TV licence for student halls?

jaimeo

Good call.

I bought a license in halls. I was the only one. Noone ever got fined, we got letters before the licensing bloke was supposed to show up- though he never did.

The best idea has already been stated- the most likely thing an inspector will do is just tell you to get a license!
I always bought one coz for £10+- a month I didnt want the hassle of a possible fine.

You never know who they will make an example of! Why dont you suggest to the uni that they factor the cost into the rent. Halls are so outrageous these days! What happened to them being a convenient and cheap form of student accommodation?!?

ashcarrot

The qn is do you want to live with the stress of worrying about teh TV people for a year? I know i didn't and bought a license. (i know one of my housemates didn't want to but i bought it anyway )

trinaodee

lellie wrote:

the uni will be able to let them in.. so yes they can check..

We were told by the bar manager in our hall in the first year that the halls always refused to let them in when they came round. Apparantly they were allowed to do this, so none of us bought a tv licence!!!

JimArnold

So if your tv is not visible from the door ....

You needn't worry about the uni letting them in when you aren't there - as
a) they would be on very dodgy ground
b) it's only an offence to use an unlicensed TV not possess one

If you have a laptop get a USB tuner - then if you run it on the internal batteries and your parents have a TV license then you are covered by this.

I'm currently having an interesting conversation with TVLA regarding my daughter who has just received a letter telling her that will come round and "interview her under caution" seems a bit of an empty threat when it was addressed to Dear Sir or Madam and they can't get entry

Most of their staff and even supervisors deny all knowledge of an internal battery exemption

Now the really interesting question is this The BBC - who get the license fee run ads (sorry public information films) every year telling students with TVs that they MUST have a licence. Now they have changed their website to clarify the point about internal batteries - when I asked them to chnge MUST to "probably need" in their ads the answer was
1) initially to deny that was broadcast
2) to point out that it is techically correct as the student would in that case be covered by your licence !

Now on a 3 year course we are talking about best part of £400 here - buy a laptop and USB tuner

Note that if you have a mains powered PC then you will need a licence

jimclark1967

Is a TV really necessary for a year in halls?

When I went to Uni it was the first time I'd been away from convenient TV access on demand. Amazing how quickly you find other things to occupy yourself with.

supernudger

A little tip. I’m a student and have learnt that whenever you buy any TV or freeview equipment you are always asked for a postcode. To keep the licence people of your back give them a postcode of your parents or someone you know who has a licence. It will help cut down on the threatening letters and the chance of being spotted. Of course I always have a licence......

juno

jimclark1967 wrote:

Is a TV really necessary for a year in halls?

When I went to Uni it was the first time I'd been away from convenient TV access on demand. Amazing how quickly you find other things to occupy yourself with.

I agree! I haven't missed TV at all while I've been at uni. Although I didn't watch it much when I was at home anyway

Megalomaniac

I was caught in early February by a TV Licence guy, and I am in halls at Royal Holloway. I have a PCI card for my computer, and had it on when I answered the door. He was so sneaky though to get in, saying that he will just get me on the right side of the law and sort me out a tv licence.

He then read me my rights, and said i could eb fined.

2 weeks later got a letter saying that if I kept up payments I'll be ok. And it was a generic letter, so I think a lot of students will get away with it. Me and my mate did, and he got the same letter.

Oh and u need a licence if on ure contract, u are specified to be renting a specific room in ure house/flat/halls. Yes its rubbish considering Travelinn have so many tv's but one licence!

student100

Your attention please:

I know it's a while since this thread was started, but I'd just like to remind you of one of the rules of the site: please don't discuss illegal ways to save money.

Some of the suggestions so far on this thread (not bothering with a licence because you're unlikely to get caught, hiding a TV away etc.) are not legal ways to save money. Even if it is unlikely that you get caught and penalised, it is still illegal.

I will leave this thread open, but please only use it to discuss legal ways of saving money, i.e. the certain cases where you can legally watch TV without having to buy a licence.

Thanks