TV Licence article Discussion

leo~saphira

let see if I get another letter after my recent telephone call to these let say !!!!! outfit (well they are running an extortion campaign against people who don't require an licence)

Stupid idiots still think they "require" to send round a hitman to see either I require a license or not - !!!!!!, don't they understand that they will not gain any access to my home either they want to or not. I don't see why I should even let a salesman through the door to see if I am watching TV or not. What about the fact that there is no aerial outside on the house any more (just the bracket sits on the wall) this would be a clue to them that I amm not watching TV!!! as I can't! (or the fact there is no viewable means of watching a Digital broadcast in the lines there is no Digi Box!) no still they want to send a salemans cowboy round to my home...

Sigh (rolls eyes smiley here)

rich_jtg

markwalker wrote: »

So am i paying in advance for my licence then?

Indeed yes. Using Direct Debit, you'll always be paying six months in advance... and normally, you won't see that money again.

Several years ago, I moved back on to annual payments (didn't have to pay for six months), and now pay the £12 each month into a separate account instead to use each year.

HiroProtagonist

Huge, Huge thanks to aureol212 who kindly pointed me in the direction of this thread. Here's my story, and reasoning behind why I've decided to cancel my tv licence:

Basically I first moved into my own place when I was 18 (26 now), and have always either contributed towards the cost of a tv licence (when I flat shared), or, since May 2005, have paid the full price for one (the date I moved into my current flat, on my own).

I pay for my licence with a TV Licencing card (ideal at the time, as I was unemployed, and it helped me balance my finances), and currently have a valid TV licence, up until April 30th 2011.

However, I don't watch TV all that much - or to put it more specifically, I can't remember the last time I watched live tv - either via a freeview box, Virgin Media STB, or live-stream on iPlayer.

However, I do download the odd episode of Dragons Den, That Mitchell and Webb Look, Sherlock, etc, etc, via iPlayer - typically the next day.

While I've always regarded a tv licence as a "necessary evil", something clicked around a year ago, when I bought a new monitor (Samsung 2333HD). Although it was purchased as a monitor, the fact it contains a Freeview tuner meant that, when purchasing it, I had to supply my address, so that a check could be performed (it's my understanding that stores pass this information on say every few weeks, or at the end of the month) to see if I owned a tv licence (no probs, as I did).

However, it was the assumptive nature, that annoyed me. I purchased a monitor, and yes, it can indeed be used as a tv (It's actually hooked upto a lil HTPC and a blu-ray player), but that doesn't mean it'll be hooked up to receive live broadcasts.

So that attitude, the fact there's hardly anything actually on the TV that takes my fancy, and the fact I've got 1000+ DVDs / Blu-Rays (I've had BSG on Blu-Ray for almost 12 months, and have only seen a few eps) - a large number of which I've yet to watch, made me decide not to renew my licence in 2011.

However, a thread on this forum pointed me in the direction of the TV licencing website, where you can claim a refund for "unused quarters" on your licence. I've just completed it, and it generated a .pdf file that needs to be signed, and requires evidence attached to it, to explain the reason for a refund (I selected the "I no longer need a tv licence" option).

However, and here's the kicker - it requests evidence, such as proof you're starting university, death of the person named on the licence, etc, etc - there was nothing that I noticed, about simply "I no longer watch live tv".

Soo (I'm a waffler - in case y'all hadn't noticed). Do I simply need to include a letter with the refund form, outlining pretty much the above - that although technically I own a tv (though it's used as monitor) it isn't hooked up to an aerial. And that, I only use it to playback blu-rays / DVDs, as well as using as a computer screen.

Also - would it be worth mentioning the iPlayer aspect - i.e. what little tv programming I do watch, comes via catch-up the next day?

Any help / pointers, would be really appreciated.

Cheers in advance,

-Michael.

shammyjack

Now you have found the thread through others taking the time to point you to it at least have the good grace to read it instead of asking more questions.

