Cant pay.. OR Wont Pay!!

real1314

mousey, how does the phones and washing machines argument work? you can't have those without paying either.
washing facilities are available at laundrettes, phone's at call boxes.

when I was a student we didn't have a washing machine or phone. we used the above facilities.

why should people who work hard for their money have to subsidise those who are not in work even further after their benefits, rent and council tax, plus often the subsidised rates at council facilities, free prescriptions, school meals etc etc.

seven-day-weekend

Defiant wrote:

I agree but I'm not going to stop watching the TV I pay for via cable just because your upset that I don't subsidise your beloved BBC. If you selfish people think thats wrong then its about time the BBC went subcription and you started paying as you go giving millions CHOICE. How much doe's the BBC cost you in Spain SDW ?

As I don't have Sky in Spain I can only get BBC World which has adverts.

I still pay my TV licence for my house in the UK.

seven-day-weekend

slenderkitten wrote:

lol isn't it typical people who have nothing to do with this country is posting when it doesn't affect them. maybe they should start paying to look at the BBC website.

I still have a house in the UK for which I pay the TV licence.


And I'm a little bit upset that people say I have 'nothing' to do with my country when I have a house there , bank accounts, a dentist (not NHS) and am allowed to vote.

My husband still pays tax to the UK.

To say nothing of our son living there.

looby75

seven-day-weekend wrote:

I still have a house in the UK for which I pay the TV licence.


And I'm a little bit upset that people say I have 'nothing' to do with my country when I have a house there , bank accounts, a dentist (not NHS) and am allowed to vote.

My husband still pays tax to the UK.

To say nothing of our son living there.

one word

jealousy

I know where I would rather be on this foggy cold winters night.

mouseymousey99

Hi - well I was thinking you could also argue that washing machines etc are not essential. Why should people be without them? Do you really want people on benefits to live in third world situation?
Yes, you are right those things are available - at a price, which of course means someone gets rich on the backs of the poor. (same old same old)
Most people on benefits have worked (hard) so they have paid for many university courses. I think thats ok education should be free to all. I'm interestead in this, so how would you care for those in society who are ill? Or would you??
Free school meals - ok whats the other option - do you want kids who can't afford the meals to go without?
NHS - free perscriptions - well we have a two layer system already, if you can afford it you BUPA or fly to some third world country. well I think we could always refund all the money people have paid in (with interest of course) & the poor well they will always be with us eh???

seven-day-weekend

I realise it can be a struggle to fund a TV licence when you are on benefits.

I was merely pointing out that, unlike other household appliances such as a fridge or a washing machine, a TV is not an essential item.

I personally would rather go without something else so I could pay my £2.50 a week TV license fee (NOT because I have any brief for the BBC, but because if I want to watch the channels I have to accept the licence fee). I would rather do this than pay £45 a month to Sky. This would be my choice and if others make a different choice that is up to them.

mouseymousey99

Hi Seven day, I was trying to reply to Real1314. I wouldnt pay for Sky either as its rubbish (give me radio 4 anyday). I use d/debit for the licence as it breaks it up. I do have a bit of a problem with who gets to decide what is essential to someone and what is not. Most of the stuff we fill our homes with is so much junk, (to me) but hey ho thats life these days. okey dokey climbing off my sopabox now & going to bed....night all.....

in_my_wellies

I think the TV licence is excellent value when I think what we get - TV and Radio (1,3,4 and 5 used daily in this house) and all the internet related sites. We don't watch much TV but for less than the cost of a pint per week I'm happy. Much better value than Sky or pay to view will be if that is all we get in the future.

real1314

mousey, the point I'm making is that a washing machine is more essential than a TV, even a phone is more essential than a TV, but there'e no subsidy scheme for those, as they are not absolutely essential.

a small number of phone box calls would not cause anyone great financial hardship, and washinh can be done by hand, so I don;t see why, with a long list of things that are not subsidied, why a TV should be high on the list for so many people?

I'm not suggesting that people on benefits shouldn't get the variuos items I mentioned, but if we're going to heave TVs into it, we'll have to include washing machines, phones etc etc as they would be "more essential" than TVs.

A line has to be drawn somewhere.

a family of 1 parent + 2 kids gets about: £163 in benefits + rent (worth £100 minimum) + Council tax (£25) + School Meals (£15)

That's equivalent to almost a £16k income, without getting into prescriptions, uniform and other subsidies.
Why should other people pay for a TV license on top? (and a washing machine and a phone line and.......)

seven-day-weekend

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/index.jsp

Please forgive me if anyone has already quoted this link, but it tells you in the first paragraph about when a TV licence is necessary.

Hope it helps.