Television Licensing Authority enforcement officers

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Television Licensing Authority enforcement officers

82 posts & 48 voices | Started 1 year ago by Anna B | Latest reply from Elfinsafety

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Anna B - Member

I haven't had a TV for several years, and informed the TLA when I got rid of it. They write from time to time to check whether you are watching a TV illegally yet or not. I've always replied and I think I've let someone in my flat to check whether I have one.

They started writing to me again a couple of months ago and I decided I was fed up of answering them and fed up of their tone, that makes the assumption that I must be watching TV illegally. So I haven't answered them this time and after about 5 letters they said they were going to send their "enforcement officers" round. They visited today, but I was out on my bike - they left a letter entitled "We said we'd call..."

My plan is to not let them in as they have no right to access my flat without a warrant - but I'm wondering if anyone has experience of not playing their game and the outcome?

Thanks!

Posted 1 year ago #
jam bo - Member

If you don't have a tv then let them waste their time trying to prove you do. I did for years.,

Posted 1 year ago #
Junkyard - Member

yes not worth the hassle
when it asked why you dont have a televison licence - after three years i wrote
"take a wild effing guess"
they wrote back thanking me for my reply and asking for more details!!
I just said stop sending me letters and call round because i am sick of this. They did stop writing and called.
Suspect they have the right to check but just reply and ask them to stop harrasing you as you dont have a tv and infrom them you wont write again.

Posted 1 year ago #
MrGFisher - Member

I went through something similar. They gave up in the end. I also received a few "we said we'd call" hand written notes... delivered by my post lady! Its just another scare tactic to get evaders to buy a licence. I also took exception to their lightly veiled threats, general tone and accusations of law breaking, despite doing nothing wrong. As there are millions of non payers, expect a genuine visit in a good few years, then simply say nothing and shut the door. There is loads on line about their powers (or should i say lack of them) if you search....

Posted 1 year ago #
seosamh77 - Member

think i've had about 15 letters since moving into this flat 2 years ago..

Posted 1 year ago #
Saccades - Member

12 years of not paying, just ignore them and their useless threats

Posted 1 year ago #
daveatextremistsdotcouk - Member

There are horror stories of little old ladies who don't have TVs buying licenses just to keep the TLA bullies away.

Mate at work doesn't watch live TV but downloads all he needs instead. He's had countless threats which all end up in the bin. They are all addressed to 'the legal occupier' because he's kept his name off the electoral roll.

Unless they turn up with a warrant issued by a court, he has no intention of letting them in.

Posted 1 year ago #
Cougar - Member

They don't have any authority whatsoever (and "detection vans" are a myth). Stick the letters in the big round file and if they turn up on your doorstep without a warrant tell them you'll be persueing them for trespass.

Never had a problem personally, but then, I've never not had a TV licence.

Posted 1 year ago #
Lawmanmx - Member

all you need to know here

http://www.tpuc.org/stoppayingtvlicencefees

Posted 1 year ago #
AlasdairMc - Member

The great thing is that they can't get a warrant without proof of you owning a TV, and they need the warrant to get the proof!!

Posted 1 year ago #
mountaincarrot - Member

They came snooping round my place some years ago when I had no TV. - then they ask to come in and look!
I told them to go away and they didn't return.

Posted 1 year ago #
RealMan - Member

(and "detection vans" are a myth)

Really?

So if you have a TV, and watch it all the time without a license, there is nothing they can do about it? Assuming you don't let them into your house voluntarily.

Posted 1 year ago #
muggomagic - Member

a short informational video for you.....

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqG4ysu2ksU

Posted 1 year ago #
loddrik - Member

I'm happy to pay mine, the BBC is worth every penny IMO.

Posted 1 year ago #
TheFunkyMonkey - Member

I'm with loddrik

Posted 1 year ago #
Lawmanmx - Member

i'd happily never watch BBC ever again (but it appears we Dont have the choice) ... i vote with me feet

Posted 1 year ago #
Cougar - Member

Really?

So if you have a TV, and watch it all the time without a license, there is nothing they can do about it? Assuming you don't let them into your house voluntarily.

Correct. Unless they get a warrant, which is highly unlikely.

It's all done by address, basically. I believe (though don't know first-hand) that when you buy a TV you get 'reported' to the licensing authority so they can cross-reference your address.

Posted 1 year ago #
Cougar - Member

... of course, if they look through your window and see a TV sitting there, you might be on shakier ground. (-:

Posted 1 year ago #
Cougar - Member

And yeah. Personally I think it's worth paying for, I think Auntie Beeb is an institution worth supporting. I listen to radio 1, 2 and 4 regularly, as well as enjoying a lot of their home-grown TV output.

