TV licence- has anyone done the 'not viewing live' thing?

skintpaul

As per weekly email.. if only viewing/recording 'catch up stuff, has anyone cancelled licence, and not been chased?

Cornucopia

The history of TV Licensing is hugely complicated.

I have been what we call Legally Licence Free (LLF) on and off for over 10 years, and I know of others with much longer than that to their names.

The basic issue is that TV Licensing (TVL) consider it their duty to hassle people to get them to buy licences if they need them, and to take prosecution statements if they get caught watching TV broadcasts without a Licence.

The problem is that for a combination of reasons, TVL is wholly disproportionate in what they do, and they treat LLF people with huge disrespect, and in fact consider them a basic resource to be used as they see fit (that's when they aren't making false allegations about them). Once you understand their methods and their limitations, it's not really a problem, but there is certainly a learning curve there.

I wouldn't want to put anyone off becoming LLF, but it's much better to be aware of the issues than not. The easiest, most basic advice is to ignore TVL and simply put the inevitable letters in the bin without even opening them. There is no legal requirement for LLF people to engage with TVL in any way, whatsoever(*) - however, given half the chance they will make deceptive statements about that.


(*) TVL does have the legal capability to obtain Search Warrants, but the numbers are truly tiny, and if TVL are properly observing the law then it would never be possible to obtain a warrant against a LLF address.

Retrogamer

One of my friends cancelled his license years ago, still watches TV on demand but doesn't watch live TV shows.
He's notified TVL several times but the letters and threats continue.
Think that's been around 4 years now he's been getting them but he's never had a visit.