how do tv licensing inspectors carry out their inspection?

lemony05

We moved into this house about a month ago. The previous tenant had sky so she had a satellite dish installed obviously. We have a tv but if you connect it to the aerial it doesn't show anything, presumably because there has been the switch-over already in the area where we live, so to watch tv we need a digital box. The tv is not being used at all now but it might be used occasionally with the playstation to play games. We don't have a broadband either, we are using the internet through my mobile phone. None of our mobiles can stream tv as they don't support flash so no bbc iplayer for example. The desktop pc and my netbook dont have a tv card installed.
We received a letter from the tv license today bcause we haven't purchased a license yet. We plan on informing them we don't need one and have them check this if they want. Will we run any risk?
They can check the tv can't work if plugged into the aerial. Will they go rummaging through our home checking all our things? Is the sky satellite dish a problem? Can they check we haven't subscribed to sky?
I did read on their website you don't need a tv license if you don't watch or record tv, that includes mobiles or computers. I think we don't have to pay.
Thanks in advance for any reply:)

Stephen_Leak

They do seem to finally be getting the fact that lots of people don't watch television and that they aren't all licence evaders.

See https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/no-licence-needed/ and http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/downloads/what-if-tv-licence-is-not-needed/NoLicenceNeeded.pdf.

I sent off the declaration and got a reply saying that they won't check again for 2 years. That's fair enough: things might change.

They say that they visit a random sample of properties and any that they suspect of licence evasion. Again, fair enough.

They are welcome to visit. I have nothing to hide. However, on their own, the licencing officer has no more right of access to a property than you or I. They must be accompanied by a police officer with a warrant.

Both would be made welcome guests, and I might even make a batch of Twink's hobnobs. But I would expect them to behave as such. The police officer should also be a witness to what was done and said.

For the future, I fear that it only a matter of time before a high court judge rules that the internet is a broadcast medium. Then any suitably equipped PC, mobile phone or whatever will become broadcast receiving equipment (like a digital TV, set top box, DVD recorder or PC TV tuner card or "dongle" is now) and need a broadcast receiving licence.

justbiteme2k

I wonder how freesat is counted.
You have a sky dish so a freesat receiver could be used i guess. Thing is a USB freesat receiver would be so small they'd never find it.
I guess you'd be ok. Good luck

davidlizard

The letter is a standard circular that is sent to all houses who do not appear on their database as having a licence. As you correctly state, you do not require a licence for watching DVDs and playing console games - only to watch TV as is is broadcast.

TVL/BBC visit properties not on their database as having a licence, and attempt to gain entry by ringing the doorbell and being invited in.

Its unbelievable in this day and age people find it acceptable to allow staff - who are paid commission on the licences they sell - from a privately owned company (Capita plc) to enter their house and root through their private possessions, when they are breaking no law whatsoever.

As Stephen points out, they have no right of access unless they get a warrant. Additionally, freedom of information requests have shown that warrants do not get issued solely because a house is not licenced or the owner is uncooperative. Reasonable evidence must be presented for a warrant to be issued.

If you let them in, there are plenty of cases - some on this very forum - where householders have been tricked into signing declarations or otherwise stating they watch televisions and a court summons appears - the TVL/BBC rely on self-incrimination for the vast majority of their attempted prosecutions.

The best course of action is to tell them to leave your premises immediately and close the door.

lemony05

I didn't even know anything about that, we dont have anything like that anyway. It would be the same if we bought a digital box then we could watch tv, but we actually wouldn't watch it, it's just there to play games really

justbiteme2k wrote: »

I wonder how freesat is counted.
You have a sky dish so a freesat receiver could be used i guess. Thing is a USB freesat receiver would be so small they'd never find it.
I guess you'd be ok. Good luck

Swipe

The only time I'd ever allow them in would be when a warrant is served (which is never going to happen) and a police officer is present to witness that no equipment capable of receiving broadcasts was found. Unaccompanied, they will do their utmost to convince you that you do need a licence and may get you to sign a form and stitch you up when a court summons arrives on the doorstep 6 months later. Just ignore the letters and tell them "not today, thank you" if they call.

lemony05

So should we inform them we don't watch tv and ignore any attempt to verifiy this on their part, with a visit for example?
Wouldn't that imply we have something to hide though?

