Stop paying your TV Licence fee NOW???

Sally87

just_thrifty wrote: »

Willwill, you could do what a friend of ours has been doing for years: she uses her TV only to watch dvds/videos. She contacted TV licensing to make sure she didn't need a licence as she had no aerial, so couldn't tune in to any stations. They told her she was not legally required to buy a licence but that they would come to her home to verify she was unable to receive a TV signal- they've never done this though.

This is what I've just done; I barely watch it and it seemed like we had CBeebies on constantly, so I emailed to say I didn't want it anymore and they sent me a refund form - as you're always paying 6 months in advance, I got a refund of £67ish today which will come in very handy!

I can still put on videos/dvds for my little boy when I need to get on with the housework or something(far better really, as I can choose what he watches more easily) and I can do the same or watch things on the internet - ironically considering the license fee, I cannot watch some channels any more, but can watch what I like on the BBC with iPlayer :rolleyes:

Haven't missed it at all!

vet8

I worked with a lady several years ago who had no television, she did things like sewing in the evening. She was CONSTANTLY being hassled by the licence fee people - writing, phoning and calling around to her house to check. They could not understand why she had no licence and would not accept that she had no T.V.

On a further point I definitely do NOT want adverts on BBC. I never watch ITV because of the damned, stupid, intelligence-insulting adverts. The best thing about the BBC is that it has none.

EU_Truth

Willwill wrote: »

Hi. I just came across this forum and wonder how legit the advice actually is. Tbh it would be very nice not having to pay for the dire programs and blatant political bias rubbish they churn out now.

many thanks

I've personally not payed the BBC for over 6 years now. Some of the points mentioned on the website you linked to are part of the reason why I refuse to fund the BBC anymore.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion on the BBC and my opinion is that I find their programmes dire, biased, and hard left-wing leaning.

The BBC DO advertise now!... they advertise their OWN programmes... it's so annoying having to spend nearly five minutes watching these trashy 'adverts'. I'd rather watch ITV/C4/C5 adverts - far more entertaining than the rubbish the BBC pump out. Also, when watching ITV/C4/C5 adverts, I have a choice if I want to buy those products, with the BBC's adverts, people have already been forced to buy the product: The BBC TV Licence.

The way the BBC's collection agency TV Licencing/Capita PLC 'investigates' BBC TV Licence 'evasion' is laughable. They send monthly threat letters which contain no legal weight whatsoever and if you don't fall for that then they send a salesman/woman (a.k.a TV 'officer') to your house who earns commission on every household they manage to sell a 'TV licence' to (more often than not, through verbal abuse and empty legal threats). I always tell them "Why do you never use your sophisticated detection equipment? Surely that would furnish you with all the evidence you need to prove whether someone is watching TV or not?". This simple and sensible question always warrants them to become abusive/lie/or walk away for some bizarre reason :rolleyes:

charlie555

If you have a TV and you switch it on and you do not have a TV licence you are breaking the law.

Do you really want to do that and jeopardise your credit rating etc for the sake of £140?

Would you think it sensible if someone didn't pay their car tax because they didn't like the state of some of the roads?

charlie555

Willwill wrote: »

Hi. I just came across this forum and wonder how legit the advice actually is. Tbh it would be very nice not having to pay for the dire programs and blatant political bias rubbish they churn out now.

many thanks

That forum is just some guy with an axe to grind.

Woodyrocks

charlie555 wrote: »

If you have a TV and you switch it on and you do not have a TV licence you are breaking the law.

Do you really want to do that and jeopardise your credit rating etc for the sake of £140?

Would you think it sensible if someone didn't pay their car tax because they didn't like the state of some of the roads?

How can you liken that to a TV Licence :rolleyes:

charlie555

Woodyrocks wrote: »

How can you liken that to a TV Licence :rolleyes:

The law obliges you to have a TV licence and it obliges you to tax your car. They are alike in that if you decide not to buy a TV licence or not to tax your car you are breaking the law.

kissmeimposh

charlie555 wrote: »

The law obliges you to have a TV licence and it obliges you to tax your car. They are alike in that if you decide not to buy a TV licence or not to tax your car you are breaking the law.

In terms of enforcement, these laws are alike. In terms of justification they aren't. While your use of the car entails use of the roads, you should contribute to upkeep of the road system. You have no choice but to use the British road system and thus you need to make a contribution to that. There is no alternative private road system to choose from. On the other hand, if you have a TV you are not a traitor if you dislike the BBC, and prefer to watch other stations, or find it apalling that BBC pays for gambling programs (ie horse racing), auto programs that send presenters into accidents and brain damage (Top Gear), pub soap operas (if you're not a part of that type of culture), BBC News editorial policy on some issues, etc but you have to pay for it anyway because TV people want big salaries and the BBC doesn't want to have to compete for ad revenues. Making it a crime to watch TV without a license is a tyranny. Once it was a crime not to pay tax on bricks in houses. In time that faded as people found ways around it and the Crown recognised that it was bad law.

charlie555

kissmeimposh wrote: »

In terms of enforcement, these laws are alike.

Exactly, that's the point I was making.

Believing the licence fee to be an iniquitous, anacronistic poll tax is not a justification in law for not paying it.

Believing it grossly unfair to pay a flat rate car tax even though you only drive 10 miles a year is not a justification for not paying it.

Which is the more valid justification is a matter of personal opinion.

col1967

Just read this on the TV licence website http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/index.jsp

"Do I need a TV Licence?
You need a TV Licence to use any television receiving equipment such as TV set, digital box, DVD or video recorder, PC, laptop or mobile phone to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV"

As everyone else has stated, is it really worth risking a large fine and a bad credit rating for the sake of £140?