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how do tv licensing inspectors carry out their inspection?

245

Comments

  • lemony05
    lemony05 Posts: 6 Forumite
    the tv was given to my boyfriend by his sister, she purchased it, the pc was bought when he was living at a previous address.
    yorkie98 wrote: »
    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.
  • spike7451
    spike7451 Posts: 6,944 Forumite
    Lifeforms wrote: »
    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.


    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.

    Years ago when I was in the Air Force,we used to get TV Licence people checking the SLA (Barracks) & the Pad Patch (Married Quarters) however in order to gain access,they had to ask for permission in advance,so the visits were published in SRO's (Station Routine Orders) well in advance & as it was everybodys duty to check SRO's,it soon became known when they would be on the base..So those on duty either locked their doors or locked the TV's away or if you were in bed,the TV licencing bods knock at the door was usually followed by a reply of "F*** off!!!"...:rotfl:
  • System
    System Posts: 178,371 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    yorkie98 wrote: »
    as soon as you use this equipment to watch live broadcasts you are a licence evader.
    I have added the bit that you missed in red. Using the equipment without a licence is not an offence. Using to watch live broadcasts without a licence is.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • yorkie98 wrote: »
    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.

    You are talking about a UK law... buy what you like from another country and get it shipped to your house. :)
  • yorkie98
    yorkie98 Posts: 306 Forumite
    To pick up two points, broadcasts do not have to be live, to watch recordings, or streaming television "as live" from any UK licensed broadcaster requires a licence, also I'm pretty sure that catchup services, iPlayer and the like, do require one.

    Secondly, getting something shipped from another country does not stop you from being a licence evader, as I pointed out in my post, when asked for Postcode/address details at point of sale, it's easy to give false information, this does not change the legalities, only possibly, the chance of detection.
  • Swipe
    Swipe Posts: 5,759 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    yorkie98 wrote: »
    To pick up two points, broadcasts do not have to be live, to watch recordings, or streaming television "as live" from any UK licensed broadcaster requires a licence, also I'm pretty sure that catchup services, iPlayer and the like, do require one.

    These on demand catchup services do not require a tv licence. You can check the tv licensing website for exactly what you need a licence for.
  • scotsbob
    scotsbob Posts: 4,632 Forumite
    yorkie98 wrote: »
    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.

    And remember not to use your credit/debit card, pay in cash ;)
  • Ainsley1
    Ainsley1 Posts: 404 Forumite
    For anyone who thinks the inspectors need access to tell if you are watching TV then let me say that is not true. Detector vans can tell from the TV radiated signals not only if you watch but what you are watching! In some cases they can even see the picture you watch and hear the sound you do!

    Why else would they have a detector van?
  • System
    System Posts: 178,371 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    BBC admit that for legal reasons detector vans would/can only be used to provide evidence for a search warrant. To date no search warrant has been issued based on TV detector evidence.

    Unless one was parked immediately outside your door, then at least 2 would be needed to get a positive fix on the location of the emissions. There is also doubt these days whether the emissions from LCD TVs are strong enough for detector vans to work.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • Ainsley1
    Ainsley1 Posts: 404 Forumite
    True !!!!!! but that's just spoiled the threat!! LOL

    I was of course referring to real TV's from the John Logie Baird era!
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