TV Licensing

[Katster]

As some of you may or may not be aware, when moving into my own place in May, I made the conscious decision NOT to get a TV licence. I didn't watch very much television before, and most of what I did watch was rubbish, so I didn't see the point in paying for something I didn't really want to use.

Back then people told me of all sorts of scary experiences either themselves or their friends had had, and when I tell people I don't have a TV licence, many have said things like 'ooooooh, you still need a TV licence for listening to the radio you know' or 'if you have a recieving device it doesn't matter that you say you won't plug it in to the aeriel' etc etc.

Until I heard something directly from the TV licencing people, I decided to just claim ignorant if it turned out I WAS doing something I shouldn't have been.

So, on Friday I recieved a letter threatening me of a £1000 fine for not having a tv licence. Within the letter it explained that if I didn't need a TV licence I should telephone them to let them know. So I did, and I explained that I do have a Television set, and I do have an aeriel which does recieve a signal, but I don't use it (which I don't, I use my Television set purely for watching dvds and for playing on my N64, I explained this also).

The guy on the other end of the telephone was nothing but polite, he was really helpful answering my seemingly silly (to me) questions about whether or not I need a TV Licence in order to listen to the radio etc etc. He was nothing like people had warned me, and he just said he would put a note on my address to stop sending out the letters (perhaps this might be something I WILL get annoyed with if it doesn't actually stop) and he said that what I do is fine, but he must remind me that if I am ever caught watching Television, a fine of £1000 WILL be issued.

Is it really that simple? What are people on here's experiences?? I'm especially looking to hear from people who haven't had a licence for a number of years :angry:

[-pogo-]

My friends from uni have a flat and don't have a TV licence but also only use the TV's they do have for DVD's and computer consoles.

Same thing happened to them, I'm pretty sure they did the same thing as you and everything was fine. Haven't heard anything since and have been living there since July now. They got the letter about August time.

[sifi]

Is it really that simple? What are people on here's experiences?? I'm especially looking to hear from people who haven't had a licence for a number of years :angry:

[worm]

Is it really that simple? What are people on here's experiences?? I'm especially looking to hear from people who haven't had a licence for a number of years :angry:

[darrenbha]

Not quite the same situation but a word of warning. When we moved to this flat we bought a tv license knowing their database to be so hot. We then received the letter you refer to. Gave them our license details. They said we'll update our records

[darrenbha]

{continued} we took them at their word until 3 weeks later we received the letter again. This process was repeated 4 times before the letters finally stopped

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I've had licenses on and off over the years. Had loads of letters and blokes at the door, and usually ended up fezzing up on one of their payment plans. Not been to court, but my ex was in the late 80's.

However if you are to caught watching TV after saying you don't watch it, I would say you are in for a heavier fine. The average for Manchester is about £150 last time I spoke to a few people, but if you have deliberately misinformed them its a different ball game. From starting to get letters it usually takes about 6 months in my experience for the warning letters about visits to start.

[pinback]

As some of you may or may not be aware, when moving into my own place in May, I made the conscious decision NOT to get a TV licence. I didn't watch very much television before, and most of what I did watch was rubbish, so I didn't see the point in paying for something I didn't really want to use.

Back then people told me of all sorts of scary experiences either themselves or their friends had had, and when I tell people I don't have a TV licence, many have said things like 'ooooooh, you still need a TV licence for listening to the radio you know' or 'if you have a recieving device it doesn't matter that you say you won't plug it in to the aeriel' etc etc.

Until I heard something directly from the TV licencing people, I decided to just claim ignorant if it turned out I WAS doing something I shouldn't have been.

So, on Friday I recieved a letter threatening me of a £1000 fine for not having a tv licence. Within the letter it explained that if I didn't need a TV licence I should telephone them to let them know. So I did, and I explained that I do have a Television set, and I do have an aeriel which does recieve a signal, but I don't use it (which I don't, I use my Television set purely for watching dvds and for playing on my N64, I explained this also).

The guy on the other end of the telephone was nothing but polite, he was really helpful answering my seemingly silly (to me) questions about whether or not I need a TV Licence in order to listen to the radio etc etc. He was nothing like people had warned me, and he just said he would put a note on my address to stop sending out the letters (perhaps this might be something I WILL get annoyed with if it doesn't actually stop) and he said that what I do is fine, but he must remind me that if I am ever caught watching Television, a fine of £1000 WILL be issued.

Is it really that simple? What are people on here's experiences?? I'm especially looking to hear from people who haven't had a licence for a number of years :angry:

[Purple Monkey]

N64's are retro?

Shit.

[dakyras]

N64's are retro?

Shit.

[Katster]

I've had licenses on and off over the years. Had loads of letters and blokes at the door, and usually ended up fezzing up on one of their payment plans. Not been to court, but my ex was in the late 80's.

However if you are to caught watching TV after saying you don't watch it, I would say you are in for a heavier fine. The average for Manchester is about £150 last time I spoke to a few people, but if you have deliberately misinformed them its a different ball game. From starting to get letters it usually takes about 6 months in my experience for the warning letters about visits to start.

[Goblinz]

My friend does the same. He explained that he only used it for DVDs and they stopped sending letters and he hasn't been bothered for a while now.

Does anybody know what the deal is with needing a license for a radio is (I thought there was a special radio license). I think alot of what we here is propaganda put out by the bbc to make us feel scared in to getting a license.

E

[Paul ™]

Few years ago I moved house several times in one year, and not long after moving into one property I had a chap at the door for a spot check if I had a licence.

They asked if I had a licence, I said no and they accepted it.. and I asked if they wanted to come and check.

