Martin's money saving email re student TV licences

Dover33

In the latest 'Martin's Money Tips' email he quotes a forum question from Jimbo19 about needing a TV licence to watch TV on an Ipad. I cannot find the forum post he quotes but the answer he gave is incorrect. To quote the TV licencing web site :-

'You don't need a TV licence if ... all of these are true 1. Your out of term address is covered by a TV licence. 2. AND you only use TV receiving equipment that is powered by its own internal batteries. 3 AND you have not connected it to an aerial or plugged it into the mains.'

This would be true for any student watching TV on an Ipad (live or not) whose home (parents) address does have a TV licence.

HappyMJ

Dover33 wrote: »

In the latest 'Martin's Money Tips' email he quotes a forum question from Jimbo19 about needing a TV licence to watch TV on an Ipad. The answer he gave is incorrect. To quote the TV licencing web site :-

'You don't need a TV licence if ... all of these are true 1. Your out of term address is covered by a TV licence. 2. AND you only use TV receiving equipment that is powered by its own internal batteries. 3 AND you have not connected it to an aerial or plugged it into the mains.'

This would be true for any student watching TV on an Ipad (live or not) whose home (parents) address does have a TV licence.

The Ipad is not going to last long on batteries when watching TV...when it runs out of power someone will plug it in to the mains...TV licence required.

spacey2012

If a TV Licensing operative visits the address and the student signs the form which is filled out by the inspector they will be guilty in court of the offence of Watching TV without a licence.
Once the form is signed, there is no defence or mitigation accepted by the magistrates.
It matters not if they needed a licence.
Sign the form and they are guilty.
If they do not need a licence, the only thing that works is not to give the licence inspector any details of their name (they should not be giving details to any door caller anyway) and absolutely under no circumstances whatsoever sign any form they are presented with, "just for our records" "just to say you don't need a licence" "just to say you have been checked and everything is ok"

These TV licensing goons are paid on piece work, they will take any opportunity presented to earn a few quid.

Anyone who is not prepared to do the above, or thinks their child is not capable of doing the above, or thinks they will be ok because they dont need one should buy them a TV licence for that address.

If they sign the TVL178 form, even in error or under duress or after deception, they will be taken to court and fined.

You are not dealing with honest people.

brendon

Since almost everything is available on Catch-Up, you can avoid the need for a license by using iPlayer, iTV Player, 4OD and Demand 5, etc.

silvercar

HappyMJ wrote: »

The Ipad is not going to last long on batteries when watching TV...when it runs out of power someone will plug it in to the mains...TV licence required.

The idea is you charge it when NOT watching TV. It should last a few hours.

Cornucopia

spacey2012 wrote: »

If a TV Licensing operative visits the address and the student signs the form which is filled out by the inspector they will be guilty in court of the offence of Watching TV without a licence.
Once the form is signed, there is no defence or mitigation accepted by the magistrates.

This is still not true.

We (TV Licence campaigners) have a number of recent cases that we've assisted with where 178 forms have been completed incorrectly, and TVL have withdrawn cases.

If people believe they have been tricked into a confession by TVL door-steppers, complain to TVL to get the case dropped. Then make a complaint to the BBC and the Police about this illegal behaviour.

(Making a false statement with the intention that it should be used as the basis of a criminal charge is "Attempting to Pervert the Course of Justice").