TV Licence article Discussion

cw18

amateurinswindon said:

Hi there, I unplugged the aeriel. And can still watch a single channel. AMC provided by BT. Do I need a licence. Many thanks.

I'd never heard of that channel.   Did a quick Google, and everything suggests it's part of BT TV - and I thought you had to pay a subscription for BT TV?

With regards to needing a licence - it depends on two things.   The first is "do you watch it?"  (or do you record from it)   If not, then nothing else matters and it doesn't require one.    If "yes" then the question is whether it's considered to be a "Live" channel.   Again I've done a quick Google dig, and I've found a program schedule - so I'd say that it does.   So yes, if you watch it I'm pretty certain you need a licence.

DavidGS

Do +1 programes and Dave ja vue come under the term live TV when they are programes that have been shown previously?

pphillips

DavidGS said:

Do +1 programes and Dave ja vue come under the term live TV when they are programes that have been shown previously?

Yes - the term "live TV" means TV as it's being broadcast on any channel.

MrsStepford

You need a licence to:
Watch live TV on any device (TV, phone, tablet or laptop)
Record live TV of any kind
Watch or record live TV from another country
Watch or download TV on the BBC iPlayer website
Watch live TV via another service, using a TV feed being screened simultaneously on TV or if you're watching a movie on a service which is being screened simultaneously on TV

It gets complicated. You need a TV licence to watch or record Wimbledon on BBC or on any other foreign channel . You need a TV licence to watch Wimbledon highlights on BBC iPlayer. You don't need a TV licence to watch Wimbledon's own coverage via their website,of all courts except centre and #1 nor to listen to Wimbledo radio. Nor do you need a TV licence to listen to BBC radio coverage or to watch the commentators working on BBC radio websites. 

You need a licence to watch BBC Parliament or record it. You don't need a TV licence to watch Parliament's own coverage, filmed by the Parliamentary TV unit, because it's only available via the internet and made by Commons & Lords staff. 

You don't need a licence to watch Channel 4, ITV, My5, Britbox, Dave, Netflix. NOW TV, Amazon Prime etc on demand services. You DO for anything live or being recorded when live. 

TV Licensing Unit will try to argue, but they want to tax you. They can be nasty. Grill them back if necessary. 

FreeBear

MrsStepford said: TV Licensing Unit will try to argue, but they want to tax you. They can be nasty. Grill them back if necessary.

Never open the door to them if they call. And if you do make the mistake of opening the door, refuse to answer any questions. Don't even confirm your name.

In the current climate, their visit is not essential business, so you can send them on their way with a few choice words.

Grayhair

An 83 year old neighbour, and friend, has been trying to get her free TV License, which she is entitled to, for almost 8 months. She initially sent the application form with copies of her birth certificate and her pension credit award. After about a month she hadn’t received her free license, she phoned them and they said they would sort it out. Instead she got a letter asking for the same proof of her entitlement. This has happened eight times and each time she has sent them the documents. She’s terrified they send in the bailiff’s and because of the worry it has affected her health.

A couple of days ago she told us that she’s getting nowhere with the BBC Licensing board and to save all this worry she got in touch with them and asked for a payment card…one arrived in 3 days. So to save all this worry about the bailiff’s she’s now paying for a TV License that in her case should be free.

There must be a law of some kind that guards against this sort of abuse especially of the vulnerable and elderly.

Cornucopia

That's a sorry tale.   I'd suggest that your neighbour contacts her MP - 8 tries at engaging with a public service is way too many.  (Alternatively, the complaint escalation process described on the TVL website).

Having said that, there are no TV Licensing bailiffs - that was a piece of BBC mischievous PR a few months ago when they were endeavouring to inappropriately influence the public debate on decriminalisation.   

The BBC has a prescribed process for TV Licence enforcement, and they have said that it will not be applied to ex-free Licence holders for the immediate future.   

Grayhair

Cornucopia said:

That's a sorry tale.   I'd suggest that your neighbour contacts her MP - 8 tries at engaging with a public service is way too many.  (Alternatively, the complaint escalation process described on the TVL website).

Having said that, there are no TV Licensing bailiffs - that was a piece of BBC mischievous PR a few months ago when they were endeavouring to inappropriately influence the public debate on decriminalisation.   

The BBC has a prescribed process for TV Licence enforcement, and they have said that it will not be applied to ex-free Licence holders for the immediate future.   

Thanks for the info but we tried to tell her as did a few others about her rights but she's old and a worrier. I've since spoken to her and with her permission been in touch with her MP to see if he can sort it out....so thanks for the advice.

oldcodger69

Hi, At the outset I would mention that I don't query BBC needing the funds to produce programs without advertising etc. .Getting on for 76 and with quite bad tinnitus, I haven't watched TV for sometime; I find I can manage without..  I did nothing about it for sometime while waiting to see whether or not they would allow 0ver-75s a free license.  When it was obvious they wouldn't, I submitted my application quoting the above reason last July..  All went very cordially and, in fact, they gave me a rebate.  Soon afterwards the intimidating letters started.  I expected a couple but not six!  I contacted OFCOM and complained that it was harrassment. OFCOM were sympathetic but BBC TV Licensing is beyond their purview.  The address OFCOM offer is...TV Licensing!  Does anybody know if there is any Authority that they answer to?. Cheers!

Watchkeeper

"TV Licensing" is a trademark of the BBC:

"TV Licensing” is a trade mark used by companies contracted by the BBC to administer the collection of television licence fees and enforcement of the television licensing system.
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk//about/foi-about-tv-licensing-AB15

and the BBC licenses other firms like Capita, certain PR firms and other hangers-on to use it. As such, "TV Licensing" is a purely BBC invention with no corporate existence. That's why it is beyond OFCOM's purview. When you deal with "TV Licensing" you deal primarily with the BBC or with Capita.