TV licence email what do I do

Joeyb247

Hi I don't have a TV licence as I never watch live TV or iPlayer. I recently stayed in a UK hotel that had BBC channels/licence and I watched an episode on iPlayer. I have now received an email telling me I have to buy a licence, is this right have I inadvertently broken the rules?

la531983

Ignore it and move on with your life.

iniltous

You presumably answered ‘yes’ to the question of ‘do you have a TV licence’ , and that was dishonest, but chances are nothing will come of it ,
FWIW , it amazes me how often this is asked ‘I was in a hotel and decided that although I don’t feel the need to watch anything on BBC Iplayer so don’t have a licence, but as soon as I’m in a hotel room there is something compelling  I  must watch .
Not for me to question your motives , and those that fall foul of this generally claim they assumed that the hotel license covered the room TV , as it would if it were a TV in the bar or a common area …..my point is generally those that don’t want to pay for a license justify it by saying they don’t watch anything on the BBC , until they are in a hotel that is .

Detail_Merchant

iniltous said:

those that fall foul of this generally claim they assumed that the hotel license covered the room TV , as it would if it were a TV in the bar or a common area …..

You say "as it would if it were a TV in the bar or a common area" which implies you think a hotel's TV license does not cover bedrooms?

But this page https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/business-and-organisations/hotels-hostels-mobile- units-and-campsites-aud13 says "Your licence fee will be based on the number of accommodation or mobile units you offer where a TV receiver is installed or used."

So if a hotel has bedrooms with TVs, and they are following the rules, then it looks to me as if TV viewing in those bedrooms will be covered by the hotel's TV license(s) (the hotel may need more than one TV license if they have more than 15 rooms with TVs).

So I think it's ok for the OP to have assumed they were covered by the hotel's license if their room had a TV.

I don't think the online system copes very well - I guess the OP's BBC account has their home address, which is not linked to a TV license, hence the email. Maybe when people in this kind of situation watch TV via iPlayer they should first change the address on their BBC account to the hotel address!

Olinda99

It is the premises that needs a licence so if you were watching your iPlayer in a licenced area (a room that already had a TV installed for example) then you would be covered 

movedto03

If the TV licence didn't cover the hotel bedrooms, vast numbers of holidaymakers and business travellers would have to buy a TV licence on entering the country. Clearly a daft proposition. 

Cornucopia

It's a reasonable assumption to make that a hotel room with a TV in it is covered by the Hotel's TV Licence.

Unfortunately, BBC/TV Licensing are conducting enforcement by matching email addresses between active iPlayer accounts and ex-Licence or "No Licence Needed" info.   Unfortunately, there seems to be a lack of awareness at BBC/TV Licensing that people's use of iPlayer can move from location to location, and whether it is legal or not depends on the Licence status of the location - which they do not know.   

The warning they have given is not valid and it can safely be ignored.    To prevent any recurrence, delete the iPlayer account.   If you need one again (to use in a Licensed location), create it with a different email address to the one on your previous communication with TV Licensing.

iniltous

My point is not the live terrestrial channels , obviously there is no warning given when you watch regular TV , but Iplayer  specifically asks if you have a license and presumably to proceed you have to say yes and provide an email address , I dare say if the OP had not streamed from the  Iplayer no common would have been received.

Cornucopia

iniltous said:

My point is not the live terrestrial channels , obviously there is no warning given when you watch regular TV , but Iplayer  specifically asks if you have a license and presumably to proceed you have to say yes and provide an email address , I dare say if the OP had not streamed from the  Iplayer no common would have been received.

The OP was likely covered by a valid Licence.  

Also, if the BBC choose to put a question on the front of iPlayer, that's their prerogative but it doesn't have any legal authority because it isn't based in legislation.   They could have a more elaborate check for a valid Licence, but they choose not to do that. 

Detail_Merchant

Another page that supports the view that a hotel's TV licence covers iPlayer usage:
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/bbc-iplayer-and-the-tv-licence
Specifically under the question "I am only visiting the UK, how can I watch BBC channels or access BBC iPlayer?"
The answer says:

If you are staying with family and they have a TV Licence at that address, you will be covered to access everything on BBC iPlayer during your visit.
Lots of hotels and holiday homes have a TV Licence. You will need to check with your accommodation provider to make sure they are covered.

So that implies that if a hotel has the appropriate TV licence, then someone staying in the hotel is covered for iPlayer usage.

Hence I think the OP can ignore the email.

iniltous

No one is suggesting the question on the Iplayer is a legal document, it’s a moral question….do you have a license, if the asnswer is no but you proceed to watch , you have lied .