Swipe wrote: »

The only time I'd ever allow them in would be when a warrant is served (which is never going to happen) and a police officer is present to witness that no equipment capable of receiving broadcasts was found. Unaccompanied, they will do their utmost to convince you that you do need a licence and may get you to sign a form and stitch you up when a court summons arrives on the doorstep 6 months later. Just ignore the letters and tell them "not today, thank you" if they call.

Lifeforms

It is true ^. Basically despite what stories their "inspectors" say, they have no right of access, and I refuse to let them in. They can "supposedly" get a warrant, but would need evidence, and I refuse to let them in, so where would the evidence come from? Heresay doesn't really cut it.

The last convo I had with their door to door salespersons was basically ask a few questions about reception. I said none pretty much. Oh But Digital is available everywhere! Yeah not when you've not even switched it on in the area. Hmm. Eventually we got to:

Them: we can legally enter to check.
Me: Really?
Them: Yes, so you should just let us in to look now.
Me: Oh. So what about the fact you have no legal entry right, actually?
Them: Ehh.(you could see them thinking for a couple of seconds) I mean with a Search Warrant of course.
Me: Right, so you left that out then. No, not letting you in.
Them: We do two refused visits, then we'll get a search warrant!!!
Me: Ok then. *Shuts Door*

(listens to them hammering on the neighbours doors, and tutting) Not a nice person pretty much. Aggressive in Manners.

If you want to be safe, and are likely to let them in, tape over the end of the sky, put away any portable aerial you may have in a cupboard or attic (away from eyes for example) and just shove some tape over the aerial input on the TV. They'd basically come in, ask you to turn it on, see if they can make intelligible pictures from the regular channels. But no, they wont go through your undies drawers.

By and By, it's not the "BBC" who come looking for their cash, it's a separate company employed by the BBC, who have a terrible reputation of bullying people into signing forms to say they didn't have a licence, but needed one, getting people to pay for a licence not caring if they don't legally need one, and using any and all methods to prove you can get a live signal. They are paid on commission, so treat them at the door as cold sales persons, and turn them away. Never sign anything, never confirm/deny anything. Just shut the door to them. They can't do anything about it.

You can tell them you don't need a licence, but that doesn't stop the letters, visits, notices from them (even if they say it does) There seems to be waves they come in, so expect more if you let them know you don't want/need a licence. And by far the best way to do that is online. Then you wont have to listen to their "customer" service lying at you telling you that you need a licence.

As long as you don't receive a live signal either through devices such as a TV, PC, PS3, Xbox, internet TV, or record a live signal through same devices you do not need a licence. Buying a TV doesn't require buying a licence. AND when you're asked for your name and address for any thing you buy that can receive a signal, you don't need to give them a correct/name or address. Legally the shop does have to report it however (doesn't matter if it's right or wrong details)

Swipe

lemony05 wrote: »

So should we inform them we don't watch tv and ignore any attempt to verifiy this on their part, with a visit for example?
Wouldn't that imply we have something to hide though?

I wouldn't do that, just ignore them. There is no legal obligation to inform them that you do not require a licence.

yorkie98

justbiteme2k wrote: »

I wonder how freesat is counted.
You have a sky dish so a freesat receiver could be used i guess. Thing is a USB freesat receiver would be so small they'd never find it.
I guess you'd be ok. Good luck

When you buy any equipment, including computer peripherals which are capable of recieving UK licenced broadcasts, the retailer is required by law to fill out and send in a TV licencing form informing them that you have purchased such equipment, this is usually done electronically at the till. This is why when you buy a TV/PVR/Freesat etc you are asked for your postcode and door number. It means that TVL now know that a licence is required at this property.
You of course do not have to tell the truth at this stage but as soon as you use this equipment, you are a licence evader.

DUTR

I'm confused with this thread, ya don't need a license so why are you all harping on about how you are going to make the inpsector's work harder?
Seriously, some of you all need to get a life, you're not using the dish so remove it (they look chavy anyways) , as long as Sian Williams is on BBC breakfast I will gladly pay for my TV license ...oh and the chase on ITV thats the only tv I watch, got bored of dodging the tv license agents years ago.