TV Licence article Discussion

Cornucopia

Yes - they've already started. 4OD have been doing it for a while.

Even if you are watching at exactly the same time as the live stream, your stream is still personal to you. I suppose the BBC could remove the non-live version for the duration of the live showing, but I can't see them going to the trouble.

watts320

I was once told by the TV license bloke that came to my door, he said "You will always need a tv license, if you have a mobile, computer or tv". Regardless of if you watch it or not, because you have a live broadcast to them appliances.

But reading this I can get rid of my TV license, because I dont watch live TV. Anything I wanna watch I go to ITV player BBC iPlayer, or I will download it or watch online (not at the same time its being showed).

So were do I go about this? Cos if thats the case upon reading this, I shall cancel my TV license and show the bloke that will come round this article on it.

Cornucopia

watts320 wrote: »

I was once told by the TV license bloke that came to my door, he said "You will always need a tv license, if you have a mobile, computer or tv". Regardless of if you watch it or not, because you have a live broadcast to them appliances.

This is not true.

But reading this I can get rid of my TV license, because I dont watch live TV. Anything I wanna watch I go to ITV player BBC iPlayer, or I will download it or watch online (not at the same time its being showed).

So were do I go about this? Cos if thats the case upon reading this, I shall cancel my TV license and show the bloke that will come round this article on it.

You just need to contact TVL (phone is usually the best way). Tell them that you want to cancel because you no longer watch or record (live) TV broadcasts. Depending on your payment plan, you may even get a refund.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the heads up about the TV licence. Just cancelled and got £172 refund too!

@alexandrat41 - April 2013

£172 refund :huh:

Cornucopia

It's still a great article. For some reason many other media outlets publish absolute drivel about the TV Licence and it's nice to see MSE getting it right.

However, there are a couple of points which could possibly be improved.

The fine is up to £1000. In fact, it is means-tested and related to the severity of the offence. The average fine is about the same amount as one year's Licence Fee. The maximum fine is handed down in no more than two or three cases each year (of the 180,000 total prosecutions).

The other problematic area is the "home visit". The wording you have at present is the partisan wording of the BBC/TVL - it omits to mention that BBC/TVL is not acting with the backing of the law when it comes calling, and it's possibly acting unlawfully in not being fully transparent about its limited legal powers.

We've seen through threads on this forum how dealing with TVL if you have no need of a licence can be far from straightforward. Those of us with knowledge and experience of how they work always say:-

- If they call, say nothing.
- If you feel obliged to say anything, make it: "goodbye" or "not today".
- Don't give or confirm your name
- Don't allow them into your home
- Don't sign any documentation they may produce

-taff

Yep. And never reply to any letters no matter what thye say...Read here for some interesting letters and what they mean [I'll give you the answer in advance - absolutely nothing]
http://www.bbctvlicence.com/

jaymacel

Can I watch live tv from my laptop if I only have a black and white licence?

Andy_L

jaymacel wrote: »

Can I watch live tv from my laptop if I only have a black and white licence?

No, unless your laptop only has a B&W screen.

[Deleted User]

That poses an interesting question.

Are there any monochrome laptops, which can be hooked up to BB, and used to watch I-Player and the like?

Andy_L

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

That poses an interesting question.

Are there any monochrome laptops, which can be hooked up to BB, and used to watch I-Player and the like?

I suspect that any laptops old enough to be monochrome wouldn't have the grunt to render the video quickly enough or the pixel count to display it very well