Aggro from TV Licence people!

humph_2

We don't have a TV. The best move we ever made. We still get people saying things like "Ahh, I have an old one if you want it" as they cannot believe that it is out of choice. People also wonder what on earth we do. I usually tell them that Mrs Humph and I "talk" and they are amazed that married couples would choose to communicate in such a way.

We had all the hassle from the licencing peeps. Very harsh letters with the court threats. I was in constant negotiations with them at one point. Then we eventually got the visit from the van man (thank god) I gave him a free reign around the house. He didn't seem too interested and just looked around the front room. Correspondence has dried up since with just one letter in the last 12 months.

My advice is never mind the hassle from those guys - ditch the TV and make love!!!

SnowyOwl_2

Hi Humph

I ditched my telly too, but only about six months ago. I miss it like a hole in the head.... Only thing is I live on my own so can't take up your suggestion, as much as I would like to!

SnowyOwl

PS: Is the h at the end of your name required?

filigree_2

We had a flurry of letters from Argos finance, followed by letters from the TV licensing folks. Allegedly a Miss Smith lives here, and bought a TV. Argos appear to want money off her, and of course she doesn't have a licence at this address, it's in Mr Filigree's name. He had a hell of a time convincing them that we have a legitimate licence and that no-one called Miss Smith has ever lived here, to our knowledge.

It's madness - so what if a Miss Smith lives in Filigree Towers? Her TV would be covered by our licence anyway.

I'm not sure what happened - perhaps Miss Smith used our address in some financial scam. I'm guessing Argos grass you up if you buy a new TV, and if your name and address don't match up the TV licence goons turn up on the doorstep.

The problem seems to be a mixture of possible dodgy dealing by Miss Smith, and computer glitches. It seems that if the computer pops up a query, no matter how ludicrous, no human being has the power to override it. They pursue the enquiry to the bitter end in the face of evidence that someone screwed up!

Bogof_Babe

Sorry to perhaps pour cold water on all your TV-less statuses, but I understand that if you have a computer capable of receiving broadcasts, then you still need the licence.I have no further info on this, but I do know that many BBC programmes are available as video via the PC (I often watch them myself) so perhaps it is not as cut and dried as would first appear.

Paul_Varjak

I know these TV vans can tell if you have a TV (if is is switched on that is), but what if your TV is of the LCD type rather than the more usual tube?

I have often wondered about this as I know that it is possbile to actually monitor what appears on a cathode-ray TV and get passwords etc.

jockettuk

my boyfriend has been getting mail for somone else only thing they have in common is the street number and the fact they live in a street beginning with b and live in the same town.. we sent the mail to him telling him what is happening and still getting it .. told the post office and even contacted the companies concerned,, arghhh thats were hassles started they didnt believe us and started hassling us with letters for him at my b/f address .. in the end we just sent them back unopened with not at this address on them.. the bloke was getting !!!!!! off as well but it was up to him to get onto the post office and get it sorted

humph_2

Bogof_Babe wrote:

Sorry to perhaps pour cold water on all your TV-less statuses, but I understand that if you have a computer capable of receiving broadcasts, then you still need the licence.I have no further info on this, but I do know that many BBC programmes are available as video via the PC (I often watch them myself) so perhaps it is not as cut and dried as would first appear.

According to the TV Licensing webpage this only applies if your PC / Laptop has a dedicated broadcast card that basically turns you compuer into a TV via an arial socket and its software / hardware. Its a good point though and some people may be unaware that they require a license.

For me not having a TV but watching it on my computer would seem a bit strange. My own perspective on not having a TV has very little to do with the not wanting to pay the TV license and more to do with conserving the few brain cells I have left.

filigree_2

The computer issue reminds me of a colleague's experiences.

He didn't have a TV but was frequently harrassed by the so called "detector van". In my humble and non-scientific opinion these vans are complete bullshine, they turn up on your doorstep gestapo-like and claim they have detected a signal when you know damn well you do NOT have a working TV!!! I reckon they're just bog standard transit vans with a Blue Peter stylee "aerial" made out of old coathangers.

The truth is they have a list of addresses with no licence and they just bang on those doors. Ample evidence from non-TV owners demonstrates that this method is vastly more believable than the Star Trek van that sees through walls.

Any I digress. My colleague was finally obliged to let the flunkies into his house so they could search for his contraband telly. They had a wet knicker attack when they spotted his PC. This was some years ago when home computers were still pretty rare. He demonstrated that it was a computer but they were still insistent that it was a TV. He challenged them to tune it into any channel and offered them a bottle of whisky each if they succeeded - of course they couldn't and had to skulk off looking stupid.

For anyone feeling brave I would suggest that. When they stand on your doorstep calling you a criminal and a liar, invite them into your home and insist they look for your non-existent TV, then demand a written apology for the harrassment. Hah!

derrick

filigree wrote:

My colleague was finally obliged to let the flunkies into his house so they could search for his contraband telly.

He was not oblidged to let them in unless they had a warrant,and he should just have closed the door on them and let them disappear back under the rock they crawled from

filigree_2

derrick wrote:

He was not oblidged to let them in unless they had a warrant,and he should just have closed the door on them and let them disappear back under the rock they crawled from

I think he was hoping that if he let them in to check they would finally push off and leave him alone. He got the satisfaction of making them look very silly