With the growth of alternative technologies letting you watch TV without a TV I do wonder how much longer the "unique way the BBC is funded" will be able to sustain itself. If the arse drops out it though, I think that will be a pity.

Posted 1 year ago #
molgrips - Member

So.. does BBC iPlayer log IP addresses? It should

Posted 1 year ago #
Junkyard - Member

do pay now as i do have one now. Agree it is a great institute and preferable to a Fox news /berlusconni type scenario
Does an amazing cross section of programmes from Top Gear to good stuff

Posted 1 year ago #
pypdjl - Member

Seems unlikely, as you don't need a licence for iPlayer.

Posted 1 year ago #
GrahamS - Member

And yeah. Personally I think it's worth paying for, I think Auntie Beeb is an institution worth supporting. I listen to radio 1, 2 and 4 regularly, as well as enjoying a lot of their home-grown TV output.

+1. I watch the BBC channels, listen to BBC radio and use the BBC News website.

I quite like having an internationally respected broadcaster producing stuff for my consumption and I think the licence fee is pretty reasonable. Try comparing it to Sky!

Posted 1 year ago #
Cougar - Member

all you need to know here

I have POLICY of NOT reading ANYTHING which has RANDOM words in capital LETTERS for no apparent REASON. It's a good rule of thumb that's served me well in the past for avoiding lunatics and the religious.

Have you had a look at the rest of the site? It's fantastic, I've not seen so many barmpots in one place for quite some time.

Posted 1 year ago #
cxi - Member

It's all done by address, basically. I believe (though don't know first-hand) that when you buy a TV you get 'reported' to the licensing authority so they can cross-reference your address.

Aye - I had Amazon deliver a DVD/HD recorder to work. I now get letters (at work) saying I don't have a TV license...

Posted 1 year ago #
ebygomm - Member

They kept promising me visits, and the letters got more and more threatening (and red) but after ignoring them they seemed to go back to the first letter.

I did get a TV license man to the front door, he asked if I had a TV I said no. He asked if he could come in and check and was very put out when I told him no.

Shortly after I got another 'initial' letter, no reference to the fact I'd had a visit. As soon as the option to fill in online to state you didn't have a TV I did that. I received a letter stating I wouldn't receive any more correspondence for, I think 2 years, and then the next day I got another threatening letter

It's all run by Crapita, I don't think they have a clue what they're doing, but I hate the wording of the letters and the presumption of guilt.

Posted 1 year ago #
kaesae - Member

I don't watch TV it promotes delusionment and a lack of touch with reality.

As for licensing, I just laugh about the letters and if they come to my door, I laugh even harder.

They assume everyone watches it, because most people have been brain washed since they where kids into believing that false hood is truth and vice versa, don't pretend you have a choice to watch it or not, you are addicted to it!

Posted 1 year ago #
lister - Member

I love telly. So do my kids.

Posted 1 year ago #
Drac - Moderator

I don't watch TV it promotes delusionment and a lack of touch with reality.

So true not like being on a forum typing any old rubbish under a persona.

Posted 1 year ago #
nickc - Member

They assume everyone watches it, because most people have been brain washed

really? brain washed? But not you though, right?

Posted 1 year ago #
B.A.Nana - Member

I went for about 5 years without a TV, until my mum gave me a virtually new one last year, it had sparkly bits on it and dozens of channels, so I caved in and bought a licence.
Anyway, In my case, I got the reminders, then they got more and more threatening and red. At one point I did phone them, but the letters continued, so I never replied to them again.
I did get a visit, the guy was sat outside my house, in a car. He came in, looked around, went away and the letters stopped for about 2 years.
Then it all started again, with regular letters to 'the occupier', threatening all sorts of things, I was/am on the electoral roll BTW. I ignored them all.

Posted 1 year ago #
z1ppy - Member

They are very annoying, though I did read somewhere (urban myth???) that if you respond to them formally & keep a record (recorded post) you could have them prosecuted under anti-'harassment' laws.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1997/40/contents

Posted 1 year ago #
hora - Member

The amount of times I've said get rid and mrshora has basically rioted

Posted 1 year ago #
Cougar - Member

It's all run by Crapita, I don't think they have a clue what they're doing

I didn't know that, but it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. I've had a few dealings with Capita and I'd struggle to find something favourable to say about them.

Posted 1 year ago #
thekingisdead - Member

You need a license for any device *capable* of receiving a *live* TV broadcast.

Although it funds the BBC, the license isn't required to watch BBC channels (ie you can't de-tune BBC channels and say you dont need a liscence)

Interestingly the authorities have stated that they wont (can't) be chasing people watching live broadcasts through I player.

Posted 1 year ago #

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