TV Licence - misleading and confusing

Cornucopia

You can apply to the Court to swear on oath that you were not resident at the address to receive the original summons. The conviction and the failure to pay the fine will be set aside, and a new trial held, if BBC/TVL still feel there is merit in it.

Consult a solicitor - If you have limited means, you may be eligible for Legal Aid.

mickaveli2001

The truth is: TV detection Technology does NOT exist. It is a long running scare tactic stemming from decades ago that the BBC use to put fear into non-paying households. Sure, they have vans purposely built to look like gadget vans capable of such feat, but the fact is that in the history of the UK, NO conviction has been due to the result of TV detection vans or equipment. NONE in the 30 or so years. People in fear are more likely to submit and pay without lengthy costly investigations required on BBC's part.

These investigations are the BBC paying a 3rd party (Capita Ltd) to allow trading with the BBC's trade name "TV Licencing" and have Capita Ltd staff go to non-licensed households gathered from a database that haven't responded to letters over a period of time. They don't know who you are, whether you are the legal occupant, babysitter, lodger, or the gas man. They rely on YOU giving them the information they need to fill in a form - A form, which they get paid commission to fill out successfully, so they will lie and cheat if you are silly enough to let them into your home - Even if you have a TV that doesn't require a licence or need one based on criteria (IE: for DVD playback only, and isn't hooked up to a receiver to receive live broadcasts) STILL don't let them into your home to prove yourself, because around 80% of them will lie. Do you want to take that chance?

In short, ignore the door, ignore their empty threatening letters, which are simply automatically generated as evident with markings on the envelopes and letters. (these will sound worse over a period of time in level of severity and threats, but they mean nothing) and don't believe their lies at the door should you wish to engage in listening to their rubbish.

They like to go to doors around mid-afternoon when a women is more likely to be at home herself, as Capita Ltd training suggests that women are more vulnerable and more willing to co-operate and hand over the details they need to go to the magistrates court with for convictions or search warrants AGAINST you. (Even if they plead that paying for one there and then will be the end of it)

They can't issue a warrant based on speculation, and certainly can't without the necessary details, so keep calm, and ignore them in future. I have still haven't heard nothing from them, but I have a video camera ready to show and prove how easy it is to rid this forceful unnecessary tax from your lives

mickaveli2001

miss_hh wrote: »

Can some please advise me.
I was in work today and got a telphone call to say that there were police officers at my door with a warrant for my arrest. I thought it was a joke and contacted my local police station.
They told me that I never had a tv licence in MAy 2008. I must add at this time that I was under the impression I did have a licence because my now ex husband paid for it from his account. Im going to assume he stopped payments.
I moved house in JUne 2008 and phoned TV licence and got the licence changed to my new address and bank details altered to mine. I have been paying this ever since.
I have had no letters concerning a beak in payment. When I contacted them to change the details no one mentioned anything. There ha been no letters to my current address and I never knew of any court date. As I was unaware of a court date, I never attended. I was fined in my absence. I was unaware of such fine and therefore failed to pay it which has now resulted in it becoming a criminal matter and a warrant has been issued for my arrest.
I have to pay £500 or spend 7 days in jail. I do not have £500. I have 3 children and have noone to mind them if I am sent to prison.
Is there anyway that I can fight this? I have had a licence in my name/account from June 2008 when I split from my husband so TV licence could easily have sent letters to my current address but I received nothing.
What can I do?
Edit - I live in Northern Irealand

This to me sounds like it was never the police. This sounds like the typical "dirty tactics" used by Capita Ltd (BBC's hired goons) who lie and cheat to put fear into people... Did the conversation state that:

"Officers have been at your door with a warrant"?

Did it state police officers? If so, don't contact TV licencing, in fact IGNORE them altogether. Act as if they don't exist. Any information they get from you can and WILL be used against you. One of the BBC's (and I say BBC because 'TV Licencing' is simply a trading name they use to avoid negativity with all this bully tactic campaign) favorites is to fill out a "warrant" and use it as a flag to show you just how serious it is, and lead you to believe that they will have the courts issue a warrant and have police at your door because they have the application form filled out. Of course, this is all BS, and as long as you remain silent and tell them absolutely NOTHING, then they can't do a thing

Cornucopia

There was a similar case to Miss HH's in the news a couple of months ago.

http://www.thisistamworth.co.uk/horror-court-listing/story-17041156-detail/story.html

mickaveli2001

The women should have went higher to Crown Court rather than the "work-for-profit" entity known as the Magistrates Court and sued for distress, defamation of character, and held not just the BBC/TV licensing, but also the Magistrates fully accountable for having received a CRIMINAL record and conviction without so much as a criminal trail or appearance whatsoever? This is actually UNLAWFUL.

Damages should be pushed towards a crown court. Magistrates aren't even real judges

Cornucopia

mickaveli2001 wrote: »

This is actually UNLAWFUL.

Scandalous - but a mistake on the part of the authorities.

Not sure about it being unlawful, but IANAL.

mickaveli2001

There is a lot unlawful about the TV licence itself. I can't wait until the day that it is abolished. The sooner the people stop funding the BBC, the better.

This is supposed to be a democracy, and we should be exercising our democratic right towards ending this nonsense. polls and studies already reveal that the majority want to scrap the licence fee, however the governments don't listen to the people, and if they don't represent us, then just who are they representing?

Cornucopia

The issue of the BBC runs deeper and darker than who is in power from one week to the next.

They (the BBC) are a fundamental part of the Establishment, and no political party is presently brave enough to take them on. I like the way the Tory young-guns nip at their ankles, but as you say, the system is ludicrous, probably unlawful and needs changing.

For those who doubt that it is unlawful, just answer this question: when in the UK/under UK law does a public body ever go door-to-door to check that people aren't breaking the law?

mickaveli2001

Very good point

Marivanna

mickaveli2001 wrote: »

I no longer pay my licence. I cancelled my direct debit, demanded a refund, and sent them a long notice removing their rights to come onto my property and to sending their junk mail to my door with empty threats, and in doing so would be charging them a fee of £20 per letter and £100 per visit.

Yesterday morning, I had £46.32 refunded by TV LICENCE QBR3 in my statement. Fantastic, with what appeared to be an automated e-mail stating that although they would try their best, I will not be contacted in 2 years, and that they will be in touch to ensure my details haven't changed, so I'm currently in the process of sending another letter telling them not to breach a previous denial, so will see how that goes.

Would you please share a copy of that notice you sent them?