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TV licensing strikes again!
Voyager2002
Posts: 16,111 Forumite
Some of you may remember my post about my broken TV. However, that did not protect me from these vampires. Anyway, I would welcome comments on this letter, and advice on the best place to send it.
Dear Sir/Madam,
DISPUTED RECORD OF INTERVIEW
Your ref: xxxx
I am concerned about certain irregularities in an interview conducted earlier this evening, and would like to place on the record that statements recorded on the “Record of Interview” are inaccurate and are hereby retracted.
As regards the process, your officer failed to caution my wife (indeed, the space on the form marked ‘time of caution’ has been left blank); failed to explain the significance of the interview record; gave the impression that her signature was a formality and made her sign the form in dim light, so that she had no opportunity to read the interview notes and correct any errors. Since she is not a native speaker of English and had only a very vague idea of what was involved, this conduct by your officer is unfortunate as well as extremely unprofessional.
As regards the content, your “record of interview” fails to record that the TV set seen by your officer does not work, although that was made very clear to him. Your officer did not test the TV, but the form records a list of channels that were “admitted”. My wife is adamant that she made no such admission. My son was in the room and apparently listed the channels that he likes watching at the home of a friend. My wife was asked when she last watched TV, and clearly explained that she had visited a friend to watch Chinese television by satellite there “two weeks ago”. The statement on the form that our TV was last used for watching TV programmes here “two weeks ago” is pure fabrication, since it has not worked since January.
Your form records correctly that power to the TV was still plugged in. I have not disconnected the power supply, nor moved the TV set, since it stopped working, because I am commencing legal proceedings against the company that supplied it: it is relatively new and I could reasonably expect it to last for longer than its present life. Until this is resolved I do not want to change anything since they might claim that being moved, unplugged, or whatever had damaged it, and use this to deny responsibility for repairs. Furthermore, we do subscribe to Virgin Cable, as noted correctly, but this is currently used only to receive radio broadcasts and in fact is connected directly to my audio hi-fi system. Your form also states that the aerial was plugged in to the TV: this is incorrect, and casts further doubt on the reliability of the “record of interview”. Even when the TV did work, it was connected to a set-top box and has never been connected to an aerial.
In sum, I deny categorically that any offence was committed since the TV seen by your officer does not currently work. I am very concerned that your officer recorded statements that had not been made, partly relying on misinterpreting the words of a child, and then tricked my wife into signing the form without giving her the opportunity to read it, nor to have it read to her. Although I have now purchased a TV license, this should not be taken as an admission that a license is currently required at this address.
In sum, I would like you to conduct a full investigation of my concerns and address the staff training issues that are very clearly raised by this discreditable episode.
Yours faithfully,
Dear Sir/Madam,
DISPUTED RECORD OF INTERVIEW
Your ref: xxxx
I am concerned about certain irregularities in an interview conducted earlier this evening, and would like to place on the record that statements recorded on the “Record of Interview” are inaccurate and are hereby retracted.
As regards the process, your officer failed to caution my wife (indeed, the space on the form marked ‘time of caution’ has been left blank); failed to explain the significance of the interview record; gave the impression that her signature was a formality and made her sign the form in dim light, so that she had no opportunity to read the interview notes and correct any errors. Since she is not a native speaker of English and had only a very vague idea of what was involved, this conduct by your officer is unfortunate as well as extremely unprofessional.
As regards the content, your “record of interview” fails to record that the TV set seen by your officer does not work, although that was made very clear to him. Your officer did not test the TV, but the form records a list of channels that were “admitted”. My wife is adamant that she made no such admission. My son was in the room and apparently listed the channels that he likes watching at the home of a friend. My wife was asked when she last watched TV, and clearly explained that she had visited a friend to watch Chinese television by satellite there “two weeks ago”. The statement on the form that our TV was last used for watching TV programmes here “two weeks ago” is pure fabrication, since it has not worked since January.
Your form records correctly that power to the TV was still plugged in. I have not disconnected the power supply, nor moved the TV set, since it stopped working, because I am commencing legal proceedings against the company that supplied it: it is relatively new and I could reasonably expect it to last for longer than its present life. Until this is resolved I do not want to change anything since they might claim that being moved, unplugged, or whatever had damaged it, and use this to deny responsibility for repairs. Furthermore, we do subscribe to Virgin Cable, as noted correctly, but this is currently used only to receive radio broadcasts and in fact is connected directly to my audio hi-fi system. Your form also states that the aerial was plugged in to the TV: this is incorrect, and casts further doubt on the reliability of the “record of interview”. Even when the TV did work, it was connected to a set-top box and has never been connected to an aerial.
In sum, I deny categorically that any offence was committed since the TV seen by your officer does not currently work. I am very concerned that your officer recorded statements that had not been made, partly relying on misinterpreting the words of a child, and then tricked my wife into signing the form without giving her the opportunity to read it, nor to have it read to her. Although I have now purchased a TV license, this should not be taken as an admission that a license is currently required at this address.
In sum, I would like you to conduct a full investigation of my concerns and address the staff training issues that are very clearly raised by this discreditable episode.
Yours faithfully,
0
Comments
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I think there needs to be a bit more backstory before any advice can be given. If you have a broken TV why have you not disconnected it or moved it from the space it's at?0
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If you have a set-top box, doesnt this require a TV licence?"You were only supposed to blow the bl**dy doors off!!"0
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fudgeukraine wrote: »I think there needs to be a bit more backstory before any advice can be given. If you have a broken TV why have you not disconnected it or moved it from the space it's at?
