House mates wont pa...
 

[Closed] House mates wont pay tv license!

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Just cant get them to part with the cash. Driving me nuts when they still manage to go out most nights of the week!

Who is liable? Should I just buy one to cover myself.

I don't even watch the TV, I just dont want to end up in trouble for my housemates being cheap and stupid!


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 11:23 am
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probably whoever has their name on the tenancy agreement is responsible (jointly and singly).


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 11:24 am
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whose name on the rental agreement / lease ?


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 11:24 am
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wwaswas beat me, by 7 seconds.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 11:24 am
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Shop them 👿


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 11:27 am
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If you have locks on your bedroom doors, I believe everyone needs their own licence for the TV in their bedroom.

(This could be a rumour I heard at uni though.)


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 11:29 am
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throw tv out window. or p1ss in it.

no more problem. you dont watch it anyway right?


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 11:29 am
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Take it round your parents or something, and threaten not to return it til they pay up.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 11:31 am
 DT78
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I had similar problems with shared bills on a student house. In the end I contacted the landlord who agreed to pay from their deposit if they didn't cough up (which they did).

It's a bad sign though, one of the guys eventually just up'd and left owing 3 months rent and lots of bill money which the 3 of us left had to cover. For a while it looked like I was going to have to cover the lot as the other 2 were refusing to pay up.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 11:33 am
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I don't even watch the TV

Remove it then.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 11:40 am
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This happened with some mates of mine at uni, they ended up getting fined and all falling out and not speaking for years. Genius.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 11:48 am
 ski
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Doesn't bode well for the long term does it?, If they are flapping over a TV Licence bill, what other bills will they not want to pay in the future?


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 11:52 am
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Whilst you may need one for each person with a TV I wouldn't worry about that but if someone doesn't get one for the house then I've seen on the TV that they'll come to get you.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 12:00 pm
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We were debating whether to pay or not, eventually the scare-mongering got to us and we did (despite protests from some of the other housemates) I'm in the position that I could just slap them round the face until they coughed up, is that an option??


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 12:01 pm
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Oh, and the person who is liable for the fine is the one who is caught watching the TV.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 12:02 pm
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Just phone the tv licence folks and ask them. That should sort it pretty quickly 🙂


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 12:07 pm
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Is the house share likely to be long term? As Ski said, doesn't sound too good if it's for a long term if they can't agree on things like the TV licence, if you're sharing it would only be a couple of quid a month.

If you get the licence in your name, you can always take it with you and transfer it to a new address.

Same thing happend to me when I shared a house years ago, I got it in my name and took it with me when I moved.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 12:18 pm
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Oh, and the person who is liable for the fine is the one who is caught watching the TV.

Really? Just turn it off when they come knocking then.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 12:32 pm
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Oh, and the person who is liable for the fine is the one who is caught watching the TV.

So if you visit someone who doesn't have a TV licence then you're liable for a fine? what if some stranger watches the TV through the living room window, could you pin the fine on them?


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 12:57 pm
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We actually got a visit from a TV licensing chap a while back, to confirm we didn't watch telly; he came round at about 7pm on a Friday evening, just when you're least expecting it...


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 1:03 pm
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I've been told that you now need one if you have an internet connection after the BBC started putting its content online.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 1:27 pm
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lol @ ciron


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 1:35 pm
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[url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/5081350.stm ]Q&A: The TV licence and your PC [/url]

I've been told that you now need one if you have an internet connection after the BBC started putting its content online.

Not according to the BBC website.

Computer users only needed a TV licence if they had a special video card that could receive TV signals.....[edit] you are free to watch archived programmes or downloadable clips without a licence.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 1:35 pm
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the licence is for watching live broadcast tv not delayed content on the net - ie 4od and iplayer


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 1:39 pm
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That's not strictly true either, you only need a licence if you are receiving broadcast TV.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 1:39 pm
 deft
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I keep getting letters that I am 'UNDER INVESTIGATION' for watching TV without a licence and that they have gained permission to search my uni room, cavities, etc. They're also very ambiguous about what you need a licence for and make it sound like you need one to watch iplayer.

Nothing like a private company being paid by the government to threaten you for cash on their behalf eh?


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 1:56 pm
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the licence is for watching live broadcast tv not delayed content on the net - ie 4od and iplayer

Delay is nothing to do with it - was watching the Scot playing tennis on TV at the same time as looking at the written commentary on the computer, which also gave a live video feed (that you can watch without a TV licence). The internet feed was a second or so ahead of the digital TV picture!


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 2:14 pm
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I keep getting letters that I am 'UNDER INVESTIGATION' for watching TV without a licence and that they have gained permission to search my uni room, cavities

Search you cavities? Would anyone go to those lengths to hide the fact that they own a TV?


