TV Licence article Discussion

[Deleted User]

Cornucopia wrote: »

Failing that - factory reset?

Or try "First Time Install".

DavidP24

Remove any aerials or sat connections, TV and other devices will not be able to pick up signal.

Simple.

Or do what I do which is to remove the tuner module

JimmyTheWig

jeepjunkie wrote: »

After removing all UHF leads and the signal boosters I tried to detune the TV. Unfortunately I could not get it to de-tune, perhaps because it could not pick anything up!?

Are you planning on re-connecting the aerial? If not then I don't think you need to detune it.

Cornucopia

I would do both, if it's at all possible.

I wonder whether the TV is giving an error message about "no channels" and that is making teneighty think that it hasn't worked. It is exactly that kind of error message that you are looking for.

My Youview box puts up a very nice "no aerial" message every time it's switched on - just perfect for prying TVL eyes and fingers. Though since they have banned themselves from my premises, I doubt that there's much chance of it being used "in anger".

[Deleted User]

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Are you planning on re-connecting the aerial? If not then I don't think you need to detune it.

Detuning it would have been a nice to have but as the mast-head booster has been removed plugging in a aerial downstairs picks up nowt anyway

Cheers

ken_1969

So, I genuinely don't watch TV and haven't in nearly two years now. My ex was the TV hound, and actually one of the reasons we split was after I had cancer and felt like watching TV was a waste of my time. I now read, study and do all sorts of other things.

I do however have a Virgin Media subscription as I work from home and need a fast reliable internet connection. My ex got us upgraded to a Tivo box but I have not even turned it on in a year. If I want to watch a TV show I stream it / download it / buy a box set and watch via my PC.

So as far as I am concerned I neither "watch nor record" live TV.

It did occur to me though that even though I do not watch anything, that the Tivo box is quite possibly still sitting there recording crap that my ex liked because it's "smart" like that.

I did think about returning the TiVo last time Virgin Media tried to up my subscription, but when I threatened to leave them they gave it to me at an increased discount so it seemed frankly more trouble than it was worth.

Am I liable for a TV license because I have a device that may be recording live TV even though I never switch it on and watch it? Is the burden of proof on the BBC/TV Licensing to demonstrate that I watch or on me to prove that I don't?

DavidP24

Hey Ken

If you were dumb enough to let a crapita goon into your home they would say you needed a license and try to gather evidence to fine you.

You need to disconnect that box, remove the cable that supplies it signal and pack it away.

Like you, I do not watch anything live, it is just such drivel mostly, but I make sure I am playing by the rules, I do not have capability, I lent my TV to a friend about a year ago and gave him any kit I had that was capable of receiving live TV.

I was using a ROKU Now TV box without a subscription to access my Plex.TV library, but currently just play content off hard disk as I have no wifi or broadband.

Of course you do not have to let the goons in without a warrant and they will only get that if they see a TV with what they think is live tv, when looking from outside. They have no rights to do this but they do it anyway.

You really do not want to be living under that stress so just disconnect the kit, having kit capable of recording live TV is the same as watching live TV. Actually you can sell that Box if Virgin do not take them back (sky and TalkTalk don't).

Cornucopia

ken_1969 wrote: »

So as far as I am concerned I neither "watch nor record" live TV.

It did occur to me though that even though I do not watch anything, that the Tivo box is quite possibly still sitting there recording crap that my ex liked because it's "smart" like that.

Am I liable for a TV license because I have a device that may be recording live TV even though I never switch it on and watch it?

The law says that a Licence is required to install or use a device for the purpose of TV broadcast reception. That's not an exact quote, because the language used is more complicated and rambles from section to section... but that is what it boils down to.

In other words, the TVL simplification of "watch/record" is not quite accurate or good enough, and Courts will and have deemed installation as indicative of evasion.

Unless there was a really good reason (say a person with no capability to understand the scenario), I also cannot see a Court differentiating between you as the owner/controller of a STB and its "smart" behaviour in recording things on your behalf.

Is the burden of proof on the BBC/TV Licensing to demonstrate that I watch or on me to prove that I don't?

The legal burden of proof is on BBC/TVL. However (1), the vast majority of TVL cases are based on confession evidence, and physical proof of evasion is almost never used. So in very simple terms, if you don't confess, you make prosecution much harder for them. However (2), the TVL operatives are trained and paid to be very persuasive (some might say that they are professional bullies) so standing up to them can be a challenge. This is reflected in the gender statistics for this offence - women are more than twice as likely than men to be prosecuted [official figures].

In short, my TVL-advice would be to get a Licence or get rid of Tivo. The same arguments apply to Sky satellite (with a subscription).

My MSE-advice is that I do not understand why people want expensive pay-TV contracts that they are not using.

rimce44

Painters in Clapham were painting empty house a few weeks ago, when the TV licencing officer walked it looking around. I asked if he found what he wanted, the answer was no...

wwl

I'm in the process of dealing with my late Mother's house, which is unoccupied and in the process of being sold. I've had some threatograms from TVL over the past year, the last being a notice that the proemises is under investigation, and have ignored, just for amusement to see what happens.
This is the most recent, which I think is outrageously misleading and threatening to someone who didn't know better, making a clear implication that court action will follow, despite no name to persue, and no evidence (there is no TV in the house). I've no idea if anyone has visited but they would have seen the 'sold' sign and the empty front room.

"Please read the information below... you will be allowed to take it into court with you". Oh that's very kind of you...:rotfl:

The Legal Occupier
XXXXXXX Road
London
XXXXXX


January 2016

Dear Sir/Madam,

You have not responded to our previous letters, We want to ensure you have the information you may need before a hearing is set at your local court.


Please read the information below carefully and keep for your records. You will be allowed to take it into court
with you.

Yours faithfully,

Phil Carvill
Enforcement Manager, London East

---<scissors symbol>

---

What to expect in court.
If you are asked to appear in court, this is what you can expect to happen:

. You can appoint a lawyer to represe€nt you, or you may represent yourself.
. Evidence collected durlng an enforcement visit to your property is used by the court to decide if you are guilty
of TV Licence evasion.
. The court has the power to impose a fine of up to €1,OOO plus any legal costs and/or compensation you may be
ordered to pay, The decision is legally binding.
. If your property needs a TV Licence, you will still need to buy one.


It is illegal to watch or record programmes as they are being shown on TV or llve on an online TV service without I
a TV Lidance - no rhatter what de-vice you use, The only way to stop this investigation from going any further is to
do one of the following:

. Buy a TV Licence at tvlicensing.co.uk/pay or by calling O3OO 79O 6097. A colour licence costs €£145.50.

Let us know you don't need one at hrlicensing.co.uk/noTV or by calling 03OO 794 6497,
confirm this.

We may visit to confirm this