threatening letters from tv licence

[Deleted]

Q it was my understanding too. This included radio receiving as part of the tv licence too. Households with only radio were still required to have at least a b/w licence to cover their radio equipment etc.

[johnners]

May 5, 2014 23:21:26 GMT Q said:

I guess things must have changed then, it always used to be that the licence was for OWNING (or renting) equipment CAPABLE of recieving television broadcasts, the watching side of it didn't matter at all, if you had equipment CAPABLE of recieving then you HAD to have a licence

This used to be the case until it became possible to watch "TV" on almost any device you wanted to. At first they tried to push the idea that anyone with a smart phone or computer with internet access had to have a TV license, but that quickly became absurd.
Sites like BBC i-player will now ask you to confirm if you have a TV license if you wish to stream live programming, otherwise it is not required by law.
I understand the OP's confusion on this as the Licensing people have been deliberately vague for years and have tried to scare people, through various bullying tactics, junk mail and poster campaigns into paying for TV licenses that they may not be required to have.
I had a "visit" earlier this year, having not had a TV for many years and was threatened with a fine for owning a 5' projector screen that I use to watch movies... Now, I could just as easily use a 5' white curtain to project onto, neither of these requires a license.
I would agree with greendollar on this, don't give them any information except a solid confirmation that you do not stream live programming.
Not that I disagree with the license, but I  totally disagree with the tactics this company (if it is Capita?) uses to frighten people into paying unnecessarily.

[johnners]

tvlicensingwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/never-ever-talk-to-capita-bbc-tv.html

Last month, I believe, the BBC had to pay over £100,000 compensation to people harrassed by the Licensing Freelancers

[amygx]

As others have said as long as you don't watch or record TV shows at the time they're being broadcast then you don't need a license. If you only watch catch-up services like iplayer/4od etc then you don't need a license. Be careful though because some/all catch up services have the ability to watch live TV via their players and some devices like roku or nowtv have apps to watch bbc news which is live but as long as you don't use those you don't need a license.

I got rid of my freeview box and removed my aerial cable and bought a NowTV box a few months ago, now I only watch TV through catch-up services and as NowTV isn't capable of receiving live TV I don't need a license any more .

You can contact the TV license people and tell them you don't need a license but you'll have to give them your details and they may come around to your home to check your telling the truth, personally I would have nothing to do with tham what-so-ever.

Also remember that the license "officers" that come to your door have NO legal powers at all, despite the fact they say "I have to caution you that blah blah blah", they can't enter your home, you don't have to talk to them when you answer the door, if you tell them you don't need a license and they ask to come in an verify just tell them to f**k off.

And about the court stuff, if they don't have a name then they can't take you to court and even if they do its up to them to prove that you do watch live TV.

All you need to remember is if you don't watch or record live tv as its being broadcast then you DON'T need a license and you have nothing to worry about and don't need to do anything.

[ripple27]

May 5, 2014 21:15:21 GMT kingofswords said:

i just posted this on mse but thought id try my luck on here as theyre so bitchy nowdays

i keep getting threatening letters from the tv licenseing ppl and even now theyre saying theyre taking me to court.

i moved into the property just over a year ago...i havent owned a tv since the 2oth centuary....i have a laptop and very slow net connection and watch eastenders about 11 oclock at night (wouldnt be able to watch liveeven if wanted to) and theyve been sending threatening letters to somebody called 'the legal occupier' ever since i moved in. i didnt like their bullying methods so didnt get in touch with them to tell them i dont have tv as theyre not a goverment institution.

now i understand i dont need a license if i dont have the abilty to watch live tv...where do i stand with the net connection? also is it possible for them to actually take me to court for not getting in touch with them....also i thought the fact they dont have my name mean they couldnt?

im guessing innocent til proven guilty has no bearing with tv license.

thanks for any help

i woudl of thought you would pay council tax or some other bills? if so they can find your name out that way, trust me ignore them and it will get a whole lot worse as i suspect they already know your name etc.
sorry to sound mean but probability is on their side.
i hope you get it sorted sooner rather than later, good luck to you

