will i need a TV License tv with damaged tuner

davidlizard

As others have stated, you are not breaking the law - you can have 100 working tellies in the house, and you can use them for watching DVDs or playing computer games without any need for a telly licence. Providing you are not watching broadcast TV, then you are fine.

Personally, I would not bother wasting time or money contacting the BBC/TVL/Capita stasi - they won't believe you and demand to send one their drones round. You do not have to contact them. In the extremely unlikely instance of one turning up on your doorstep, you do not have to let them into your house or tell them anything - they have as much right to enter your house as the paper boy. The only way they can gain entry to your house is by applying for a warrant from the court - the court is unlikely to grant a warrant based on non-cooperation with BBC/TVL or not having a licence - they need to present hard evidence, which they won't have. Even if they do turn up with a warrant, a police officer needs to be present for it to be executed. And then they will find you not watching live broadcast telly and breaking no law.

I have numerous friends without TV licences, and only 2 have ever had a visit. Both were told to go away. The letters are intended to simply scare people into buying a licence, using a combination of intimidation and lack of knowledge.

Also note that the letters often say stuff about interviewing you under caution etc etc. Again, the BBC/TVL stasi have no legal powers to do such - they have the same legal powers as the chap who works in the fish and chip shop.

Mark_Hewitt

I've read numerous discussions on this topic. And the consensus seems to be that the TVL would have you believe that merely having a TV capable of receiving TV signals is sufficient to require a licence. But the law actually says that you need a licence to *watch* television, not merely have the possibility of it.

They *will* keep hassling you tho. They will assume you are lying to them, basically.

sarahg1969

withabix wrote: »

The OP is stressed out with worry. He should phone them up to stop the harrassment.

What harassment? He's not said he's received anything out of the ordinary at all. Just some standard letters by the sounds of things.

All he needs to do is to write, say he doesn't watch live TV and revoke their implied right of access to his front door.

des147

What harassment?
not been able to sit on my step in fear some 1 arrived sees tv an slaps pay 3 days or fine bill on me ...
Not been able do garden in relaxing mode having shut doors behind me and place power cable thro letter box in fear they come walk in house see tv,, not listen to facts like no ariel lead in tv ...

Im gatherin by the thread that if you know ur legal ground they back off

See my friend classic tale single mam got house after seperating een ther 5 weeks when tv folks arrived saw tv told her pay in 3,,didnt even ask her,, if they they did they been told ariel is offline scewd on chimmly tv been used for dvd she watched with kid..but the girl simply thort tv means licence an took the pay in 3 days an then pulls we do u favor pay 3 days an we forget the fine line .

i suppose i should stop worrying if they come refuse em enterence.
mind you do hear of them puttin foot in door !! whats the reply to that ?

Im i right in saying that say i opt let them come in an see my setup having spoke to office people. ,if i get thro... he wants to start lookin in cuboards draws then i can refuse an ask for a court order in my hand to search? or once in they have right to rifle thro ur belongings?

phlogeston

des147 wrote: »

The tv in question has a defective tuner it cannot tune the uhf no matter how far you tune the scale.

So in short i have a tv with a defective tuner and would be willing to show inspectors this.

A vhs video which i could get ridd of if a licence is required

You will need a license if you have equipment capable of receiving a picture. Ensure that the video is de-tuned and you will be in the clear.

Write to the TVLA and confirm that you have no receiving eqipment and do not watch any broadcast programmes.

sarahg1969

"You will need a license if you have equipment capable of receiving a picture. Ensure that the video is de-tuned and you will be in the clear."

No. You only need a licence if you use it.

Optimist

sarahg1969 wrote: »

"You will need a license if you have equipment capable of receiving a picture. Ensure that the video is de-tuned and you will be in the clear."

No. You only need a licence if you use it.

I fear your wrong Part 4 of the Communications act 2003 makes it an offence to install or use a receiver without a licence

phlogeston

sarahg1969 wrote: »

"You will need a license if you have equipment capable of receiving a picture. Ensure that the video is de-tuned and you will be in the clear."

No. You only need a licence if you use it.

Thank you for correcting my error, could you point out when the following was repealed?

Communications Act 2003

363 Licence required for use of TV receiver
(1) A television receiver must not be installed or used unless the installation and use of the receiver is authorised by a licence under this Part.
(2) A person who installs or uses a television receiver in contravention of subsection (1) is guilty of an offence.
(3) A person with a television receiver in his possession or under his control who—
(a) intends to install or use it in contravention of subsection (1), or
(b) knows, or has reasonable grounds for believing, that another person intends to install or use it in contravention of that subsection,
is guilty of an offence.

DCodd

It would appear that if you resonably beleive that the equipment will be used to watch live broadcasts then you need a licence!

If you watch the new mobile tv on your phone you will need one too! See link http://www.out-law.com/page-9932

pimento

If your telly is broken, chuck it out.

Problem solved.