TV licensing strikes again!

marleyboy

true, but an earial does not constitute as an applience, but i like the argument and will enquire about it.

crazy_guy

Shame there isn't a tv where you can disable the bbc channels so you could watch itv ch4 and ch5 without having to pay a license fee as your tv not capable to watch bbc channels

sweven

marleyboy wrote: »

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.

I'd like to point out that many people believe the BBC is well worth the cost of the license fee. Having worked and lived abroad I've seen how bad an unregulated broadcast market can be. I've also spent many hours listening to the football (and other programs) on the World Service, and know how respected it is in foreign countries.

Their news service is one of the best in the world, and fairly unbiased. The BBC website is one of the top 10 in the world. We should be proud of the BBC as a (nowadays rare) example of Britain leading the world.

[Note - this isn't to say I condone underhand tactics by the collection agency. I'm also unhappy that it's no longer possible to pay at the Post Office, as this is one British institution undermining another.]

marleyboy

sweven wrote: »

I'd like to point out that many people believe the BBC is well worth the cost of the license fee. Having worked and lived abroad I've seen how bad an unregulated broadcast market can be. I've also spent many hours listening to the football (and other programs) on the World Service, and know how respected it is in foreign countries.
quote]

Id point out that NOT AS many people think it is worth the money, a typical weekday on bbc consists of repeats, reality tv and soaps, NONE of which are worth the money we all have to pay simply for the privilage of having to turn the channel over to watch the likewise dribble on the other channels, only with the added knowledge that the advertising revenue pay for them.

If we have a poll of for's and against, its a fair bet that the against will far outweigh the for's.

moonrakerz

marleyboy wrote: »

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.

I am sorry, but you are wrong ! Your quote is incorrect (and misspelt).

Read what it says on the TVLA website, read what it says on the licence itself, read what it says on the CAB website

If you are not capable of doing that - here is a quote from the TVLA

"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."

This is the first paragraph on their website under the heading "Do I Need a Licence?"

As I keep saying, the important word is "USE".

You are being browbeaten by the TVLA propaganda into believing that if you don't have a television licence (for any reason !) you are breaking the law. You are ONLY breaking the law if you USE a television without a licence.

The TVLA believes that there are two classes of people in the UK; those that have a TV licence and those that are breaking the law. They act like a pseudo police force sending out letters that imply (but don't actually state) that they have certain powers.
I have had several letters from them stating that they have "authorised officers to interview me under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act" - this is hogwash ! They have no more right to interview me under PACE than does the girl on the checkout in Tesco. You do not have to speak to them, you do not have to tell them your name.
They have no right of access to my premises without a warrant from a magistrate. They have to convince the Magistrate that you are using an unlicenced TV before he will issue a warrant - this is an extremely rare occurance.

Finally - the legality of the way the TVLA operates is being challenged in the European Courts - watch this space !

Finally, finally. I think the BBC is pretty good value for the money. I have no idea how much ITV, Ch4 & Ch5 is costing me because the cost is hidden in the price of everything I buy.

crazy_guy

moonrakerz wrote: »

Finally - the legality of the way the TVLA operates is being challenged in the European Courts - watch this space !

Though i'm not questioning this statement, have you got any links for further information on this, i study law and would be quite interested in this?

moonrakerz

crazy_guy wrote: »

Though i'm not questioning this statement, have you got any links for further information on this, i study law and would be quite interested in this?

I can't find the exact one I found originally but it was through one of the (many !) links on this site:-

http://www.marmalade.net/lime/

Lot of other links about the legality of the way the TVLA operates in general also.
eg: A TV licence "officer" was convicted in court in Wales in 2005 for 'making up' doorstep interviews with suspected licence dodgers - reason being; he was on commission for the number of interviews he carried out !

pinkshoes

If you watch 1 hour of TV per day, then it works out at about 36p/hour, which isn't bad in terms of entertainment cost... so although £130 may seem like alot for a licence, it really isn't that bad, and if the TV channels were unregulated like in some countries, then it would be a LOT worse!!

Voyager, your tv DID work at some point, so I presume you had a licence then, and if you're planning on getting your tv fixed, then it's hardly worth cancelling the license just for the sake of a week or two. For all the hassle, I'd rather pay the extra £5 for having no tv for 2 weeks.

TVs often break just outside their warranty,and they often give you an option of extending this warranty. These extensions are expensive. Why?? - because in this extended period they expect things to go wrong, and the expense will cover the cost of the repair parts!!

SO just pay your tv licence, pay for your TV to be fixed (it's outside the warranty - so YOUR problem and not the manufacturers!!) and voila, life can go on!

marleyboy

moonrakerz wrote: »

I am sorry, but you are wrong ! Your quote is incorrect (and misspelt).

Read what it says on the TVLA website, read what it says on the licence itself, read what it says on the CAB website

If you are not capable of doing that - here is a quote from the TVLA

"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."

This is the first paragraph on their website under the heading "Do I Need a Licence?"

As I keep saying, the important word is "USE".

You are being browbeaten by the TVLA propaganda into believing that if you don't have a television licence (for any reason !) you are breaking the law. You are ONLY breaking the law if you USE a television without a licence.

The TVLA believes that there are two classes of people in the UK; those that have a TV licence and those that are breaking the law. They act like a pseudo police force sending out letters that imply (but don't actually state) that they have certain powers.
I have had several letters from them stating that they have "authorised officers to interview me under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act" - this is hogwash ! They have no more right to interview me under PACE than does the girl on the checkout in Tesco. You do not have to speak to them, you do not have to tell them your name.
They have no right of access to my premises without a warrant from a magistrate. They have to convince the Magistrate that you are using an unlicenced TV before he will issue a warrant - this is an extremely rare occurance.

Finally - the legality of the way the TVLA operates is being challenged in the European Courts - watch this space !

Finally, finally. I think the BBC is pretty good value for the money. I have no idea how much ITV, Ch4 & Ch5 is costing me because the cost is hidden in the price of everything I buy.

I went one better, I used a phone and asked, something you should try if you are capable.

marleyboy

I still dont think the BBC is value for money. And I still dont think I am in a minority on that. In fact I only pay for the licence to keep them off my back, so I can watch whatever is on on the alternatative channels.