[Perpetua]

May 5, 2014 21:15:21 GMT kingofswords said:

i keep getting threatening letters from the tv licenseing ppl and even now theyre saying theyre taking me to court.

i moved into the property just over a year ago...i havent owned a tv since the 2oth centuary....i have a laptop and very slow net connection and watch eastenders about 11 oclock at night (wouldnt be able to watch liveeven if wanted to) and theyve been sending threatening letters to somebody called 'the legal occupier' ever since i moved in. i didnt like their bullying methods so didnt get in touch with them to tell them i dont have tv as theyre not a goverment institution.

now i understand i dont need a license if i dont have the abilty to watch live tv...where do i stand with the net connection? also is it possible for them to actually take me to court for not getting in touch with them....also i thought the fact they dont have my name mean they couldnt?

im guessing innocent til proven guilty has no bearing with tv license.

thanks for any help

It's always the best bet to make contact with any of these bodies kingofswords, they have the power to make life very difficult.

Whatever the rights or wrongs are . . . .

[Phoenix .]

I don't understand your problem Kingofswords. It is the Property that has to have a licence Not the occupier.

Just write to them explaining your position, the house does not have a TV aerial for transmitting TV and you do Not have a TV not do you watch 'live' TV on any other equipment.

Better to write than ring them that way you have proof of your communication.

[andy01424]

The old catch on all this used to be if anything had a reciever for live tv,hence why many got caught out,as many old video players had channel presets .....just call em say look i dont watch TV,i use catchup ,i only have a pc with a monitor and net connection,prob is many find it hard to believe no one has a tv now a days when many have at least 2 lol,hence also they closed the loop hole when Sky started as many complained they were paying them and it should be included[which it should]

one of reasons why there nowt they can do with catchup,is by law once a prog has been broadcast its free from Copyright,hence why some streaming serices get away with it they broadcast it a few secs or mins behind original broadcast......if you do want to watch TV ie all the freeview channles/around the world, then here s a link,yup few secs behind original broadcast,annoying is the advert on start just close it and watch the prog
As for Capita they have become main Gov /local council snoop company

www.filmon.com/

[Perpetua]

May 6, 2014 8:30:46 GMT Phoenix . said:

Better to write than ring them that way you have proof of your communication.

I'd telephone in all honesty, to get the issue resolved hopefully more speedily . . . providing you take the name and details of the person you've spoken to, it's as much of a safeguard as writing.

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ11

Or the TV Licensing Authority do have an online contact form, as well as contact details for telling them why you believe a Licence isn't required at your property.

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

[OneDay]

All this "Don't give them your name" stuff is paranoia in the extreme. 'They' only have to look up 192.com or the Electoral Roll to find out who lives where. These companies and the government aren't really out to get you, there are no implants or black helicopters and tinfoil hats don't look cool.

[greendollar]

It suppose it depends on how much hassle , if any , you want ....me , I like to have a bit of fun with these jobsworths & their empty threats much to the annoyance of the missus .

[ChillerVapes]

I personally hope that the BBC go down. They don't produce anything other than Top Gear worth watching.

The way TV is these days, if the BBC want us to pay to view, then make a subscription service like sky or better still, bring advertising to the BBC and make it free to view like the rest of the free view channels.

The TV licence is an outdated rule which is getting harder and harder to keep law with all the new tech.

Look at it this way, the way the law is worded about not needing a licence to watch non live TV, you could get a free view box (or something similar) which basically buffers a channel for 5 min before it plays it. Technically speaking, you are not watching live TV as there is a 5 min delay in what you are watching and what is been aired.

[stu1873]

If you haven't got a tv then I would **** them off and let them waste their money on a court case.

Sent from my SK17i using proboards

[teethcv]

ronaldo sold me mine says it was legit so how could i not trust him

[ronaldo]

May 6, 2014 19:12:09 GMT teethcv said:

ronaldo sold me mine says it was legit so how could i not trust him

you wont have any problemswith that licence teethcv