How to make TV licensing go away?

Proc

You can't, and won't, serve a jail sentence for not having a TV licence. This is even more true if you don't watch TV.

It's not up to the user to prove that they don't use the TV; the onus is on the TV Licencing authority to prove that you do in fact use their service.

Altarf

NovaBlack wrote: »

They are all about Huffing and Puffing but they dont have any actual teeth.

I think they only took about 10 people to court last year

Actually over 100,000 people

NovaBlack wrote: »

and the average fine was only about 10% more than the cost of the TV license itself (nowhere NEAR the £1000 fine they band about!)

Some of these people were unlucky then - http://www.thisiss!!!!horpe.co.uk/news/Undefined-Headline/article-1179487-detail/article.html (you will need to insert the exceptionally rude word that this site deletes out of this east coast town' name, S!!!!horpe).

Proc wrote: »

You can't, and won't, serve a jail sentence for not having a TV licence.

You serve a jail sentence for not having a TV licence, being prosecuted and fined, and then not paying the fine.

As for TV licence detector vans, warrants, etc, they don't need to (and so don't). They use the simple techniques of bombarding people with "you haven't got a licence" to any address without a licence, which sorts out a big percentage.

The remainder they go round and knock on the door, most of the people without a TV licence who should have one are poorer than average, so live in smaller houses. So it is normally obvious when the door is opened if a TV is on. They complete a form to say a TV was being used and get the person that opened the door to sign it. Next stop magistrates court, with the form entered into evidence, guilty.

And as you will see from the link that I posted, the vast majority of those prosecuted are women, because they are home during the day or in the evening with the kids when TV licensing come knocking, and it is the person that opens the door and signs the form that gets nicked.

jamespir

juliescot wrote: »

Why were you locked up?

cause id dind have a license beacuse at the time i only had tv to watch dvds/play ps2 on enforcers came round and said you need one anyway next thing i was summoned to court who ;locked me up

moonrakerz

Altarf is quite correct, most of the convictions are based on "confessions".

People often think that TVL have far more powers than they actually do.
If they turn up on your door step and say they can hear a television - so what ? You can quite legally be watching a video, just tell them to push off.

TVL have stated in Parliament (through a Gov't Minister) that they WILL NOT take non-cooperation by a householder as an admission of guilt. That is why the signed confession is their "secret weapon" !

PinkLipgloss raises another interesting point: TVL give the distinct impression that you MUST tell them if you don't have a licence (NOT just a TV - for which you DO NOT require a licence !).
You have the choice of writing or an 0870 phone number.
WHY, should I spend good money to prove to someone who has no authority whatsoever that I am am not breaking the Law ? the arrogance of these people astounds me - and they get away with it !

Altarf

moonrakerz, the vast majority of prosecutions are self-incrimination. If they just slammed the door and told them to foxtrot oscar, then they would not end up in court.

But the sort of person who doesn't buy a TV licence doesn't know that and will sign the form to get rid of them, so they can go back to giving the kids their tea.

derrick

moonrakerz wrote: »

!You have the choice of writing or an 0870 phone number.

Or using freephone, (from a landline), 0800 0324690

Altarf

Waste of time phoning. They will still send you the letters anyway.

PasturesNew

If you think you're hard done by, I know a single person who lived entirely and utterly alone and had a TV licence, but they worked 70 miles from home so rented a room in the week and had to buy a 2nd license. It was only EVER them, they were only ever at one address or the other, yet they had to buy two licenses.

juliescot

jamespir wrote: »

cause id dind have a license beacuse at the time i only had tv to watch dvds/play ps2 on enforcers came round and said you need one anyway next thing i was summoned to court who ;locked me up

If what you say is correct you were falsely imprisoned so go and get a solicitor.
I assume the "enforcers" came round after due process and court papers had been served as no-one from TV licensing has a right to enter your property.

moonrakerz

derrick wrote: »

Or using freephone, (from a landline), 0800 0324690

Perhaps my complaining to my MP got that introduced - it used to be just an 0870 number !!