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Original poster

Do I NEED a TV licence?

63 replies

NoTVlicencehere · 05/03/2009 21:52

Hello all - I have changed my name for this as a group of us were talking about this today, I dont want to ruin my MN privacy!

We have a tv that we use occasionally (sp?) for watching dvds and videos on, it is in the lounge.

The aerial is in another room entirely!

When we moved to this house last year I moved the tv licence to this address for a month or so, essentially so that we could watch The Olympics! I cancelled it after that.

The licencing authority sent a letter saying they would visit to check, they havent...... yet!

The crucial questions are

1 Do I need a licence for a tv that I only ever watch dvds or videos on?

2 If I watch programmes on the internet, BBCiplayer etc is that illegal without a licence?

3 I am practically glued to my digital radio all day long! Do I need a licence for this?

I hope that makes sense

I really really dont want to get into trouble

OP posts:
BecauseImWorthIt · 05/03/2009 22:24

TBH, I don't think it makes any difference that you don't use the TV for watching TV programmes. It's about the means to watch the service.

I know it may seem unfair, but that's how it works - or at least that's my understanding of it. But I think you're right, you'd be better off checking with the Licence people!

Original poster
NoTVlicencehere · 05/03/2009 22:25

BecauseImWorthIt - you are talking utter rubbish, read my posts properly

We watch nowt but Dvds and videos on the tv, it is capable of nowt else except tv through the aerial which we never do (very tempted to put that into captials but resisted)

We use laptop for iplayer and internet

OP posts:
skramble · 05/03/2009 22:25

Desiderata that is a different kind of licence for music and it is for public premises, TV license does not pay musicians.

Original poster
NoTVlicencehere · 05/03/2009 22:26

Sorry BecauseImWorthIt I didnt mean to get cross do forgive its just that you got things muddled!

OP posts:
NotAnOtter · 05/03/2009 22:27

i woulD NO you don need one but no idea ??

the only possible way you could need one is for number 2

not 1 - you are not using bbc for videos

georgimama · 05/03/2009 22:31

You have a TV in your house. It is capable of receiving a signal. The fact that you chose not to connect it to the aerial is neither here nor there. If licence inspector came round he could say you unplugged it just for his benefit, and how are you going to prove you didn't?

Becauseimworthit is not talking rubbish, she is right.

NotAnOtter · 05/03/2009 22:34

well that is unfair and unjust...

i think were the op ONLY talking about having a tv on which she watches DVDs ( forgetting for a minute the iplayer issue) then it would be WHOLLY unfair to expect her to pay a licence fee

if they argued the toss with me i would get THEM to dome a remove aerial

BecauseImWorthIt · 05/03/2009 22:35

Thank you georgimama.

NoTVlicencehere - I didn't get muddled. I was trying to help you/give you appropriate advice. Don't know why I bothered.

Original poster
NoTVlicencehere · 05/03/2009 22:36

Georgiemama, she got confused and though I was watching tv on the tv which I dont, so yes that was rubbish, I got cross and have apologised straight after

Read the thread please!

OP posts:
georgimama · 05/03/2009 22:36

You have to have a licence if there is a TV in your house. That's the rule.

I think if you had one of those DVD player things that isn't a TV you could get away with it.

Ivykaty44 · 05/03/2009 22:38

Soon though things will change, when the digital switch over arrives - cos if you dont have a digital tv or any equipment to make your analogue tv get digital tv then your old analogue tv will not be able to watch tv on. You will have a blank screen so you will not need a tv licence harrah.

therefore you will be able to just watch dvd's and videos on your old analgue tv and when the man arrives at the door you can tell him you dont have the equipment to watch digital tv on your analogue tv

Original poster
NoTVlicencehere · 05/03/2009 22:39

Ivykate seems to think you can watch iplayer on a PC (NOT A TV as becauseimworthit seemed to think)

argggh am going to bed

I do fully appreciate though that paying the licence is a good thing for the benefit of supporting new programmes and artists

I may well ditch the tiny 14inch tv altogether

OP posts:
BecauseImWorthIt · 05/03/2009 22:39

I didn't get confused. I didn't think you were watching tv on the tv. I was trying to point out that you have the means to watch TV, and that therefore you will have to have a licence. No matter how unfair you think that is. And your aerial might be in another room, but the TV Licence people are within their rights to say that you could easily move the TV into the room with the aerial whenever you want to. You can't prove that you never watch TV on the TV.

georgimama · 05/03/2009 22:40

I have read the thread.

She wasn't muddled. What she said was correct.

You are quite arsey, aren't you?

Original poster
NoTVlicencehere · 05/03/2009 22:40

Ivykate, you are my very knowledgable angel! Thankyou for that

OP posts:
NotAnOtter · 05/03/2009 22:41

years yet till switch though

Original poster
NoTVlicencehere · 05/03/2009 22:41

Georgie, actually not arsey at all

I just didnt like being told I watch tv on the tv, WE DONT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!g

OP posts:
Original poster
NoTVlicencehere · 05/03/2009 22:41

The switch is this year or next here

OP posts:
georgimama · 05/03/2009 22:42

No one said that you were watching TV. Perhaps it is you who needs to read the thread properly.

NotAnOtter · 05/03/2009 22:43

2011 earliest here

Original poster
NoTVlicencehere · 05/03/2009 22:47

I give up I really do

Read her posts at 22.04 and 22.17 where she quite clearly seems to think that I watch iplayer on tv, which as I have said multiple times I DONT

BecauseImWorthIt, I accept your earlier post about having the means to do so, you may well be right on that, honestly I didnt mean to offend!

I will cut the aerial at the wall tommorrow if necessary!

Thanks for the advice everyone

OP posts:
BecauseImWorthIt · 05/03/2009 22:55

[http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/licencefee/ you need a licence to watch on your computer ]]

BecauseImWorthIt · 05/03/2009 22:56

try again

MissAnthrope · 05/03/2009 23:06

Sorry but a lot of the info on this thread is incorrect.

To quote the last link posted (the BBC one);

"You need a TV licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, set-top box, video or DVD recorder, computer or mobile phone to watch or record TV programmes as they are being shown on TV."

The highlighted part is the most important, and is where people appear to be getting muddled.

I have had a TV License, and was paying it monthly via Direct Debit. A couple of months ago after it became apparent that the TV was not being used as a television (to receive live TV - I simply don't have the time and dd prefers DVDs) I phoned the licensing people for clarification.

In my situation (as with the OP) -

I have a TV hooked up to a DVD player but not attached to any other aerial or signalling equipment

I use BBC iPlayer (and other such services), but am very careful to check listings etc to make sure that I am not watching it as it is being broadcast live (a lot of programmes are shown as repeats).

The TV Licensing people owed me some money as I had been paying monthly and therefore had paid a sum in advance. After sending out a form to complete, I advised them of my circumstances as mentioned above.

I was awarded a full refund as it was deemed that I do not need a license.

Ivykaty44 · 05/03/2009 23:06

No tv licence - you could solder the tv airel so that it doesn't work.. that way you cant recieve live tv on the tv and therefore if you cant get a signal and get tv you dont need a licence but you can still watch dvd's and use a playstaion