TV license letters

slhqoue

Hi all,

My brother has just purchased a TV to use his laptop on through a HDMI cable. He doesn't think that he needs a TV license, and - after checking on this very site - it seems that he is correct.

However, upon buying the TV he received a letter from the local area, asking him to confirm whether or not he has a TV / needs a license. The trouble is, he then admitted to me that he will probably watch live TV through his computer on it occasionally - but still does not wish to buy a license. His argument is that there is literally no way he can think of of anyone being able to prove that he has occasionally watched live TV through his laptop on his new TV, alongside using it to play games, stream content etc.

It seems he has two options - either ignore the letter, which would mean (according to the letter) that after a certain amount of time he would be put on a local 'enforcement' list. Or, he can tell them he does not need a TV license but has a TV which he plans to not watch live TV on, but then they may visit to confirm this.

In short, which is the better course of action in this situation? He has a limited time to decide before being put on this local 'enforcement' list.

Any advice appreciated!

LazyTyper

Empty words.

We don't have a "TV License" either and didn't tell them (as you mention, no legal obligation to do so), so Capita send one letter every month which do sound threatening but nothing has ever come of them.

There are about 6 off-the-shelf letters and we have had them all.

Only once over the past 4 years did we get a post card through the letterbox saying someone tried to visit to check if we require a licence.

How your brother goes about this is up to him, but the bottom line is, as long as he doesn't watch live TV (whether by antenna or on-line) then he is fine. But if he does wish to watch live TV on-line then he will need one.

Just stay legal.

bsod

His argument is like saying stealing a few chips from someone's plate when they've popped to the loo is ok, they'll never find out who the culprit was, so it's ok innit. Honest people pay up.

Iplayer access (live or on demand) is likely to be locked down, trackable, and linked to a licence in the near future, at the moment all internet access is trackable to some extent.

slhqoue

Yeah that's true, I agree. To be honest I have a license and I don't think it's an awful lot to pay for the content and the peace of mind.

Does anyone know what the law says if you watch BBC live but restart the programme? In that case you aren't technically watching live ...

LazyTyper - did you let the TV license people know that you didn't need a license?

Marktheshark

They will turn up at the door with a form called a TVL 178.
They cover parts of it up, say it is something else and ask to sign to say they have called.
Once signed, he will be taken to court and found guilty.

There is only one working method, SILENCE.
Ask them to leave close the door.