TV licensing hassles

Jenko-dog

I don't have a TV in my household. I don't watch TV via my PC or by any other means. I'm not trying to get around paying for a TV licence - I genuinely don't NEED one! How do I stop the TV Licencing people harassing me?

cally6008

you have the ability to watch tv on your computer so will need to pay for a license

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/index.jsp

You must be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV. It makes no difference what equipment you use - whether it’s a laptop, PC, mobile phone, digital box, DVD recorder or a TV set - you still need a licence.

calleyw

cally6008 wrote: »

you have the ability to watch tv on your computer so will need to pay for a license

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/index.jsp

You must be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV. It makes no difference what equipment you use - whether it’s a laptop, PC, mobile phone, digital box, DVD recorder or a TV set - you still need a licence.

What are you on about, if you have TV tuner card in you PC/laptop then yes you need a licence. Or watch the ITV live streaming.

But watching the BBC iplayer or Channel 4 etc on demand you don't.

Please show me where the OP says they have TV tuner card in there PC/ laptop. I don't have a TV and have a laptop with no TV tuner card. So you are saying I need a licence

Yours

Calley

Crazy_Jamie

cally6008 wrote: »

you have the ability to watch tv on your computer so will need to pay for a license

What? No s/he doesn't. The OP specifically stated that they do not watch television on their PC and do not own a television. In that case then they don't need a TV Licence.

How do I stop the TV Licencing people harassing me?

What form is this 'harassing' taking, and how often has it happened?

pogofish

cally6008 wrote: »

you have the ability to watch tv on your computer so will need to pay for a license

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/index.jsp

You must be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV. It makes no difference what equipment you use - whether it’s a laptop, PC, mobile phone, digital box, DVD recorder or a TV set - you still need a licence.

Except that nearly every online service that I've seen is timeshifted to some degree, so you don't need a licence.

As for stopping the hassle, I found that writing to my MP was useful. Put them off for quite a while when I didn't have a set at all.

Equally, when they do come to your door, IME the officers often overstate their power & authority - In reality, they can't do anything without a court order & the police on hand at its serving. So do not engage in any discussion, ask them to leave promptly & do not sign anything

esuhl

cally6008 wrote: »

you have the ability to watch tv on your computer so will need to pay for a license

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/index.jsp

If you read the information on the link you supplied you will see that this is incorrect. You need a TV licence if you watch live TV programmes, not if you "have the ability to". You don't need a licence if you have a TV in every room in your house, so long as you don't use them to watch live TV.

Personally, I'd just ignore the TV licencing people. If you aren't watching TV, they can have no evidence against you, and quite frankly it's none of their business. Maybe write one letter to tell them to stop harassing you, and if they persist threaten to report them to the police.

JohalaReewi

calleyw wrote: »

What are you on about, if you have TV tuner card in you PC/laptop then yes you need a licence.

Is the wrong answer.

The correct answer is that you only need a TV licence if you are watching live TV (that is, watching TV programmes as they are being transmitted).

You do not need a TV licence if you don't watch live TV.

You do not need a TV licence to own TV equipment.

calleyw

JohalaReewi wrote: »

Is the wrong answer.

The correct answer is that you only need a TV licence if you are watching live TV (that is, watching TV programmes as they are being transmitted).

Yes you are correct I was typing at a time when I had to be quick and I added a few extra words. What I meant to to say is if they had a TV tuner card and watch ITV live streaming then yes they would need a licence.


Yours

Calley

fatbelly

Jenko-dog wrote: »

I don't have a TV in my household. I don't watch TV via my PC or by any other means. I'm not trying to get around paying for a TV licence - I genuinely don't NEED one! How do I stop the TV Licencing people harassing me?

I didn't have a TV for much of the 1990s.

Like you, I got fed up with the constant threats from TV Licencing. To start with I replied politely to their letters, then more abruptly. When I realised that no-one was taking a blind bit of notice of me and I was just assumed to be guilty regardless, I just binned their letters.

Eventually an inspector turned up and I let him in. I know I didn't have to but I had nothing to hide and I wanted to let him know how it felt.

The result was that I got 2 years of protection from investigation.

So, to answer your question, that's the only way I know of to stop the harassment.

[Deleted User]

Have you tried phoning them?

Lunderwo

If you have actually spoken to them or written to them to specifically say you don't need a licence then they should cease to bother you by phone or letter. They may send round an inspector (once) - you do not have to let them in (no matter what they say) - just confirm to them that you don't need a licence. If you do let them in you should then be left alone for at least a year (or two?). It seems ridiculous to me that you should have to do all the running when you've done nothing wrong but if you don't write or phone they will just keep sending increasingly threatening letters. If they continue after you've told them, then threaten to go to your solicitor/the press/the CAB/your MP/all of these and write a stern letter of complaint including a copy of all correspondance between you and them. I haven't heard a peep from them since they sent an inspector (didn't let him in) about six months ago.