TV Licence article Discussion

silverwhistle

Cornucopia wrote: »

By all means complete their on-line form. In some cases this appears to do absolutely nothing, in others it stops the letters for (up to) 2 years.

If I recall correctly the form required my name and either email or phone number, so rather than write in Minnie Mouse and a false number I just ignored it..

I continue to get a letter every month, and apart from an initial interest in the wording I now put them straight in the bin as, if there really has been an investigating officer allocated, there's been no sign of one at the door yet.

I've never owned a colour television although I once had a B&W one. If they look up at my roof at the aerial installed by the previous tenant I shall ask them if they are offering to take it down for me..:D

During a previous occupation of this address I ended up invoicing them for my time, which seemed to have the required effect (if not a paid invoice..). This time round I'm not wasting any more of my time, so can't justify that approach!

Cornucopia

No-Feed-Elite. wrote: »

I would be interested in the actual best legal route to take to ensure peace, so can you give more details/links please?

I've literally just recieved a letter back from the Operations Director at BBC-TVL confirming that they accept a new legal strategy that I am working on. It is based upon the idea that BBC-TVL would be in breach of Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, except that they (say) they obtain consent to what they are doing from the Householder.

There are some good arguments to suggest that simple "yes/no" consent is not good enough, and that (a) it must be informed consents, (b) to be informed consent BBC-TVL must be totally honest about what it is doing, and (c) it cannot presume consent (for example to investigate you before you have had a chance to consider the matter).

Ignoring all of that can of worms, though, the idea is simply to tell them in advance that you will never consent...

Dear TVL,

Further to your letter of 26 Feb 2014, Reference 567071 from Alison Roberts, Operations Director, I too wish to assert my rights under Article 8, Human Rights Act.

I would like to declare my intention never to consent to any action by BBC-TVL that would constitute a breach of my rights under HRA Article 8.2. Furthermore, I am instructing BBC-TVL not to make any presumption of consent, because it will be never be retrospectively given.

Please can you acknowledge my declaration, and confirm that it has been accepted by you without prejudice to Section 366(3) Communications Act.

For the sake of clarity, I am informing you that I see this declaration as preventing any form of investigation or intrusion at my address, save for those involving electronic detection permitted by Law, within the protections of RIPA.

Failure to abide by this declaration may result in civil and/or criminal liability for BBC/TV Licensing, and also render the BBC/TVL operation unlawful under the Human Rights Act.

Yours...

katejo

"Please can you acknowledge my declaration,......? Of course they CAN if they want to but it doesn't mean that they will.

Heard this week that the government might change the rules in 2016 (when the regulation is next due to be updated) to require a licence for all programmes viewed on iPlayer not just live ones.

Cornucopia

katejo wrote: »

"Please can you acknowledge my declaration,......? Of course they CAN if they want to but it doesn't mean that they will.

I'm just being polite. The link to HRA obliges them to respond.

Heard this week that the government might change the rules in 2016 (when the regulation is next due to be updated) to require a licence for all programmes viewed on iPlayer not just live ones.

I'd be fine with that - as long as the limitation is strictly confined to iPlayer (password or whatever). If they try for a Broadband licence, I predict a negative reaction.

No-Feed-Elite.

Cornucopia wrote: »

I've literally just recieved a letter back from the Operations Director at BBC-TVL confirming that they accept a new legal strategy that I am working on. It is based upon the idea that BBC-TVL would be in breach of Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, except that they (say) they obtain consent to what they are doing from the Householder. => Little Cut>
Yours...
[/I]

Thanks for all your help Cornucopia, I've copied that, and will use it slightly altered to my own personal information, if it becomes necessary. Pity the laws are written by such !!!!!!, and enforced by brainless jobs-worths. :T

Cornucopia

HTH.

Post back if you want an opinion on your revised wording.

No-Feed-Elite.

It's a little like assuming anyone with any IT equipment is lying and intends watching their live crap!

We're all obviously not enslaved enough yet. The Internet must have given the elite a heart attack, once Pandora's Box was opened. No wonder they're desperately squirming to control it with slipping in covert illegal changes of laws to suit Uncle M and other media slime!

cw18

katejo wrote: »

Heard this week that the government might change the rules in 2016 (when the regulation is next due to be updated) to require a licence for all programmes viewed on iPlayer not just live ones.

Cornucopia wrote: »

I'd be fine with that - as long as the limitation is strictly confined to iPlayer (password or whatever). If they try for a Broadband licence, I predict a negative reaction.

I'd not heard about the prospect of it being required for iPlayer, but the one I'm waiting for (having heard quite a bit of talk about it) is the requirement to have one if you have internet access (doesn't even have to be broadband). Whilst I'm interested to see how they'll implement that for people who own a smartphone but no landline (so no home internet), I unfortunately don't see how I can avoid it with having home internet So at that point I'll have to cough up, but my TV aerial will immediately be reconnected (unless there's a reduced rate for internet only like there was/is for b&w TV - but I don't see that happening somehow).

Cornucopia

Exactly - Mobile 4G makes an absolute nonsense of this suggestion.

silvercar

Whilst I'm interested to see how they'll implement that for people who own a smartphone but no landline (so no home internet),

Virgin internet doesn't require a landline.