Legal obligation to reply to TV Licensing

Cornucopia

20SmthngSver wrote: »

...Or are they just trying to guilt trip me (wrongly) and pressure me into buying one or writing to them?

Yes, it really is this (no matter how implausible that may sound).

- They send you enforcement letters that you are under no obligation to respond to.

- They (may) call at your door, but you are under no obligation to open it, or answer any of their questions.

- You have a wide variety of rights covering various aspects of their process, and they hope that you either don't know them or won't use them.

In theory, if you tell them that you do not need a Licence, then they stop the letters for 2 years (although that doesn't always work and it doesn't stop them from "visiting"). The current figure is that "less than 1 in 6" households need a Licence when challenged - so around 84% are honest.

If you are especially bothered by the letters or the prospect of the "visits" then there are legal strategies you can use to prevent them which generally involve writing to TV Licensing and invoking specific rights.

Overall, and in my opinion, their standards of conduct and honesty fall way, way short of the necessary standard in our modern democracy. Why all this is deemed necessary in the context of mere broadcasting is anyone's guess.

wild666

No contact whatsoever and if they turn up at the door and say are you the homeowner/ legal occupier just shut the door. A goon might even try it on if you interact with them with something like you need a licence for amazon prime because it shows live football. Let all member of the family know just shut the door if someone you answer the door too ask if you are the occupier or similar.

sonofsheff

I have read the above comments and advice but still I am unsure. I currently have 3 televisions in my rented property. None of these have an Ariel connected. Up to now I had a Netflix subscription but that has been cancelled so the only thing me and my son watch is YouTube via a Xbox or purchased DVDs.  
I have recently had a letter saying that I have had a visit and I should respond because my property needs a tv license. I have previously had letters from the tv licensing come to this property addressed to the manager ( this is a residential property not a business)
Please could someone clear this up for me so I can take appropriate action. 
Thankyou
 

Cornucopia

sonofsheff said:

I have read the above comments and advice but still I am unsure. I currently have 3 televisions in my rented property. None of these have an Ariel connected. Up to now I had a Netflix subscription but that has been cancelled so the only thing me and my son watch is YouTube via a Xbox or purchased DVDs.  

As long as you are not watching streams like the Live Sky News stream (which would require a Licence) then you do not need a Licence for that configuration.

 I have recently had a letter saying that I have had a visit and I should respond because my property needs a tv license.

Did that visit actually take place? Does the letter actually use that wording (and not something similar but vaguer because they do not know for sure)? Unless you were actually visited and interviewed under caution then there is no possibility of being prosecuted.

I have previously had letters from the tv licensing come to this property addressed to the manager ( this is a residential property not a business)
Please could someone clear this up for me so I can take appropriate action. 
Thankyou 

You could contact them to help "correct their records". Telling them that the address is residential not business is a good idea because the rules are probably different regarding "visits". It also engages a better set of rules regarding the content of letters, because you have a legal right to privacy in your home that doesn't necessary apply to a business in quite the same way.

sonofsheff

Cornucopia said:

 I have recently had a letter saying that I have had a visit and I should respond because my property needs a tv license.

Did that visit actually take place? Does the letter actually use that wording (and not something similar but vaguer because they do not know for sure)? Unless you were actually visited and interviewed under caution then there is no possibility of being prosecuted. 

I do believe the visit took place as it looked like a hand delivered letter ( folded sheet of paper and not in a envelope ) but I was out at work at the time it came through my letter box.
Thankyou for the advice given about contacting them to update details. much appreciated, I will update my post once this has been done and let you know what the outcome was 

wild666

I send their letters back to them not known at this address! In the 80's and most of the 90's I used to steam the letters open and fill them with junk mail before returning them. Now I just put the return to sender not known at this address on them. I have only had two goon visits in over 35 years, one I won in court the other sent packing after being put down trying to walk in uninvited.

sbeveridge

I'd rather do it legally.

sbeveridge

I've since spoke with tv licience and the lady confirmed you only need a licence to watch live tv and bbc catch up also you cant record live tv.watching itv catch up is ok.

20SmthngSver

I've now been sent a third latter telling me which date they are visiting, but could also be a different day. 

It's so wrong how they automatically presume your guilt when you don't legally and lawfully do not need a TV license. 

wymondham

You can ignore the letters, or if you chat to TV Licencing they can mark your address as licence free and you'll get no letters for 2 years.