TV Licence article Discussion

Andy_L

Cornucopia wrote: »

There have been several TV Licensing petitions, leading to at least one Parliamentary debate. However, nothing has changed.

and people should be careful what they wish for - they could replace it with the German system where instead of a licence they have an extra hypothecated tax added to their equivalent of council tax so there's no option to avoid it by going internet only

JimmyTheWig

Andy_L wrote: »

and people should be careful what they wish for - they could replace it with the German system where instead of a licence they have an extra hypothecated tax added to their equivalent of council tax so there's no option to avoid it by going internet only

I know that that wouldn't suit many on this thread, but it would at least be more logical. If the argument is that the BBC is a public service that should be funded by people whether they use the service or not, then why shouldn't it be funded by taxation?

[Deleted User]

Andy_L wrote: »

and people should be careful what they wish for - they could replace it with the German system where instead of a licence they have an extra hypothecated tax added to their equivalent of council tax so there's no option to avoid it by going internet only

So you shouldn't fight against something, in case you get something worse in place of it?

Good job William Wilberforce and Winston Churchill did take that attitude.

pphillips

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

I know that that wouldn't suit many on this thread, but it would at least be more logical. If the argument is that the BBC is a public service that should be funded by people whether they use the service or not, then why shouldn't it be funded by taxation?

There are so many arguments around how or if the BBC should be funded as a public service broadcaster.

Maybe the BBC should be funded by general taxation because of those who get round needing a TV Licence (perhaps because they just watch on demand or only listen to BBC radio) or because of those who watch TV illegally.

However, on balance I am against the BBC being funded by general taxation because firstly I want to have a choice not to pay for the BBC's tainted existence and secondly taxation means government control, which might turn the BBC into even more of a state propaganda machine.

mc1960

I do not need a TV licence as I do not record or watch live TV. My sister was visiting me and I logged onto BBC iplayer via my smart TV. A couple of weeks later I received an email from tv licencing advising they noted I had logged onto iplayer and therefore needed a licence. I replied that my sister who was visiting me did have a licence and as her home was empty I believed she could use her licence at my house. I agreed this was incorrect but an honest mistake advising they could check her address to confirm no one was watching TV during that period. I received confirmation that it had been recorded I did not require a licence and they would contact me in two years for an update. I signed into the iplayer using an email that did not give my name then used my sister's name and address so was surprised when I received the email from them which came to my main email address and stated my name. Anyway, am I right in saying if my sister had used her phone or tablet to watch live TV or iplayer then this would be ok as she is covered by a full licence at home?. Can she then cast it to television via chromecast?

cw18

mc1960 wrote: »

Anyway, am I right in saying if my sister had used her phone or tablet to watch live TV or iplayer then this would be ok as she is covered by a full licence at home?.

Providing the phone or tablet isn't plugged into the mains she'd be covered by her home licence.

Can she then cast it to television via chromecast?

I believe not, as the TV would be plugged into the mains.

Cornucopia

mc1960 wrote: »

Anyway, am I right in saying if my sister had used her phone or tablet to watch live TV or iplayer then this would be ok as she is covered by a full licence at home?.

It would be okay for HER to watch in this way, yes, as long as the device is powered by its own batteries at the time of viewing.

Can she then cast it to television via chromecast?

No. We discussed this exemption in some detail a few weeks ago. The wording is very specific, and it applies to the Licence holder, and any member of their household to watch using a mobile device, and that's it.

Traveller11

Thanks all for that excellent response.

Now I know exactly where I stand.
So any 'nasty' letters from that mob will be sent back at their expense with a reference to Hansard 15th May 2006.

cw18

Traveller11 wrote: »

So any 'nasty' letters from that mob will be sent back at their expense

It's only at their expense if you put them in new envelopes that you address and don't affix postage to. If you simply 'return to sender' then the cost of taking it back comes out of Royal Mail profits. But even in a new envelope, if they don't pay the charge to accept the letters it's still all done at cost to Royal Mail.

Cornucopia

Overall, I think I'd probably recommend not sending them back at all.

If you need to write to someone at BBC-TV Licensing about how you feel about the way they conduct themselves, there are details on their website. I would suggest starting any complaint at TVL Operations Director level or above (anything else is a waste of time).

I've actually sat in Court (in a TVL warrant obstruction case) and watched the prosecution barrister produce a set of TVL envelopes with messages scrawled on them that were returned by the defendant. It was chilling to see such an obvious and relatively harmless gesture of defiance being used against him.

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/about/making-a-complaint-AB7