Do I need to inform that I don't need a TV licence?

iniltous

What is overlooked here (although it’s probably getting less of a problem as more ‘narrow cast’ television available ) , is many will declare they don’t need a licence not because it’s true , but because it saves a few £££, on that basis personally I don’t feel it’s unreasonable for them to have an enforcement department….those that genuinely have no need for a licence have nothing to fear , those that should have a licence but don’t have one are freeloading off those that do pay  .

As stated , you are under no obligation to converse with them , the burden is on them to establish you do need a license not you to prove you don’t , but if you get the occasional letter or even a visit because you don’t need a license so don’t have one , it’s not really a hardship, put letters in the bin, answer the knock  or don’t answer the door , it’s pointless getting upset with people who are only doing their job , even if you feel ‘targeted’ 

Cornucopia

I don't think that anyone is overlooking the reality that the BBC sees the need for enforcement.    However, in the light of that "need" not being supported by legislation, the BBC has created a problem for itself by not being transparent that the system is voluntary.    Instead, they've created this massive fiction of fear and fictitious rules and lumped it upon the great British Public.

And by giving (at best) mixed messages to the Public, they've compounded that problem by creating a situation where there is BBC lore and the actual truth of the matter, and they are not the same thing.

I agree that handling BBC/TVL isn't particularly hard, although it does require you to properly understand who they are (and what they aren't) in order to approach the situation effectively. 

B0bbyEwing

MikeJXE said:

B0bbyEwing said:

MikeJXE said:

I have filled in the I don’t need a tv licence form for the last 6 years, it stops the letters

Never had anyone knock at my door 

Do you do that because you feel you have to do it annually or because it's no hassle for you to do it each year or what? 

Because if I don't HAVE to tell them every 12 months, even though their letter implies that I do have to (declaration ending...) then I won't. Sure it's no bother to fill out a form or make a phone call or whatever but I don't want to do it just because someone is asking me to if I don't have to do it at all anyway. 

About to read the FAQ mee posted.


Edit to add - that FAQ didn't answer my question at all. 

Unless I missed something in it that did.


But going off Google & then another couple folk here it seems I don't have to tell them even though they're basically saying I do.

I'll see if I get another knock at the door then. 

I do it because it’s no big deal, 2 minutes of my time every year

Plus I don't have to spend time asking/googling all the questions you are asking 

Fair enough. 

Although these questions will only be asked once so it's also "no big deal" to me either. I ask once & if the answer is I don't NEED to inform them then I know the situation going forward & won't continuously inform them. 

I'm not in the habit of doing something just because someone asks me to. If I have to then I will. If I want to then I will. 

If I don't have to then I won't. 

prowla

MikeJXE said:

B0bbyEwing said:

MikeJXE said:

I have filled in the I don’t need a tv licence form for the last 6 years, it stops the letters

Never had anyone knock at my door 

Do you do that because you feel you have to do it annually or because it's no hassle for you to do it each year or what? 

Because if I don't HAVE to tell them every 12 months, even though their letter implies that I do have to (declaration ending...) then I won't. Sure it's no bother to fill out a form or make a phone call or whatever but I don't want to do it just because someone is asking me to if I don't have to do it at all anyway. 

About to read the FAQ mee posted.


Edit to add - that FAQ didn't answer my question at all. 

Unless I missed something in it that did.


But going off Google & then another couple folk here it seems I don't have to tell them even though they're basically saying I do.

I'll see if I get another knock at the door then. 

I do it because it’s no big deal, 2 minutes of my time every year

Plus I don't have to spend time asking/googling all the questions you are asking 

That was a bold statement!

Cornucopia

This is the page from the TVL website (the text in the letters may differ)...

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence   (answering No/No to the first 2 questions).  

Even they don't claim that notifying them is mandatory (and if it was, you can be sure they would say so).  The ambiguous wording they use is this:  "No TV? Not watching TV live on any channel or service, or BBC iPlayer*? Empty property? You can let us know here by completing a No Licence Needed declaration."

