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

Bigphil1474

OP, go into your account settings on i-player and change your address/postcode to your parents postcode as that is where you use i-player.

Micron

It’s not a threatening email, like 99.9% of all the communications sent by TV Licensing it’s just a statement of facts.

"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.”

Yes you would.

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

Yes you did.

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

Yes you may very well have done but you were watching BBC iPlayer in a property that was covered by a TV licence.

If all what you have written in your post is true you have broken no laws and have done nothing wrong, just ignore the emails.

Cornucopia

I doubt that MSE want a full-blown discussion of TVL semantics, but I do think that every organisation that engages with consumers ought to do so fairly and transparently.   I'd say that much of what TVL puts out fails to meet that standard, and there is also way too much of it (typically monthly letters to unlicensed households that have yet to cooperate with TVL to their satisfaction, even though it is not a legal requirement).   So, issues of both quality and quantity.

In terms of the email that is the subject of this thread, the big omission concerns the not unlikely circumstances of the OP's situation - where the old Licence account is for a different location than the BBC ID being used.   That really needs to be clearly stated for the sake of fairness and transparency.

Perhaps there will be a public debate, ultimately, as to whether this is how we want our public authorities to behave (maybe it will come from a misguided attempt to prosecute an 80-year-old?).   For now though, I think we all know it's inappropriate, whether we feel compelled to say so for other people's benefit or not.

brewerdave

Cornucopia said:

Perhaps there will be a public debate, ultimately, as to whether this is how we want our public authorities to behave (maybe it will come from a misguided attempt to prosecute an 80-year-old?).   For now though, I think we all know it's inappropriate, whether we feel compelled to say so for other people's benefit or not.

I see that they have announced the end of the "amnesty" for the ~ 260,000 unlicensed pensioners - and suggested home visits by "customer care" advisers to "help" - wait for the first prosecution !!

Cornucopia

brewerdave said:

I see that they have announced the end of the "amnesty" for the ~ 260,000 unlicensed pensioners - and suggested home visits by "customer care" advisers to "help" - wait for the first prosecution !!

The euphemism is strong in that one.

Sometimes I really wish this was the USA - this has "law suit" written all over it.

I wonder whether MSE will do an over-75 guide to the TV Licence?  

Hannimal

I am very confused by this. I got the same e-mail and it states my home address in the email. However, my iPlayer account has my old address in it. How are they linking these data?

Cornucopia

Hannimal said:

I am very confused by this. I got the same e-mail and it states my home address in the email. However, my iPlayer account has my old address in it. How are they linking these data?

Only by matching the email addresses - the same one will have been used on the BBC ID/iPlayer Account and: either an expired TV Licence or a No Licence Needed form.  

It is just another TV Licensing fishing expedition backed up by misleading language.   It does not and cannot form evidence of TV Licence evasion - it is mild suspicion on their part, at best.

The best thing to do is to delete the BBC ID/iPlayer account, or change its email address.

Bronvahl

@Cornucopia I have admired your balanced approach for years, I am far more brutal although these days I just leave them to look awkward on my ring doorbell until they booger off.

I don't agree with all the suggestions by the so called Black Belt Barrister, he suggests that they have far more rights than I would accept, for example he suggests they can go through your phone, and all sorts.  I would not allow access to my phone to anyone under any circumstances, I don't use fingerprint or facial recognition either (mostly in case I got mugged).

I don't have any means to watch BBC except on Netflix and I blocked the routers and servers that deliver BBC iPlayer.  So they will never get a warrant unless they lie (not the first time) and they would never get access. 

I do play fairly, I don't pay so I don't watch, I would never install BBC iPlayer on any device, sometimes it is better to install your kit and say you are in India so you don't get UK channels and do not have to delete them.

He fails to distinguish between CATCHUP and Apps like More4 etc, mostly his video helps TVL because of his interpretation.

Although you might lose the will to live watching one of his videos in full as he drones on and on in his almost monotone voice, I would be interested in your views on this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd7GQLjqKg0

Swipe

And this is why you should instead just bin the monthly letters instead of filling in their declaration with your personal details

powerful_Rogue

Bronvahl said:

@Cornucopia I have admired your balanced approach for years, I am far more brutal although these days I just leave them to look awkward on my ring doorbell until they booger off.

I don't agree with all the suggestions by the so called Black Belt Barrister, he suggests that they have far more rights than I would accept, for example he suggests they can go through your phone, and all sorts.  I would not allow access to my phone to anyone under any circumstances, I don't use fingerprint or facial recognition either (mostly in case I got mugged).

I don't have any means to watch BBC except on Netflix and I blocked the routers and servers that deliver BBC iPlayer.  So they will never get a warrant unless they lie (not the first time) and they would never get access. 

I do play fairly, I don't pay so I don't watch, I would never install BBC iPlayer on any device, sometimes it is better to install your kit and say you are in India so you don't get UK channels and do not have to delete them.

He fails to distinguish between CATCHUP and Apps like More4 etc, mostly his video helps TVL because of his interpretation.

Although you might lose the will to live watching one of his videos in full as he drones on and on in his almost monotone voice, I would be interested in your views on this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd7GQLjqKg0

I think it's very clear what he is saying.

If they obtain a search warrant, you have a duty to assist them with accessing devices. If you don't, then you've committed an offence. He makes it very clear that this power is only if they have a search warrant.

He also makes it very clear that you only need a TV licence if you watch or record live TV or use the BBC iPlayer app. He goes into detail as to what live TV is to clear up any confusion.