Tv licence ?

[AlwaysHopefull89]

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?

You don't NEED to do that.
Just ignore them.

If you go on their website to do that, they'll have your name, address, email address and IP address.

Why hand all that over to a private company for something you don't want?

Their model is flawed.

Exactly. There's no law that says you have to make it as easy as possible for the BBC to fine you by giving them info about you that they'd like to know.

Just as there's no law that you have to notify any company to let them know you don't use their products.

Just have no comms with the BBC and you'll be fine. They can only fine you if you give them the info they want

Yes. And I have no confidence in Capita, the company that collects the licensing information.

They've already had data breaches

I’m not sure why it’s terrifying that people don’t watch live news? I think unless you're over 60 the days of sitting down to watch the news have long gone haven’t they? My primary sources of news are The Times, FT, Le Monde and Economist subscriptions, along with Private Eye and The Spectator. If I’m in the UK I will also listen to Radio 4 and Times Radio.

Ik I find it odd people feel they have to watch it to feel informed. However they define that.

Good for you its very arrogant however of you to sneer about other people's viewing habits

Most people don't read a paper though.

I don’t read the physical paper, just consume it all online. Like many people. Live TV is way down the list of how news is consumed globally and in the UK. Online platforms are the number one source, with apps, websites and social media covering almost all consumers of news. TV is almost irrelevant. It’s not until you get to the over 75s that TV becomes the main source of news, with 9 out of 10 of the over 75s getting their news from live or on-demand TV.

Haven't had a TV licence since I left home at 18! Only time I see live TV is other people's houses.It just feels very old fashioned. We mainly watch YouTube, Apple, Crunchyroll, Prime these days (had Netflix but cancelled because it's just not that good) and stuff we own on DVD.

I am plenty informed on news via online papers, free copies of NYT at work, and occasionally buying Private Eye. Also too much news, especially rolling news is awful for my anxiety disorder. I trust online journalists like Ordinary Things (who makes great documentaries) more than I ever did the BBC. Don't listen to the radio or use the BBC website and you don't even need the licence for those anyway. And yes I do the "declaration" but I'm debating whether to bother when I've literally never needed a licence and they are a bunch of bullies about it.

Trouble is, what you see online tends to be generated by an algorithm. You can quickly end up in an echo chamber.

For social media, yes, but that’s not how news apps, sites or platforms work, all of which come above social media in the list of how news is consumed. With the possible exception of The Daily Mail, but then I’m not sure that’s classified as news or social media ;)

In all the years I've had a licence I've never heard of anyone having that either. I cancelled mine because I wasnt watching but I was unaware that DH was putting the BBC news on early morning when he was off over the holidays! X

They’re well known for sending threatening and unnecessary emails about iplayer. Here are some examples including a 72yr old being unnecessarily targeted

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/mar/11/tv-licensing-sent-a-legal-warning-after-i-logged-on-to-iplayer-at-a-friends-house

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/s/AMzCx74IEW

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5151665-tv-licenseiplayer-letter

I don't watch live TV and don't have a telly, but I happily pay my licence fée as I would be lost without Radios 3 4 and the World Service.

Yep. And all the people who were glued to The Traitors, but they don't watch live TV so that's fine. I guess it's fine skipping out on paying if you know that others are picking up the tab for you.

I watch stuff on the BBC, so I do pay.
But it pisses me off when people say they still watch stuff on the BBC/live TV and refuse to pay out of principal.
It feels like the times I am sat in Greggs after paying for a tea and sausage roll, and watch shop lifters come in and treat the place like their own personal pantry.

So those of us who are honest & pay it, sub people like you who lie & use it, but don't pay.

its nothing to brag about.

Ive never had a license and I don’t watch tv. Kids watch YouTube only. I remember when you needed to give your address to buy a tv so they could check if you have a license is that still the case?

Why can't it be behind a paywall so that those that want to watch, pay, and those that don't pay can't watch? It would be far simpler and it would save all the ridiculous stuff regarding "enforcement" of the TV licence?

I only pay it because knowing my luck I would be the one person they jailed to make an example of 😂

Exactly, it's no good trying to shame strangers on the internet over an archiac system that routinely goes after the old, the vulnerable, the honest the mugs . 😉

Just kidding, of course but the whole thing needs changing, it's hardly rocket surgery.

It's no different to shop lifting. Should shops have everything in locked cabinets?!

thise if us who do pay, have to pay mire because if gives like you, do you feel good about that??

Because then they couldn’t trick people into believing they need a tv license to watch any tv? My mum use to swear that you needed one to watch anything on tv, she only believed it when my brother told her you didn’t, she wouldn’t listen to me who had been telling her for years. 🙄

Yes, I pay it. It's less than 50p per day it's well worth that for the sport alone. I enjoy the politics shows & do much more it offers.

people cheating the system are disgraceful
putting up the cost for those of us who do pay. It's no different than shop lifting.

I had one until I got to 75 - the age when I was told I no longer had to pay. Then some dishonest person decided that I had to begin paying again. Nope. Ive paid my share. I had one letter and I tossed it in the bin without opening it. Like many mumsnetters I dont open the door without appointments,