The only word I object to there is "declaration".   It isn't really that, assuming they mean some kind of legal term, and not the vague general notion of telling them something.   I'd prefer that they were clear that it is voluntary, but that's probably too much to hope for.  

Chief_of_Staffy

I purposely don't tell them because every time they send me a letter, or come to my door (it only happened once and I wasn't in, but they hand-delivered a 'missed you' note) it costs them money. Long may I continue to waste the BBC's money.

Nick_C

[RANT]

I've just received another letter from TVL/BBC telling me that my "No Licence Needed claim" expires at the end of October.

I called them, withholding my number, and confirmed through the automated system that I still don't need a licence.  They don't have my name.  Or my phone number.

Even though I only now deal with them once every two years, I find their letters intensely annoying.  They are so badly written.  

The letter suggests that I should either buy a Licence, or "claim" that I don't need one.  It doesn't tell me that I don't need to do anything.

It says if I don't act, I will lose my claim and the property will become unlicensed.  This is nonsense.  I am not claiming anything in the sense of acquiring a benefit, so there is nothing for me to lose.  And the property is already unlicensed, and has been for several years.  It will not "become unlicensed".  It will remain unlicensed.  

One of the BBC's primary objectives it to educate people.  They should start by educating their own staff/contractors.  The little contact I have with the BBC reminds me how much I despise what the organisation has become, and reaffirms my conviction that I should not be funding them.

I am of course legally licence free.

And my affirmations do not expire.

[/RANT]

Cornucopia

Chief_of_Staffy said:

I purposely don't tell them because every time they send me a letter, or come to my door (it only happened once and I wasn't in, but they hand-delivered a 'missed you' note) it costs them money. Long may I continue to waste the BBC's money.

There's also the possibility of returning BBC/TVL letters.    Presumably that costs someone something, and it costs you nothing.    Probably best done when the letters don't have your name on them.

Nick_C

Cornucopia said:

Chief_of_Staffy said:

I purposely don't tell them because every time they send me a letter, or come to my door (it only happened once and I wasn't in, but they hand-delivered a 'missed you' note) it costs them money. Long may I continue to waste the BBC's money.

There's also the possibility of returning BBC/TVL letters.    Presumably that costs someone something, and it costs you nothing.    Probably best done when the letters don't have your name on them.

Cornucopia said:

Chief_of_Staffy said:

I purposely don't tell them because every time they send me a letter, or come to my door (it only happened once and I wasn't in, but they hand-delivered a 'missed you' note) it costs them money. Long may I continue to waste the BBC's money.

There's also the possibility of returning BBC/TVL letters.    Presumably that costs someone something, and it costs you nothing.    Probably best done when the letters don't have your name on them.

Great idea!  I wish I had thought of that.  People should encourage that more widely.  It would cost the BBC twice as much to send their annoying letters.

Cornucopia

Nick_C said:

Cornucopia said:

Chief_of_Staffy said:

I purposely don't tell them because every time they send me a letter, or come to my door (it only happened once and I wasn't in, but they hand-delivered a 'missed you' note) it costs them money. Long may I continue to waste the BBC's money.

There's also the possibility of returning BBC/TVL letters.    Presumably that costs someone something, and it costs you nothing.    Probably best done when the letters don't have your name on them.

Cornucopia said:

Chief_of_Staffy said:

I purposely don't tell them because every time they send me a letter, or come to my door (it only happened once and I wasn't in, but they hand-delivered a 'missed you' note) it costs them money. Long may I continue to waste the BBC's money.

There's also the possibility of returning BBC/TVL letters.    Presumably that costs someone something, and it costs you nothing.    Probably best done when the letters don't have your name on them.

Great idea!  I wish I had thought of that.  People should encourage that more widely.  It would cost the BBC twice as much to send their annoying letters.

In previous discussions, it's been unclear whether this is a cost to the BBC, their contractors or Royal Mail.   Nevertheless, it's something that is clearly going to be costing someone something, both for the cost of returning letters and disposing of them in a secure way that reflects the possible inclusion of personal information.