TV Licence article Discussion

waterman3

Cornucopia wrote: »

Yes - you can watch any video on demand content on Youtube without a Licence. (Live content is more complicated).


Yes. The app will ask whether you have a Licence - just answer yes, on behalf of your friend.


Yes.


Any live streams of UK channels definitely require a TV Licence to view via Youtube (or any other platform). Live streams that are not related to a TV channel are free to view without a Licence.

TVL's position on live streams of foreign TV channels is confused and unclear. Having read the legislation, my view is that a Licence is not needed.


Correct. You can (and should ideally) delete the iPlayer app from a Now TV box. You should never use the live players on the box for any channel.

Thanks for your help. I thought maybe I wouldn't be able to watch BBC content on Youtube but that's good that I can. I like watching the Andrew Marr Show and there's always clips of that on Youtube soon after broadcast that are uploaded by folk, so I wouldn't really be missing out.

I meant to ask, I assume I couldn't download an iplayer programme on my phone at home and then watch it outwith my home?

Cornucopia

waterman3 wrote: »

I thought maybe I wouldn't be able to watch BBC content on Youtube but that's good that I can.

The rules that were introduced in 2016 revolve around video-on-demand services that are owned and operated by the BBC. Since that doesn't include Youtube, it doesn't require a Licence.

I meant to ask, I assume I couldn't download an iplayer programme on my phone at home and then watch it outwith my home?

No, that's not allowed.

GlennTheBaker

We have not watched any live TV for months so have taken the decision to be LLF and I have just cancelled my direct debit to TV Licensing. We never use BBC iPlayer and only watch shows on demand via Amazon Prime or Now TV through a games console as well as DVDs and Blu-rays. I have deleted the iPlayer app from the console, removed the connection from the aerial to the TV and detuned the TV channels. I have also blocked iPlayer on my router. I am not going to bother informing TVL as, from what I understand, they end up hassling you anyway but can anyone tell me if I have missed anything?

Thanks.

Cornucopia

That sounds very comprehensive.

The only other thing is to ensure that every adult member of the household understands that there is no TV Licence, understands that they should not speak with anyone from TV Licensing (since that is your expressed preference), and understand that they have the legal right to decline entry to the premises to TV Licensing and to decline to be interviewed under caution.

Watch out for underhand tactics by TV Licensing like confusing interview under caution with a Licence application, and the infamous "sign here to say I called" subterfuge that to their eternal shame gets converted into a confession that is then taken through the prosecution process.

FreeBear

Cornucopia wrote: »

Watch out for underhand tactics by TV Licensing

Or the open ended questions - I got asked "What was the last programme you watched on TV ?".... If I had been honest and mentioned stuff I'd watched at a friend's house, I'd probably be looking at an interview under caution by now. Instead, all he got was "no comment", "none of your business", and "no" to the questions.

Don't tell them your name, refuse to answer any questions, and certainly do not let them in to the house should they ever call.

Cornucopia

FreeBear wrote: »

Or the open ended questions - I got asked "What was the last programme you watched on TV ?".... If I had been honest and mentioned stuff I'd watched at a friend's house, I'd probably be looking at an interview under caution by now. Instead, all he got was "no comment", "none of your business", and "no" to the questions.

Indeed, several of the questions on their interview form are not specific enough to accurately distinguish offending behaviour from innocuous. The form itself has legal issues, too, it being unclear what it legally is (and its content being seemingly incompatible with any of the options). The best guess is that it is a hybrid of Record of Interview, and Interviewer's Notes - however it is not clear that that is a valid possibility within the law (because of the confusion between comments entered by the Interviewer and responses from the Interviewee). There are also PACE issues with the entire process.

All of which I personally think are good reasons not to speak with them.

Don't tell them your name, refuse to answer any questions, and certainly do not let them in to the house should they ever call.

I have previously summarised these as the 6 "S"s...

- Shut the door,
- Say nothing,
- Sign nothing,
- right to Silence,
- right to Solicitor,
- tell them to Sling their hook

JimmyTheWig

GlennTheBaker wrote: »

We have not watched any live TV for months so have taken the decision to be LLF and I have just cancelled my direct debit to TV Licensing.
...
I am not going to bother informing TVL as, from what I understand, they end up hassling you anyway but can anyone tell me if I have missed anything?

Yes, you've missed out on a potential refund by not telling them.
Remember that your direct debit pays for your licence part in advance and part in arrears.
Which means there is a chance that they now owe you money.

Northway79

I have been paying more on my TV licence over the past year and about September 2017 I had £22.50 to pay

Due to ill health problems I haven't made another payment because I was well ahead with my payments I allowed it to run down

About 2 weeks ago I received a debt collection letter for £20 as I hadn't paid my TV licence since September 2017

I duly paid the £20 which left £2.50 to pay

All this for a TV Licence which starts next year because I am so far ahead with my payments

With the worry of a debt collection for £20 and having to contact phone numbers to avoid further charges my health worsened during this time

Cornucopia

Northway79 wrote: »

I have been paying more on my TV licence over the past year and about September 2017 I had £22.50 to pay

Due to ill health problems I haven't made another payment because I was well ahead with my payments I allowed it to run down

About 2 weeks ago I received a debt collection letter for £20 as I hadn't paid my TV licence since September 2017

I duly paid the £20 which left £2.50 to pay

All this for a TV Licence which starts next year because I am so far ahead with my payments

With the worry of a debt collection for £20 and having to contact phone numbers to avoid further charges my health worsened during this time

Sorry to hear that your health has deteriorated over TV Licensing stupidity.

To echo that warning, though, this is not the first time I have heard of a TV Licensing pre-payment account where payments are missing, but the overall account is not in arrears being handed-off to a Debt Collector.

Debt is not an area I know much about, so I don't know if this approach is legal or not. (It certainly doesn't sound right).

EachPenny

Slightly surprised the BBC are drawing attention to this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-43229284

Voters in Switzerland will go to the polls on Sunday to decide whether to abolish the mandatory licence fee for public broadcasting.

But then as they currently pay £348 :eek: for their licence I guess the BBC would say it demonstrates how good value for money the UK version is, especially when you read such gems as:-

Other opponents of the licence fee argue that the SBC - whose structure was originally modelled on that of the BBC - has become bloated and inefficient.

You see, the BBC isn't bloated and inefficient, is it?