TV Licence article Discussion

Cornucopia

Totally accept that it probably isn't the solution for your neighbour, but any reasonably new TV (one with a spare HDMI socket) can access all of that content using a Now TV box/stick and various other similar devices, that start from £15 or so (brand new, cheaper second-hand).

That's a payback within 5 weeks on the full Licence Fee rate.

Nick_C

I suppose a lot of over 75s don't have or want broadband!

GypsyRose

I have not had a licence since 2014, I cancelled in protest at the Savile debacle and the lack of acceptance by the bbc that they had facilitated his revolting regime. Nor had they apologised to victims.
I have advised them every two years since and have a letter showing I must advise them in 2020.
To clarify I donated my tv to a local elderly care home I don’t watch tv, certainly not bbc, unless on catch up services, never iplayer I detest the bbc and all it stands for.
I was dozing in my house on Wednesday when I was rudely awakened by loud knocking on my door. I jumped up and went to the door and could see two figures through the frosted glass. I shouted Who is it? I’m 66 and live alone so am always wary. One of them replied ‘do You live here’ I asked again Who is it He replied with the same question! I shouted Go away.
They knocked again but ignored them.
I feel that was a blatant attempt to intimidate me. Surely they should have told me who they were when I asked and provided Id? It’s what we are told to do when answering a knock at the door, ask for id before opening.
They returned two days later and this time knocked my back door! I ignored and didn’t answer the door.
Who would I complain to?

worried_jim

GypsyRose wrote: »

I have not had a licence since 2014, I cancelled in protest at the Savile debacle and the lack of acceptance by the bbc that they had facilitated his revolting regime. Nor had they apologised to victims.
I have advised them every two years since and have a letter showing I must advise them in 2020.
To clarify I donated my tv to a local elderly care home I don’t watch tv, certainly not bbc, unless on catch up services, never iplayer I detest the bbc and all it stands for.
I was dozing in my house on Wednesday when I was rudely awakened by loud knocking on my door. I jumped up and went to the door and could see two figures through the frosted glass. I shouted Who is it? I’m 66 and live alone so am always wary. One of them replied ‘do You live here’ I asked again Who is it He replied with the same question! I shouted Go away.
They knocked again but ignored them.
I feel that was a blatant attempt to intimidate me. Surely they should have told me who they were when I asked and provided Id? It’s what we are told to do when answering a knock at the door, ask for id before opening.
They returned two days later and this time knocked my back door! I ignored and didn’t answer the door.
Who would I complain to?

Whoever sold you the pills.

roddydogs

The beeb have now wasted millions with a letter to all over 75s telling us what we already knew..

Cornucopia

GypsyRose wrote: »

I was dozing in my house on Wednesday when I was rudely awakened by loud knocking on my door. I jumped up and went to the door and could see two figures through the frosted glass. I shouted Who is it? I’m 66 and live alone so am always wary. One of them replied ‘do You live here’ I asked again Who is it He replied with the same question! I shouted Go away.
They knocked again but ignored them.
I feel that was a blatant attempt to intimidate me. Surely they should have told me who they were when I asked and provided Id? It’s what we are told to do when answering a knock at the door, ask for id before opening.
They returned two days later and this time knocked my back door! I ignored and didn’t answer the door.
Who would I complain to?

They like to play this game, according to many reports. You can complain to the BBC's Head of Revenue Management (she is the overall head of TVL) at the address below.

Head of Revenue Management
BBC TV Licensing
2nd Floor, Broadcast Centre
BBC White City
201 Wood Lane
London
W12 7TP

Cornucopia

worried_jim wrote: »

Whoever sold you the pills.

Be nice!

GypsyRose's account is common enough - I've heard many, many similar accounts.

TVL like to start off a call in this way (a) to scare people - which is unacceptable, (b) to avoid giving away their own identity immediately - which is unacceptable and a breach of their own procedures.

I think someone (in management or the legal dept) has given them the notion of using data protection principles to abuse the privilege of the common law implied right of access.

cw18

roddydogs wrote: »

The beeb have now wasted millions with a letter to all over 75s telling us what we already knew..

What WE already knew, but if it weren't for the internet I'd have missed it (because I'm LLF and therefore don't watch any news, and I also don't read newspapers and rarely listen to the news on the radio either - I love the 'little bubble' one person on another forum accused me of living in), so I can readily accept that a reasonable percentage of these older people won't have seen/heard - and even more won't have fully taken it on board. Surely it's better to be sure they've all got the information so they don't assume they're still covered by a free licence and end up with a huge fine they've even less chance of being able to afford??

Britannia12345

I came across a live feed from Sky news on Youtube this morning. I presume that cannot legally be watched but how on earth would tvl know if I was watching live stuff on youtube?
My paranoia grows by the day ����

Cornucopia

Britannia12345 wrote: »

I came across a live feed from Sky news on Youtube this morning. I presume that cannot legally be watched but how on earth would tvl know if I was watching live stuff on youtube?
My paranoia grows by the day ����

No, you cannot legally watch the live Sky News feed on Youtube without a Licence. As I said before, TVL do not use electronic means of detection. If they speak to you (which you can decline) they will simply ask you what TV you watch.

The essence of TV Licence law is just like any other. The Public are expected to be reasonably clear about what the law says, and to abide by it. As long as you do that, TVL shouldn't be bothering you unduly.

If, on reflection, you feel that their behaviour towards you is unreasonable, then there are various free legal routes to put them in their place (which is a non-statutory workforce of salespeople).

There are wildly varying experiences of TVL amongst people who do not need TV Licences. I've always experimented with legal strategies because I am interested in the law. However, I have never actually met one of their salespeople at my door, so I couldn't say that they have ever behaved unreasonably towards me in that context.