Tv License Agent Complaint

Andaah

Hi there,

The other week I had an email saying TV Licensing wanted to come and check our house as we dont have a TV License. I was happy with this as I got rid of it ages ago as we don't watch Live TV or Iplayer. I deleted the Iplayer app and we only watch on demand all4/Itv Hub/Netflix/Disney. We have no aerial and no freeview on the Samsung TV so I wa said "ok if you want to waste your time and money".

He came today when I was out and because she was expecting it, the GF let him in. I had missed calls and she eventually got through to me in tears.
He had:

• Made her open the TV, saw all4/ITVhub had shows on "continue watching" and told her we need a license to watch these (we don't).
• He then pressured her into signing up for a TV Card despite her asking him to come back later/calling me because she was sure we don't need one.
• He refused to leave until she signed up.
• He told her that she doesn't need to give him her real details and put her age down as "24" when she is 32.
• He told her that to avoid getting in trouble all she has to do is cancel the payments on the card once done and nobody will chase it.

He basically lied to her face, refused to leave and pressured her into taking a license out. I IMMEDIATELY phoned TV Licensing and complained and was passed through to their complaints team. The agent confirmed that I am correct in that we do not need a license and apologised for the guy.

I have already complained but I worry that her signing up means some admission of guilt? Is there anything else I can do?
I am absolutely fuming!

cajef

The mistakes you made were firstly replying to their email and then agreeing to let them anywhere near your house, bit late now but the recommendation here is never let one of these people through the front door they have no authority to gain any access to your house and should be refused entry. 

mjm3346

Made her open the TV, saw all4/ITVhub had shows on "continue watching" and told her we need a license to watch these (we don't).

As long as it wasn't the live channels you can watch on the ITV catch up or all4 if they offer them

matelodave

As said above, they should not be let in.

AFAIK they are on commission and therefore have an incentive to intimidate but you do not have to either reply to letters nor let them into the house.

diystarter7

Hi

I posted about one todday from years ago. We were talking the last odds and ends from the house/garage car parked in the garden gates open and sold board up - we'd moved a couple of months before that and transferred out tv licence to the new address.
It was a sunday and a guy walked up to me and BiL and introudced himself as tv licence checker or something - i said we had moved out  about two months ago when we transferred the licene and no one was living here and sold board was up - he thanked us and moved on. I would not have had a problem if he wanted to look inside.

We are all different, jst wanted to share a different experience and i cant recall receieing a letter/email before that

Thanks

MalMonroe

You say "I have already complained but I worry that her signing up means some admission of guilt? Is there anything else I can do?"

But I think that's the least of your worries. Your space has been invaded, your girlfriend has been bullied and intimidated. The TV Licencing authority are the ones who should be fearing action being taken, not you. Her signing up means nothing. She was intimated into signing something she didn't want to sign. 

'Refused to leave' - at that point I'd definitely have dialled 999, without hesitation. A woman alone, with a threatening man coming into her home? Not on. I live with my daughter but even so, two women with a threatening man. It makes me, like you, absolutely furious.

But then we still aren't letting anyone in anyway because of covid (my daughter is immunocompromised) and don't let people in as a general rule even when we're not isolating.

Unless your complaint was in writing, I think you should definitely write an official letter of complaint to the TV licencing place - with a copy to your MP. That kind of bullying needs to stop.

In fact, I'd have to wonder who exactly WAS 'the guy'? Was he even a bona fide employee of the TV licencing place? Was it someone who had seen you go out and leave her alone? It's all very worrying. I think she had a lucky escape this time. 

Swipe

I wouldn't trust the TV licensing person you spoke to on the phone to have sorted it all out. They could have easily just told you what you wanted to hear. These forms go in to be processed and then the next thing you know, 6 months later a letter appears asking you to appear at a court on a certain date. Make sure you call them again and get it in writing that the case has been closed. You can then take this with you if you ever get the letter to appear in court.

powerful_Rogue

All letters in the bin.

Knock at the door goes as follows:

Hello?

I'm with TV Licensing.

No thanks

(Close door).

Cornucopia

Swipe said:

I wouldn't trust the TV licensing person you spoke to on the phone to have sorted it all out. They could have easily just told you what you wanted to hear. These forms go in to be processed and then the next thing you know, 6 months later a letter appears asking you to appear at a court on a certain date. Make sure you call them again and get it in writing that the case has been closed. You can then take this with you if you ever get the letter to appear in court.

I totally agree with this.   I'd probably give it until the New Year to give time for any paperwork to get to them, and then ensure that a formal complaint is made, and that any (quite likely) prosecution action is cancelled.   What paperwork was left by the visitor?   Did it include a copy of a TVL178 interview form?   That would be a good indication that a prosecution was in progress.   But even if not, they do not sell Licences without also taking a prosecution statement.   Responding to an interview request is entirely optional, but as you have seen they like to keep that vital information to themselves.

In the meantime, I'd strongly advise making a written record of exactly what happened during the "visit" whilst it is still fresh in your GF's mind.   Make sure it is timed and dated as a contemporaneous record.  

To those people who doubt that this was TV Licensing... maybe.  But this is classic "rogue goon" behaviour that there were many, many examples of from some years ago.   It would be an enormous shame if they were returning to their bad old ways.

WhiskersTheWonderCat

I'm just staggered that you actually invited these people into your home. The precise opposite of the advice that everybody gives regarding visits from these goons. 

Freddie_archer

WhiskersTheWonderCat said:

I'm just staggered that you actually invited these people into your home. The precise opposite of the advice that everybody gives regarding visits from these goons. 

Yes, 100% agree - also as most people have coughs, colds or worse - why invite them & their bugs into your home?