TV license

peter_the_piper

Just had a letter from the tvlicense people asking for money for a tv license for the business. As we do not use a TV for the business we declined to pay and declared we dont have one. The letter says they may confirm with a short visit, just what rights do they have to come onto a business premises to check?

Gothicfairy

I can't answer about the rights side of things, but I would say let them come and check..it is after all their wasted time and effort.

They visit my neighbour at least once every 6 months and have done for over 8 years..he still does not have a telly but he does enjoy the visit as he makes them coffee and digs out his old watchtower mags ( he is not JW but keeps them for fire lighters) He has had them there for over 3 hours before now without letting them leave and he is nothing but polite ..tee hee

fluffnutter

I'm not sure. But I would think it would be the same for a business as for a residential property. I can't think why it would be different. (Although, to be fair, I've not thunk about it very hard).

katerinasol

Assuming you're not lying, why not just let them come and check?

pogofish

They have no rights of entry whatsoever - They would have to get a court order for that and since "enforcement" was outsourced, they rarely go that way. You are dealing with Capita on a contract here, not officials with any kind of authority.

If you have completed the return slip, they are unlikely to do more until they send the next one. However if they do turn up and try to gain entry, be aware that they often lie about the extent of their powers.

Driver8

peter_the_piper wrote: »

Just had a letter from the tvlicense people asking for money for a tv license for the business. As we do not use a TV for the business we declined to pay and declared we dont have one. The letter says they may confirm with a short visit, just what rights do they have to come onto a business premises to check?

They have absolutely no rights to enter your property whatsoever. If you write them a letter, you can even stop them from knocking on your door. Denying them the right of access.

The info is out there.

greyteam1959

I was in the same position as you......sent a letter saying no TV, they sent one back saying they may visit.
Right.........never ever heard of anyone actually having a visit.

vuvuzela

They visited my house when I was a student and fined the one person who didn't have a licence for his tv. Thinking about it, it might have been the one person with a tv, the rest of us were poor

Driver8

mervyn11 wrote: »

I was in the same position as you......sent a letter saying no TV, they sent one back saying they may visit.
Right.........never ever heard of anyone actually having a visit.

I've had 3 visits in the last few month. They drop a piece of paper through your door say " we said we'd call" Call all they like, they are not getting money out of me to pay for BBC left wing crap.

It wasn't called Blair's Broadcasting Company for nothing. I hope they go bust.

uk-tyler

They have no rights of access at all, you do not need to let them in. I informed them I did not need a licence and had a visit from a very rude individual who spent 15 minutes trying to get my TV to play television (it was only used to watch DVD's).
He then proceeded to search the house, even when we asked him not to, including barging into the room where my sick child was sleeping.
They work on commission, so don't get paid unless they make you say that you have watched TV.
Complaints about their behaviour seem to be ignored too.
Write denying them access, and turn them away at the door.

vikingaero

pogofish wrote: »

They have no rights of entry whatsoever - They would have to get a court order for that and since "enforcement" was outsourced, they rarely go that way. You are dealing with Capita on a contract here, not officials with any kind of authority.

If you have completed the return slip, they are unlikely to do more until they send the next one. However if they do turn up and try to gain entry, be aware that they often lie about the extent of their powers.

Don't call them ever.

Write them a letter informing them that you "have withdrawn your implied right of access to my property/business."

If they want to visit tell them to apply for a Magistrates Order.