Should the TV licence fee be scrapped?

stevemcol

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Would you be agreeable to scrapping VED, and putting it on Council Tax, to be paid by everyone, whether or not they own/use a motor vehicle?

After all, everyone benefits from the roads.

Difficult to answer impartially since I drive a car but yes, in principle. We're straying away from the TV licence discussion but I am a big fan of direct taxation and get rid of all the stealth taxes.

Cornucopia

The difference between VED and the TV licence is that the former is used to modify buying choices.

My car is £30/year VED. Very Money-saving. :beer:

dan2097

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Would you be agreeable to scrapping VED, and putting it on Council Tax, to be paid by everyone, whether or not they own/use a motor vehicle?

After all, everyone benefits from the roads.

VED doesn't pay for the roads. Roads are paid out of general taxation....precisely because everyone benefits from the roads.

[Deleted User]

True, but only those who operate motor vehicles on the roads, pay VED.

Now, since, as you rightly point out, everyone benefits from the roads (although I'd actually say everyone uses the roads), surely everyone should pay VED?

blueoctober_uk

The TV tax is one of our countries many shames. I do not have one and don't plan on being blackmailed or scammed into buying one either.

I just politely ask any TV tax collectors to go away from my door while pretending to record them on a plastic mobile phone I keep at my front door !!

My refusal to be taxed by them is based on the fact it is civil Law they operate under. I do not believe the twisting and manipulation they use when applying these laws in the collection of the tax is legal!

Biggest misconception is that is a criminal offence !! :eek:

Cornucopia

It is a criminal offence.

But you are right otherwise, that they lack any real powers, and have a bad habit of making stuff up - both centrally and on the doorstep.

If anyone thinks they've heard TVL say things like: "You need a licence to own a TV", or "You have to let us in your home", or "We're taking you to court (before there is even any evidence)" then all of those things are examples of made up stuff. The BBC of all organisations should be hanging its head in shame(*) that it would abuse people's trust in this way.

(*) Perhaps it already has too much else to hang its head in shame over.

tonyhamm

The lack of coverage on immigration and the EU was the key thing for me in which the scales were removed from my eyes and I now refuse to pay out of principle. But I have also lived in America and the TV you get on cable is ad free, high quality, and cost something like $30 pm on top of the internet fee. (think HBO, C.I., National Geo, Animal Planet etc..). The license fee is no bargain. Its a nonsense argument that most of the BBCs output like 'Dancing on Ice' etc.. should be supported by the general tax payer.