anzo Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Read this The TV Licensing Agency is nothing more than a pressure group, whereby everyone who doesn't have a TV license is harrassed and otherwise assumed guilty of a crime that is completely unenforcable. Fortunately most people would bin these, but I could help but think if my gran opened a letter threatening court for a crime she hadnt committed she'd simply pay up. Thats how these bastards win.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eskimo Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 I did, it just surprised me that you guys have too, we dont and I hadnt heard of it We get charged for everything in the UK. Read this The TV Licensing Agency is nothing more than a pressure group, whereby everyone who doesn't have a TV license is harrassed and otherwise assumed guilty of a crime that is completely unenforcable. Fortunately most people would bin these, but I could help but think if my gran opened a letter threatening court for a crime she hadnt committed she'd simply pay up. Thats how these bastards win.... I was going to mention something like that. If it ain't the Police you don't have to reply! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anzo Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Technically yes, but it'll cost them a damn site more than £145.00 to find out you're doing it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe O'Connor Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 It's because the channels that aren't the BBC are subsidised by advertising. Only the BBC doesn't have advertising on it for third-party products, so it's funded by the license fee. There was in fact a case some years ago where a woman successfully claimed she only watched ITV or one of the other channels for one program, and that was her TV viewing done; she watched nothing else at all. She successfully avoided paying the license fee! (To the best of my knowledge, that's how I remember it anyway.) Also, if you head to http://bbc.co.uk/ do you see ads? Ah thanks. Man that sucks getting charged for that. Sorry Im no help to the topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT! Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Also, if you head to http://bbc.co.uk/ do you see ads? Yes. Right at the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Yes. Right at the top. Your PC is fooked then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT! Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Maybe it's because I'm in a different country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolver Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Unless you count the picture at the top an ad? Which it is, really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anzo Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Off topic, but did anyone actually watch that shite in the picture above? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocktrials Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Me and my mate have an apartment in Ireland, where you need a license too, but here, apparently, it's even if you have a TV, you gotta pay. Now we don't watch TV on a TV, we watch 4OD stuff etc and are playing games mostly. When the world cup was on, we received a letter but presumed they had just sent one to everyone cause they knew everyone would want to be watching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Harrison Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Ok, I see this thread, and a load of 'man down the pub' chat, bullshit about people being liable for owning a TV. I've been through all this before, and can't be bothered to read the thread. The following is fact. It's easier for the licensing firm to use scare tactics than it is work out who has a TV. So, they send letters to addresses to people without licenses, which are threatening. My third one said, in big read letters, "Final warning". I usually ignore these, but on principle I felt the need to complain. Initially I phoned up and said I had no TV. They asked for a name, I refused. They insisted. I refused still. I was put on hold. The guy then came back and said ok, we recognise there is no device. Eventually a letter was sent to Mr Anonymous or something like that, saying fine, we know you have no TV. 12 months passed. Then another letter, saying "we think this is a student household - did you know, your parents' licence does not cover you...". So I phoned up, and it went like this: Me: I resent you insisting I have committed an offence when I haven't. Stop harassing me like this. It needs to stop, right now. Them: Can I have your name please. Me: No, not this again. You can't. Just know that I'm not going to be intimidated like this. Stop sending the letters. Them: Ok, I'm going to put you on hold. Me: Fine. (crap music) Them: Sir? Me: Yes? Them: Right, we'll probably need to send some inspectors to your address to confirm what you have told us. Me: To prove I'm not committing an offence? Them: To confirm... (interrupted) Me: TO PROVE? Them: To confirm... (interrupted) Me: TO PROVE? (pause) Them: Sir. We need to check what you're saying is correct. Me: I object. I don't see why I should have to do this. Them: Well, imagine your neighbour was watching TV without a licence, wouldn't you feel annoyed? Me: My neighbour's business is his, not mine. I don't watch TV. I'm tired of this. Them: Ok, well, that's not how it works. Your address will possibly be visited to confirm what you have told us. Me: And what rights do they have? What can they do? Them: If they have reason to believe you are watching TV... (interrupted) Me: How? How will they know? Them: They might hear it... Me: No, I'd turn it off wouldn't I? Them: Well... I don't know... Me: I would... Them: Ok sir... but still... Me: Am I supposed to arrange to be in? Them: Usually if the officers believe someone is breaking the law, they can return with a warrant and... (interrupted) Me: Because I'm not. I'm not answering the door, I'm not letting them in. End of. Them: Ok, well, they'll still call round... Me: Fine. Wasting their time. And mine. Send me a court summons, or stop this nonsense. I'm going to end this call now. Them: You're perfectly... (interrupted) (hung up) The FACT is this: it is only and offence to watch programs on your PC/TV or listen to programs as they are being broadcast. If you own a TV, have the thing f'cken wired to the aerial plug, and never turn it on, YOU ARE NOT. BREAKING. THE LAW. Inspection or not. DO NOT even enter into conversation unless it is for venting your own anger/frustration, as I did. They can't do sh't. They have no evidence. This is no different to car tax, SORN, etc. The easiest way for these people to enforce a rule is to make the innocent people suffer. It sucks, and it's shit, but because everyone accepts it, it's expected. As above, I refused. I just said f'ck off, because let's face it - they're asking you to prove your innocence, and that's just not the way it works in the UK. If someone thinks I've committed a crime, or you, or anyone, they need to prove it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krisboats Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT! Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 Unless you count the picture at the top an ad? Which it is, really. Uploaded with ImageShack.us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT! Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 (edited) ooops double post. Edited January 12, 2011 by JT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Quinn Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 Nor is my brake, but my frame is So when I watch MOTD live on the bbc website I should actually have a TV license? f**k that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaRtZ Posted January 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 hero. If I get a court summons, Ill sue them for loss of earnings too, but I won't let them in as you've suggested. The whole situation is stupid. The DVLA don't send inspectors round asking if occupants have a driving license, and warn them that its illegal to drive without a license and threaten to take them to court if they can prove they don't have access to a car :/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_malcolm Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 if you google not paying / not wanting a tv license there are some interesting pages about, i looked ages ago when thinking of moving out. One of them is a guy who watches tv and doesn't pay a license due to something the bbc done cant remember what exactly but its basically them breaking their own rules of the tv license fee arrangement. its quite interesting you should see if you can find it, from what i gather a few people have done it and they don't like it at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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