How to make TV licensing go away?

Volcano

honeyD wrote: »

Question:
Say you have a TV licence which expires at the end of the month and you tv breaks so you dont have one and until you get another you have no need for a licence. What do you do about it? Can you just wait to get a new one and not enter the code for your last licence? I assume it would backdate if you did?

If you're not watching tv programmes, you don't need a licence. When you get a new tv, get a new licence. There's absolutely no obligation to put in the last licence application, DOB, NI number or whatever else they try and get you to do. There's no point in backdating a licence to cover a period when you didn't have a tv, though it wouldn't surprise me if that's what they'd try to do.

Volcano

Altarf wrote: »

So if you are being prosecuted for not having a licence,

You won't be, we've already established that!

Fire_Fox

I have a TV which Mr. Fire Fox watches regularly, and therefore a TV license. Mr. Fire Fox is moving out early in October and I wish to cancel the license and watch iPlayer and DVDs instead. I don't want the grief of visits from inspectors or threatening letters so is it best just to write to the TV licensing people when I cancel my DD? My first TV license started at the end of October 2006, so am I right in thinking I'd be entitled to a refund? Is there actually any chance of me getting this??

Edited to add: I've now downloaded the refund form which requires me to supply evidence that I no longer require a license!! How can I prove I am not going to watch live TV in future??

Volcano

Fire_Fox wrote: »

My first TV license started at the end of October 2006, so am I right in thinking I'd be entitled to a refund? Is there actually any chance of me getting this??

Edited to add: I've now downloaded the refund form which requires me to supply evidence that I no longer require a license!! How can I prove I am not going to watch live TV in future??

You can only claim for unused quarters, i.e. 3 month periods. All the evidence they'll need is for you to sign saying you won't be using the television to receive tv programmes anymore. You don't need to prove you won't be watching it in the future; it's your prerogative to change your mind and if you do, then you can get a tv licence as and when that time comes.

2234

This company annoys me so much, when I first moved into my old flat, I already had threatening letters from them stating that they were coming to visit in two days! I was, understandably, taken in by their fear mongering, so I brought one straight away, before I had even unpacked! What annoyed me most was, I didn't even receive any bbc channels as the signal was so terrible! So I was paying the bbc (TVL and the BBC are the same company, with TVL operating under a different trading name.) for a product I didn't even get!

However, 6 months later I moved into a shared room in a house, and didn't have a T.V. aerial in my room (I did, however, have a T.V. for DVDs and the like). I wrote to them asking for a 6 month refund, and they refused multiple times, despite me insisting there was literally no way I could receive broadcasts as there was no aerial! Eventually, they did pay up, and since moving out of that house into my own flat I refuse to buy one. Besides, I am at work and uni about 16 hours of the day, so have very little chance to watch it, I realised I was buying a licence out of habit.

I recommend reading this website, which explains all about the links between the TVL and the BBC and how they try and con people who shouldn't be paying for the licence. (I do, however, have no sympathy for licence evaders, and feel if you watch T.V., you need to pay, simple as. Even if you don't actually watch the BBC as it was in my case :P) http://www.bbctvlicence.com/TVL-BBC%20hiding%20of%20identities.htm

juliescot

2234 wrote: »

This company annoys me so much, when I first moved into my old flat, I already had threatening letters from them stating that they were coming to visit in two days! I was, understandably, taken in by their fear mongering, so I brought one straight away, before I had even unpacked! What annoyed me most was, I didn't even receive any bbc channels as the signal was so terrible! So I was paying the bbc (TVL and the BBC are the same company, with TVL operating under a different trading name.) for a product I didn't even get!

However, 6 months later I moved into a shared room in a house, and didn't have a T.V. aerial in my room (I did, however, have a T.V. for DVDs and the like). I wrote to them asking for a 6 month refund, and they refused multiple times, despite me insisting there was literally no way I could receive broadcasts as there was no aerial! Eventually, they did pay up, and since moving out of that house into my own flat I refuse to buy one. Besides, I am at work and uni about 16 hours of the day, so have very little chance to watch it, I realised I was buying a licence out of habit.

I recommend reading this website, which explains all about the links between the TVL and the BBC and how they try and con people who shouldn't be paying for the licence. (I do, however, have no sympathy for licence evaders, and feel if you watch T.V., you need to pay, simple as. Even if you don't actually watch the BBC as it was in my case :P) http://www.bbctvlicence.com/TVL-BBC%20hiding%20of%20identities.htm

I assume you mean that you don't need one which is not the same as refusing to buy one.

moonrakerz

Altarf wrote: »

So if you are being prosecuted for not having a licence, how do you think the magistrate is going to view the case when they hear that you have a TV plugged in to an aerial and tuned to the local TV stations, and you are protesting that you just use it for watching pre-recorded DVDs.

I can't see it helping your case.

These is no "case" !

TVL have to PROVE that I have been watching live TV without a licence - as I have already said just because I own a fast car doesn't prove that I speed in it !

Apart from which, who is going to gather the "evidence" you mention ? TVL has no right of access to my property (In my case they are legally banned from setting foot on it). They have to go to a Court to get a warrant - VERY, VERY difficult. A magistrate is not going to issue a warrant on the strength of - "we think Mr Smith is watching Top Gear without a licence" !

rev_henry

If you go on youtube and look up 'TV licencing' and the like there's some very 'interesting' footage of TVL 'officers' i.e. salesmen using questionable methods to say the least. The one that immediately stands out is the 'officer' who swings a punch at a neighbour who's filming him talking to the woman next door. In a public place of course, and from his own property, so he has every right to film without any consent.

PS. I've just found this on one of the links someone's already posted. Hilarious: http://www.bbctvlicence.com/Please%20do%20not%20write%20below%20the%20line.htm

2234

juliescot wrote: »

I assume you mean that you don't need one which is not the same as refusing to buy one.

No-one 'needs' a licence, everyone chooses to have one. If by 'need' you mean do I watch T.V., then yes I would like to buy one, if I felt it was reasonably priced and the company were fair in how they dealt with potential customers, instead of assuming everyone is watching T.V. and scaring people who don't actually need a licence into buying one. I do miss watching certain programmes, and did used to watch T.V. when I had a licence. And now the DVD collection is getting repeated many times :rolleyes:. However, I refuse to buy one, and as such have to go without T.V. I admit I haven't found going without T.V. too difficult, as I didn't watch it much in the first place. But its worth it not to be paying 150 pound to this company.

PinkLipgloss

Volcano,

Thanks for the link - that website is brilliant!