TV Licence

will-in-estoril

jimkenyon wrote: »

I watch some BBC programs but don't pay for a licence. I still think that the licence fee is a stealth tax (which I don't pay) as if you watch any live TV then you have to pay it - even if you don't want to watch TV. That is what the argument is about - NOT what good value the BBC is for the licence fee.

What a coincidence: I don't pay the licence fee in Portugal either! I get to watch and listen to the whole of the Beeb on satellite gratis, free and for nothing. Even better value and it's legal! I highly commend it to those who don't want to fork out £140 or so, and the weather's better here!

Difficult to opt out of stealth taxes though: that VAT/IVA is a real pain! As for Totoloto and Euromillions, well I just must have a flutter. I don't live in a caravan, so that my Council tax (fracção autartica) gets handed over every month. Still, mustn't grumble, eh?;)

jimkenyon

will-in-estoril wrote: »

What a coincidence: I don't pay the licence fee in Portugal either! I get to watch and listen to the whole of the Beeb on satellite gratis, free and for nothing. Even better value and it's legal! I highly commend it to those who don't want to fork out £140 or so, and the weather's better here!

Difficult to opt out of stealth taxes though: that VAT/IVA is a real pain! As for Totoloto and Euromillions, well I just must have a flutter. I don't live in a caravan, so that my Council tax (fracção autartica) gets handed over every month. Still, mustn't grumble, eh?;)

Then you have no moral right to preach to us UK residents about paying the British TV licence fee.

will-in-estoril

jimkenyon wrote: »

Then you have no moral right to preach to us UK residents about paying the British TV licence fee.

I did ask the lady at Monte Estoril Post Office how I could pay my licence, but she told me that there was no facility in Portugal to do so. Nor could the Embassy or TV licence website give me any guidance..:rotfl:

I also live in Cheshire, and (cross my heart) I do have a TV licence for my UK address: I only actually said that I didn't have or need one in Portugal.

From my view on the Monte, I am a little puzzled, though, at why somebody who does not possess a licence is in the slightest bothered about the debate around having/needing/getting/paying for one.

jumpycheese1

!!!!!! wrote: »

And you still have to pay the licence fee on top.

I think people who have Sky, VM or any other monthly sub TV package, shouldn't pay for the TV licence, or pay like the black and white licence. Once cancelled, then pay it.

jumpycheese1

alessev1 wrote: »

Hi,
I just received my TV licence for 2010 to renew and is ...£142.50
QUOTE]


My favourite question over this debate which many people fall on.

Do you buy newspapers? If you purchase a daily national rag and a local rag. Say your weekday papers are 50p, Sat paper is 85p and Sunday paper is £1.50. Local rag is 40p a day for 6 days.

If you do the above every week for a year, the newspapers cost you £377. That is 264% more than the TV licence. I find the TV offers much better value than a newspaper any day.

The number of people complain about the cost of the TV licence who buy the paper everyday is unbelieveable.

davidlizard

Buying a newspaper is free choice. If you choose to buy the Sun, you do not have to pay the owners of the Daily Mail (which you neither want nor read) for the privilege.

However, if you choose to watch Sky TV, you do have to pay BBC (again, which one may neither want nor watch) for the privilege.

And furthermore, the owners of the Daily Mail do not send thugs dressed in anti-stab vests round to your house and threaten you with "interviews under caution", court summons and the like to intimidate people into buying their paper simply because they want to read a rivals newspaper. Neither do they bombard you with intimidating letters and phone calls.

Some people may find £377/year good value for a newspaper, especially if they spend 2 hours per day reading it compared to having to pay £142 for a tv licence if they watch just a couple of hours of telly per week. Again, its the individuals free choice what they spend their money on.

jimkenyon

will-in-estoril wrote: »

From my view on the Monte, I am a little puzzled, though, at why somebody who does not possess a licence is in the slightest bothered about the debate around having/needing/getting/paying for one.

Simple - I believe in freedom of choice. The BBC doesn't as it imposes a charge to watch other providers content - even if you don't watch the BBC.

will-in-estoril

jimkenyon wrote: »

Simple - I believe in freedom of choice. The BBC doesn't as it imposes a charge to watch other providers content - even if you don't watch the BBC.

An Act of Parliament, not the BBC, imposes the charge. Nor would the tories scrap it, despite wishful thinking on the part of a few right wing idealogues.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/26/jeremy-hunt-bbc-licence-fee

It is here to stay. The moaning minnies really need to accept that taxation funds things we do not all like and use ...and move on.

davidlizard

will-in-estoril wrote: »

An Act of Parliament, not the BBC, imposes the charge. Nor would the tories scrap it, despite wishful thinking on the part of a few right wing idealogues.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/26/jeremy-hunt-bbc-licence-fee

It is here to stay. The moaning minnies really need to accept that taxation funds things we do not all like and use ...and move on.

But laws can always be changed.

With the switchover to digital, the BBC will no longer control nearly half of the TV channels received by most people, but will provide around 10% of the available channels. This will consequently result in their market share reducing and viewing figures falling as there is more alternatives - albeit mostly drivel.

This will result in more people questioning why the licence fee continues to exist when there are plenty of alternatives and eventually some political party will then jump onto this bandwagon.

Also broadcasters are getting more vocal about the funding of the BBC.

bitemebankers

Buying a newspaper is free choice.

So is buying a television.

Also broadcasters are getting more vocal about the funding of the BBC.

Of course they are: the BBC is staggeringly good value for money and they don't like the competition.. I cannot understand why anyone posting on MSE would criticise the licence fee: It's the cheapest advert-free content you can buy.