'We notice you've been using iPlayer?' email after watching iPlayer at parents house

Dan54321

I don't have a TV license as I don't watch live TV or iPlayer at my home address. I made a declaration to say I didn't need a TV license. Occasionally I will watch iPlayer on my laptop or playstation using my iPlayer account *at my parents house*, which is covered by a TV license. However, I've started to get emails from TV licence stating:

"You need to be covered by a TV Licence to watch BBC programmes on iPlayer, or to watch or record live TV on any channel, no matter what device you use.

However, you’ve previously told us that you don’t need a TV Licence at ********, with postcode ending *****.

Our records show you’ve used BBC iPlayer on a number of occasions over recent weeks."

1. How did they detect I've been using iPlayer? Is it because I've logged into my iPlayer account and watched i-player, or have they tracked the IP of my devices whilst watching iPlayer? How do I prevent this tracking whilst I'm watching at an address that is covered by a TV license?
2. How do I stop getting threatening emails from them? There is no option on the website to state that I'm using iPlayer whilst away from home at an address that is covered by a TV license.

pbartlett

it is easy to track you - you log onto your account then you watch something. They can see this.

you could sign on with your parents iplayer account details when at their house.

you could also create a new iplayer account for use at their house. Just don't log on with your details.

Barny1979

As above, you're logging in, so they know you're using iplayer.

JJ_Egan

Does IPlayer have a guest account that could be used ?

cattom

As others have said, dont log on as you. log on as your parents, or at least as someone who does actually hold a licence. or buy a licence of your own!

unforeseen

Surely it doesn't matter who you log on as.
You used it at your parents who have a TV licence, it is therefore covered by that licence. 

Cornucopia

unforeseen said:

Surely it doesn't matter who you log on as.
You used it at your parents who have a TV licence, it is therefore covered by that licence. 

Exactly this.   It's just another scare tactic by TV Licensing.   All they know is that a BBC Account that has the same email address as a No Licence Needed "claim" has been used.   It's nothing more than that, and certainly isn't remotely approaching evidence of Licence evasion.

The answer to it is not to use the same email address.    Or mark TV Licensing emails as spam.  Or both.

And for those following the wider TV Licensing saga, it's another reason not to complete the No Licence Needed process.  It's a shame that the BBC wants to hassle people who have done the right thing in their eyes by following the "official" process. 

Grumpy_chap

Were you on the laptop battery or plugged in to the mains?
TV Licence website say that matters, if you are plugged into the mains, covered by the licence at the property.  If you are on battery, covered by the licence at your home (except it seems you don't have that).
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one (under answers to your questions - do I need a licence to watch TV away from home?)
Not sure how, or if, they can detect whether the laptop is plugged in or on battery.

unforeseen

Not sure how, or if, they can detect whether the laptop is plugged in or on battery.

No chance of cookies being able to get that info to pass to them. 

Cornucopia

Grumpy_chap said:

Were you on the laptop battery or plugged in to the mains?
TV Licence website say that matters, if you are plugged into the mains, covered by the licence at the property.  If you are on battery, covered by the licence at your home (except it seems you don't have that).
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one (under answers to your questions - do I need a licence to watch TV away from home?)
Not sure how, or if, they can detect whether the laptop is plugged in or on battery.

It doesn't matter in the OP's case, and you have it slightly wrong, anyway.
If the premises that you are in have a Licence then you can watch what you want.
If you have a Licence at your own home, you can use portable equipment anywhere (powered by its own batteries).

They have no means of detecting anything, certainly not whether a laptop is plugged in or not.

coffeehound

Cornucopia said:

They have no means of detecting anything, certainly not whether a laptop is plugged in or not.

Probably not from the web interface, but the app could access to that sort of device info

JJ_Egan said:

Does IPlayer have a guest account that could be used ?

No the iplayer and now Sounds accounts are sign-up only.  I only listen to radio on sounds but still have to log in