TV Licence - No TV

redlady_1

Right, I have broken away from the main stream and have no TV. I have become increasingly annoyed at the toss my licence fee paid for so shelved it. (My family and friends just think I am odd. )

I knew I would be in for a certain level of harassment from the Licencing company however, they have just announced they are sending someone to interview me!!! I know they don't have any legal standing nor do I have to let them in and I can, in fact, ignore them, but this is something I have never heard of.

Any advice please?

shandypants5

redlady_1 wrote: »

Any advice please?

Throw a sheet over the TV when they knock the door. :D

downshifter

redlady_1 wrote: »

Right, I have broken away from the main stream and have no TV. I have become increasingly annoyed at the toss my licence fee paid for so shelved it. (My family and friends just think I am odd. )

I knew I would be in for a certain level of harassment from the Licencing company however, they have just announced they are sending someone to interview me!!! I know they don't have any legal standing nor do I have to let them in and I can, in fact, ignore them, but this is something I have never heard of.

Any advice please?

Hi, I asked about being telly-free on the old-style thread a few weeks ago and there are quite a few of us who don't have one. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2255443. While what I wanted to know isn't the same as you, you might want to contact some of them or start a new thread over there - or add to mine. I think usually people let the licence people have the info they need as quickly as possible, then they're left alone. It's less unusual than some people might think, increasingly people are just watching very selective stuff on iplayer or whatever, rather than paying a fee to not watch dross.

HTH

DS

Eric_Pisch

owning a TV does not mean you need a license

you need a TV license if you watch live broadcast TV via Ariel, Cable, Satellite, or Internet (iplayer) and to record live broadcast

so if you dont do any of the above and owned a TV and just watched DVD, or a pc with iplayer repeats then you dont need one

redlady_1

I know I don't need a TV licence. What I specifically wanted to know was how you had all dealt with the licencing bods and what is this interview stuff about. It is a new one on me and seems they may have stooped to a new level.

Kurtis_Blue

Well it normally goes like this:

Knock Knock.

Door opens.

Them: Hi, we are TV Licensing and have come for your interview.

You: ______

Door closes.

You can also send them a letter denying them implied right of access up to your front door, effectively banning them from approaching your property.

http://www.bbctvlicence.com/Tips%20for%20avoidng%20TVL-BBC%20harassment.htm


They have as much rights to an "interview" as Tescos.

redlady_1

Fab, that's just what I wanted to know. Much appreciated.

downshifter

Isn't it just easier to give them the info they ask for rather than all this aggro? In the experience of plenty of people I know who don't have tv licences they give up quickly enough and leave you in peace to watch your videos etc. without any harassment.They may not have any right to know but surely it's not worth a major campaign just to prove a point.

Kurtis_Blue

It seems to OP has indeed informed them she has no need for a licence already, what other information can there be?

It seems the major campaign is from TVL, shouldnt be any aggro just throwing the letters and shutting a door, certainly less then letting people into your home to snoop and quiz simply because they think you're a liar.

But to each their own.

ioscorpio

They only want to "interview" you in order to sell you a tv licence whether you need one or not, or to stitch you up and take you to court. Like Kurtis_Blue said they think you are a liar, so why invite them into your house.

davidlizard

downshifter wrote: »

Isn't it just easier to give them the info they ask for rather than all this aggro? In the experience of plenty of people I know who don't have tv licences they give up quickly enough and leave you in peace to watch your videos etc. without any harassment.They may not have any right to know but surely it's not worth a major campaign just to prove a point.

No - its the principle of the whole thing, having the right to peace and quiet in ones own home without being continually harrassed for things you do not want or need. If you do not need a licence, then that should be the end of the matter - you should not have to put up with the flood of intimidating letters and visits.

Despite me telling them we have no requirement for a licence, we had one hammering on the door at 1030pm demanding to be let in to check this. If my wife had been in the house alone, she would have been frightened senseless. This sort of approach typical of TVL is simply not acceptable.

As others have pointed out, the TVL inspectors are employees of a private company (Capita) which have a contract with the BBC to collect revenue. Therefore they are really just salesman. However whilst most salesman are polite, the TVL rely heavily on intimidation (stab vests, police-like uniforms, threatening interviews under caution/PACE) and the publics lack of knowledge of their rights to force their way into peoples homes and badger them into purchasing TV licences they in many cases do not need.

If someone from Tescos turned up on your doorstep and demanded that they were let in to inspect the contents of your larder, you would quite rightly tell them where to get off - it is no difference for Capita/TVL/BBC. Like the Tescos employee, they have no special powers or rights, and certainly cannot interview under caution or enter your property unless invited.

Withdrawing implied right of access is the correct way forward. If more people were aware exactly of their rights, and the lack of rights TVL have then perhaps TVL would change their approach to how they sell TV licences. I have no personal issues with the licence fee - its the method of collection that I have issues with.