TV Licence article Discussion

moonrakerz

MADCAT19 wrote: »

Seriously, have you read on their website about the detector vans/technology? It's laughable!
"
How do the detector vans work?

Our vans feature a range of detection tools. Some aspects of the equipment have been developed in such secrecy that engineers working on specific detection methods work in isolation, so not even they know how the other detection methods work. This gives us the best chance of catching licence evaders."

That website is interesting reading, indeed!

I'm NOT getting a TV License!

Even if the vans did work the evidence would not be admissable in Court. It would be classed as "covert surveillance"; ie: the same as tapping your 'phone - which they are not allowed to do !

MADCAT19

I guess, the question remains, how do they get away with all that?

special_k83

MADCAT19 wrote: »

I guess, the question remains, how do they get away with all that?

By not letting TVL bully them. Just don't let then into your home, you are not legally obliged to. No evidence = no fine

oldMcDonald

We have been thinking about stopping paying for the TV licence for a long time. In May our NTL subscription runs out, we are asking them to come and take the box - it is already unplugged from the TV and the others in the home are tuned in to VCR / DVD players only, with no ariels. We have not watched live TV for 3 months now, yet we are still paying the licence by DD. I am cancelling the direct debit for the TV licence on Monday.

I am not looking forward to confrontations on the doorstep - I live in an area that seems to be chosen for the TV dertector van (!) to do it's round in quite regularly (if the court round ups are anything to go by). Whilst I agree totally with those of you who are able to hold their own on the doorstep, I would turn to mush - I am cr*p in these situations. Someone on an earlier thread mentioned that you could probably manage to get them to leave you alone for a short amount of time if you filled in some form - does anyone know more about this?

I assume that as soon as I cancel the direct debit for May I will start to get threatening letters and knocks on the door. I am dreading it, but I suppose it is people like me, people who are not too confident in dealing with something like this, who end up in the position whereby it is easier to have a licence even if you don't watch TV (which is pretty much where we are now). It is really a stupid situation we have got into whereby we are paying for a licence when we no longer watch TV! It is only by reading this thread it has dawned on me that it is bullying tactics.

So do I cancel the DD, and write to the TVL or is there little point as I will get a visit anyway?

Swan_2

oldMcDonald wrote: »

I am not looking forward to confrontations on the doorstep - I live in an area that seems to be chosen for the TV dertector van (!) to do it's round in quite regularly (if the court round ups are anything to go by). Whilst I agree totally with those of you who are able to hold their own on the doorstep, I would turn to mush - I am cr*p in these situations. Someone on an earlier thread mentioned that you could probably manage to get them to leave you alone for a short amount of time if you filled in some form - does anyone know more about this?

So do I cancel the DD, and write to the TVL or is there little point as I will get a visit anyway?

hi oldMcDonald,
I'm sure there'll be others along with different experiences & opinions, but here's mine ...

I didn't watch telly for around 2 1/2 years, I did have a telly, but it was only used for DVDs & gaming

I'd just moved to a new flat & got all the usual threatening letters, so I wrote & told TVLA how I was using my telly & they were perfectly fine about it, but said they might need to send someone round to check
the letters stopped, & in 2 years no-one ever showed up, they left me alone. I might have just been lucky, or perhaps it was my location (small out-of-the-way town in Scotland)

I was prepared to let them in to see everything was above board, & to make the situation clearer I'd de-tuned the telly, disconnected the aerial & rolled up & taped the cable to the skirting board 8' away from the telly
you don't have to do any of that, but it made me feel more comfortable

moonrakerz

[quote=Swan;9697413
I was prepared to let them in to see everything was above board, & to make the situation clearer I'd de-tuned the telly, disconnected the aerial & rolled up & taped the cable to the skirting board 8' away from the telly
you don't have to do any of that, but it made me feel more comfortable [/quote]

If you're happy to do this, then that is up to you, but I find the attitude of TV Licensing very disturbing.

Swan, who is a perfectly law abiding citizen has been "badgered" into proving to some completely non-legal entity that he is not breaking the law.
I don't have to prove that I have not been speeding, or that I have not been shop lifting from M & S - so why should TV Licensing make people prove that they are not watching TV without a licence ?
Isn't there something about being "innocent until proved guilty" ?

Plus - DNA samples, finger prints at Heathrow, it's a bit by bit erosion of our freedoms !

boybeck

I am perfectly happy to pay for the TV licence. It is very cheap compared to the high monthly costs of Sky. I have watched TV in Australia, USA and Canada and the standards are much lower than here in the UK. BBC output is of a very high standard (granted, not all of it haha). If it weren't for the BBC our commercial channels wouldn't feel the need to keep up with them on quality. If the BBC funding disappears then prepare for a rapid decline in quality standards on all TV channels as shareholders demand more and more profit.

MADCAT19

TV is rubbish anyway... I wouldn't miss it at all.

butterfingers40

My son is going to Uni in September and he will need a tv license. I know we can apply for a refund as he will coming home in may and he will have three mnths left on the license. We are going to buy it for him . The question is can he apply for the license at home and pay for it on the cash payment scheme but leave the payment card here with us and we will pay it every week here?

gavsmillie

Folks,

Finally found a foolproof way of not paying legally for a TV licence!!!!!

Become a member of parliment !!! So simple I keep kicking myself for not realising sooner !!!

Duh really really feel stooooopid now !!!

Off to find a party who wants somebody with morals !!!! Having problems so far. Any ideas ?