The TV stopped receiving pictures more or less as soon as it was out of warranty. I have written to the retailer quoting the Sale of Goods Act and asking them to accept responsibility. I don't want them to claim that the TV was damaged by being moved, being un-plugged or whatever, and so am leaving it exactly as it was when it worked until the situation with the retailer has been resolved.0 -
maninthestreet wrote: »If you have a set-top box, doesnt this require a TV licence?
Why? It provides a great radio signal, and you also need a working TV in order to watch TV programmes that it supplies. Rather like needing a license if you live in a house with an aerial, except that few people pay a monthly subscription to have an aerial on their roof.
(As it happens I receive cable TV free as part of the deal under which I get my broadband and telephone line. I admit that very few people would pay a cable subscription without having a TV.)0 -
As much as I dont want to be a devils advocate, and I am definatley not siding with the Tv licensing company, as I personally would love the invention of a tv, that doesnt broadcast BBC channels, as we all know the service provided is NOT worth the fee.
Unfortunately, having a set top box, vcr, or cable box, requires having a licence, wether or not you have a telly plugged into it. The rules are that if you have an applience, that is capable of receiving any BBC channels, as such means it needs a licence. Even if you had a black & white tv, both a vcr and cable box, receive colour signals, which means a colour licence is required BY LAW.
The excuse they use for this is that you are able to record a programme and watch it at a freinds house, my argument to this would be "doesnt that mean he needs the licence?" But alas no. It basically means they have us by the short and curlies.:A:dance:1+1+1=1:dance::A
"Marleyboy you are a legend!"
MarleyBoy "You are the Greatest"
Marleyboy You Are A Legend!
Marleyboy speaks sense
marleyboy (total legend)
Marleyboy - You are, indeed, a legend.0 -
Unfortunately, having a set top box, vcr, or cable box, requires having a licence, wether or not you have a telly plugged into it. The rules are that if you have an applience, that is capable of receiving any BBC channels, as such means it needs a licence. Even if you had a black & white tv, both a vcr and cable box, receive colour signals, which means a colour licence is required BY LAW.
Not correct !
You only need a licence if you WATCH or record programmes. If you have a television in the house and use it only as a flower pot stand you do not need a licence.
From the TV licencing website:-
"You need a TV Licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, set-top boxes, video or DVD recorders, computers or mobile phones to watch or record TV programmes as they are being shown on TV."0 -
Voyager2002 wrote: »Why? It provides a great radio signal, and you also need a working TV in order to watch TV programmes that it supplies.
Unfortunately, it is capable of receiving TV transmissions so if you use it, you will need a TV licence. Even if you only use it to listen to the radio.
As it happens I receive cable TV free as part of the deal under which I get my broadband and telephone line.
If you get cable TV and you use it, you will need a TV licence even if you have no TV. The bad news is that the TV licence is not just for TVs. It is for anything that can receive live UK TV and so covers VCRs, DVDRs, STBs, Cable TV, Sky, TV cards in PCs. 0 -
JohalaReewi wrote: »Unfortunately, it is capable of receiving TV transmissions so if you use it, you will need a TV licence. Even if you only use it to listen to the radio.
If you get cable TV and you use it, you will need a TV licence even if you have no TV. The bad news is that the TV licence is not just for TVs. It is for anything that can receive live UK TV and so covers VCRs, DVDRs, STBs, Cable TV, Sky, TV cards in PCs.
Sorry folks - please read the TVLA website - you need a TV licence to WATCH or RECORD live television, NOT to possess a piece of equipment that is capable of doing this ! Technically this does include radio from satellite "listened" to through a TV. .
If you don't have a TV you do not need a licence.
If you have a thousand TVs and don't watch any of them you do not need a licence !
If you have a VCR, DVDR, STB, Cable, Sky card, TV tuner in your PC, mobile phone that receives TV, if you don't actually use any of these to watch or record live TV you do not need a licence.
The TVLA are bullying and blustering to make everyone believe that you need a licence - I will repeat myself again - you only need a licence to watch or record live television NOT to possess any equipment capable of so doing .0 -
moonrakerz wrote: »Sorry folks - please read the TVLA website - you need a TV licence to WATCH or RECORD live television, NOT to possess a piece of equipment that is capable of doing this ! Technically this does include radio from satellite "listened" to through a TV. .
If you don't have a TV you do not need a licence.
If you have a thousand TVs and don't watch any of them you do not need a licence !
If you have a VCR, DVDR, STB, Cable, Sky card, TV tuner in your PC, mobile phone that receives TV, if you don't actually use any of these to watch or record live TV you do not need a licence.
The TVLA are bullying and blustering to make everyone believe that you need a licence - I will repeat myself again - you only need a licence to watch or record live television NOT to possess any equipment capable of so doing .
Unfortunatley, you are wrong. I have double checked this, and the TVLA have specifically said, and I qoute "Any applience that is capable of receiving BBC signals, requires a licence". I would suggest you phone them and ask if you dont beleive me.:A:dance:1+1+1=1:dance::A
"Marleyboy you are a legend!"
MarleyBoy "You are the Greatest"
Marleyboy You Are A Legend!
Marleyboy speaks sense
marleyboy (total legend)
Marleyboy - You are, indeed, a legend.0 -
Unfortunatley, you are wrong. I have double checked this, and the TVLA have specifically said, and I qoute "Any applience that is capable of receiving BBC signals, requires a licence". I would suggest you phone them and ask if you dont beleive me.
Interesting, but I wonder exactly what the word "receive" means in this context. I mean, there is a sense in which an aerial on your roof "receives" TV signals but cleary this does not enable you to watch TV, nor mean that you need a license. I would suggest that this is similar to a set-top box.0
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