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TV licence ending dont want to renew

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  • Cornucopia
    Cornucopia Posts: 16,477 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 1 October 2013 at 11:46AM
    Because this is not the process.

    This is a summary offence. The evidence about the person going abroad is not relevant and would not be presented. As I said above, the only relevant evidence is regarding whether the offence has been committed or not.

    The typical TVL case is dealt with in Court in less than a minute. They simply do not go into the detail (even if it were legally relevant, which it isn't).
  • Serendipitious
    Serendipitious Posts: 6,453 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 3 October 2013 at 10:11AM
    I didn't see it as a problem. It was a five minute visit, which is not much of a hoop. There was nothing to ignore in the previous ten months, no letters, no reminders, just a letter of acknowledgement after my online declaration. All very simple and fuss free.
    “All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.”




  • Cornucopia
    Cornucopia Posts: 16,477 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 1 October 2013 at 2:56PM
    I didn't see it as a problem. It was a five minute visit, which is not much of a hoop. There was nothing to ignore in the previous ten months, no letters, no reminders, just a letter of acknowledgement after my online declaration. All very simple and fuss free.

    This is absolutely how the BBC say it is supposed to work. And although they are still exceeding their authority, if that's all they ever did, that would be a start.

    The problem is that:-

    - Many people who give the notification (it is not a "claim") still get threatening letters every month.

    - There are an alarming number of cases where the "visit" goes wrong in some way and the householder ends up being prosecuted (or worse).

    - We're granted a right to privacy in law, and it isn't for the BBC to unilaterally decide that it doesn't exist.

    From those facts, we conclude that it was good that Parliament never gave the BBC these powers, and that the BBC should respect it.

    If it wants this system, it needs new legislation and a whole raft of protection for citizens, including:-

    - Better, more reliable IT systems.

    - CRB checks on all field staff.

    - Proper independent records of interview.

    - Clear, accurate and binding notification of what is and isn't permitted when there is no licence.

    - Clear and accurate notice of what the intended process is, and what protections are in place (so that citizens know whether the proper process is being followed or not).

    - To give up the monthly threatening letters, and apply its process more quickly so that things are brought to a conclusion more quickly.

    - To accept that there is a fundamental problem in proving a negative, and in accepting proof at a particular point in time to cover the indefinite future.

    - To accept that there is a presumption of innocence before the law, and that creating a process that undermines that requires tact, creativity and strict legal compliance that presently seems to be outside its capabilities.

    The issue is that they are never going to do these things (otherwise they already would have). And the further issue is would we trust them to do them anyway (given that they have been operating a process that is probably unlawful up to now).
  • Thank you Cornucopia.

    I am grateful that my experience was simple and straightforward and wish the same for the OP who posted the original question (and indeed anyone else who exercises the same choice.)
    “All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.”




  • Driver8
    Driver8 Posts: 743 Forumite
    I can't understand why people are so scared of TVL ! They are salespeople working for Capita not even the BBC and they have as much power as you or i, ie none.

    I haven't paid for a TV licence for seven year and never will again. So called "detector vans" have never ever existed except in people's minds. I have gone through the cycle of letters god knows how many times, i get one a month.

    I will not and never will write to a private company telling them if i do or don't need a TV licence. if i knocked on your door and asking if you've just moved in or do you have this or that would you answer me or tell me to do one? You do not have to say a damn word to the parasites. All they want is there £20 commission of which they will never ever get from me.

    Yes i do have a TV in the bedroom and if i watch LIVE broadcasts, as that is all you need a licence for, as got nothing to do with anyone else whatsoever.

    You can have a TV in every room in the house and still not need a licence. You only need a licence to watch LIVE broadcasts that is it.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9uq5X3OGjU

    Check out all the other videos too about the TVL goons. BBC, !!!!!!ing British Children, the scumbags will never ever get a penny from me again and more and ore people are getting wise to them.
  • CC-Warrior
    CC-Warrior Posts: 323 Forumite
    Driver8 wrote: »
    I can't understand why people are so scared of TVL !

    They are scared of them because they use fear and intimidation.

    Thankfully the internet is a wonderful resource of knowledge on dealing with them.
  • Driver8
    Driver8 Posts: 743 Forumite
    CC-Warrior wrote: »
    They are scared of them because they use fear and intimidation.

    Thankfully the internet is a wonderful resource of knowledge on dealing with them.

    I really cannot understand why people are so willing to give up their private information to anyone who knocks on their door !

    It just goes to show the power of propaganda.

    I'm happy in the knowledge they have not had over 1k from me.
  • spacey2012
    spacey2012 Posts: 5,836 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    They are deceptive and will ask you to sign this form just for our records, or to say you do not need a licence.
    If you sign anything a TV licence Goon gives you to sign, you will be taken to court and found guilty.
    That is how it works, day in and day out at every magistrates court in the country.
    You can not trust these people, do not speak with them, do not goad them, ask them politely to leave the property and not return.
    End the conversation and close the door, do not get in to conversations as to what you need, what you do not need, who you are, why you think you dont need a licence.
    Shut the door and lock it.

    .
    Be happy...;)
  • JimmyTheWig
    JimmyTheWig Posts: 12,199 Forumite
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    Driver8 wrote: »
    I can't understand why people are so scared of TVL !
    I don't understand it either.

    If there was an organisation who I _wasn't_ scared of knocking on my door, I would answer the door, let them in if appropriate, give them reasonable information that they wanted, sign (and keep a copy of what I signed) to say I'd given them that information and thank them for their time and understanding.

    If there was an organisation who I _was_ scared of knocking on my door, I would try not to answer the door. I definitely wouldn't let them in my house. Wouldn't give them any information whatsoever. Under no circumstances would I sign anything of theirs.

    But, as we both say, I don't know why people are scared of them.
  • Cornucopia
    Cornucopia Posts: 16,477 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 2 October 2013 at 10:45AM
    I don't understand it either....

    It is this simple: There is a history of false prosecutions for Licence Fee evasion. (We don't know how many/what proportion because much of the LF system is cloaked in secrecy).

    Co-operation with them is voluntary. If there is even a small risk of a false accusation, why would anyone co-operate?

    There is a bigger picture argument, too, but for most people it boils down to the above. It's not a question of being "scared", it's about treating a risky organisation with appropriate caution and disdain.
    ...sign (and keep a copy of what I signed) to say I'd given them that information...
    Whatever your views, you should NEVER sign any official document without knowing what its purpose is. TVL are known for misrepresenting their 178 Confession form as "just sign to say I've been here", or "just sign for our records". They then have all they need to begin a prosecution. This is completely unacceptable.

    PLEASE do not sign anything that TVL might present to you, unless you understand that you are signing your own confession to an offence and are likely to be prosecuted for it.
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