So the guy came in and had a look around, I hadn't actually got round to getting a TV at that point so all was good... except they hassled me for months after by letter to get a licence, even though they had one of their people in my home and saw I had no TV.

I moved again and the same thing happened, invited the guy in 'again' and he was happy to see I never had one.. but this time I made sure he updated his PDA with the fact I never had one after I explained what happened the last time.

To be honest I think I scared the guy off, I went on a bit of a rant about how Television was the root of all evil and I used to get messages into my head from it so I could no longer watch it..

Funnily enough I never heard another word from them in over 2 years :angry:

[llcoolphil]

As some of you may or may not be aware, when moving into my own place in May, I made the conscious decision NOT to get a TV licence. I didn't watch very much television before, and most of what I did watch was rubbish, so I didn't see the point in paying for something I didn't really want to use.

Back then people told me of all sorts of scary experiences either themselves or their friends had had, and when I tell people I don't have a TV licence, many have said things like 'ooooooh, you still need a TV licence for listening to the radio you know' or 'if you have a recieving device it doesn't matter that you say you won't plug it in to the aeriel' etc etc.

Until I heard something directly from the TV licencing people, I decided to just claim ignorant if it turned out I WAS doing something I shouldn't have been.

So, on Friday I recieved a letter threatening me of a £1000 fine for not having a tv licence. Within the letter it explained that if I didn't need a TV licence I should telephone them to let them know. So I did, and I explained that I do have a Television set, and I do have an aeriel which does recieve a signal, but I don't use it (which I don't, I use my Television set purely for watching dvds and for playing on my N64, I explained this also).

The guy on the other end of the telephone was nothing but polite, he was really helpful answering my seemingly silly (to me) questions about whether or not I need a TV Licence in order to listen to the radio etc etc. He was nothing like people had warned me, and he just said he would put a note on my address to stop sending out the letters (perhaps this might be something I WILL get annoyed with if it doesn't actually stop) and he said that what I do is fine, but he must remind me that if I am ever caught watching Television, a fine of £1000 WILL be issued.

Is it really that simple? What are people on here's experiences?? I'm especially looking to hear from people who haven't had a licence for a number of years :angry:

[-pogo-]

What do you do if you want to watch something though? Like a tv program or one off kind of thing, like the BBC broadcast on election night?

[llcoolphil]

What do you do if you want to watch something though? Like a tv program or one off kind of thing, like the BBC broadcast on election night?

[-pogo-]

Buy a licence

[llcoolphil]

Nah but you know what I mean.

Do you not miss TV sometimes?

[llcoolphil]

To be honest I think I scared the guy off, I went on a bit of a rant about how Television was the root of all evil and I used to get messages into my head from it so I could no longer watch it..

Funnily enough I never heard another word from them in over 2 years

[Ringo_Spar]

Take it from me - and several others above by the looks - the letters haven't stopped!!! You are going to get several more, and you are going to make several more phone calls!

I got as far as having a hand written note selotaped to my flat door a few years ago, "Next time it's a £1000 fine!"

Just make sure you've always got £24 funds available on a card to pay the first month's instalment of their payment plan. If it ever gets to the later stages they're more than happy to let you off if you agree to paying.

Of course, this is all irrelevant unless you get the strong urge to swith it on for Ugly Betty, or X Factor... :angry:

[Katster]

My friend does the same. He explained that he only used it for DVDs and they stopped sending letters and he hasn't been bothered for a while now.

Does anybody know what the deal is with needing a license for a radio is (I thought there was a special radio license). I think alot of what we here is propaganda put out by the bbc to make us feel scared in to getting a license.

E

[oafc0000]

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/index.jsp

Do I need a TV Licence?

You need a TV Licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, digital box, DVD or video recorder, PC, laptop or mobile phone to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV.

If you use a digital box with a hi-fi system or another device that can only be used to produce sounds and can't display TV programmes, and you don't install or use any other TV receiving equipment, you don't need a TV Licence.

----------------------------------------------------

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/c...tions.jsp#link2

What is a TV Licence needed for?

To use any TV equipment such as a TV set, digital box, video or DVD recorder, computer or mobile phone to watch or record TV programmes as they are being shown on television.

---------------------------------------------------

You defo dont need a TV License to listen to the radio!!

Edited October 20, 2008 by oafc0000

[TalkShow Bob]

Take it from me - and several others above by the looks - the letters haven't stopped!!! You are going to get several more, and you are going to make several more phone calls!

I got as far as having a hand written note selotaped to my flat door a few years ago, "Next time it's a £1000 fine!"

Just make sure you've always got £24 funds available on a card to pay the first month's instalment of their payment plan. If it ever gets to the later stages they're more than happy to let you off if you agree to paying.

Of course, this is all irrelevant unless you get the strong urge to swith it on for Ugly Betty, or X Factor... :angry:

[beadfc]

We have always had a tv licence, however had a guy turn up the other day who barged his way into the hallway saying that if we didnt pay for the tv licence right now, he would fine us £1000. He was a proper nob, no customer service skills at all. Took me two minutes of shouting at him that we had a tv licence, another 2 minutes to find it and shove it in his face and 30 seconds to kick him out of the house. He was an absolute arse and convinced that we were in the wrong. When I showed him that we had one, did he apologise? Did he f**k.

[Katster]

We have always had a tv licence, however had a guy turn up the other day who barged his way into the hallway saying that if we didnt pay for the tv licence right now, he would fine us £1000. He was a proper nob, no customer service skills at all. Took me two minutes of shouting at him that we had a tv licence, another 2 minutes to find it and shove it in his face and 30 seconds to kick him out of the house. He was an absolute arse and convinced that we were in the wrong. When I showed him that we had one, did he apologise? Did he f**k.