Every point you need clarifying has already been addressed in this thread so why waste members time by asking them to repeat themselves. Oh and by the way the link I posted works fine on 3 PCs in this house and my laptop .


shammy

HiroProtagonist

shammyjack wrote: »

Now you have found the thread through others taking the time to point you to it at least have the good grace to read it instead of asking more questions.

Every point you need clarifying has already been addressed in this thread so why waste members time by asking them to repeat themselves. Oh and by the way the link I posted works fine on 3 PCs in this house and my laptop .


shammy

I'm currently upto page 13 of this thread, and yes, I'm quite aware that certain aspects of my questions have been answered in the past. I'm not sure why exactly you're chosing to be somewhat aggressive towards me, but two things spring to mind:

1. No one has to reply to anything. I'm simply greatful to anyone who takes a few mins to read what I've read, and respond with any suggestions of their own.
2. The link you posted might indeed work well on the equipment in your house, but it didn't work on mine. It also didn't work on for aureol212. As HappyMJ most likely suggested, that's because the MSE forums have generated a cookie within your browsers' cache, which allows you to see 'em. Unfortunately said link won't work for everyone else, if you copy 'n' paste it.

Edit -> Having read through the entire thread, and read what I posted, and the specific question I asked, I'm glad I posted in here.

leo~saphira

HiroProtagonist - there is nothing in law on the communication's act 2003 saying that you "must" provide any evidence to the TVLA. What they are trying to do is put another block in the way to stop people waking up that sometimes they don't require a licence.

Pending when your expire date is, simply cancel the Direct debit to the TV license firm and that's it.. no more licence.

When I cancelled mine, this is what I did. I also phoned them up to request that any unused quarters to be returned without delay - explained on the phone why (you don't watch tv etc...) - they will give out the carp that they "must" send someone round to confirm this - weather you let that "inspector" in to check your electrical stuff, this is your choice or not to let them in (I completely point blank refuse to allow any company into my home to confirm that I don't need any of their products/services)

Then the fun starts with the letters..

Good luck

donmaico

the tv licence is an anomaly , but its one i support as the BBC is one of the premier broadcasters in the world and without it we would be deluged with commercials and cheap rubbishy imported programming.The Beeb makes most of its own but there would never be enough advertising revenue for it to be able to do that so a licence is essential.Besidesw it also broadcasts for a lot of minority groups which would be impossible if it ever went commercial
Long may it continue

Jamopy

donmaico wrote: »

the tv licence is an anomaly , but its one i support as the BBC is one of the premier broadcasters in the world and without it we would be deluged with commercials and cheap rubbishy imported programming.The Beeb makes most of its own but there would never be enough advertising revenue for it to be able to do that so a licence is essential.Besidesw it also broadcasts for a lot of minority groups which would be impossible if it ever went commercial
Long may it continue

You've already made a pretty much identical post on this page of the thread already.

George_Bray

Quick update on my situation - I cancelled my TV licence nearly a year ago and received promptly a refund for the period unused, so that was good service. They said in the covering letter than I'd be visited sometime to confirm I really didn't need a licence, but many months later, nobody has called yet. Most significantly perhaps, I haven't received a single further letter from TV licensing about anything, so top marks there, too. So far, they've left me alone. If the people arrive, I'll let them in because I have nothing to hide. I suspect that the trouble starts if you try to bar entry (whatever the legal position) or write them aggressive letters. I also wonder if the long delay without a visit is due to more and more people realising that you can watch TV free on the Internet. At about 15:15 this afternoon I watched the BBC One O'Clock news. Who cares that it's 2.25 hours 'old'? Am I prepared to pay the licence fee just to watch 'live' TV? No way! I think TV licensing may be swamped with thousands and thousands of homes who need a visit.

54druids

My 82 year old mother has just moved in with us for 3 months or more depending on how long it takes her new place to become habitable. She still has her other house but it is lying empty. Can we claim her tv licence discount for our home?