TV Licence article Discussion

fatboyjim_2

John_Gray wrote: »

I notice that Martin warns people off paying quarterly but I'd hoped that he would comment on whether it was better to pay for the TV Licence annually or via monthly payments, where in the first six months after the first renewal date you pay the full amount for that year's licence (i.e 1/6 per month), then in subsequent months you pay 1/12 of the full amount, thus six months before the renewal date then six months after the renewal date. (If that makes any sense!)

I'm also interested in finding this out... I just can't work out the monthly payment stuff...?

captain_planet

The TV Starsi came to my house last night, I live in a shared house and my contract states all bills are included (excluding phone). Because of this I thought I was covered. The man who came round said rooms 1 and three in the house did not have a licence, he didn't say about room 2 but there must be a licence if he was not interested in it.
I have two questions;
1 - If there is a licence for room 2, surely this will cover the communal TV in the lounge so I don't have a TV in my room I a covered?

2 - The man came into my house without permission, I asked him what he was doing and he said he was going to room 3 (non of the rooms actually have numbers), I told him to get out of my house (he did not have a warrant) He refused and said he would 'do me for obstruction'. The question is what can I do against him, can I make an official complaint or do I have grounds to press charges for trespass?

I have removed the portable aerial from my room (I only got a handful of channels) and use my TV for Games and DVDs, if he had been polite and explained the situation I would have investigated if the house does have a licence covering my room and if not I would pay, but because of what he did I refuse to pay £130 for 4 channels

chatname_2

I don't have a television and I don't miss it. One of the TVL enforcement personnel knocked on my door and I showed him a TV which wasn't working or connected to an alectricity supply or aerial and which I was waiting for my son to move for me. Of course I couldn't be prosecuted as I hadn't been breaking the law. The TV has now been moved out of the house to avoid confusion.

I've recently had two threatening letters from the TVL, I phoned them after the first one and the lady I spoke to was very apologetic, I don't know whether to respond to the second letter or not. If I'm reading the above information correctly I don't have to let anyone into my house and because of the tone of the letters I'm inclined to be just a bit bloody minded.

chocolatechipcookies

Stephenbw wrote: »

What on earth do you watch? The BBC has the broadest range of TV (and Radio) programmes of any broadcaster. I find it hard to believe that there is nothing that appeals to you.

I don't watch the BBC either. Heck, I can't even get most of the channels, they're so blocky. I usually watch one of the 5 channels, or iTV. I don't listen to the radio, as I have my iPod. I don't need the bbc website, since there's so many other ways of getting the news online.

Womble8

emmablight wrote: »

I Pay For My Licence By Direct Debit, My First 6 Months Were Double And Then Went Down. I Am Therefore 6 Months Ahead. I Have Moved House 3 Times Since Setting This Up And Each Time My Licence Has Just Been Transfered. I Asked Tv Licence When I Get Back The 6 Months They Are ''looking After'' For Me And They Said Either When I Cancel My Licence( Imposible As Is Illegal) Or When I Qualify For A Free One (when I'm 65) 38 Years Away. Can Anyone Work Out How Much Interest Bbc Are Earning On My 6 Month License For 38 Years And How Much I Am Losing Out On. Will I Even Remember In 38 Years That I Have Already Overpaid, Who Knows. But The Bbc Certainly Seem To Know What They Are Doing!!

:A I have been paying by the Cash Easy Entry scheme for quite some time!! I started with the usual weekly amount,less than a tenner I think, and then did not pay for a few weeks as I am not familiar with paying for bills this way and simply forgot! Threatening letters were sent, so I rang up TV Licensing and a new payment scheme was sent, I could continue to pay a little more weekly without having to pay out for 3weeks at a go. However, some hard times befell us and I did not pay for several weeks again.Threatening letters reminded me to ring and a new payment plan set up.
For one reason or another (hardship/illness/scattiness) this must have happened about 4times before my right to use the scheme was revoked. I now owed them a fair bit of cash which I simply did not have. I rang them and told them so, thinking that they'd have none of it. However I was told that I could actually close down that particular license payment and apply for a new license in which I could start the old Cash Easy Entry scheme all over again!!
Just one small catch, while the paper work was being done (about 1wk) I could not use my TV ; which obviously I did not, but I'm pretty sure I'm no longer paying 6months ahead.

