TV Licence article Discussion

silverwhistle

FreeBear wrote: »

I stand corrected.

Before my aged mum moved near me she used to bring her tablet to watch her favourite programme, given I haven't got a TV (colour or B&W!). I used to tell her she couldn't have it connected and on charge whilst watching. I've always wondered what would have happened if a visit had happened during such periods.


I'd have to admit to watching football on television if they visited. But I'm not going to tell them where.. it varies as my favourite pub for watching doesn't have BT Sport, only Sky.

Cornucopia

EachPenny wrote: »

Ah, that makes more sense. So in effect the B&W licence is providing a relatively specific exemption from needing a full colour licence.

Yes. It's a slightly strange principle, though. I'm sure that when we had the Dog Licence, it was still the same price for Dalmations.

Thanks, I guess that rules out watching iplayer on my ZX81 then.

For so many reasons. (We've come so far in those last 37 years).

You wicked person. (I have a portable B&W set you could borrow if necessary )

Actually, I think I have one somewhere. Wonder where it is? And would TVL ever believe me if I told them that I preferred to watch live in B&W on a 5 inch screen, rather than colour catch-up on a 43 inch screen?

cw18

EachPenny wrote: »

If not, then why does the 'inspection' on one YouTube clip involve the TVL staff asking the resident to switch their TV on (after the TVL staff plugged the aerial in). :whistle:

I'd almost like to let them try this with mine

First they'd have to bring a cable with them
Then they'd have to move a (full and heavy) display unit to get to my aerial socket
Then they'd have to go into my loft space to undo the aerial deactivation work I did

And then they'd have to tell my TV to tune - it's never been connected to an aerial cable, as I bought it after I cancelled my licence


Oh yes, and I have iPlayer blocked on my router so that app doesn't work on my TV either

[Deleted User]

cw18 wrote: »

First they'd have to bring a cable with them.
Then they'd have to move a (full and heavy) display unit to get to my aerial socket.

In my case, they'd also have to chisel off the cover, which is superglued over the aerial socket.

surfsister

The Tv licensing chasers treat people in a terrible manner.

I had to get my MP to contact them to stop them harassing me for not having a license when I have not had a TV for years (such dire programmes). They wrote me about a 100 letters which got ruder and ruder threatening Court action and quite abusive in tone.

My PM even had to write to them twice to get any action. I did get £30 compensation but then guess what I not only had 5 more letters addressed not to me but to the Occupier so it wasn't specifically for me!! Lol! Then I had a visit from a checker!! Cheek or what. So my MP had to contact them yet again!

Then I moved and it has all started up again! But sadly my MP has gone AWOL!

Cornucopia

In the distant past, they used to treat MP's interventions with due respect, whereas now (and I have no idea what has changed) MPs are only able to achieve mixed results with BBC-TV Licensing.

It would also be nice to think that somewhere amongst the 650-odd MPs, there was someone who was prepared to properly stand up to them, and ask the questions that need asking - but that person has not yet stepped up.

zagfles

Does anyone understand the rules for TV licences for students, particularly in communal areas in a flat?

For example, university halls of residence. 12 people in a flat, with a common kitchen/lounge area (which only the 12 flat members have access to) and 12 separate lockable rooms, each student has their own tenancy agreement. Some of the students have parents who have a TV licence at their home address, so those students are covered watching TV on a battery powered device in their rooms, but how does that work in the flat's lounge/kitchen?

As an example, take 4 students who live in that flat, call them A, B C & D. A's parents have a TV licence, the others don't.

Does anyone understand enough to tell me which of the following situations is legal and which they could be prosecuted for:

1. A takes her laptop into the kitchen and watches live TV on battery power.
2. Then B, C & D come along and watch with her.
3. Then A gets bored and goes to her room to do some work, leaving B, C & D watching her laptop.
4. Then A decides she needs her laptop to do some work, so reclaims it. B brings out his laptop and B, C & D carry on watching on battery power.
5. Then A leaves the flat and goes down the pub
6. Then A comes back and joins the others in the kitchen watching on B's laptop.
7. Then the rest of the flat joins them, and there's too many people crowded round a single laptop. So they decide to plug the laptop (still on battery power) into a projector which is mains powered.

So which if any of the above could the student(s) be prosecuted for?

[Deleted User]

zagfles wrote: »

Does anyone understand the rules for TV licences for students, particularly in communal areas in a flat?

For example, university halls of residence. 12 people in a flat, with a common kitchen/lounge area (which only the 12 flat members have access to) and 12 separate lockable rooms, each student has their own tenancy agreement. Some of the students have parents who have a TV licence at their home address, so those students are covered watching TV on a battery powered device in their rooms, but how does that work in the flat's lounge/kitchen?

As an example, take 4 students who live in that flat, call them A, B C & D. A's parents have a TV licence, the others don't.

Does anyone understand enough to tell me which of the following situations is legal and which they could be prosecuted for:

1. A takes her laptop into the kitchen and watches live TV on battery power.
2. Then B, C & D come along and watch with her.
3. Then A gets bored and goes to her room to do some work, leaving B, C & D watching her laptop.
4. Then A decides she needs her laptop to do some work, so reclaims it. B brings out his laptop and B, C & D carry on watching on battery power.
5. Then A leaves the flat and goes down the pub
6. Then A comes back and joins the others in the kitchen watching on B's laptop.
7. Then the rest of the flat joins them, and there's too many people crowded round a single laptop. So they decide to plug the laptop (still on battery power) into a projector which is mains powered.

So which if any of the above could the student(s) be prosecuted for?

They would only be prosecuted if they let in and give the TVL goon their details.

[Deleted User]

INAL, but I'd say:-

A takes her laptop into the kitchen and watches live TV on battery power.

Legal

Then B, C & D come along and watch with her.

Still legal.

Then A gets bored and goes to her room to do some work, leaving B, C & D watching her laptop.

Illegal. Also, given the boredom, I'd say A was probably watching the BBC.

Then A decides she needs her laptop to do some work, so reclaims it. B brings out his laptop and B, C & D carry on watching on battery power.

Still illegal.

Then A leaves the flat and goes down the pub

Legal, unless A is under 18.

Then A comes back and joins the others in the kitchen watching on B's laptop.

Legal.

Then the rest of the flat joins them, and there's too many people crowed round a single laptop. So they decide to plug the laptop (still on battery power) into a projector which is mains powered.

Legal.

zagfles

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Then A gets bored and goes to her room to do some work, leaving B, C & D watching her laptop.

Illegal. Also, given the boredom, I'd say A was probably watching the BBC.

But who is breaking the law? It was A who set up the laptop, then decided to leave. B, C & D are just watching what someone else set up.

What would happen if E & F were in the kitchen too, neither of whom have parents with TV licences. But E & F are cooking their dinner, E has no interest whatsoever in the TV on the laptop and doesn't even look at it, F glances occasionally while stirring his porridge. Are they breaking the law too?

Then A decides she needs her laptop to do some work, so reclaims it. B brings out his laptop and B, C & D carry on watching on battery power.

Still illegal.

Who is breaking the law, just B, or C & D too (and what about E & F)?

Then the rest of the flat joins them, and there's too many people crowed round a single laptop. So they decide to plug the laptop (still on battery power) into a projector which is mains powered.

Legal.

So a battery powered device which receives the broadcast can then relay it to a mains powered device to display it? Find that a bit surprising? Bit of a loophole if you can have a battery powered receiving device which can relay to a mains powered display device?