search warrant for tv licence

Lexxx

I am trying to help a friend who is in a bit of a pickle and is looking for advice
He had police and tv licence people knocking on the door because he did not have a valid license, he is not working, heavily in debt and trying to sort it all out.

should he contact tv licencing people and get a payment plan set up, is it too late, he is very worried about the situation, suffers from anxiety disorder (think thats the name) and is willing to pay but worried about people he doesn't know entering his property and also if he has to go to court, not sure he would be able to cope with that.

any advice welcome. thanks

awayinchina

hi,

the warrant is not to search for a license (they have done that on the system and there is no record of a TV license) what they are looking for is a TV/ computer with net access or any means to watch or listen to a radio.

he has 2 options:
1) admit to all and get a hefty fine
2) remove all equipment from the house and purchase a tv license.

once he has a TV license then get a friend to write a receipt saying they sold him his equipment the day after he buys his license.
Unless, he has purchased a TV from a supermarket or another store and handed his postcode and details over when purchasing and in that case he is stumped.

Also, he has to think wether the equipment can be viewed from a window if they did not enter as now days its easy to photograph through a window with a phone?

he can therefore attempt a blag or face the music.

DevilPigeon

You can have a TV without a licence if you're using it as a monitor (eg to play DVDs or use with a gaming console) and I also believe that you can watch programmes that aren't actually being broadcast in real-time (eg catch-up TV, non-live BBC iPlayer, YouTube videos etc)

It's up to "the licencing authority" to prove you are watching live broadcasts, not for you to prove you're not.

awayinchina

Even using iplayer to watch live streamed programs is subject to a TV license. if you have then there will be a record on the BBC server and therefore they might want to search your property for such equipment that has been used for such a purpose.
logically speaking would the tv license apply for a warrant to search if they had no evidence? think now!!
And when I was quoting watching I meant as in "streamed live" which is subject to a tv license.

CKhalvashi

awayinchina wrote: »

Even using iplayer to watch live streamed programs is subject to a TV license. if you have then there will be a record on the BBC server and therefore they might want to search your property for such equipment that has been used for such a purpose.
logically speaking would the tv license apply for a warrant to search if they had no evidence? think now!!
And when I was quoting watching I meant as in "streamed live" which is subject to a tv license.

This only applies to UK channels, and I have in writing from TV Licensing to say as such.

CK

Swan_2

awayinchina wrote: »

<snip> the warrant is not to search for a license (they have done that on the system and there is no record of a TV license) what they are looking for is a TV/ computer with net access or any means to watch or listen to a radio. <snip>

the radio licence was abolished in 1971, so thankfully that's one less thing for the OP's friend to worry about

DevilPigeon

awayinchina wrote: »

Even using iplayer to watch live streamed programs is subject to a TV license. if you have then there will be a record on the BBC server and therefore they might want to search your property for such equipment that has been used for such a purpose.
logically speaking would the tv license apply for a warrant to search if they had no evidence? think now!!
And when I was quoting watching I meant as in "streamed live" which is subject to a tv license.

I'd imagine that getting the police involved at an early stage wouldn't happen... My guess would be that they've been brought in because other avenues of enquiry have failed.

Peter999_2

Irn-Bru-Kid wrote: »

You really have no idea what you are talking about.

You cannot watch live streamed programs via iplayer. It is a catch up service, it does not broadcast live television.

You really should not give advice to people on subjects that you clearly no nothing about.

If you watch television as it is shown live, be that via a TV, PC or any other device, you will need a licence.

If like me, you watch only catch-up services like iplayer, 4od etc, you do not need a licence.

I'm sorry, but you certainly can watch live TV via the iplayer.

See the first link in the below google search.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=iplayer+live+stream&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari

Swan_2

Irn-Bru-Kid wrote: »

You really have no idea what you are talking about.

You cannot watch live streamed programs via iplayer. It is a catch up service, it does not broadcast live television.

You really should not give advice to people on subjects that you clearly no nothing about.

If you watch television as it is shown live, be that via a TV, PC or any other device, you will need a licence.

If like me, you watch only catch-up services like iplayer, 4od etc, you do not need a licence.

Actually you can & it does, but it's unlikely you'd do it by accident as a warning page about licencing comes up & you have to click a box saying whether or not you have one (truthfully or not) before you can access the live broadcasts.

For example ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/tv/bbc_one_london/watchlive


EDIT ... sorry, cross-posted with Peter999, slow typer

Hooloovoo

Lexxx wrote: »

should he contact tv licencing people and get a payment plan set up, is it too late, he is very worried about the situation,

If he is heavily in debt then setting another monthly cost would surely be a bad idea. How about he just stops watching live TV and therefore does not require a license? Live TV is rubbish anyway.

I fear they will never stop.

Irn-Bru-Kid wrote: »

You really have no idea what you are talking about.

You cannot watch live streamed programs via iplayer. It is a catch up service, it does not broadcast live television.

Actually, it's you that has no idea what you are talking about. The iPlayer has allowed live streaming of BBC channels for quite some time now.

Swan_2

Hooloovoo wrote: »

If he is heavily in debt then setting another monthly cost would surely be a bad idea. How about he just stops watching live TV and therefore does not require a license? Live TV is rubbish anyway.

That seems like the simplest & most obvious solution.

He could still watch catch-up, DVDs/Blu Rays & play games, plenty of entertainment there.