New Tactic from TV Licencing?

JohnSwift10

I just got a letter from TV licencing headed 10-day window.
Is this a new tactic giving you 10 days to get a TV licence?

See for yourself

poppasmurf_bewdley

Nothing new there.  Just a rehash of old cobblers. 

MattMattMattUK

It is not a new tactic, it is just a continuation of their time wasting, paper wasting, money wasting actions. I have not needed a TV license for years, yet for some reason they appear unable to accept that, that costs them time and money though, not me. 

Cornucopia

They've had the 10 day window for quite a while, although this looks like a new variant with somewhat different text.

The only issue is that there's no facility in the law to provide a 10 day window - you are either breaking the law or you aren't.   I'd be surprised if it actually worked anyway - accurately tying a mass-scale marketing campaign to the list of properties that they might visit seems like it might be quite tricky.   

To round up the nonsense in the letter:-

- There is no 10 day window provided for in the law.
- The address isn't under investigation (there isn't an investigative process).
- They could visit at any time, and you can ignore them or turn them away at any time.
- They aren't putting "your case" on hold, because there isn't any such capability in the law.   And there is no "case" at this stage.
- "Without a Licence you may be breaking the law".  Or not.
- You don't only have until June 18th.  You have forever - or until the Licence gets abolished.
- If they do "schedule a visit" you can just ignore them or require them to leave.
- It's your choice to decide "what to do if you don't need one", including doing nothing.
- Watching Live TV on streaming platforms is too broad - it's live TV channels from licensed broadcasters.

9 untruths in one TVL letter - although that's pretty typical.    It's almost like they are trying to create the false impression of a major policing operation.

silverwhistle

"find out why there is no record of a TV licence at this address". Because there isn't one?

Cornucopia

I think it's pretty clear that all of this is part of a massive scam in which the public are being deceived into thinking that TV Licensing is a real agency (not just a BBC trademark), with real powers (not just wordplay around a sales visit with pretentions), and with real consequences (not just more of the same letters going on and on well into what a Barrister has said may well be harassment).

brewerdave

Currently there appear to be a number of "news" items on the net, warning of £1000 fines implying that Netflix and/or Amazon Prime subscribers will need a TV License even for mobile phones, on the grounds that they now show a few live (broadcast) events. Now that is scaremongering !!

Cornucopia

brewerdave said:

Currently there appear to be a number of "news" items on the net, warning of £1000 fines implying that Netflix and/or Amazon Prime subscribers will need a TV License even for mobile phones, on the grounds that they now show a few live (broadcast) events. Now that is scaremongering !!

That message comes from the BBC, and some media outlets have been foolish enough to believe it.

I think we're probably well past the point where anything the BBC/TVL ever says about TV Licences should only be believed after further scrutiny and independent verification.

Sad.

FlexDream

I had a letter from TV Licensing and used the url tvl.co.uk/notv and answered correctly, and the website said I didn't need a TV licence BUT still wanted me to pay a 'one off' processing fee!

That's ridiculous, and instead I used another URL www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence which is more legit and doesn't charge. I think I can see what's going on here.

If you don't need a TV licence you can (but don't need to) make a declaration.
If you do make a declaration there is no cost for this.
You can use www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence.
Any site which attempts to charge you e.g. url tvl.co.uk/notv should be ignored and you should not pay.

Incidentally, if I now revisit tvl.co.uk/notv it knows I have now made a declaration out at www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence so it clearly is an integrated part of the TV Licensing 'operation'.