TV licence Threatening letters in new flat.

Aberdon100

My son has just moved into a new flat and there were loads of threatening letters to the occupier of the flat about no tv licence being registered to the flat. He is a student and only has student loans and savings to live on, I can't believe students aren't exempt but that's another issue. My wife thinks he should just pay it but I say he shouldn't as his tv is not hooked up to an aerial so he receives no live tv, he has a firestick with Netflix, movies and box sets. He doesn't watch BBC so surely he shouldn't have to pay it.
Today he had a letter saying he has 10 day window to pay it or a enforcement team will be round to his flat. Should we just ignore this or should we contact them to explain he doesn't have a tv aerial and does not watch live tv?
We live in Scotland and I believe nobody can force their way into someone's house under any circumstances to check what tv channels they are watching. 

Brie

And if and when an enforcement team shows up tell them they have no right to enter the flat and tell them to go away.  All he needs to do in response to any letters (should he wish to respond at all) is to say he doesn't watch live TV or use iplayer.  End of.  

And just to make sure - even if it's blowing a Storm Amy and the enforcement "officer" is desperate for the loo, don't let 'em in. No more right to enter than next door's hamster.

QrizB

TV Licencing kindly send threatograms out to make sure everyone has enough kindling for the winter.

If he's not doing anything that requires a TV licence, there's no reason to buy one.

In the fairly unlikely event that anyone turns up at the door claiming to befrom TVL, don't speak to them and don't let them in. Think of them less like bailiffs and more like Jehovah's Witnesses.

Cornucopia

They send millions of these letters.   They are pretty meaningless, and although they are designed to escalate in tone they aren't a legal escalation.   

The "10 days", for example, is a hollow threat.   It has no basis in law, and nothing will happen if you don't do what they want within their timescale.

There are two special considerations in Scotland:   1) there are no TVL warrants, and 2) in order to take a prosecution statement it requires two TVL people to corroborate it.

michael1234

Most of my viewing these days is youtube and I'm thinking about stopping the tiny amount of live tv I do watch just so that I can cancel my licence.

However, whilst when I was younger the "threat" of someone banging on my door wouldn't have bothered me at all, now it would. Assuming I'd totally disabled the source of the live TV and was completely in the clear to stop paying for the licence, it would still feel like punishment to be continually watching the door for some "enforcement officer" to knock and cause distruption.

Cornucopia

They aren't "Enforcement Officers", but merely salespeople.   You can ignore them at the door, or open the door and send them away.    You don't need to answer their questions and they aren't allowed to cause disruption.  

Hedgepigs

michael1234 said:

Most of my viewing these days is youtube and I'm thinking about stopping the tiny amount of live tv I do watch just so that I can cancel my licence.

However, whilst when I was younger the "threat" of someone banging on my door wouldn't have bothered me at all, now it would. Assuming I'd totally disabled the source of the live TV and was completely in the clear to stop paying for the licence, it would still feel like punishment to be continually watching the door for some "enforcement officer" to knock and cause distruption.

I don't watch live TV or iPlayer, and so don't have a license. I did do the 'I don't need a license' form on their website though, and they've never bothered me.

Peter999_2

michael1234 said:

Most of my viewing these days is youtube and I'm thinking about stopping the tiny amount of live tv I do watch just so that I can cancel my licence.

However, whilst when I was younger the "threat" of someone banging on my door wouldn't have bothered me at all, now it would. Assuming I'd totally disabled the source of the live TV and was completely in the clear to stop paying for the licence, it would still feel like punishment to be continually watching the door for some "enforcement officer" to knock and cause distruption.

I totally agree with this.    In my job (IT contractor) you must never have a criminal record or caution on your record as with every contract I get involves an enhanced DBS check and you simply woun't be taken on anywhere.

Fortunately, I watch iPlayer and like my football so watch live TV and therefore purchase a licence.

I totally agree with michael1234, I'd hate to have the feeling of someone turning up at my door, especially if I had visitors.

MikeJXE

If He doesn’t watch LIVE tv he doesn’t need a license simple 

Cornucopia

Peter999_2 said:

michael1234 said:

Most of my viewing these days is youtube and I'm thinking about stopping the tiny amount of live tv I do watch just so that I can cancel my licence.

However, whilst when I was younger the "threat" of someone banging on my door wouldn't have bothered me at all, now it would. Assuming I'd totally disabled the source of the live TV and was completely in the clear to stop paying for the licence, it would still feel like punishment to be continually watching the door for some "enforcement officer" to knock and cause distruption.

I totally agree with this.    In my job (IT contractor) you must never have a criminal record or caution on your record as with every contract I get involves an enhanced DBS check and you simply woun't be taken on anywhere.

Fortunately, I watch iPlayer and like my football so watch live TV and therefore purchase a licence.

I totally agree with michael1234, I'd hate to have the feeling of someone turning up at my door, especially if I had visitors.

TV Licence evasion is a non-recordable offence - somewhat similar to less serious motoring offences.   There is no concept of a caution for LF evasion.

If you need a Licence, definitely have one - but that's not what we are talking about.   

For those of us who don't need a licence, we shouldn't be living in fear of the BBC, and many of us aren't.   In my case, I was legally licence free at this address from the outset, so if they call they'd be on the defensive not knowing who I am.   I also have a video doorbell which is a disincentive for them.   

They haven't called.   

p00hsticks

Hedgepigs said:

michael1234 said:

Most of my viewing these days is youtube and I'm thinking about stopping the tiny amount of live tv I do watch just so that I can cancel my licence.

However, whilst when I was younger the "threat" of someone banging on my door wouldn't have bothered me at all, now it would. Assuming I'd totally disabled the source of the live TV and was completely in the clear to stop paying for the licence, it would still feel like punishment to be continually watching the door for some "enforcement officer" to knock and cause distruption.

I don't watch live TV or iPlayer, and so don't have a license. I did do the 'I don't need a license' form on their website though, and they've never bothered me.

I did the same - I know people say you shoukdn't have to, but if you prefer to not see a continual escalation of increasingly threatening letters IMO it's a small price to pay.