TV Licence Letters

Cornucopia

annabanana82 said:

I'm always surprised to hear of feelings of harassment from TVL, I've not had a requirement to have a TV licence for over 20 years. They've not once visited, knocked on my door or sent an abundance of letters. 
We get a letter every couple of years asking to reconfirm we don't need a licence and that's it. 

We do have a smart TV on the wall, but there's no aerial smart box, or any way to be able to watch live TV. We also have not watched the iplayer since the rules changed.

I do however like how annoyed people get at us for not having a TV licence

TV Licensing absolutely does treat different people differently - that is part of the overall problem.

Depending on where you live, and in what kind of property definitely makes a big difference to the amount of attention you get from them.   To an extent, that's inevitable - it simply doesn't make sense for them to travel to a very remote location to find that there's no one in.    In a large town or city, though, they can probably find target addresses within a few minutes travel of each other.  

I would point out though, that many people (myself included) do not want to follow the "No Licence Needed" process because we do not want to agree that they may visit us to check our Licence status.   It's not a statutory process, anyway, so the extent to which it is binding on either party is limited.  

PaulC0

Cornucopia said:

PaulC0 said:

Cornucopia said:

PaulC0 said:

Are there any templates I can send to TVL? Cancelled DD recently

What kind of templates?

Any letter to stop them calling at my door

It gets quite complicated - are you wanting to do this because you live with someone who could be vulnerable to being exploited or disturbed by a TV Licensing caller?   Or is it for your peace of mind and convenience?

If the latter, I'd suggest just turning them away at the door, if they call.   "Not today, thank you", is pretty straightforward and does not create any liability.    If you have a video doorbell or entryphone you don't even need to answer the door.

If the former, you can use what's called WOIRA (Withdrawal of the Implied Right of Access) in England & Wales.  I would add a Disability Discrimination angle to that...   They will respond by confirming your instruction, and they will say that it will be respected by them for a period of 2 years.   It should also stop their letters.

Dear TVL,

I am writing to remove the Implied Right of Access from staff and contractors working on behalf of your organisation.    My household includes one or more persons who for reason of disability cannot tolerate the possibility of a TV Licensing "visit", and they would also not be suited to an interview under caution without an appropriate adult.

Please confirm that you have understood and implemented my instructions.

Yours...

Different rule here? We're in Northern Ireland 

Cornucopia

I'm afraid I don't have any experience of how this could work in Northern Ireland.

I'd suggest you try it, and if TV Licensing do not accept it, they will tell you.  

Please let us know what happens.

4justice2

It's been claimed on other discussion forums that BBC/ TVL has an arrangement with Royal Mail over "return to sender" letters. Apparently there are so many of them that they're disposed of by RM and not returned to TVL. Not sure if that's just an urban myth though......

sevenhills

If the BBC gave a discount to people signing up to a direct debit, then there would be fewer letters.
Do any organisations do this?
I have received my letter, but just waiting a few weeks before I pay. I generally pay in February.

Descrabled

United Utilities used to give a discount of 1% to people who paid by DD. I moved out of their area 5 years ago and I contacted the new water company to pay by DD but no discount. I then binned the DD and paid by card on receipt of bill.  Gas and Electric give a lower price for DD of course. Don't know of any other organisations that give discount.

Cornucopia

4justice2 said:

It's been claimed on other discussion forums that BBC/ TVL has an arrangement with Royal Mail over "return to sender" letters. Apparently there are so many of them that they're disposed of by RM and not returned to TVL. Not sure if that's just an urban myth though......

I'm sure someone disposes of them, and I'm pretty sure there will be too many of them to obtain any useful information from them.   

However, commercial waste costs money to dispose of, and I doubt Royal Mail would do that for nothing.  

PaulC0

Cancelled end of last year

First letter arrived today with name on it rather to occupier. Should I worry or bin it? 

km1500

what do you think ?

Cornucopia

PaulC0 said:

Cancelled end of last year

First letter arrived today with name on it rather to occupier. Should I worry or bin it? 

The TVL letters are meaningless threats and deceit.   If TVL have your name for some reason, they will use it on the letters for the first 6 months, and they will then revert to the Legal Occupier.

The letters certainly aren't anything to worry about.   Just bin them.