TV Licensing harassment letters

welshcakes

Just thought I'd share about of useful information to anyone who's receiving those threatening letters regarding TV licenses.

Mine came about as I have a vacant property and despite speaking to some one who 'updated the records', I continued to get increasingly threatening letters quoting the Criminal Act etc, intervies under caution, entry to my premises.

Anyway, DO NOT attempt to call them on the phone numbers quoted on the letter as you will invariably find yourself on hold listening to a cold sell for cheap international calls. You will be told you are 2nd in the queue, then first, then second, then first etc etc.

I finally wrote back and threatened THEM with the Police Criminal Act for harassment without due cause and hoped that would be the end of it.

It was apart from the fact that they then sent me a £10 goodwill cheque to shut me up.

You see? It pays to pick up the missiles and chuck them back over the fence!

Xbigman

There record keeping for communication is so bad it is ludicrous.

I think I'll write them a letter demanding they stop contacting me, even though they haven't, and see if I can get a tenner out of them
Regards



X

hibees1875_2

i used to repackage the crap they sent in their own envelope and posted it back to them. They got all their junk back and after 4 months they stopped sending them to me. Think of all that postage they wasted and how many license fee's that costs a year.

maninthestreet

"....finally wrote back and threatened THEM with the Police Criminal Act for harassment without due cause and hoped that would be the end of it."

The Police Criminal Act? What is that?

welshcakes

Collection of the license fee is actually contracted out to a company called Capita Ltd - they were the ones from whom I received the cheque.

Sorry, I was lazy writing the Act, it's the Police and Criminal Evidence act 1984 shortened to PACE.

If anyone would like a copy of the letter I sent them which successfully rewarded me with a tenner, PM me.

barvid

I bought a new TV in December and - as they are obliged to do - John Lewis wrote to TV Licensing to tell them. I then get a letter from TV Licensing saying that I need a licence for my TV (of course) and that if I already have a licence for this address could I please let them know the number?

!!!!!!?!

You'd think a bit of cross checking on the old database would save a lot of postage!

edthedead

Sorry... PACE governs police powers and procedures, nothing to do with harrassment...

But I agree with you about the TV licencing people!

steady__eddie

"Does every retailer who sells you a TV have to notify TV licensing?"

Yep, and also retailers who sell you equipment which is capable of T.V. reception, V.C.R.s (if you can still buy them), P.V.R.s, T.V. cards for putors, freeview boxes and probably other electronic thingys which I have never heard of.

Searcher

Toots wrote:

Does every retailer who sells you a TV have to notify TV licensing?

I've never heard of this before although I suppose it is a good way of them making sure you do have one.

Toots

Yes, by law the retailer is supposed to get your name and address f you buy a tv or any piece of equipment capable of receiving a TV signal i.e. a video recorder, DVD recorder with a tuner and even a PC TV tuner card.

This has been the case as long as I can remember

arnie&caseysma!

I had letter upon letter from them just over a year ago after I had moved in with the OH. When I eventually got through to them and managed to tell them to check their records they would find out that the address was already covered under his name (I know that lodgers are supposed to have a separate licence and this is why they send to others etc). I asked how they got my details and they told me I had bought a DVD Player from Argos.....their records are soooo wrong as it must be some DVD players that is disguised as a 42" plasma tv in the corner of the room that I bought for £xx amount in a small local retailers!!

oldagetraveller

I've posted this before and it confirms what has already been said.

TV LICENSING
BRISTOL
BS98 1TL

Tel: 0870 243 0229
Fax: 0870 240 1187
E-Mail: tvlcsc@capita.co.uk
Our Ref: TVL1553530

01/02/2007

Dear Mr xxxxxx
Thank you for contacting us.

I can confirm television dealers such as Argos are legally obliged to advise us of any sales or rentals of television equipment. The information they provide is added to our computer records and if there is no TV Licence on record at that address, or if the licence is in a different name, a licence reminder is automatically produced to purchase a licence.

I hope this information is helpful.

Yours sincerely


TV Licensing