Stephen_Leak

Stephenbw wrote: »

What on earth do you watch? The BBC has the broadest range of TV (and Radio) programmes of any broadcaster. I find it hard to believe that there is nothing that appeals to you.

There is, but these gems are now so few and far between in amongst all the other "chewing gum for the mind" that they just aren't worth the money.

AnnaCat

Not sure if this is already covered, but I have some experience to share in respect to buying a TV licence.

I bought an annual licence on 12th January this year, but when the licence came through it said it was valid until 31st December 2008. I phoned up and queried why this wasn't valid for a year - i.e. until 11th Jan 2009 and was told quite matter-of-factly that it starts from the beginning of the month you buy it in. This isn't fair at all, a year is a year! I can't remember seeing this explained when I bought it (and even if I did what could I do about it!).

On this occassionl I accepted this bizaare term, but if it had been later in the month, i.e. with 20+ days lost I'm not so sure I would have.

Anyone else have a similar experience? Any success appealing against it or this rule not even applied to them? I'd be interested to hear......
Thanks

tonyhamm

Had a visit from them while moving house and no tv. Just about terrorised my old mum with thier threats and repeat visits.

Well thats it. Getting rid of it.

Don't want to be part of the British public who are forced by threats and bully boy tactics to pay for Johnathon Ross's 18 million pound pay deal, or Fiona McDonalds 1/2 million per year for reading an autocue. I have met BBC z-list 'actresses/actors' on jollies traveling down on the train to earn a fortune to do some voice on a rubbishy play on radio 4.

Fed up with all the claptrap used to justify the BBC - a license fee of about a pound per year would pay for the public service role and you can ditch the other 99.9% BBC/cbeebies/the other upteen channels.

Even Greg Dyke, the former director general says the license fee is ridiculous.

With all the above inflation rises the current fee of £149 is quite a toll which I will be happy to spend on gym membership or sunning myself on holiday instead.

The so-called world travellers comments that we should all pay through the nose for the BBC as TV abroad is low quality is utter rubbish.

A decade ago I was living in the states - the place lambasted as having the most awful TV. I rapidly found that was just BBC brainwashing and lies fed to me when living there. Of couse they have all the crap, but they have far better output than here for the good stuff.

I rapidly found there was *always* some decent film or interesting doc on TV in the US. Buy a copy of US TV guide/lookup the website and you see plenty of top notch shows are on daily for a low cable subsciption.

More and more people can see this now with the cable here which is a close copy of the programming in the states, I don't see even cosying upto Tessa Jowell/Government as the BBC does, being able to keep this dinosaur alive when the market choice out there is so much better.
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SmokingSpud

I applied for a tv license after returning to live here after being abroad for 5 months, although I'm absolutely against it, via the monthly payment scheme. I provided my bank details and all my other details to commence my direct debit. And what did Capita do... Revoked my right to pay monthly, as it is only available for a "limited time only"...and I cancelled my direct debit in March(when i left the country) so my bank details are invalid and therefore I'm not allowed to pay monthly... Hello?! I cannot do more than to provide everything. They just have to take the money on a monthly basis. I sent them 4 emails explaining that I don't understand why I'm not allowed to pay monthly. Now I've just given up... They're a bunch of ...

newcook

A couple of weeks ago I contacted the license people and requested they post some info on different ways to pay etc (even though its available on the website). Then received a call on Tuesday asking if I'd received it which I hadn't - he said 'I wasn’t too sure if you had or not because the person who took your original enquiry didn’t put your name on the system, just your address and name etc but if you like I can set you up on direct debit now'. my reply was 'I will wait until Friday and pay online as I cannot see how you can justify a payment for the whole of July when I will only be getting 3 days worth of the license'. Strangely he was lost for words and mumled an apology before hanging up!!!

Have been a good girl today though and have paid for my license - have decided to go with the quarterly payment.