TV Licensing Idiots.....

ASG_2

Let them go to the expense of coming out to check your licence!
My Dad never had a TV, and it was cause of much merriment in our family when he gave us the tale of the annual TVL visit. He would invite them in, all sheepish and could usually string it out for half an hour before they clicked that he still didn't have a TV. My Dad always agreed with an earlier poster, why should he go to any trouble, let alone expense, when he has no business to conduct with TVL?

gingercordial

ASG wrote:

Let them go to the expense of coming out to check your licence!
My Dad never had a TV, and it was cause of much merriment in our family when he gave us the tale of the annual TVL visit. He would invite them in, all sheepish and could usually string it out for half an hour before they clicked that he still didn't have a TV. My Dad always agreed with an earlier poster, why should he go to any trouble, let alone expense, when he has no business to conduct with TVL?

I don't have a TV either and completely agree with your Dad and one of the previous posters, I'm not going to incur expenses to keep telling them that!

In my last property I did tell them, several times, and that never stopped the harrassment - I can only assume that they simply don't believe that I can exist without a TV. Some of the letters said something along the lines of that they knew I'd told them I didn't have one, but as 80% of people lie about it then they'd have to pay me a visit anyway. I refuse to be branded a liar! So I haven't bothered responding to anything in my current property. I get a letter from them about once a fortnight, which are binned.

Anyway, even if they come round when I'm in, they have no legal right to enter my property (or anyone else's) without a warrant. They can't get a warrant without going to court with evidence that I've been watching TV without a licence. They can't get that evidence as I'm not watching TV, therefore there's no way they're coming in to check.

I hate them, their standard letters are misleading over their powers, harrassment and bordering on threatening and abusive. All this over a silly piece of electrical equipment that I don't even have!

greytroot

I have moved into a new house and changed my address on my TVL, but yet they continue to write implying that I don't have a TVL. Last letter said my address had been added to their list for "a visit".

Well they can come, they won't get in my house and they can serve me with any papers they want. I want my day in court where i will counter their claim wit a harassment order. (well it might make me feel better).

gingercordial

greytroot wrote:

I have moved into a new house and changed my address on my TVL, but yet they continue to write implying that I don't have a TVL. Last letter said my address had been added to their list for "a visit".

Don't think they'll come. I've had letters saying that I'm going to have a visit dozens of times. Unless they've always managed to come whilst I've been out, they've never bothered.

Well they can come, they won't get in my house

That's the spirit, don't let them in without a warrant, which they won't have.

and they can serve me with any papers they want.

Unless they have evidence that you're watching TV without a licence, they won't be able to get any papers to serve you with. Seeing as you HAVE a licence, they can't get any such evidence. No magistrate/judge will grant them the right to serve you with anything.

I want my day in court where i will counter their claim wit a harassment order. (well it might make me feel better).

Yes that would be fun, I'd like a go too! But sadly unlikely to happen given the above. Just ignore them, they're idiots.

jockettuk

when my mum died my dad sent the rented tv back as he didnt need one.. he was hardly in the house to watch tv.. they hounded him to the point of even phoning him he just kept saying i havnt got a tv come and have a look.. this went on for about 10 yrs .. my dad moved to a sheltered accomodation just down the road and he was informed that he was entittled to cheap tv but again didnt bother untill he had a stroke and found himself housebound.. he bought a telly and by this time he was over the age limit...

he wrote to the them and thanked them for all there letters over the years and because of the hounding they did the did infact now have a telly as he wanted to see what all the fuss was about and thanked them for the free license lol

he never got another letter since

gingercordial

jockettuk wrote:

when my mum died my dad sent the rented tv back as he didnt need one.. he was hardly in the house to watch tv.. they hounded him to the point of even phoning him he just kept saying i havnt got a tv come and have a look.. this went on for about 10 yrs ..

I really don't think they can comprehend that anyone wouldn't want one! Mind you, quite a few of my friends think I'm barmy too...

nigel75

Personally I think its about time the TV licence was abolished. I'm sure I can live without BBC. The extra £150 or so pounds would go a long way. What does anyone else think?

mrcow

nigel75 wrote:

Personally I think its about time the TV licence was abolished. I'm sure I can live without BBC. The extra £150 or so pounds would go a long way. What does anyone else think?

When I look at how much Sky charges, I actually think that the BBC is good value for money. I ditched Sky last year (for good as far as I'm concerned!), now that was £500 per year wasted!!!

marleyboy

Simple solution to this, do nothing, if on the off chance the TV detector guy turns up, show him your valid licence.

tomstickland

rygon wrote:

yeh ive moved in to a my 1st house and havent got a tv. They are threatening legal action if i dont ring there 0870 number or send a letter to them. Why should i pay out to say that i havent got something...shouldnt it be up to them to say if i have?? i would have minded if they put a SAE with there letter or give me a freephone number. So far i have recieved 12 letters in a year each one worse than the last. Hope they come soon so i can prove i have no tv at all (but i doubt they will believe that either)

I've just moved into my 1st house and I don't have a TV. So I've got some entertainment to look forwards to then?

I can only assume that they simply don't believe that I can exist without a TV.

Exactly. They assume that you're lying if you say you don't have a TV.