Have you paid your TV Licence?

[iCraig]

Originally Posted by goldilocks

i pay my tv license by direct debit - to be honest, there's no valid reason not to pay it
if you watch tv - you're using a product, and as such 'owe' for it
you don't expect to get any other 'service' for free, we even pay for the water to flush the loo...
i've never understood why people have such a beef with expected bills...

I don't think many people have issue with actually paying for it if you're using the service. I don't mind paying my license fee because I watch quality BBC programming. Planet Earth and Top Gear are worth the fee alone IMO. It is a service you're receiving directly to your TV and unlike other channels, those expenses aren't recovered by selling advertising space. With BBC content, you get BBC content and that's it. You get "advertisements" about other BBC programming, but I see those more as notifications for upcoming programs tbh. So even though I never like handing my money over, I don't have a "problem" with it.

What my (and others) gripe with them is them badgering those who don't use the service. A television can be used for just games consoles, which is what my mate does. He's an honest bloke and could easily afford a license, but he has no reason to pay for one, he's receiving no signal for BBC content at all. Yet he's bombarded with demands for payment and threats about ending up in court - which is harassment. He was down in the dumps for a little while and received 2 letters demanding money in one month and nearly paid them the fee so he'd be left alone, something I ordered him not to do and urged him to complain about being harassed.

[Joe 90]

tesco didn't take my details when i bought my TV yesterday

[Fayshun]

Originally Posted by |Show|

tesco didn't take my details when i bought my TV yesterday

Report them, it's a criminal offence!

[Dr. Z]

Originally Posted by Feek

It's only over the last couple of years that I've seen claims from people that TV Detector vans are a myth and don't really exist.

There may well be some 'dummy' vans about that are there to provide a presence but the truth is that there are genuine vans that can detect the presence of television sets simply down to the fact that the LO in a telly works like a little transmitter and that can be detected. It's not exactly rocket science either to detect the presence of a TV. Detecting what it's displaying is a little harder than just knowing that there's one there but again, with the correct equipment it's not really difficult to find and DF it.

In your average street though, the power of the extremely weak transmission is going to be barely detectable if at all. With that and the background noise from the other houses in the street and its little wonder its inadmissable.

[Justsomebloke]

Got me new pre payment card through Yesterday so it is Now Legal to watch TV in my house
They've been right reasonable as well & altered my payments rather than demanding a big wedge first
I'd love the recording of the 29 minute phone call i had with them in the week.
In the end the Doris said to me & I quote " Please can i put the phone down" You Fail i said & You rang me My main phrase that rings back is Bad Karma gets bad Karma me Duck I was Sound before you started messing with me, Now see what you've done. Half way through she admitted she didn't know the law & said she was getting the Supervisor. I said, So why did you ring me then if you cannot sort the problem out, Justify your wages to me then !!!
I could not have been more awkward or a bigger **** if i tried but that's what they get for not being reasonable.
All i could think of was if i was an old biddy living on my own or summit they would have proper done my head in the way they were. Now at least they know that not everybody is going to be intimidated by there bully boy tactics without one of them at least getting some crap back.
I chucked a couple of quid on my card so now i am Officially licenced to watch my Telly even though i never actually watch it as 98% of it these days is repeat & crap.

[Joe 90]

Originally Posted by Kitten

how did you pay?

by card (maestro) as i tend not to carry that much cash

[MarcLister]

Doing a 1500 word report on the BBC and TV licences with regards to students for a Uni assignment. Does anyone know where the £1000 fine for people caught without a licence goes? Does the BBC get it or does it go into the Government coffers?

[MarcLister]

Got the Wiki link.

Thanks for the first one though.

[Nutcase]

Originally Posted by Nutcase

Most university halls have a policy of not allowing "detector" vans on site. Most helpful!

TBH I've found the licensing people reasonably helpful.

I got the usual letter when I moved into the flat, it had a phone number (irritatingly not a free number tho) to ring if you don't have a TV. Rang it, explained the situation (strangely the woman had to ask a supervisor for advice, surely I'm not the only person without a tv!), then she said fine, and it was possible someone would ask to inspect one day.

A few days later got a letter saying I wouldn't be asked to buy a licence (possibly for 3 years, can't remember), and that I should inform them if my circumstances change. Haven't heard anyhting since, no vists etc. That was about a year ago.

Got a letter today:

To the Legal Occupier:

Some time ago, we were advised that no television equipment was being used to receive TV programmes at this address, and therefore, no licence was required.

Our standard practice ensures that a routine visit will be made to confirm that no type of television reciever is being used at this address. This visit should not take any longer than a few minutes.

If you are still not using television or equipment such as a DVD ir video recorder, digital box or PC's used to recieve TV programmes as they are being broadcast on TV, you needn't take any action - just expect a brief visit from us soon.

Then a load of blurb about buying one if I do watch tele.

Should be interesting if they pop round in the next two weeks as the lounge will be empty for refurbishment!

[Wossi]

I never got a letter when I bought my tv last year. Unless it's because I bought it online