Giving up the TV licence..

forgotmyname

OK. I dont watch live TV myself. The only time i used to watch it was for Top Gear. But most of the time i missed that and watched it on iplayer anyway.
The Other half and kids usually have the DVD, Console or Youtube and other non live shows going when i want to watch something.

I now get the US shows before they hit the UK also.

I pay by direct debit. So i assume 6 months in advance/arrears. It's something i setup years ago and forgot about since... Not very MSE.

I have no issues with them popping around and knocking on the door. I wont let them in until they invite me around to their house for a cuppa though. Why should i let a stranger in if they wont?

But my other half would worry. And believe lies they may tell her.. Have they got any better these days or make accusations and threats still?

Ive read where people have informed themm that no licence was required and its been all quiet, But then where people have informed them yet still got harassed.

Do i speak to them 1st or just cancel my direct debit? Licence is Feb so not sure if July or August would have cleared the payment required to take us upto next Feb?

Need to check that. We get 6 months then to decide whether to renew or not.

Thanks.

macman

You can't just cancel your DD: you need to make the declaration that you do not watch live TV at the property.
Capita employees have no right of access whatsoever.
If you have already paid to Feb then you can apply for a refund.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

macman wrote: »

You can't just cancel your DD: you need to make the declaration that you do not watch live TV at the property.
Capita employees have no right of access whatsoever.
If you have already paid to Feb then you can apply for a refund.

No you do not have to tell Crapita Bolshevik Broadcasting Commisariat Tax Collecters anything. Currently it is up to them to prove you are committing an offence.

Though to stop the legalisesq threatening letters, you could epdeclare no licence required on their website.

pickledtink

I've been license free for the last 2 years. I have tried telling them and continue to get loads of threatening letters anyway and have seen some guy making a big point of walking about in the road and pointedly peering up at my roof at an ancient satellite dish which was here when I bought the house. Shortly after that visit I got a heavy handed letter informing me they had 'proof' I was breaking the law and they upped the threats to faked up looking court appearance. All of which is utter rubbish and makes me really feel for the license fee payers who are having all this funded at their expense. I genuinely have no need for live TV and with the now tv box and the constant very cheap deals on that have access to far more content and movies than I'll ever need.
You do not by any law have to prove anything to them, speak to them, respond to any letters, put up with anyone setting foot on your property or give them a second thought. It's all a disgraceful dishonest load of bluff and nonsense.

[Deleted User]

The TV licence argument rages on and on. It can only get stronger as technology has overtaken the very idea of a licence fee.
When there was only BBC and no other channels it made sense to fund it by licence fee - if you could afford a TV set in the first place!
Now there are many ways to view the many channels and programmes thanks to internet streaming etc., so that paying a licence for something you might never watch is an imposition that thousands are opting out of by declaring that they only watch catch up tv.
The licence fee has to go and the BBC should survive on adverts or subscriptions like the other broadcasters.
The BBC is no longer the respected organisation that it used to be but those in charge of it have not realised that fact yet.

forgotmyname

macman wrote: »

You can't just cancel your DD: you need to make the declaration that you do not watch live TV at the property.
Capita employees have no right of access whatsoever.
If you have already paid to Feb then you can apply for a refund.

Why can't i cancel the direct debit? Isnt the DD payment 6 months in advance and 6 months in arrears?

So my Feb licence payments would be July/August. I let Aug payment go then cancel the DD?
Whats the issue with that? I dont need to declare i dont watch live TV because my licence doesnt expire until Feb 2015.

It will be fully paid for. Whats the issue with that plan?

I know that if i decide to keep it i will need to pay upfront so thats not an issue. It maybe cheaper thay way anyway?

[Deleted User]

pickledtink wrote: »

I genuinely have no need for live TV and with the now tv box

But your NowTV box gives access to Live TV, no?

macman

forgotmyname wrote: »

Why can't i cancel the direct debit? Isnt the DD payment 6 months in advance and 6 months in arrears?

So my Feb licence payments would be July/August. I let Aug payment go then cancel the DD?
Whats the issue with that? I dont need to declare i dont watch live TV because my licence doesnt expire until Feb 2015.

It will be fully paid for. Whats the issue with that plan?

I know that if i decide to keep it i will need to pay upfront so thats not an issue. It maybe cheaper thay way anyway?

If you've ceased watching live TV, why do you want to pay for a licence up to February? You need to make the declaration and apply for a rebate on your existing licence.

wiogs

As above if you have no need for a licence cancel the DD and ask for a refund.

PintAndAPie

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

But your NowTV box gives access to Live TV, no?

Having access to live TV does not mean you view live TV, in the same way that having access to a fishing rod does not mean that you go fishing. You only need a license if you watch live TV, access is irrelevant.

forgotmyname

macman wrote: »

If you've ceased watching live TV, why do you want to pay for a licence up to February? You need to make the declaration and apply for a rebate on your existing licence.

Ahh got you... I didnt think of getting a refund and cancelling the licence from now.
I was just thinking cancel when it expires in Feb. Gives us time to have a good think about it and see if there is any reason to watch it.

Currently we dont watch soaps, I dont watch it at all. I spend most of my time on the PC if im not in the garden etc.

Family watch US shows mainly on the media centre. So they watch they ages before they come to the UK anyway.

Normally the media centre has started by the time i switch the TV on and it jumps straight to HDMI. Tonight i was a bit quicker turning it on and the freeview update is still on there. That must be from 3 months ago.