TV licence query

Wig

HappyMJ wrote: »

How do I detune my laptop from being able to receive TV transmission?

You don't need to, you only need a licence if you USE it for watching live transmissions.

This page http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698 from BBC News has live coverage of the news but is recorded so does it need a licence?

No you don't need a licence unless the feed is a live feed as it is being broadcast on the network.

kaya

the answers you seek are in plain english in the terms and conditions section of the bbc's own iplayer website
you only need a licence to watch LIVE bbc programmes, pre recorded and delayed programmes are NOT live transmissions , i would think their own T&C's on their own website would be admissable in any court should you need to do so :-)

asbokid

An enterprising individual could invent a device that provides a minimally delayed feed of broadcast TV to multi-occupancy dwellings.

Communal free TV. No licence fee, no subscription, nothing.

Take three dual DVB-T cards in a PC which records the transport stream of each of the six Freeview multiplexes.

After a 30 second delay, the streams are re-distributed over IP to the money saving occupants.

brewerdave

asbokid wrote: »

An enterprising individual could invent a device that provides a minimally delayed feed of broadcast TV to multi-occupancy dwellings.

Communal free TV. No licence fee, no subscription, nothing.

Take three dual DVB-T cards in a PC which records the transport stream of each of the six Freeview multiplexes.

After a 30 second delay, the streams are re-distributed over IP to the money saving occupants.

But the initial PC recording is still being done in real time - hence you need a TV Licence - PLUS I suspect T & Cs somewhere will make such sharing of TV programmes illegal.:(

Wig

asbokid wrote: »

An enterprising individual could invent a device that provides a minimally delayed feed of broadcast TV to multi-occupancy dwellings.

Communal free TV. No licence fee, no subscription, nothing.

Take three dual DVB-T cards in a PC which records the transport stream of each of the six Freeview multiplexes.

After a 30 second delay, the streams are re-distributed over IP to the money saving occupants.

As already mentioned the delay is in effect a 'recording' of a live feed which requires a licence.

Even so, the live transmission counts as live if you start watching or recording it before that particular program has finished being broadcast, so a 50 min program which you start watching (from the beginning) 45 mins after it started, is still a live program.

You also cannot record and re-broadcast copyright material over a communal network without permission.

charleeboo

I received a visit from an Enforcement Officer in August of last year. He introduced himself as someone who came to talk about payment for my TV License. I thought nothing of it, I thought I was up-to-date on my payment plan. I tried to view my payment card online and saw it was invalid. I just assumed they would be sending a new card with my new license. Anyhow, it transpired that I missed a couple of payments that would have paid off my license in full. I didnt have any letters, phone calls or texts to say I was behind. I know they arent obliged to do this but this is what I was used to having not used this payment method before. Anyway, after the enforcement officer asked all the questions, he read me my rights? I thought he had to do this before? I wouldnt have answered them if I hadve known and if I thought I was in the wrong. He also said not to worry as I would hear nothing more if I finished paying as soon as I could (which I did). He also seemed surprised when he said to me "oh, sorry, its only 3 weeks since your license expired". I have since moved and a summons got sent to my old address (even though I transferred the license to my new address), so, now, I have to go to court to swear on oath that I didnt know about it on my court date. (I only became aware of this when a fine got sent to my new house), and go again to defend myself.
I havent a clue what to do but I really dont want it going to court. I know some people are going to say Im daft for not making doubly sure, but why would I risk a hefty fine when I only had about £17.00 left to pay. I made a genuine mistake and dont know where to turn. My boyfriend's dad was told he had cancer and they thought it had progressed a lot so my TV License wasnt really an issue, especially after I though I had paid it.
I am writing a snotty letter as I phoned them and the person on the other end was seriously unhelpful, what else can I do to challenge it before it goes to court? I have a week before I have to sign the declaration.
Might I add, they only have 6 mnths to get magistrates to issue a summons. The summons was issued to the wrong address at the last minute (enforcement officer came at the back end of August, the original court date as I was told was 3rd March). Now it has to be re-issued, will the 6 month deadline have passed as I never received it before now, or, will the incorrect address buy more time for the Licensing authority?