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 2:34 pm
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"Would anyone go to those lengths to hide the fact that they own a TV?"

Vivian eat the tv in the Young Ones, they were students...


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 2:38 pm
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forgedabadit, they have no legal right of access, just tell them to **** off.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 2:48 pm
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To be honest, I'd be slightly wary of living with people who were quibbling over paying a tv licence...it's only about £12 a month!

What is their defence for not paying, are they saying they don't watch it? If that's the case, either get rid of the TV or you pay for the licence and have the TV in your room.

But be wary of housemates who are trying to cause trouble over something as small as this!


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 3:26 pm
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So if you visit someone who doesn't have a TV licence then you're liable for a fine? what if some stranger watches the TV through the living room window, could you pin the fine on them?

Dunno, thats just what I read on the letter they sent us.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 3:29 pm
 Drac
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Oh ffs it's all here.

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 3:35 pm
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But be wary of housemates who are trying to cause trouble over something as small as this!

+1

If this is an issue then wait till you get bills for council tax, leccy, phone, water etc.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 3:54 pm
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Move house then shop them!


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 4:14 pm
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TV licensing people are right cocks. They send us threatening letters even though we have a direct debit set up to pay them!

Back to the original point though - move in with some better mates. Either that or 'accidentally' break the tv.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 4:19 pm
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Get rid of the TV then keep one small area of a table in your lounge dust free. Great entertainment when the chap from the Corporation comes around!


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 4:27 pm
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Posted : 08/02/2010 4:32 pm
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Do you actually watch TV on the, uh, TV? We had a big one used for DVDs, X-Box etc and when TV Licensing came a-knocking there were told in no uncertain terms to **** off. Never bothered us again.

I've no objection to paying for a TV licence, but can't bear the licensing Nazis who try to police the system with bogus threats and imaginary detector vans.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 4:51 pm
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We had a big one used for DVDs, X-Box etc

Still supposed to have a license.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 5:09 pm
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mudshark - sorry, you're wrong.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 5:11 pm
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they still manage to go out most nights of the week!

and

I don't even watch the TV

... so get rid of the tv then!


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 5:17 pm
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Who owns the telly ?


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 5:25 pm
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I'm pretty sure that they have to prove you have equipment capable of receiving a broadcast signal, not that you actually have used it. This means that if they can point to a great big telly they don't have to wait around until someone turns it on. It also means that mudshark is right.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 5:28 pm
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Flaperon - well I think you're OK if you don't use the TV for broadcasts an are covered by a license at another address which I suppose students will be.


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 5:29 pm
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We had a big one used for DVDs, X-Box etc

Still supposed to have a license.

FAIL.

Nope, only if it's used to watch TV. They have to prove that i.e. catch you watching live TV before they can fine you...


 
Posted : 08/02/2010 5:33 pm
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Class:

However, there may be other reasons why you need your own separate licence, such as whether or not you have exclusive access to a toilet or washing facilities.

Now I get this, but if I've got an en-suite do I need a separate license??!
How about if I p1ss out the window on regular occasion? Does that mean I need a TV license (as well as some sanitary training).


 
Posted : 09/02/2010 4:38 am
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From the link that Drac posted ages ago:


Watching TV on the internet
You need to be covered by a licence if you watch TV online at the same time as it's being broadcast on conventional TV in the UK or the Channel Islands.

If you’re watching programmes on a computer or laptop as they re being shown on TV, then you need a TV Licence. However, you don’t need to be covered by a licence if you’re only using ‘on-demand’ services to watch programmes after they have been shown on TV. So, you need a licence to watch any channel live online, but you wouldn’t need one to use BBC iPlayer to catch up on an episode of a programme you missed, for example.

You do not need a TV Licence if you only use your TV to watch videos and DVDs or as a monitor for your games console . If this is the case, please complete the online declaration form


 
Posted : 09/02/2010 6:56 am
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Stick a cheque for your share of the license fee in a jar on top of the telly, and make it very clear to the others that they can use it as your contribution to the fee, or to the £1000 fine.

Their choice, but that's all you're paying.


 
Posted : 09/02/2010 8:21 am
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They need to grow up, and you need to make a decision as to whether or not you want to carry on sharing a house with a bunch of immature idiots. Like it or not, it's illegal to watch tv without a license, they need to mtfu, pay the license fee, and find something more important to get into a strop about.


 
Posted : 09/02/2010 8:28 am
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Stick a cheque for your share of the license fee in a jar on top of the telly, and make it very clear to the others that they can use it as your contribution to the fee, or to the £1000 fine.

Their choice, but that's all you're paying.

+1


 
Posted : 09/02/2010 9:49 am
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Might not work out if you do get the fine though - depends on how honest they are...oh dear.


 
Posted : 09/02/2010 9:51 am