are breaking the law, and enforce it?

Bend over harder though, I don't think they can quite reach your fucking large colon from that angle.

It baffles me that you have strong enough feelings around being hassled about a TV licence that you're swearing at strangers on the internet, yet won't take the very simple action required to end it.

You don't like their 'scummy', 'threatening' letters, but you know that by ignoring them you'll receive more, and do it anyway. Bizarre.

BeetrootBean · 16/11/2025 15:38

AutumnLeavesFallingFast · 16/11/2025 12:25

She has morals, she doesn't need to stoop to your level of theft.

jokinv about it doesn't make your kind of theft any less reprehensible.

Chill out! You even searched back in the thread for previous comment of mine. Calling another poster a sub person for not paying a to licence is hilarious to though, I had to double take😭👌

AutumnLeavesFallingFast · 16/11/2025 22:48

Specialfatfurrycat · 16/11/2025 13:03

Ok, just the last two pages you’ve written over 70% of the posts. It’s just a friendly reminder that the birds are still singing and the grass growing, and arguing online really isn’t that important

But it's still none of your business which threads I post on or how many times.

I don't need or want your patronising bull.

you might also be aware phones are portable
🤣🤣🤣

AutumnLeavesFallingFast · 16/11/2025 23:04

BeetrootBean · 16/11/2025 15:38

Chill out! You even searched back in the thread for previous comment of mine. Calling another poster a sub person for not paying a to licence is hilarious to though, I had to double take😭👌

No I didn't search back in the thread, 🙄🙄I was just skipping about the thread because of the fucking stupid quote system & trying to find where I was when I quoted a post then reading other posts, but feel free to massage your ego imagining I was searching for your posts 🤣🤣

and I didn't call anyone sub human or sub person. 🙄🙄

I can't be bothered trawling through the thread to see if my phone changed something, but feel free to quote it & I'll take a look.

Specialfatfurrycat · 17/11/2025 00:19

AutumnLeavesFallingFast · 16/11/2025 22:48

But it's still none of your business which threads I post on or how many times.

I don't need or want your patronising bull.

you might also be aware phones are portable
🤣🤣🤣

Your phone is portable? What does that mean? That you’re out doing other stuff and still managing to furiously argue online about the bloody BBC licence fee. I think that’s probably worse op, not a ‘gotcha.’ Hope you’re okay.

AutumnLeavesFallingFast · 17/11/2025 02:01

Specialfatfurrycat · 17/11/2025 00:19

Your phone is portable? What does that mean? That you’re out doing other stuff and still managing to furiously argue online about the bloody BBC licence fee. I think that’s probably worse op, not a ‘gotcha.’ Hope you’re okay.

Oh please just leave me alone, you're full of rubbish.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 20/11/2025 16:54

AutumnLeavesFallingFast · 16/11/2025 12:56

It's not in the least bit embarrassing for me, but thank you for thinking of me 😂😂

people shop lifting puts up the price of goods for everyone

people not paying their licence fee puts up the cost for honest people who do pay it.

(Again, no issue with people who don't use any of the service not paying, but they're as rare as golden hens teeth)

I don't understand why you think that people who don't use the service (of live TV / BBC) are as rare as golden hens teeth. My experience is that the only people I know that do either have kids or are in their 80s!

OonaStubbs · 20/11/2025 16:55

Comparing not paying the TV licence to shoplifting would only make sense if there was a "shopping licence" that you had to pay to Tesco even if you only shopped in Asda or Morrisons.

ProfessorDrPrunesqualer · 21/11/2025 11:32

Tryingtokeepgoing · 20/11/2025 16:54

I don't understand why you think that people who don't use the service (of live TV / BBC) are as rare as golden hens teeth. My experience is that the only people I know that do either have kids or are in their 80s!

Im in my 50s No children still at home we watch live TV as does everyone I know all in a similar age bracket ie 40 plus.