No TV licene, bought one, now court, why?

Thunderbird_2

Hello everybody

A friend of mine said to me today that she has received a letter from the court for a hearing in 10 days time over having used a colour TV without a licence.

The story is.. Moved to a house in August last year after getting married. No TV for a month, then got one for a week then blew up. No TV for another 4 weeks, then got one on Sunday, and on Monday when she was coming back home, a man from TV licence people was about to leave the house. He asked her and she didn't deny anything. He has written a statement and left.

Then she bought a licence online within a week or so. Today she recieved a letter for court over the offence. She claims she didn't recieve any other letters from the incedent back in November 2009 till today.

She asked of advice as she need to respond to the letter by pleaded guilty or not within next few days. I told her she might need to speak a lawyer about this and call the TV licence people tomorrow. I told her I will ask for your advice here.

Any advice or idea is gratfully received.

Many thanks

ShaneUK

Thunderbird wrote: »

Hello everybody

A friend of mine said to me today that she has received a letter from the court for a hearing in 10 days time over having used a colour TV without a licence.

The story is.. Moved to a house in August last year after getting married. No TV for a month, then got one for a week then blew up. No TV for another 4 weeks, then got one on Sunday, and on Monday when she was coming back home, a man from TV licence people was about to leave the house. He asked her and she didn't deny anything. He has written a statement and left.

Then she bought a licence online within a week or so. Today she recieved a letter for court over the offence. She claims she didn't recieve any other letters from the incedent back in November 2009 till today.

She asked of advice as she need to respond to the letter by pleaded guilty or not within next few days. I told her she might need to speak a lawyer about this and call the TV licence people tomorrow. I told her I will ask for your advice here.

Any advice or idea is gratfully received.

Many thanks

But between August 2009 and November 2009, she did not have a TV licence at all, but for 1 week had (and presumably used?) a TV? Surely she should have realised "I need to get a licence"?

I am assuming by the fact that it blew up within a week that it was not brand new? The reason I ask is that as far as I know, if you buy it new, the shop HAVE to take your name/address to check against the TV Licencing database that you have a licence?

I think she really needs to get legal advise, and fast. She may actually get free legal advise through her home insurance, it is often included? Or with other financial services (ie I believe it is included through some bank accounts, such as Barclays Additions Plus).

wolvesinwales

Personally I would say your friend is clearly in the wrong, the whole bit about her first TV blowing up after a week is totally irrelevant, when she got that TV she didn't expect it to only last a week so should have got a licence the day she got the TV.

david39

My wife works in the administration side of the local magistrates court and says that they have hundreds of people who, having been caught without a licence, then go out and buy one and expect that to be the end of the matter.
The court will be looking at whether she was using a TV without a licence before she bought the current one and, if they decide that she was, then she will be fined accordingly. Her fine is liekly to be the cost of the TV licence for the period that she was not covered by a licence, plus a penalty, plus the court costs.
If she decides that she has no defence then, by pleading guilty, she will avoid some of the court costs and possibly receive less of a penalty fine.
Our local courts have one day per fortnight set aside for all of the TV-licence cases in the county - they deal with over a hundred in the day.

huston_kw

You friend will of also been read a statement by the TV license guy - saying you have the right to remain silent but anything you do say can and will be used against you, as she openly acknowledge her guilt (and signed the form) then she will be fined regardless of her going out and buying a TV licenses.

moonrakerz

She WAS watching TV without a licence - what is the problem ? Why should I and all the other people who pay up subsidise her ?

macman

If you are caught driving without motor insurance and you buy a policy the next day, it doesn't mean that you will not be prosecuted for the original offence.

gared007

Not to hi-jack the thread but just a quick question. I am taking a TV to my halls as a PC MONITOR ONLY, I presume I do not have topay for a TV lisence seeing as I am not recieving a live transmission?

will-in-estoril

gared007 wrote: »

Not to hi-jack the thread...

This is precisely what you have done. Best to start a new one.

macman

gared007 wrote: »

Not to hi-jack the thread but just a quick question. I am taking a TV to my halls as a PC MONITOR ONLY, I presume I do not have topay for a TV lisence seeing as I am not recieving a live transmission?

You do only if you are using a TV card in it to watch live TV.

Thunderbird_2

Thank you all for your replies.

She has called them today. They said they are going to drop the case and going to send her a letter to support this. She has bought her liecence online and they have not updated their records to reflect this for some reason (at least that what she told me)

Nobodies soubsidise anyone. She is in the wrong.

Many thanks