TV licence query

caela_2

birkee wrote: »

You WILL need a licence. If you own a TV.

The original description in the old days was, a 'licence to operate a radio receiver' which, whilst corrupted by the addition of TV in later years, is still the same function I believe, even if they've changed the wording.
If you have a device capable of picking up TV signals, whether de-tuned or not, whether plugged in or not, whether connected to an aerial or not, ...... you own a TV receiver.
The only let out, may be if it's broken, and is therefore not capable of being used, but then you'll have to explain why you keep a busted TV in your house if you have no intention of using it.

You ONLY need a tv license for live TV. http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/

RoboDog

Thank you again everyone. There are lots of different conflicting opinions over here. To summarise, once again, I only want to plug a television into the power outlet & to my laptop to watch DVD's & maybe stream videos (not live videos, but videos from youtube & Google video). It will be nothing more than a reflection of my laptop screen. For this purpose & this purpose alone, will I need a TV licence? Will I be harassed by authorities to get one? Will they have any grounds to make me liable? If any of the answers to those questions are yes then I will get a desktop monitor instead.

caela_2

RoboDog wrote: »

Hi All,

I have recently moved into a new flat in London & was hoping that you guys could provide me with some information regarding TV licenses.

I currently do not own a TV. If I were to buy a TV, it would only be to hook it up to my laptop & watch DVD’s & TV shows that I have downloaded onto my laptop. I have no desire to & never will watch any form of TV other than what I have mentioned above. Hence, if I were to buy a TV & only plug it in to the power outlet, would I need to pay for the TV Licence?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Cheers,

Hiya, you only need a TV license if you watch live TV, whether via a laptop, TV or mobile phone (source: http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/)

I would recommend unplugging any aerials from your TV and scrambling the tuning just in case. You do not have to let TV licensing personnel onto your property unless they have a warrant. Bin the letters you will no doubt receive. You can call them up and tell them you do not have a TV or explain your situation in writing, saying you may use a TV for other purposes than to watch live broadcasts, but you do not need to do this. If you want to stop them writing to you, contact them to demand they cease what can sometimes be called harassment (depending on how many times they try to contact you over how long a period).

For your intended use, you will NOT need a TV license. It does not matter if you have a TV or computer monitor, it only matters if you stream a live broadcast. Just make sure you don't watch live broadcasts for example, on i player (they sometimes show), freeview or tvcatchup (in addition to on your TV duh lol) as you will need a license for this. Otherwise, you are fine. The TV licensing will need a court warrant to search your home for proof that you are watching live TV and they will need to have good reason to be successful in applying for one of these. If you are worried, write to them now and tell them that you do not believe you need a TV license and explain how you use your equipment. Get them to confirm this. If your situation changes, they will ask you to contact them. You are NOT breaking the law, don't let them scare you into thinking you are.

caela_2

mrred66 wrote: »

they scare us with their bbc detector vans, can anyone tell me when did they ever see one on the road??

Lol sounds like the detector vans are fake: http://www.bbctvlicence.com/Detector%20vans.htm who knows?

Swan_2

RoboDog wrote: »

Thank you again everyone. There are lots of different conflicting opinions over here. To summarise, once again, I only want to plug a television into the power outlet & to my laptop to watch DVD's & maybe stream videos (not live videos, but videos from youtube & Google video). It will be nothing more than a reflection of my laptop screen. For this purpose & this purpose alone, will I need a TV licence? Will I be harassed by authorities to get one? Will they have any grounds to make me liable? If any of the answers to those questions are yes then I will get a desktop monitor instead.

hi RoboDog
this is my experience

a few years ago I was living alone & as I never watch telly, I gave up my TV licence

I told TVLA I was keeping my telly but only for gaming & watching DVDs, they said that was fine however they'd send someone to check that I was telling the truth
they sent a few letters reiterating this, but never actually sent anyone in the 2-3 years I was licence free

I had the aerial unplugged & taped to the skirting board 8 feet away from the set & the channels de-tuned
I'm still not sure if I'd have let them in to check, or have exercised my right to keep them at the door, but at least I was prepared for them

you definitely do not need a licence to do what you propose



I have a licence now because my son's back living with me & he has a few programmes he likes to watch

RoboDog

Thank you very much Caela & Swan!! That's what I needed to know!! I think that the flat comes with a satellite & a satellite connection, but I will not ever plug that in to the TV.

caela_2

RoboDog wrote: »

Thank you very much Caela!! That's what I needed to know!! I think that the flat comes with a satellite & a satellite connection, but I will not ever plug that in to the TV.

Lol glad to help. I'm in the same boat as you so completely understand, I had to go thru all this palava before! We only have a TV as a large monitor for movies or games (HDMI via laptop), but it's not tuned in and no aerials either. I don't watch live broadcasts, to be honest I don't miss it either!

TV licensing are actually pretty easy to deal with, I just called them up when I got my first letter and explained my situation, they said they might send someone round so I explicitly told them that I was restricting their right of access to my property and would consider any further communication harassment seeing as I have now made it clear I do not need a licence. Seems a bit harsh lol but just nipped it in the bud They have been nice anyway, no-one's ever come round, they sometimes send a letter (about once a year) addressed 'to the occupier' telling me that they notice I don't have a TV licence and if I need one I should call them. Pretty basic stuff.

Whilst they call themselves an 'authority' they don't actually have special powers. Same as Tesco could call themselves a 'shopping authority' but can only prosecute you if you steal something. They can only act on proof that you are watching live TV, nothing special, no right to access your property without a warrant. They can send someone round, just like anyone can knock on your door, but you don't have to let them in. It's your property at the end of the day.

If you're worried, double check information on their website, read the terms and conditions and give them a friendly call for advice, but this is just my take on it from what I have gathered.

Good luck

fred7777

RoboDog wrote: »

Thanks Fred!
What do you mean by "Detuned" & how could anyone break the law?
If the TV is plugged in to the power outlet only & I am not paying TV Licence, would I be bending any rules whatsoever & would the licencing authorities be able to harass me about anything??

De-tuned meaning channels not tuned into anything. The concern was that although we had the TV for the club instructors to playback videos, therefore not needing a license, someone might plug in an aerial and use to view TV channels it when we weren't around, breaking the law as this would require a license. ,
If your TV is plugged into the power socket only and you are not watching live UK TV broadcasts then you don't need a license, however that may not stop you being by letters demanding you get a license.

birkee

Swan wrote: »

funnily enough that's the very link I was about to post to show you that you're mistaken

the important part is in bold & underlined, you absolutely do not need a licence just to own a telly, it's what you do with it that counts

quote from the link above ... 'You need a valid TV Licence if you use TV receiving equipment to watch or record television programmes as they’re being shown on TV. ‘TV receiving equipment’ means any equipment which is used to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV. This includes a TV, computer, mobile phone, games console, digital box, DVD/VHS recorder or any other device.'

I know where you are coming from, but I think you will find, you will need to prove that you are not using it as a TV receiver, rather than they having to prove that you are.
I think the logic is, why have a receiver if you don't intend to use it as such.

fred7777

birkee wrote: »

I know where you are coming from, but I think you will find, you will need to prove that you are not using it as a TV receiver, rather than they having to prove that you are.

No using a TV without a license is a criminal offence, therefore they need to prove you did so.