Which retailers will report a purchase of a new TV to TV licensing

Tumtitums

I am planning on buying a new TV however  i havent decided where to buy it from. Can anyone tell me which retailers report the purchase of a TV to TV licensing

Peter999_2

No-one does anymore.   It changed quite a long time ago.

TV dealers - TV Licensing ™

Alderbank

Tumtitums said:

I am planning on buying a new TV however  i havent decided where to buy it from. Can anyone tell me which retailers report the purchase of a TV to TV licensing

Probably none of them, since any requirement to do so (the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967) was abolished in 2013.

Doubtless they got fed up with people giving their name and address as Mickey Mouse, 10 Downing Street...

FlorayG

Why anyway would you be bothered? If you are going to watch 'live' TV you legally require a licence and if you're only going to use it for e.g. viewing DVD's connected then you just declare no licence required.
I get a 'do you need a TV licence' letter still every couple of years and I haven't even OWNED a TV for over 15 years

Tumtitums

ok so just to be clear none of the retailers are doing this, i just worry that even though it may not be a legal requirement  some retailers may think its good or ethical practice to do this

Newbie_John

Tumtitums said:

ok so just to be clear none of the retailers are doing this, i just worry that even though it may not be a legal requirement  some retailers may think its good or ethical practice to do this

How is that good or ethical? Many people have a TV and don't need a license as they only watch Netflix. 
You also don't need a TV to be required to pay license - watching BBC things on phone, tablet, laptop also counts - so should they report all of their sales? Nope.

4justice2

As others have pointed out, shops haven't been legally required to report TV sales since 2013. 
It's important to remember the rules have changed. You no longer need a licence just to have a TV set in your home. You can quite legally own a TV set, without a licence, if you don't watch scheduled TV services or BBC programmes on iPlayer.

Tumtitums

4justice2 said:

As others have pointed out, shops haven't been legally required to report TV sales since 2013. 
It's important to remember the rules have changed. You no longer need a licence just to have a TV set in your home. You can quite legally own a TV set, without a licence, if you don't watch scheduled TV services or BBC programmes on iPlayer.

so how do TV licensing prove that someone with a TV set has been watching TV services or BBC programmes then. I could just say that yes i have a TV set but im not watching any of these on it. I always assumed a licence was needed just for having a TV set .

wongataa

Tumtitums said:

so how do TV licensing prove that someone with a TV set has been watching TV services or BBC programmes then. I could just say that yes i have a TV set but im not watching any of these on it. I always assumed a licence was needed just for having a TV set .

They have to get the person to admit they were watching something that needs a licence.  Or they persuade the person to let them in the house and they see the TV displaying something that needs a licence.

If you say nothing and never let a TV Licensing person into your house or see a TV through a window they cannot prove anything.

You have never needed a licence to own a TV.  Of course until fairly recently it is unlikely anyone would own a TV and never use it to watch broadcast TV as there was not a lot else to use a TV for.

4justice2

Tumtitums said:

4justice2 said:

As others have pointed out, shops haven't been legally required to report TV sales since 2013. 
It's important to remember the rules have changed. You no longer need a licence just to have a TV set in your home. You can quite legally own a TV set, without a licence, if you don't watch scheduled TV services or BBC programmes on iPlayer.

so how do TV licensing prove that someone with a TV set has been watching TV services or BBC programmes then. I could just say that yes i have a TV set but im not watching any of these on it. I always assumed a licence was needed just for having a TV set .

The only way TVL can prove someone has watched "live" TV services is if the householder opens the door, speaks to the TV licence salesman and admits they watch TV. 
Amazing as it seems, thousands of people do that and drop themselves in it every year. 
To be fair, a lot of people still think TVL visiting salesmen have legal powers, so meekly comply.
Which is why the standard advice is never speak to them. 

Peter999_2

Hopefully the TV Licence is going to be incorporated into general taxation.     I don't actually need a TV Licence but because of my job I cannot ever risk having a criminal record so I have to buy one.   Can't take the risk.