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Just got home from work and who was waiting outside knocking on the door but some chap from TV Licensing.
He said there was no license at this address. He is correct - because we have just moved in three weeks ago and I haven't got round to sorting it yet.
He said we needed to fill in a form and pay for a license there and then and then he asked for my details. I said I'm not giving you my personal or bank details at the doorstep. I said - "you could be anybody" and he then produced some ID. To be honest the ID looked genuine enough but it's so easy to forge things nowadays that I couldn't be sure.
I told him I'm not going to sign up right now with him but would get a license the normal way (via post office or online). He said that I needed to sign up now with him otherwise he would mark it down as as refusal to get a license and we would be prosecuted and fined. A right jobsworth!
He marked down on his pad that we had refused to buy a licence. I said we've not refused, it's just I'm not giving my details to some stranger at the door.
A very strange turn of events and I don't know whether to laugh about it or be mildly concerned that we may end up getting prosecuted?
I'd go on line and pay now, or do it on monthly payments.
It will probably the last your hear of it.
Do you have a TV?
😆Do you have a TV?
Same happened to me last week moved into rented accom,they are on the ball had a licence @ the last place so told him we would transfer our B&W licence he raised an eyebrow cheeky sod!
and if you didnt give him your details then you could have been anyone...so what. dont sweat it.
Didn't you have a license from your previous place?
Just refuse to speak to them. they cannot get a warrant to enter without evidence you are using a tv without a license (merely not having a lisence is not enough), you cannot be prosecuted unless they have good evidence you are using a TV ie they need to enter and see the TV or you need to admit.
simply refuse to confirm or deny anything and tell them to go away - they have no powers and merely rely on fear.
they have no powers and merely rely on fear.
and detector vans. 😆
Don't forget to backdate the licence application, will you.
Tell him you haven't had a chance to get a TV licence because you only just looted it on Saturday.
the detector van gives the evidence needed to get a warrant to enter.
The bod that knocks on the door has no powers at all. Just tell 'em to go away
Should have said you only got the telly last night on a looting spree.
Then mugged him.*
*Optional extra.
the detector van gives the evidence needed to get a warrant to enter.
Except detector vans don't exist and if they ever did then they wouldn't have worked with modern LCD/plasma tellies anyway.
we have just moved in three weeks ago and I haven't got round to sorting it yet.
So surely you have a license from the old place which just needs transferring?
The "I'm here to help you set up a TV licence" scam does bug me.
I don't have a TV licence because I don't require a TV licence, and I hate the way that they try and intimidate you into giving them money.
The last person from TVL that came around, after being told clearly and politely that I wasn't interested, had to have the door firmly shut on him, twice. He then proceeded to continue banging on the door and peering through the window until informed that I considered it to be harassment, and would be calling the police.
Yes we do have a telly - unusual 'Up North' I know. We do plan on getting a license as I'd happily pay to watch some of the BBC stuff - especially the natural history programmes.
It's just we're absolutely up to our neck in sorting out stuff from the move, work, and general stuff so quite frankly getting a license is last priority on the list right now.
Guess from what you guys are saying is that these guys don't have any real power then and we shouldn't worry about prosecution if I get round to buying a license in a few weeks time rather than immediately?
My Dad's looking after his father's property as it's now unoccupied (nursing home). TVL keep sending letters addressed to "The Occupier".
Option 1) pay the licence!!!
Option 2) GET A VISIT!!!
Option 3) declare you don't have a telly in which case you'll GET A VISIT anyway!!!
There is no occupier, or TV in the house, so it's either 2) or 3). One of which requires action (and probably some follow up letters), and both of have the same result.
So he's doing nothing, just to see what happens.
14 months later, nothing has happened. There's another letter every now and then, saying the same thing, essentially, but in slightly stroppier language.
It's just we're absolutely up to our neck in sorting out stuff from the move, work, and general stuff so quite frankly getting a license is last priority on the list right now.
So when were you going to get around to it? Next week? Next month?
No time to sort it out but time to post about it here.
You can do it on the internet now, not like you have to go to the Post Office.
My brother had a similar experience - he owned a house but it was empty - he told them several times it wasn't occupied yet they kept bothering him so in the end he just binned the letters without opening them. Of course he has no idea if anyone ever made one of the threatened visits as the house wasn't occupied.
Regardless of my note, what rich said.
few weeks' time => few weeks' time => still not done it, ah well => bugger, there's the £1,000 fine.
