TV Licence - No TV

boyse7en

jacktyler wrote: »

if i only listened to BBC radio, then i'd still feel entitled to criticize the TV licence fee and i wouldn't pay it.

at the moment, there is no option to buy a BBC radio licence only - that would be fairer.

but, as it stands, you're forced to pay for something you don't use. why should anyone pay for services they don't use?

i agree with you, in principal, that people who are using bbc radio should make a contribution, but they currently don't have that option. it's either all or nothing.

a radio licence would cost a tiny fraction of what the total licence fee is.

What your licence fee pays for
(In the financial year 2008/2009)

I can see your point, but you (and by that I mean everyone) pays for things they don't use.
My income and VAT taxes pay for fire services I have never used, roads I will never drive along and anti-smoking advertising that I don't need to see. My water rates pay for sewage treatments I don't use.

There are certainly elements of the BBC that I think are a waste of money, and that I don't want to pay for, but they may very well be the parts that you think are its best bits so I am happy to pay for them as part of my contribution.

But if people don't want to pay the license fee on a point of principle, that's OK, but they shouldn't make use of the BBC facilities – which includes all the BBC radio stations (local, national and digital), the various websites, and of course the TV channels.

savemoney

I wonder how much of the chunk of that graph goes on wages, and free jollies which BBC are renowned for

redlady_1

So you think turning up on a doorstep at 10.30 at night is acceptable behaviour then?

karatedragon

I have not had a Capita TVL person call but they can come in if they want. I will even make them a cuppa and show them my Mother In Law's tongue plant that stands on a table where the TV would be!

karatedragon

jacktyler wrote: »

if i only listened to BBC radio, then i'd still feel entitled to criticize the TV licence fee and i wouldn't pay it.

at the moment, there is no option to buy a BBC radio licence only - that would be fairer.

but, as it stands, you're forced to pay for something you don't use. why should anyone pay for services they don't use?

i agree with you, in principal, that people who are using bbc radio should make a contribution, but they currently don't have that option. it's either all or nothing.

a radio licence would cost a tiny fraction of what the total licence fee is.

What your licence fee pays for
(In the financial year 2008/2009)

I would pay £2.01 per month or £24.12 per year for BBC Radio. Plus the £0.61 for iPlayer per month.

boliston

I get quite a few threatening letters from TVL and "we called" cards through the door, but I don't think they have ever called while I have been in yet.

As I live in a block of flats they would not be able to easily get into the block unless someone buzzed them in anyway, and I certainly never answer the buzzer as 9 times out of 10 it's people pressing the buzzers for fun.

If someone wants to come in the only way I will let them in is if they call my mobile and ask.

I would never let TVL in as even though I have "nothing to hide" they are trained to stitch people up with a court summons and they would probably say that because I have an "internet ready" PC that is "capable of receiving TV broadcasts over the net" then I am presumed guilty. I would not trust a TVL inspector under any circumstances.

supermonkey

I was without license for a few years a while back. Told them by email, they sent me confirmation and I never had an interview. Just a yearly letter asking for confirmation that the situation hadn't changed

Dr.Shoe_2

Eric_Pisch wrote: »

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

Actually this is not true.

You are not paying to watch live broadcasts you are paying a licence to own the equipment for doing so. Therefore if your TV is designed to pick up live broadcasts you need a licence whether you actually watch it or not.

Moreover, if you have any sort of internet connection in your home you will also need to buy a licence as you own eqiopment that is capable of viewing live streaming.

Dr.Shoe_2

boyse7en wrote: »

I can see your point, but you (and by that I mean everyone) pays for things they don't use.
My income and VAT taxes pay for fire services I have never used, roads I will never drive along and anti-smoking advertising that I don't need to see. My water rates pay for sewage treatments I don't use.

Er no it doesn't. You're thinking of council tax.

So you never have a !!!!!! then?

b33r

Dr.Shoe wrote: »

Actually this is not true.

You are not paying to watch live broadcasts you are paying a licence to own the equipment for doing so. Therefore if your TV is designed to pick up live broadcasts you need a licence whether you actually watch it or not.

Moreover, if you have any sort of internet connection in your home you will also need to buy a licence as you own eqiopment that is capable of viewing live streaming.

Totally incorrect.

Read the TV License website:

"You need to be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record TV as it's being broadcast"

Nothing to do with owning equipment capable of doing so. Please get your facts straight before spouting complete rubbish.