No need for TV Licence - threatening letters/visit

kellaree

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice on the following:

I have been receiving letters from the TV Licensing Agency regarding the lack of licence at my house. As I do not EVER watch live tv and do not have a tv aerial etc I do not need one. As stated in their terms and conditions.

I have received several letters and today returned home to two more, one stating that they had visited and will again and even threatened court over this.

Considering I do not need a licence and am doing nothing wrong, how can I have these letters cease and stop people showing up at my door?

Thanks guys.

Heinz

Do nothing.

Don't answer any questions if they call again. Even your name is none of their business.

Don't let them in.

Don't sign ANYTHING (even if it's alleged to be "just to prove I've called" or other such nonsense).

You are doing nothing wrong and Capita's personnel have no powers of any sort.

spacey2012

100% good advice above, NEVER sign any paper work the TVL inspectors have or you will be taken to court.

HappyMJ

kellaree wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice on the following:

I have been receiving letters from the TV Licensing Agency regarding the lack of licence at my house. As I do not EVER watch live tv and do not have a tv aerial etc I do not need one. As stated in their terms and conditions.

I have received several letters and today returned home to two more, one stating that they had visited and will again and even threatened court over this.

Considering I do not need a licence and am doing nothing wrong, how can I have these letters cease and stop people showing up at my door?

Thanks guys.

As advised you don't need to do anything but in reality having the threatening monthly letters and they are very threatening is very annoying...so my advice is just to go to the website and fill in the form and the letters will stop for two years. Get caught watching live TV in that time and the penalty might a big bigger than it otherwise would have been so don't include your name or anything to identify who you are....just in case...I've now been letter free for 5 years and feel so much better than I did let them know I didn't need a licence.

Buzby

No aerial is not proof to do not watch (and never has been). Irrespective of the limited powers of Crapita employees, if you have the tools to view (a Freevire set or tuner) it can be argued you were 'equipped' and then it boils down to credibility of the judge believing you.

It is much more difficult to refute that you watched if you had the tools to do so. Since you don't watch, you can make a Declaration to TVL but this only works for a year before it starts again.

But if you have no Freeview tuner anywhere on your premises, you can tell them to go swivel - as nothing short of a miracle would provide you with terrestrial images.

kellaree

Thanks for the advice. I feel like I'm being treated like a criminal when I'm not doing anything wrong. Very annoying.

How do you guys stand on the advice of the letter removing assumed right of entry? Over kill? Don't fancy any unnecessary letters/knocks at the door. I'm a young woman and don't want some bloke trying to come into my house.

Cornucopia

The best approach (which ticks a number of boxes all in one go) is to complain to the BBC about their presumptive approach regarding the administration of the Licence. You need to address your complaint to the Head of Revenue Management.

Normally, this has the effect of stopping the letters, stopping the visits, making your feelings know to those empowered to change things, and it does so "without prejudice", ie. they cannot use your complaint against you in any way.

This last point is where the Withdrawal of Implied Right of Access falls down.

Cornucopia

Buzby wrote: »

No aerial is not proof to do not watch (and never has been). Irrespective of the limited powers of Crapita employees, if you have the tools to view (a Freevire set or tuner) it can be argued you were 'equipped' and then it boils down to credibility of the judge believing you.

No - the offence is watching/recording TV broadcasts without a licence. It does not require an aerial, as there are a number of ways to watch. However, it is about the positive action of watching, not about being "equipped". (Though the presence of equipment could be considered supporting evidence).

It is much more difficult to refute that you watched...

There is no requirement to refute anything. They must prove beyond reasonable doubt that you have committed the offence.

But if you have no Freeview tuner anywhere on your premises, you can tell them to go swivel - as nothing short of a miracle would provide you with terrestrial images.

No - this is about more than just Freeview. You would need a licence to watch TV on satellite, cable, internet or on a mobile phone.

In fact, I am legally licence free and I have both an aerial and a TV with a Freeview tuner set up for the Radio. The TV channels are deleted. (This is legal as confirmed by the BBC in a FOI response).

The crucial step is to ensure that any equipment that is installed and working has the TV channels hidden, deleted or detuned.

[Deleted User]

The TV licence issue is becoming a total farce and should go the way of radio - no licence needed. I suggest that HMG put the BBC up for sale like the Royal Mail and make them either take adverts or encrypt it and charge a subscription like Sky for those who want the BBC.
In a few years most people will have taken aerials down and claim to only watch catch up TV on the web to avoid the fee so why not get rid of it now?

acc

As Cornucopia said above, if they call again, write to Tony Hall or Pipa Doubtfire at the BBC to complain, and withdraw TVL's right to access your property.

spacey2012

They have plans for the "web" hence the live broadcast trials