Kurtis_Blue

yeah write a "snotty letter" thats a proactive step to solving this , you have made many mistakes, as you are aware, now is not the time to make more, you need professional legal advice nothing else will suffice.

moonrakerz

Two things to remember:

1. So-called "enforcement officers" have NO legal powers whatsoever.
2. They are paid commission on the number of people they "catch".

Sorry, three:-

3. Tell them to "go away" - in what ever terms you wish !

Kurtis_Blue

4. Pay your TV licence.

Jilly5

charleeboo wrote: »

I received a visit from an Enforcement Officer in August of last year. He introduced himself as someone who came to talk about payment for my TV License. I thought nothing of it, I thought I was up-to-date on my payment plan. I tried to view my payment card online and saw it was invalid. I just assumed they would be sending a new card with my new license. Anyhow, it transpired that I missed a couple of payments that would have paid off my license in full. I didnt have any letters, phone calls or texts to say I was behind. I know they arent obliged to do this but this is what I was used to having not used this payment method before. Anyway, after the enforcement officer asked all the questions, he read me my rights? I thought he had to do this before? I wouldnt have answered them if I hadve known and if I thought I was in the wrong. He also said not to worry as I would hear nothing more if I finished paying as soon as I could (which I did). He also seemed surprised when he said to me "oh, sorry, its only 3 weeks since your license expired". I have since moved and a summons got sent to my old address (even though I transferred the license to my new address), so, now, I have to go to court to swear on oath that I didnt know about it on my court date. (I only became aware of this when a fine got sent to my new house), and go again to defend myself.
I havent a clue what to do but I really dont want it going to court. I know some people are going to say Im daft for not making doubly sure, but why would I risk a hefty fine when I only had about £17.00 left to pay. I made a genuine mistake and dont know where to turn. My boyfriend's dad was told he had cancer and they thought it had progressed a lot so my TV License wasnt really an issue, especially after I though I had paid it.
I am writing a snotty letter as I phoned them and the person on the other end was seriously unhelpful, what else can I do to challenge it before it goes to court? I have a week before I have to sign the declaration.
Might I add, they only have 6 mnths to get magistrates to issue a summons. The summons was issued to the wrong address at the last minute (enforcement officer came at the back end of August, the original court date as I was told was 3rd March). Now it has to be re-issued, will the 6 month deadline have passed as I never received it before now, or, will the incorrect address buy more time for the Licensing authority?

Hi,

I work at the Court so hopefully can offer you some good advice with this.

Whatever has happened with the TV Licensing authority to get you to Court the Magistrates have proceeded against you in your absence believing that you were aware. The relevant date re the 6 months, is the date the TV licensing people lay the information with the court and that must have been within the 6 months otherwise they would not have heard the case. The TV courts can sometimes be once every 3 months so thats where the delay comes from.

Anyway, the main thing here is that you weren't aware of the proceedings so the court puts that right by inviting you to make a statutory declaration to set aside the conviction (get rid of fine, conviction). Its not a difficult process and nothing to worry about. It should be really quick. You should definately go and do it and as soon as possible as well.

The TVLO will then be told by the court you have made the declaration and they decide whether or not to issue the summons to your correct address, if they do you then have knowledge of the proceedings and can attend on the new date and explain your circumstances for falling behind. They may withdraw the charge then. If they do reissue to your correct address the relevant date for the 6 months time limit is still that of the first laying of the information so they would still be in time. Generally though they do not reissue and that will be the last you ever hear of it.

If you dont go in to make the declaration the court will have no choice but to enforce the outstanding fine to be paid by you. Its far better to nip in and get it sorted out now.

I would probably not recommend a snotty letter to the TVLO though because at this stage they will inevitably tell you to contact the Magistrates Court directly as there is nothing they can do.

Try not to stress about this too much and good luck.

HTH

J x