TV Licence article Discussion

George_Bray

Volcano - that's a good new point you've raised there - the adverse publicity from TVL getting it wrong. I'd make sure they were wrong, too, but how to prove that?

Case 1: a TVL visit where a relative low life takes the view that your TV is capable of picking up TV broadcasts, even though it's not. Anyway, he says you've broken the law and you're taken to court. How could you secure the evidence (the TV set), e.g. request an independent expert witness to look at the TV? It would be a nightmare trying to prove that at the time the officer(s) visited, your TV could not, and never did, pick up TV signals. They could simply claim you detuned it five minutes after the officer had left.

Case 2: where Police seal off a crime scene and, if best practice is to be believed, all the evidence is carefully tagged, nothing is moved, etc and then everything can be checked and questioned in a Crown Court. What a difference!

The main argument for letting them in, just once, is to take them up on their offer of a 3 year respite. from my point of view. I fear if you don't let them in at least once every three years, then that's when all the letters, phone calls and further visits start to build up.

Volcano

It doesn't matter if your TV is 'detuned' or not. If you've not installed it to watch live programmes and you're not watching them, then you don't need a licence.

I don't believe that their word is comparable to that of say a qualified Environmental Health Officer or Police Officer; In fact, I'd be very surprised if there's any cases that have gone to court where the occupier of the house hasn't simply just admitted the offence.

Those who do not even possess a television are not guaranteed freedom from harrassment, so you letting them visit once on the premise of 3 years hassle free is optomistic, though understandable. As the bbctvlicence.com guy has shown, even with zero communication from him he's gone almost 4 years without a visit!

Ultimately I totally understand your concern, however it's you that is in the right, not them and it's you that has the law on your side.

paddy's_mum

I'd welcome views on this scenario although it is, at the moment, a hypothetical situation.

I live in a house that has no TV, no aerial and consequently needs no licence. I hate the rubbish on TV with a passion. I prefer a good book in front of the fire any day.

However, my elderly mother is coming to stay for a fortnight and she is mad keen on Strictly Come Dancing. She proposes to pack her little portable telly into the car, set it up at my house and watch her show of the week under the umbrella of her own TV licence. She lives alone so no other telly is going to be operated at her own home address in her absence.

TVL send an inspector who arrives to see through the front window that the telly is going and accuses me of breaking the law by not having a licence at my address. Have I committed an offence?

What would the situation be if my Mum leaves her telly running but pops across the road to have a cuppa with my neighbour? Do I commit an added offence because the purported licence holder is not actually in the house while the tv is running?

I'd phone TVL but having been on the receiving end of their stupidity in the past, I have no confidence that I'd get a truthful, accurate answer. What do others think, please.

Volcano

Basically, you'll need a licence registered at your address.

If you currently have no licence, then you'll have an idea of the likelihood of anyone checking up and the above scenario actually happening. I notice on TVL's site they have a facility for changing your address online, so you could change her address for those 2 weeks, then change it back again.

Cheeky, but it looks like it's entirely legal and of course very convenient for your situation!: http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/for-your-home/moving-home-aud23/

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/view/index.aspx

nsabournemouth

As far as i understand it you need a license if you watch live TV. You could have a million and one tv's, set top boxes but as long as you don't use them to watch tv as it is being shown...am i right? This i got from the back of a demand and from their website.

derrick

nsabournemouth wrote: »

As far as i understand it you need a license if you watch live TV. You could have a million and one tv's, set top boxes but as long as you don't use them to watch tv as it is being shown...am i right? This i got from the back of a demand and from their website.

You are correct, watch or record LIVE broadcasts then you need a licence.

nsabournemouth

derrick wrote: »

You are correct, watch or record LIVE broadcasts then you need a licence.

Even if it is tuned in and capable of getting a live signal?


I had a long heated talk with them on Friday and they said if you have a TV etc or even an xbox you need a license.

NovaBlack100

nsabournemouth wrote: »

Even if it is tuned in and capable of getting a live signal?


I had a long heated talk with them on Friday and they said if you have a TV etc or even an xbox you need a license.

Really?

Thats just plain incorrect. Even the tv licensing website says in its FAQ that you DONT need a tv license if you use it to play a games console on (e.g. xbox). I'd make a complaint if your getting fed outright lies.

nsabournemouth

NovaBlack100 wrote: »

Really?

Thats just plain incorrect. Even the tv licensing website says in its FAQ that you DONT need a tv license if you use it to play a games console on (e.g. xbox). I'd make a complaint if your getting fed outright lies.

The reason they said that was because an Xbox now has Sky Player on it.

shinjukumaster

Keep it simple - you only need a licence to watch LIVE BROADCASTS AS THEY OCCUR (viewing or recording). Otherwise you do not.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS - do not let TVL indoors, do not speak or say anything to them. Do not answer the door, or if you do, and find out its them, close the door in their face (they are used to it). They will lie and cheat and use anything you say to incriminate you, or have you incriminate yourself.

In short, Ignore them and their letters. If they bother you by visiting, write (anonymously if you wish - as 'The Occupier') and Deny Implied Rights of Access. It works. If they come after that notice is issued, they are trespassing (be sure to record any such visit by camera or video, and sue them). You might think this will draw more attention to you but, believe me, when the boot is on the other foot (and they think you will make a legal case against TVL/BBC) they will comply to avoid 'bad publicity'.

Do no hesitate to write to your MP (though you will find the government/BBC are, to put it mildly, in each other's trousers - and will try to fob you off) as it registers TVL's malpractice, harassment, etc.

Above all, do not fear TVL - know your rights, and stand your ground.

Empower yourself!