TV licence query

CyCo_2

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

Then what I have said is not completely wrong.

You said:

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

If you have equipment which enables you to watch ANY currently broadcast programming you must have a licence.

Which is completely wrong.

cajef

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

If you have equipment which enables you to watch ANY currently broadcast programming you must have a licence.

You do not need a licence for owning equipment that enables you to watch TV, you only need one if you watch or record live broadcasts

JJ_Egan

If you drop out of the system you usually get letters then some threatening TV detector van will have your address when in your area and check you out . It can be almost worth paying the fee to avoid the agro . But nothing is better than inviting them in and saying no i do not watch live TV as you can see no aerial etc etc . No live recordings on my VCR/hard drive in fact i do not watch modern television at all .

Having the equipment that can view live TV is not of itself a reason to hold a valid licence . Viewing recording of Live TV transmissions is the only current criteria .

However the viewpoint that owning a TV meant you watched a TV was certainly valid pre the digital age as most offenders say i never watch TV .

One point on the current rules is that you cannot hook up a recorder without a TV and record live off the aerial without a licence .

jje

davidlizard

JJ_Egan wrote: »

... But nothing is better than inviting them in and saying no i do not watch live TV as you can see no aerial etc etc ...

jje

Whilst it's good fun to wind the goons from the BBC/Crapita up and waste as much of their time and money as possible, I strongly advise against inviting them in, or engaging in any conversation whatsoever with them, as they are known to lie and fabricate "evidence".

The best course of action is to tell them to leave your property immediately and close the door. If they persist, then tell them you will be calling the police.

diable

davidlizard wrote: »

Whilst it's good fun to wind the goons from the BBC/Crapita up and waste as much of their time and money as possible, I strongly advise against inviting them in, or engaging in any conversation whatsoever with them, as they are known to lie and fabricate "evidence".

The best course of action is to tell them to leave your property immediately and close the door. If they persist, then tell them you will be calling the police.

Just tell them that you have building work going on floors are lifted ceilings are down and you can't let them in until they send someone around to do a risk assessment as if they have an accident and die then you are not liable.......

jasonwatkins

JJ_Egan wrote: »

If you drop out of the system you usually get letters then some threatening TV detector van will have your address when in your area and check you out.

Not True. While detector vans do exist, they have been used very rarely and they have never been used as evidence in court cases of evasion.

Capita do however need the general public to believe that they exist and are used all the time. Much like they need the public to believe their salesmen are figures of authority with legal powers who can obtain a search warrant on your property with nothing more than a click of their heels.

Obviously I would never condone doing anything illegal, and I do own a licence, but I do not agree with the way Capita operate. No other private company would get away with so much misinformation and misrepresentation as they do, but, for whatever reason, they seem to have carte blanche to do and say whatever they like.

davidlizard wrote: »

The best course of action is to tell them to leave your property immediately and close the door. If they persist, then tell them you will be calling the police.

(sorry, didn't see your post..honest )

You can also write to them withdrawing the implied right of access. They are obliged to comply with the request because if they don't you can take them to court for harrassment.

Humphrey10

Tjerrik wrote: »

do they always come by then???

Everyone (well, every address - I know 2 people with no licence, one of those owns both halves of a semi, knocked together into one house, so they get nasty letters and visits to both halves of the house, and I know another who has a licence, but again has both halves of a semi knocked together, so one of those addresses has no licence, they get the letters and visit too) I know who doesn't have a licence has been visited by the nasty TV licence people accusing them of watching TV illegally.

The TV licence people don't seem to believe that some people do not watch TV.

jasonwatkins

Humphrey10 wrote: »

The TV licence people don't seem to believe that some people do not watch TV.

I don't necessarily think it's that, i think it's more to do with a general "scorched earth" policy they adopt. Even if you write to them and tell them you have a licence, or if you invite one of the salesmen into your home to prove to them you have a licence, they will still send you letters and visit you regularly.

It's generally based around the theory that you might slip up and forget to renew your licence so they can swoop in and get you.

I think they don't have much of a choice to do it that way really because in general the system really is un-enforceable if you have a basic knowledge of your rights and common law.

mcjordi

i havent had a license for nigh on 6 years and dont intend to buy one either..

had a couple of visits where tvl have said they are conducting research or are from the post office.. Oh really wheres your ID.. i know your TVL so do one off my property.. they cant take you to court without evidence and they cant get evidence without catching you watching tv..
deny everything and tell them to !!!! off.. i do and have NEVER been taken to court

they will only take you to court if you admit using a tv without a license..

jasonwatkins

Thing is, I tend to believe if you're someone who tells them to eff off, they're more likely to remember you. Some of the more, let's say, "dedicated" Capital salesmen could well put in that extra mile to catch the one person who gave them a mouthful of abuse.

The ones who simply say nothing and close the door will, in my humble opinion, be the ones who are more quickly forgotten about.