Aaaaaand your licence from your old house is...?
Do it online now, it's easy, then they'll stop hassling you. Can't see the issue here...
I just had a lady come about an hour ago for the same. We moved 3 weeks ago so she said she could swap it over there and then so I said come in she asked prev address and tapped it in and we were done in less than five mins. Glad the mrs didn't catch her here!
I had one come round to my old house. I let him in because I don't have a TV, letters stopped after that. They started again after I moved into my new flat, but I just ignore them. A letter through the door is hardly harassment!
Are you going to fess up and admit that you didn't have a license in your old house?
Just do it on line, doesn't need to be a big deal
We had a chap come round to check we really didn't have a telly; he was very pleasant, totally unthreatening, made it clear that they have to check as most people who say they don't have a telly actually do, wished us a good evening and went on his way. Where do I send the claim for harassment?
Think i'm on about letter 25. I wouldn't worry about it. Although you may have made an a*** of it by speaking to them.
I don't think I've ever had a TV license. I've had the occasional letter over the years but I just bin them. PS there is no such thing as a "detector van".
I had them at my door about 4 weeks ago, they said that I didn't have a TV license. I said no shit, I don't have a TV.
They started asking for my details, before I had even thought about it. I had slammed the door in their faces.
Not really into TV, and as for the threatening letters and having already notified them I don't have a TV!
Each time they come, they will be sent away!
No time to sort it out but time to post about it here.
This, takes minutes to do online FFS.
Elfin's Top Tip for to get rid of Televison Licence Inspektor:
When they come round, right, answer the door wearing nothing but a balaclava and a pair of Wellington boots. Smear something like chicken blood around your genitals. Have some Hearsay on the stereo, really loud.
They will never bother you again.
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Saw some footage of the inside of a detector van once. Hilarious. Must of been done by the same people as the TARDIS.
A while back they claimed to have hand held detectors. Then came to there senses and stopped insuluting us.
I've heard writing a long rant explaining your relegious opposition to TV stops them sending letters!
Also works surprisingly well with Jehova's Witnesses, although not guaranteed to have lasting effects there.
TV detector vans do exist, I know a man who builds them.
I'd be well scared if I was you
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Dumb question from the USA
Is the Licensing Fee a cost for cable access or satellite access?
If you can pick up a signal via antenna, do you still need the license?
The cable TV companies here supposedly have a monitoring van that can tell if a residence is picking up a cable transmission, but don't know if that is true or just a way to intimidate people.
license fee is for any device capable of receiving the BBC: tv, cable, satelitte, computer..doesn't actually matter if you watch the BBC or not, if you have a capable device you are supposed to be paying it.
Governments seem to always find a way to separate one from his hard-earned money.
Curious--how much is the licensing fee?
Is it assessed once or annually or ??
My ex girlfriend used to work for tv licensing in bristol.she said the detector vans were a myth and the only way of knowing if you had a tv was if you put down an address at Currys etc.she also said they sent out different letters depending on where you lived.e.g Clifton in bristol would get "you appear to have forgotten to renew your tv licence. if you could contact the number below... in hartcliffe it would say " you are breaking the law and will send you to court. disgraceful really
annually, 145 quid i think..
Think i get a circulation of about 4 different letters, each one trying to look more official than the next... erm sorry no such person as Mr Occupier at this address.My ex girlfriend used to work for tv licensing in bristol.she said the detector vans were a myth and the only way of knowing if you had a tv was if you put down an address at Currys etc.she also said they sent out different letters depending on where you lived.e.g Clifton in bristol would get "you appear to have forgotten to renew your tv licence. if you could contact the number below... in hartcliffe it would say " you are breaking the law and will send you to court. disgraceful really
license fee is for any device capable of receiving the BBC: tv, cable, satelitte, computer..doesn't actually matter if you watch the BBC or not, if you have a capable device you are supposed to be paying it.
Nope. You don't need a TV license just because you have a PC or smartphone.
straight from the licensing site.You need to be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record TV as it's being broadcast. This includes the use of devices such as a computer, laptop, mobile phone or DVD/video recorder.
I do enjoy the BBC and not watching adverts. Just see the collection method as so wasteful. No even Uncle Joe had enforcement officers banging on peoples doors to check they'd bought a piece of paper every year.
When I split from the wife she tried to transfer the licence to her name: "it's a legal document madam. Your husband will have to write to us". FFS.