Newbie looking for some advice before it spirals

giblet1979

I'm really impressed with NOW TV but agree with Firewyrm; you do need a license. We choose to keep it, because we see TV as our entertainment budget but we make cuts elsewhere to accomodate this. There are often free trials (3mths) and add movies for 1mth for free, but there is the initial outlay / broadband if you haven't got it. It would be possible to go without altogether (many on here do) but I think NOW TV is a very good alternative to a pricey TV package x

jaydeeuk1

FireWyrm wrote: »

A word of warning. NowTv allows you to watch LIVE Tv which means you are required to purchase a TV license. Sorry. To be legally license free you must only watch catchup like Netflix or Amazon.

Yeah you'll get scary looking letters for cancelling, but how are they going to prove you're watching TV unless you're dumb enough to let them in to your home? Tell 'em to do one. In fact, I think you can write to them saying you do not give them permission to visit your home (withdraw their implied right of access)

rockm87

I don't think its worth breaking the law. Unless the cost of a fine is affordable to you.

I understand your annoyance at it. but its not the answer.

FireWyrm

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Yeah you'll get scary looking letters for cancelling, but how are they going to prove you're watching TV unless you're dumb enough to let them in to your home? Tell 'em to do one. In fact, I think you can write to them saying you do not give them permission to visit your home (withdraw their implied right of access)

True. But you are not LEGALLY license free, you are simply committing a crime. If you get fined, that's your own fault and the legally license free community will have absolutely no sympathy.

Yes, you could send them a WOIRA (withdrawal of implied access) but there is good evidence that this just gets you put on their 'special attention' list and they *could* get a warrant of entry. If you fail to comply with that, you will be fined heavily and on top of that, when the find the NowTV box, you'll get the book thrown at you.

This is not to say that warrants are common - they are not, but it is a possibility. You are afterall, committing a crime by watching LIVE tv without a license and your WOIRA has just advertised the fact that they will never gain 'peaceful' entry to inspect your setup - all they need to convince a JP to grant a warrant of entry.

By far the very best defense is to simply ignore any and all contact. I have told them we dont require a license, that is sufficient, but then, I am not breaking the law in anyway and woe betide them if they try to stick a fine on me. Any evidence they have must have been fabricated, which, since license 'evasion' is a criminal offence, perverting the course of justice also applies. They cant have their cake both ways.

jaydeeuk1

You don't need a TV licence for iplayer which is capable of live TV, and the same will apply to the nowTV box. As long as you don't watch live TV from it, you're perfectly legal.

BBC contradict themselves completely here.

http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/tv/tvlicence

"You do not need a TV licence to catch-up on television programmes in BBC iPlayer."

" In BBC iPlayer, you do this using the Watch Live (simulcast) option."

" It’s also a criminal offence to possess or control a device which you know or reasonably believe will be used to watch “live” TV without a TV licence. "

So I guess any warrant they have they'll need to not only check if I have some sort of TV receving box connected to my TV, they'll also need to demand to access my phone, tablets, consoles etc, ask for my pin code so they can see I don't have tvcatchup or nowtv on my phone, and check what other apps I have installed that might be illegal? And then I guess they'll want the phone sent off to forensics to check if I have actually seen live TV based on log files.

Would love to see that tested in court.

Sparklestar1127

There is a group on Facebook called fill my family on a budget, you will find hoards of tips on crafty ways to replace brands with cheaper alternatives😊 like putting Aldi tomato ketchup in a Heinz bottle. They absolutely won't know with a lot of things. It looks to me that with careful planning your food budget could be halved 😊 good luck.

FireWyrm

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

You don't need a TV licence for iplayer which is capable of live TV, and the same will apply to the nowTV box.

Iplayer isnt live - it is delayed by 1 hour. The 'live' stuff is also delayed, and thus, is not live according to the law. Personally, I think they could solve this whole issue by simply sticking Iplayer behind a paywall, and then there is no argument. However, the disingenuous BBC would never agree to that.

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

As long as you don't watch live TV from it, you're perfectly legal.

You are NOT permitted to watch ANY live broadcast foreign or domestic without a license. It is clear.

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

BBC contradict themselves completely here.

They usually do. I take my information from the law.

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

" It’s also a criminal offence to possess or control a device which you know or reasonably believe will be used to watch “live” TV without a TV licence. "

They are wrong. The criminal offence is to actually watch live TV, not possess a device that is capable of doing so unless they can turn that device on and show it receiving live signal which they can do easily with NowTv boxes. They dont need your computer password but in point of fact, their warrant doesnt go that far. The warrant is for entry and inspection only of devices they can easily see and manipulate. They cant go rooting in the loft or anywhere else. They can look in all the bedrooms and inspect any device they find there.

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

So I guess any warrant they have they'll need to not only check if I have some sort of TV receving box connected to my TV, they'll also need to demand to access my phone, tablets, consoles etc, ask for my pin code so they can see I don't have tvcatchup or nowtv on my phone, and check what other apps I have installed that might be illegal? And then I guess they'll want the phone sent off to forensics to check if I have actually seen live TV based on log files.

Would love to see that tested in court.

It has been. You will lose. You are presumed guilty and they only have to show balance of probability, nothing more. The NowTV box will be proof positive of at least one breach of the law, the rest is beside the point.

Tommelise

Some tips about downshifting your shopping: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/downshift-challenge/?_ga=1.50326126.912097290.1404657833

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/aug/30/lidl-tesco-ocado-save-cost-shopping-everyday-value

- Lots of tips in the comment section below the article

dancingfairy

I think with the downshifting it's a case of try a few different things and see. What you don't notice or indeed prefer, what you absolutely can't stand then don't .
If you normally by named brands then go to supermarket own, then if you feel brave go to the saver/basics/value brands.
Personally I can't see any difference between say Weetabix and Sainsburys own version, other things like meat I'd be a bit reluctant to try value/basics versions of.
I think Martin says you can save around 1/3 of your supermarket bill by going down sizing one level.
Also I notice from your SOA that it says you have around £30 a month 'spare' before you start paying your loan or overdraft or other debts that you forgot to put on. This means if you are paying the loan off you are actually getting further and further into debt each month. You either need to try and increase your income and lower your expenses or you may need to consider something like a debt management plan (dmp).
One of the big expenses on there is childcare. Is there any way you can reduce this at all? Can you do flexible working or work 5 days but over 4 or go part time ( you may find going part time you are actually better off in terms of less expenses and more benefits etc). Can family/friends help out at all? That seems to be the one thing on your budget which is going to make the biggest difference to you.
df

jac53

Just a quick update as I have made a start and seen a positive difference mainly on the food shopping I bought a small chest freezer new so had to invest some £££... followed by a huge shop but just got what was on my list I bought tons of fresh food/ meats and dedicated a day to cooking about 40 family meals, in turn has saved me loads of time and prevented many take away nights during the week :-)

I have worked out I have saved approx £300 in shopping so far... Sky will be also going at the end of next month talked to kids, they are not impressed but told them we will have freeview and might try to find a low cost internet streaming for films etc... So they are slightly happier.

Childcare is a pain my older children leave before my son starts school and come home later due to extended school for their GCSE's although I don't arrive home until an hour later than this I might ask them to collect him when they finish which will save me £7.50 per week (every little counts)

Thanks to you all this has been a great source of support and ideas, I feel that with a few bits of tweaking I should be able to start getting rid of those debts instead of gaining more :-)