TV Licencing?

davidlizard

Sadly, there is a risk, even though you are perfectly legally licence free.

Firstly, TVL are known to fabricate or distort evidence, especially as their employees are given targets. Plenty of evidence of that on this forum, and numerous others.

Secondly, TVL also provide what are called "Court Training Sessions" (FOI request here ), so the litigant (TVL) are in some instances training the judges who will hear the cases they put in front of them. Unfortunately, the contents of this is not made available in the FOIR (!!), but given many of the convictions that have been overturned, the bias of this training appears dubious.

Thirdly, if it ends up in court, it's their word against yours, and sadly some judges are at times likely to side with "authority" as they cannot accept people will own a television for purposes other than watching telly.

So going down the no-contact route can greatly reduce the chances of a wrongful conviction.

Two practical things to do:
1. If they turn up, start filming them and tell them to leave. They will scuttle off immediately.
2. Withdraw their implied right of access. This makes it mostly illegal for them to enter your premises. Google WOIRA for more info.

Zakalwe

davidlizard wrote: »

Two practical things to do:
1. If they turn up, start filming them and tell them to leave. They will scuttle off immediately.
2. Withdraw their implied right of access. This makes it mostly illegal for them to enter your premises. Google WIORA for more info.

Thank you

I have a camera at my door already and always have my mobile close to hand, so will record them if they appear; I've had a look on youtube and this seems to be a fairly common way to deal with them. Will also look up the implied right of access.

Sorry to have create a bit of a debate with this thread - my intention was merely to know where I stood

almillar

'I don't need a TV Licence because I don't watch or record TV while it is being broadcast'. You can fill in the form or tell them that on your doorstep if you like.
You also know that you're not supposed to be torrenting any copywritten material?

Cornucopia

If not torrent, then iplayer desktop or get_iplayer...

Can someone who believes that the "TVL" website is wrong tell us why they think that "TVL" would deliberately publish incorrect info about the rules?

Cornucopia

Cornucopia wrote: »

Can someone who believes that the "TVL" website is wrong tell us why they think that "TVL" would deliberately publish incorrect info about the rules?

I guess that's a "no", then?

Perhaps we can dispense with the non-advice every time this subject comes up, now?

anotheruser

However, the significant problem is that if you own a TV, unless you have modified it so it cannot receive a TV signal, then the TVL people could say you simply put the ariel cable away when they came over.
However luckily if your TV is old, then it won't be able to receive digital signals anyway. Might be worth keeping one in the attic for this practice.

There is no proof either way but it's unlikely they will allow you to own a TV which could receive a signal and the court would be okay with that... even though you claim not to watch live TV. As someone else posted, it's likely the judge would side with the TVL.

The second significant problem is that the iPlayer is capable of streaming live TV. If you have the internet, then you will need a TV licence, I believe. But again, there is no proof that you visit the BBC iPlayer site unless they get logs from your ISP... a lot of hassle for them really.

Unless they videotape you through your lounge window watching a tv broadcast.

If you think you are doing the right thing, then carry on. Some people go years without having a TV licence, others get caught and are fined.
Perhaps use a fake name/address/email and contact them to enquire and ask?

Cornucopia

anotheruser wrote: »

However, the significant problem is that if you own a TV, unless you have modified it so it cannot receive a TV signal, then the TVL people could say you simply put the ariel cable away when they came over.

Modified = detuned. Yes, that is the correct procedure.

However luckily if your TV is old, then it won't be able to receive digital signals anyway. Might be worth keeping one in the attic for this practice.

Why would you keep it in the attic? Bit hard to watch DVDs comfortably up there.

There is no proof either way but it's unlikely they will allow you to own a TV which could receive a signal and the court would be okay with that... even though you claim not to watch live TV. As someone else posted, it's likely the judge would side with the TVL.

You need to review the Rudd judgement.

The second significant problem is that the iPlayer is capable of streaming live TV. If you have the internet, then you will need a TV licence, I believe.

You are wrong, and again contradicting the official advice on the matter. You only need a licence if you actually watch or record TV broadcasts live as they are transmitted to the entire population.

Unless they videotape you through your lounge window watching a tv broadcast.

They just need to see you, there's no requirement to videotape (not even sure it's legal).

If you think you are doing the right thing, then carry on. Some people go years without having a TV licence, others get caught and are fined.

You've just described some of the mechanisms for legally watching video content without needing a licence and now this? I am legally licence free. I use get_iplayer, iPlayer PS/3, and 4OD as well as DVDs. I do not need a licence to do any of that.

Perhaps use a fake name/address/email and contact them to enquire and ask?

Ask what? The information is clearly displayed on their website.

And I don't need to use a false name in my dealings with "TVL". AFAIK they are fully aware of who I am and my position on the validity of their enforcement antics.