Not Able To Receive Any TV Signal - Do I need TV License

EndlessStruggle

Basically we have just moved into a new house (well not quite moved in til Friday) and have had a few lovely letters from the TV Licence people but we can't get any signal at all on our TV. The aerial on the roof is donkeys years old and the cable fromn the aerial that plugs into the TV, the plug is broken so we don't even know if the aerial is capable of picking anything up. There is a satelite dish but the lovely ex tenant ripped the cable out and broke the dish on their way out. I tried an indoor aerial but still no luck. I am getting conflicting information on whether I need a licence anyway. I have registered with TV licence people that we don't have any equipment that can get us tv reception but am I right? Also it says they may come to check on us, so if I show them the broken dish/broken aerial and channels of white fuzziness will that be enough? The estate agent is going to see if the landlord will put a new aerial on but that is probably pretty unlikely so it looks as though the only option will be to replace the satelite dish, get Sky and then just buy the licence when that is all sorted. Argh :mad:

littleboo

You need a TV licence if you watch or record TV as its being broadcast. It doesn't matter what equipment you may or may not have, the licence is required to use it for the purpose above.

EndlessStruggle

Thank you. We definitely can't watch or record anything. I might try another indoor aerial but the area is not known to get good signal so probably a waste of time.

Heinz

TV Licence people are Capita employees and have NO RIGHT OF ENTRY.

If they turn up at your door, do not answer any questions AND MOST CERTAINLY DO NOT SIGN THEIR PAPERWORK.

You do not have to prove you cannot receive TV. Possession of equipment which may be capable of receiving TV does not require a licence.

yangptangkipperbang

EndlessStruggle wrote: »

Thank you. We definitely can't watch or record anything. I might try another indoor aerial but the area is not known to get good signal so probably a waste of time.

The important point in LAW is not what you can or can't do - it is what you actually do !
If you "try another indoor aerial" and actually get a picture you need a licence - if you don't have one at this point you are breaking the law.

Paul_Varjak

There is an easy way and a hard way to deal with TV Licensing.


The Easy Way
Contact them by phone or letter saying you don't require a TV Licence because you do not watch or record live TV. That will stop them sending any more obnoxious letters for a period of two years.

You should also deny TV Licensing from entering any part of your land/property by REMOVING IMPLIED RIGHT OF ACCESS. TV Licensing will then tick a box on their computer so they should never ever visit your home.

Remember, if you watch Live TV over the internet you still need a licence! Catch-up TV requires no licence.


The Hard Way
If you just ignore TV Licensing and fail to tell them you don't need a TV Licence they will write letters and visit your house indefinitely. Some people prefer to do this and even post their experiences on YouTube.

donfanatico

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

There is an easy way and a hard way to deal with TV Licensing.


The Easy Way
Contact them by phone or letter saying you don't require a TV Licence because you do not watch or record live TV. That will stop them sending any more obnoxious letters for a period of two years.

You should also deny TV Licensing from entering any part of your land/property by REMOVING IMPLIED RIGHT OF ACCESS. TV Licensing will then tick a box on their computer so they should never ever visit your home.

Remember, if you watch Live TV over the internet you still need a licence! Catch-up TV requires no licence.


The Hard Way
If you just ignore TV Licensing and fail to tell them you don't need a TV Licence they will write letters and visit your house indefinitely. Some people prefer to do this and even post their experiences on YouTube.

both ways are easy actually, you don't need to talk to them and they will not visit as often as people think

Cornucopia

Also, some people prefer to look at the bigger picture.

If everyone ignored TVL (as is their right) then the system would have to be reformed.

By tolerating TVL, you simply encourage them to harass others.

silverwhistle

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

There is an easy way and a hard way to deal with TV Licensing.

The Easy Way
Contact them by phone or letter saying you don't require a TV Licence

That requires effort on my part, i.e. not the easy way. I did actually look at their web site, but they wanted name/email or phone number, so again not an option I'm prepared to take.

The other option is to use their recognisable letters as firelighters for my garden incinerator, shoved in on the way to my car. As for visits, they've been threatening them for 9 months now, and I'm rather disappointed they haven't turned up yet. Perhaps they have and seen no sign of life, or pointed their microphones at me and realised The Archers isn't on telly, or heard my appalling whistle playing...

[Deleted User]

EndlessStruggle wrote: »

We definitely can't watch or record anything.

Er, yes you can. Try clicking on this link, and read the message:

"TV Licensing: Don't forget, to watch TV online as it's being broadcast, you still need to be covered by a TV Licence."

anotheruser

Yeah but TV Licence can't prove you have watched anything online...

TV Licence is just a game of concious. If you are happy to not pay it and watch TV online, you save £142.50 a year.

If you took that statement from their website literally, then everyone who has an internet connection (no matter how slow) would have to pay... but they don't.