TV Licensing harassment letters

pmduk

hollydays wrote: »

What annoyed me was their assumption I was guilty until proven innocent .

That's what bugs me.

Cornucopia

That bugs me, and then it bugs me even more when they say they aren't doing that, and yet they leave notes at your house saying: "Thank you for letting us know you don't need a licence. My visit was simply to confirm this."

aliama

Bloody TV licensing letters. When we lived at our last place, I decided to buy a small TV for the bedroom. I had to give my name and address, but thought no more of it. A little while later, I got a letter through the door from them saying they had no record of me having a TV license in my name at that address and threatening legal action.

Well yes, you idiots; that's because the license is in my husband's name. Are you seriously incapable of searching for the existence of a license by address rather than by name? And yeah, it's the assumption of guilt that !!!!es me off. Why should I waste my time and effort sorting this nonsense out, when a simple glance at their own records could show them that a license is in effect at a particular property?

Cornucopia

That was one of their failures in the past - they've corrected in now, and there's no more dealer notifications, anyway.

aliama

Cornucopia wrote: »

That was one of their failures in the past - they've corrected in now, and there's no more dealer notifications, anyway.

Ah, well that's something at least. It was quite a few years ago, but clearly it still rankles.

Cornucopia

Well known for their arrogance and incompetence. Not a great combination in a public service.

dosh37

redmike123 wrote: »

The posts on this thread are hilarious, lots of people getting upset at Capita, and complaining becaue they've had "nasty letters" , or better still their 99 year old gran has had a "nasty" letter. Capita don't care, they are employed to collect licence money from homes which don't have a TV licence. Either pay up, or don't, you know the consequences , but why whinge about getting a computer generated letter ?

You may think it's hilarious. The people who receive these letters do not. Capita may not care, but customers do. When my dad went into a care home, we continued to receive threatening letters from TV licencing for months until he died. I think their attitude to customer care is appallling.

Liz3yy

I've had letters in the past threatening to come to my home and search the place, oh really? didn't realise you had the authority to gain a warrant from the courts?

This was back when I bought my first flat 10 years ago, I hadn't even moved in properly when the letters started. I had no TV set, couldn't afford one, and didn't buy for several months, yet the letters kept coming...

It would seem that they can't believe that in this day and age people can't live without a TV. With the advent of catch up TV on the internet it's very much possible (we often watch TV shows via Netflix via our Mac) and I believe will be become more popular in time.

As for the letters, I wrote back in the end and invited them round to inspect my tiny 3 room studio flat. If you think you can find a TV in here then good luck to you I said, let me know when you're coming and I'll get the kettle on...funnily enough I never heard a thing back and the letters dried up.

Cornucopia

Liz3yy wrote: »

I've had letters in the past threatening to come to my home and search the place, oh really? didn't realise you had the authority to gain a warrant from the courts?

They can obtain a warrant - however, they need evidence first, and they cost money, and they are consequently incredibly rare.

dosh37

No private commercial organisation would ever get away with this kind of intimidation. Why should a government owned organisation be allowed?
Where is 'offtv'?
I sometimes think I'd rather suffer TV advertising and scrap the BBC.