Would I need a TV license?

RainbowDreamer

My Sky TV has now ended and my phone line and internet will follow.

I was thinking of not bothering with a freeview box, but watching dvds instead. Maybe using the laptop to watch films in bed.

My question is, if I have a TV, but no freeview or sky box and I have a laptop, but no internet.. will I still need to buy a TV license?

Owain_Moneysaver

No.


.

davidlizard

You do not require a TV licence.

A TV licence is only required to receive (i.e. watch or record) TV as it is broadcast on any platform.

A licence is not required for simply owning a television, DVD recorder or any other device capable of receiving signals. A TV licence is not required for accessing the internet - indeed you can legally watch non-live i-player type services without needing a licence (whether this is morally right is another debate).

You will get hounded mercilessly by TV Licencing, who do not believe in this day and age some people can do without television.

This is where the fun and games start. TVL (who are the BBC) have no special rights of entry and you do not have to enter any conversation or correspondence with them. Indeed, to enter your house they need a warrant, and courts do not grant these simply for not appearing on their database.

It is argued that the best approach with dealing with them is to simply shut the door - there have been examples on this very forum of people being tricked into confessing they have watched television whilst unlicenced and have found themselves in court. A no-contact approach prevents this. Although you don't have to, it is recommended to unplug the TV from the aerial and detune it.

Stephen_Leak

davidlizard wrote: »

<snip> You will get hounded mercilessly by TV Licencing, who do not believe in this day and age some people can do without television. <snip>

Maybe not.

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check/viewtopiccontent.aspx?id=TOP12&iqdocumentid=TOP12&WT.mc_id=r001

I don't have a television. I sent off the declaration and got back a form, saying that they will check again in 2 years. Fair enough. Things might change. So far, they've been as good as their word. I was rather looking forward to a fight.

RainbowDreamer

I do not mind letting them in once to check... but I wouldnt let them in weekly lol.
I am hoping to only do this for 6 months.. and then sign back up with sky.
But in the meantime I have no sky box.. although the sky dish will stay up.. as obv I am not going to climb up there and attempt to remove it.

But next week my landline and internet will get cut off.. so the phone line to recieve sky will be inactive. I do not have a freeview box either.

I have a tv and a dvd player. I also have a laptop which once the internet has been cut off I may use to watch dvds in bed once the kids are asleep.

Would I not get hounded more if I DONT let them in? I thought that by letting them in to expect that would mean they would then accept that I did not need a tv license and leave me alone?

jayme1

don't let them in at all, they are not the police and they don't have a warrant, whereas you would think if you let a stranger into your house to prove you are not using a TV, it actually proves nothing and they will still send you letters all the time.
even worse (from other threads on here) they may even say 'just sign this paper saying we came' and what you may not realize is you are signing that you admit you are watching TV illegally.

keep it simple, don't let them in, don't engage into any conversation with them and don't sign anything, any letters they send you either recycle them or 'return to sender'

RainbowDreamer

Thanks for your reply. Your right. Tbh I do not answer the door now anyway unless I know someone is coming at a set time.

I get far too many cold callers and charity collectors coming as it is!

macman

RainbowDreamer wrote: »

I do not mind letting them in once to check... but I wouldnt let them in weekly lol.
I am hoping to only do this for 6 months.. and then sign back up with sky.
But in the meantime I have no sky box.. although the sky dish will stay up.. as obv I am not going to climb up there and attempt to remove it.

But next week my landline and internet will get cut off.. so the phone line to recieve sky will be inactive. I do not have a freeview box either.

I have a tv and a dvd player. I also have a laptop which once the internet has been cut off I may use to watch dvds in bed once the kids are asleep.

Would I not get hounded more if I DONT let them in? I thought that by letting them in to expect that would mean they would then accept that I did not need a tv license and leave me alone?

Sky is received via your satellite dish-no phone line is required.
Why don't you just use your existing Sky dish and digibox to get the Sky FTA channels for free? However for this you will still require a TV licence.

RainbowDreamer

I no longer have my sky box. Have given it to a friend. I didnt really watch tv when I had the sky channels.. so wouldnt bother with freeview anyway.

Have dug out all my dvds... all 70 of them. Half are mine and half are the kids. Much better than watching live tv and we can do much more enjoyable things like baking

annie1975_2

You need to be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record TV as it's being broadcast. This includes the use of devices such as a computer, laptop, mobile phone or DVD/video recorder.
It costs £145.50 for colour and £49.00 for a black and white TV Licence.

This is what it says on tv licensing website. It also states this on the tv licences.
So looks like no you wont need a licence?

jayme1

annie1975 wrote: »

You need to be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record TV as it's being broadcast. This includes the use of devices such as a computer, laptop, mobile phone or DVD/video recorder.
It costs £145.50 for colour and £49.00 for a black and white TV Licence.

This is what it says on tv licensing website. It also states this on the tv licences.
So looks like no you wont need a licence?

Yep she will not need a TV licence.

Though I point out how they have worded that in a way that it could be read in a way that could suggest if you own and use a computer, laptop, mobile phone you also need a TV licence.
A much better way of wording it would be 'This includes the use of devices such as a computer, laptop, mobile phone or DVD/video recorder if they are used to watch or record live TV'