TV license Query

kriss_boy

I think I know the answer to this, because the TV licensing are a shower of muppets, but here goes anyway.

Our tv license ran out on the 30th of April while we were on Holiday. We returned from our holiday and due to work & planning our wedding we barely sat down in our lounge, let alone turned on the TV.

So it wasnt until around the 15th of May that we paid the license and in spite of me doing this as a new policy, in my name instead of the wifes, they've back dated it.

How can they do this?

We tend to go away the first week or two most Mays, so we will be in the same position next year too.

Why should we pay for a license when we arent in the country to watch the tv...

McKneff

Its in the terms and conditions, they run on a full monthl basis.
no matter what date in May you took it out it would still have reverted to the 1st. You take a licence out for a full year, full stop,

Same principal as taxing a car. If you taxed your car on say 29th May, it would be dated from 1st May, but it you waited 3 days, it would start 1st June.

HappyMJ

kriss_boy wrote: »

I think I know the answer to this, because the TV licensing are a shower of muppets, but here goes anyway.

Our tv license ran out on the 30th of April while we were on Holiday. We returned from our holiday and due to work & planning our wedding we barely sat down in our lounge, let alone turned on the TV.

So it wasnt until around the 15th of May that we paid the license and in spite of me doing this as a new policy, in my name instead of the wifes, they've back dated it.

How can they do this?

We tend to go away the first week or two most Mays, so we will be in the same position next year too.

Why should we pay for a license when we arent in the country to watch the tv...

You need to stop watching telly for a whole month to delay the start date of the licence to the 1st of next month.

giraffe69

If your licence started on the 15th(which it can't as said above) then wouldn't it run until 14th May 2013? So you would be back in the position of covering the first two weeks in May anyway. It is not clear you have accurately selected the muppet on this one!

The_Safordian

kriss_boy wrote: »

I think I know the answer to this, because the TV licensing are a shower of muppets, but here goes anyway.

Our tv license ran out on the 30th of April while we were on Holiday. We returned from our holiday and due to work & planning our wedding we barely sat down in our lounge, let alone turned on the TV.

So it wasnt until around the 15th of May that we paid the license and in spite of me doing this as a new policy, in my name instead of the wifes, they've back dated it.

How can they do this?

We tend to go away the first week or two most Mays, so we will be in the same position next year too.

Why should we pay for a license when we arent in the country to watch the tv...

If you didn't need a BBC TV Licence for that period simply don't pay it. You have to remember BBC TV Licensing are just a bunch of left-wing bullies and no court of law will force you to pay when you didn't need one at the time

Buzby

There is no such thing as a 'BBC Licence'. It is a TV licence required for all UK licenced terrestrial and satellite broadcasters. AS for no court of law forcing you to pay if you 'didn't need one at the time' - sorry, that's plain wrong.

You need a licence if you have the equipment 'installed' (terminology from the Communications Act) viewing is an irrelevance. The issue is whether the judge believes you or not, and that is a very risky strategy.

anotherbaldrick

What I cannot get to grips with is the degree of malpractice disguised as ineptitude indulged in by Capita. We live in one of a pair of new houses built on the site of one now demolished. We have had a continuous stream of threatening letters from them although we have phoned and told them 4 times we have a licence, in fact we did it on the web and have a confirmation transaction number for it. I have now advised them that anything purporting to eminate from TV Licencing now goes into the shredder unopened. The latest from them is they are persuing our neighbour , not for the licence for his house, details given , but for the licence on the previous property on the site now demolished . The ability to comprehend that it does not exist any more , that it is an ex property , rubbleised and sent to that great tip in the sky seems totally beyond them . Our nice neighbour spent a long time on the phone taking the numpty through the whole situation and explaining it in intimate detail only for him the other end to say they still wanted the licence fee for the demolished house. What a joke Capita are !

flashg67

Pay by direct debit - costs the same and renews automatically?

anotherbaldrick

flashg67 wrote: »

Pay by direct debit - costs the same and renews automatically?

Sorry mate, nothing doing, over 75.

LucianH

Buzby wrote: »

... and the law still states that if you have receiving equipment installed, you are obligated to purchase one - no need for them to prove you watched anything.

Why are you stating this as fact when it is totally wrong. It may well have been related to receiving equipment in the past but this is no longer the case. And in that instance "recieving equipment" would be an aerial and receiver.

You CAN have receiveing equipment and not need a TV licence (eg, an LED TV) if you don't use it to receive live broadcasts - eg if you use it only as a computer/games monitor. But also, you DO need a TV licence if you DON'T have "receiving equipment" but watch live TV - eg via a computer.

As the TV Licenceing website states:

You need a valid TV Licence if you use TV receiving equipment to watch or record television programmes as they’re being shown on TV. ‘TV receiving equipment’ means any equipment which is used to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV. This includes a TV, computer, mobile phone, games console, digital box, DVD/VHS recorder or any other device.

As you can see they have defined "receiving equipment" but the key thing is the term USING it to watch of programs "as they are broadcast" not for OWNING it.

So if you have a computer connected to a TV and only watch iPlayer/catchup TV then you don't need a licence but will need one if you watch the program as it is being broadcast.

SO, TO REPEAT, YOU CAN OWN A TV BUT YOU DO NOT NEED A LICENCE IF YOU DON'T USE IT TO WATCH LIVE BROADCASTS.

Sorry that this is off-topic from the orignal post but previous statements have been misleading.

davidlizard

Buzby wrote: »

Snip

What do I get out of it? Stopping misguided souls like you quoting irrelevant sources. The Communications Act 1990 is available on the the Govt website. I've read it many times. I have to assume you didn't bother, as you continue to harp on about irrelevances.

So what is this "The Communications Act 1990" and which section of it applies? I can only find "The Broadcasting Act 1990" which has very little to do with TV Licencing. As you have read it many times, I am sure you can post a link, and quote the relevant section.