TV licence people wanting to open a 'full investigation'.

konradgabi

if i don't watch British television just est European one via satellite dish , i must pay licence ???
i already pay licence for watching tv in my country for satellite .
i didn't watch other channel from other country .
Thanks

unforeseen

Yes you do

JJ_Egan

konradgabi wrote: »

if i don't watch British television just est European one via satellite dish , i must pay licence ???
i already pay licence for watching tv in my country for satellite .
i didn't watch other channel from other country .
Thanks

Not if you are not in the UK are you .
But yes if you are in the UK and watching any live transmission .

poppasmurf_bewdley

konradgabi wrote: »

if i don't watch British television just est European one via satellite dish , i must pay licence ???
i already pay licence for watching tv in my country for satellite .
i didn't watch other channel from other country .
Thanks

If you are in Britain, then to watch any live TV, no matter if it comes from London or Kathmando, you are required to buy a TV licence.

However, I don't see that you would be required to pay for a TV Licence from your home country if you live here - unless you mean a TV subscription rather than licence.

pappa_golf

kaya wrote: »

I'm not one for paying the stealth tax but a friend came home one day to discover the TV people had gone to court and got a warrant to enter his home, attended with the police and gained access while he wasn't in despite him writing to them to say he didn't have a TV (which he didn't). They don't have automatic rights of entry but can obtain a warrant if the can convince a bewigged old fool they think a crime is being committed

umm the offence is to watch TV , if the house was empty , they have entered (with police help) illegally


the police officer knew what the warrant was for "supposedly watching TV)" upon not receiving an answer from the living room they should have left after securing (repairing) the property


the judge should also be informed that TV licencing have exceeded their warrent


it would not matter if the TV was on , the occupier was NOT WATCHING tv

silverwhistle

Hmm, this resurrected thread reminds me I don't seem to have had a letter for ages (or maybe that's how fast a month goes at my age..). Perhaps I'm due the visit they've been threatening for years.

Out of idle curiosity (I've no TV so meh) what do they actually say to you? My standard reply to any doorstep caller (except the meter reader) is 'not interested, thanks'. I smile and say it politely as I close the door swiftly but my natural reticence always makes me feel rude.

Cornucopia

silverwhistle wrote: »

Out of idle curiosity (I've no TV so meh) what do they actually say to you?

There's quite a few videos on Youtube that should give some idea, although they don't like being filmed, so maybe not.

The weird thing is that I've asked so many people who've been caught by TVL what it is that they say, and never got a straight answer. I'm beginning to think it must be a form of hypnosis.

Generally, from what I have seen, their approach is assertive and sometimes slightly misleading. A common opening gambit is: Have you just moved in? or: Are you Mr. X (last name on their files)?

As you say, a simple "Not today thankyou" should be enough, although there are reports of them knocking again (which they should not do). Personally, I would go in with the big guns and say: I have no intention of speaking to you without a Solicitor, no intention of letting you into my home, and require you to leave immediately. If you do not leave in the next 10 seconds, I will call the Police and also issue civil proceedings for Trespass. Have a good day. 10... 9... 8...


With my campaigning hat on, I have coincidentally just written to the BBC asking them about "consent" in the context of TV Licensing's doorstep visits. They are on record as saying that what TVL do is not a breach of the Right to Privacy because it's done "by consent". Now I know that the BBC has historically had some issues with the meaning of that phrase, so I want to be sure exactly what they mean by it here.

silverwhistle

Cornucopia wrote: »

Generally, from what I have seen, their approach is assertive and sometimes slightly misleading. A common opening gambit is: Have you just moved in? or: Are you Mr. X (last name on their files)?

Thanks for all that. I can think of responses for both of those questions. "And pray, who are you?" before closing the door, or in an even posher voice for contrasting effect "None of your bleep business". Might add in my classroom voice "Do you have DBS clearance and can I have your full name and date of birth?"

Either way I shall try and avoid hypnotism and report back. :-)

Mr.Generous

I haven't checked on the font of all knowledge (google) but I do think I remember reading a case with a conviction re TV license, the offense was something like 'possessing equipment capable of receiving a tv signal without a valid license'. If this is the case it all starts to make sense. You need to have no aerial connection, no sky, no virgin media etc. A dvd player would be ok.

Smodlet

I think, Mr Generous, you have hit the nail on the head, there. I am sure I remember reading that on, yes, my TVL, back when we got paper ones. You only have to be able to watch live TV, not actually do so. I think the BBC's take is to put the onus on the individual to prove they cannot receive a live TV signal. After all, anyone could say they don't watch it, couldn't they? The point is, if you have the equipment, you could watch it so therefore need a licence.