TV Licence article Discussion

drsquirrel

cw18 wrote: »

I think it's wrong to say 'you will get', as I've never had. And I cancelled my licence at the end of 2010, so they've had plenty of chance to chase me.... especially given the TV purchases I've made since then! OK, so I completed the on-line form. A couple of minutes that didn't cost me anything but the time, and it's all done and I don't have any headaches from hassle.

"Will get" from filling out online? its what they say and thats what I meant. They are though more likely to visit if you fill it out. You shouldn't need to fill it out anyway, so you were bullied into it.

madmuppet5 wrote: »

Some very good points.
TVL staff do get a bonus, £20 I think for selling you a licence. I've got a stack of the threat-o-grams some beginning with "What to expect in Court". Now I can see how these would be scary and intimidating for a lot of people but they are not worth the paper they are written on. The latest that I received stated "We've begun an investigation into your property". That must be the third time I have had that one :rotfl:
Obviously the investigation can't be completed without your assistance, so don't let them in.:beer:

Any evidence of this?

I collect my letters, sadly can't be used for harassment claims.

drsquirrel

darren1217 wrote: »

My Friend only watching satellite tv (not sky or any other uk broadcaster) he watches programs from Argentina or some other non uk channels he is 60 and pays direct debit for his licence, How can he prove he never watches live tv from the uk. He was getting phone calls every day for 2 weeks from the tv licence company. even though he had paid via a paypoint and had proof, his English is not great and they harresed him non stop and were very rude at times.

You still require to pay a TV Licence if you watch ANY live broadcast, even if its from foriegn stations on other satellites.

If he has told TVL he does that, he is basically admitting he is guilty. So best thing to do is not tell them anything, even if you think you are all above board.

Granted you mention they have paid, there is no benefit into TVL to keep contacting them, but the whole company (its a company remember, private company) is so poor that im not surprised that records are rubbish.

madmuppet5

darren1217 wrote: »

My Friend only watching satellite tv (not sky or any other uk broadcaster) he watches programs from Argentina or some other non uk channels he is 60 and pays direct debit for his licence, How can he prove he never watches live tv from the uk. He was getting phone calls every day for 2 weeks from the tv licence company. even though he had paid via a paypoint and had proof, his English is not great and they harresed him non stop and were very rude at times.

I know previously that Polish satellite dishes used to be exempt so I am assuming an Argentinian would have been. I'm pretty sure that this is now not the case though as it's still watching a live broadcast. Hopefully MSE Becca can clarify for you.

Former_MSE_Becca

madmuppet5 wrote: »

I know previously that Polish satellite dishes used to be exempt so I am assuming an Argentinian would have been. I'm pretty sure that this is now not the case though as it's still watching a live broadcast. Hopefully MSE Becca can clarify for you.

I'm on it... Will get answers added to the guide (and on here) as soon as I know

MSE Becca

madmuppet5

drsquirrel wrote: »

"Will get" from filling out online? its what they say and thats what I meant. They are though more likely to visit if you fill it out. You shouldn't need to fill it out anyway, so you were bullied into it.



Any evidence of this?

I collect my letters, sadly can't be used for harassment claims.

Not sure where I saw it but probably from here.
http://www.tvlicenceresistance.info/

cw18

drsquirrel wrote: »

"Will get" from filling out online? its what they say and thats what I meant. They are though more likely to visit if you fill it out. You shouldn't need to fill it out anyway, so you were bullied into it.

I don't consider myself to have been bullied into it.

If I tell the gas, electric or water companies I don't use their services and won't pay they can turn off the supply to my house to ensure I'm not using (even though meter readings - for all 3 in my case - would prove that). The way TV signals are broadcast means they can't stop individual houses receiving them, so there is an assumption that you use the service. All I've done is notify them that I don't, and they've (so far at least) taken my word for it (despite TV purchase notifications) and allowed me to stop paying.

Two minutes filling in the form to save me £145.50 a year. Call it another couple of minutes for each repeat notification (having bought a new TV set) and that's a total of 8 minutes work in 28 months. So I've effectively 'earned' £339.50 in 8 minutes, which equates to over £2.5k/hour...... a good enough hourly rate for my liking If I didn't fill in the form it sounds like I'd have a load of letters to deal with (even if only to drop straight into a bin) which would take up my time, and these letters also generate a cost that will then be passed on to those that do pay for a licence - and I consider that as unfair as if I were shoplifting which causes the supermarkets to raise prices for everyone to cover their losses.

Paul_Varjak

Having just retired I have decided I don't want to pay for a TV licence, especially as I may go weeks without watching a single TV programme. I use the internet a lot and, with TalkTalk, their internet package is now unlimited and basically free with their phone service.

So, I don't mind waiting for the live transmissions to complete, before watching the programmes on BBC iPlayer or the ITV equivalent.

My Sky dish will still remain outside, should I change my mind and I don't want to pay for its removal anyway. But I have disconnected the SKy box and put it in a cupboard. I have no terrestrial aerial for TV and any Freeview box is also packed away in a box in the cupboard.

Even though a large proportion of the TV licence goes towards BBC Radio (Martin does mention the figure in his article) he fails to mention that you do not need a TV licence to listen to Radio.

It seems a strange logic that requires you to have a TV licence, even if you don't watch BBC TV but you don't need a licence to listen to BBC radio programmes!

Steve059

It's a "broadcast receiving licence" and logic has never been any government's strong point.

I suspect that successive governments have quietly cursed the decision to abolish the "radio licence".

cw18

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

It seems a strange logic that requires you to have a TV licence, even if you don't watch BBC TV but you don't need a licence to listen to BBC radio programmes!

As a young child I was definitely told my great-Aunt had to have a b&w licence even though she had no TV, and that was because she listened to the radio. I don't know when it changed, but I'm glad it has otherwise I'd still need one

madmuppet5

cw18 wrote: »

As a young child I was definitely told my great-Aunt had to have a b&w licence even though she had no TV, and that was because she listened to the radio. I don't know when it changed, but I'm glad it has otherwise I'd still need one

The radio licence itself was abolished in 1971 although I think there are a lot of people who still think you need one.