Cable Forum - TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

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Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anonymouse (Post 35750057)

I am heartily sick and tired of those TVL thugs. I've received yet another love letter from them - this one states they're going to "start a full investigation" after the 8th.

What exactly does that mean? They're addressing me as "The Legal Occupier", which is odd because at one point they'd somehow obtained my surname but got the initial wrong - it's K, not C, so as far as I was concerned, even if they knew my first name it was misspelled and therefore they weren't addressing the right person in a legal sense.

I should mention in passing that I do not in fact have a TV or any equipment capable of receiving or recording a live broadcast. But telling them that does no bloody good whatsoever, as they don't believe you. They simply do not believe that 2% (or is it more now?) of the UK population don't watch TV.

I'm almost inclined to just let 'em visit; I've nothing to hide. Besides, I may not even be there much longer; I'm debating moving down to Crewe, nearer to my workplace, so as to cut my travelling expenses from £240 per month (train) to nil (bicycle).

There is no way that a refusal to pay the TV licence should be a criminal offence. Civil, yes, because allegedly it's just another bill, not a tax...or so they say, anyway. The sooner TVL is defanged or even abolished, the better!

To be fair, the TVL salesman who called on me appeared to be a decent chap. This I undestand is not usually the case, possible due to the nature of their work and the way the company pays them incentives for seling a licence or signing up a direct debit.

I fail to see why TVL are allowed to use sharp practices such as pressure tactics, intimidation and threatening behaviour to attempt to gain payment in instances where the service is not required.

Letter I received Oct 2014 contains:

* 'You are hearby given official notice'
* 'you are committing a criminal offence'
* 'to stop this investigation and avoid penalties for breaking the law please renew your licence immediately'

Letter received Nov 2014:

* 'officers are scheduled to visit from this date'
* 'they will investigate for evidence that you are watching or recording tv'
* 'the reason we are giving you prior warning of the visit is to give you one last chance to by a tv licence'
* 'officers may appy to a court for a d#search warrant if they are unable to gain access to your property'
* 'from 15th December your property is under investigation'

I notice that they now appear to have dropped the references to 'We will be interviewing you under caution', I wonder if they were crossing the line with that one.

I'll see if the visit from the TVL salesman is an end to it. I was pleasant to him and he seemed more than happy, but I will not be so pleasant if I get further threatening letters and another visit.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius (Post 35749543)

I like the sound of wood on numpty.

Satisfying crack of willow on bone. :D

Wait til you get the letter that says "What you need to know in court" addressed to "The occupier":LOL:

They're all computer generated rubbish in a cycle of about 6 one very 4-6 weeks.

In over 7 years only 3 Bozos, door not answered to any. BTW they're now using the hi-viz jacket wheeze to make them look like somebody in authority rather than just a salesman. No doubt to make the unwary open the door to them.:rolleyes:

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

Quote:

Originally Posted by Escapee (Post 35750206)

* 'You are hearby given official notice'
* 'you are committing a criminal offence'
* 'to stop this investigation and avoid penalties for breaking the law please renew your licence immediately'

* 'officers are scheduled to visit from this date'
* 'they will investigate for evidence that you are watching or recording tv'
* 'the reason we are giving you prior warning of the visit is to give you one last chance to by a tv licence'
* 'officers may appy to a court for a d#search warrant if they are unable to gain access to your property'
* 'from 15th December your property is under investigation'

LOL
what a load of rollox.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

I've just had a look at their site - the bit where you state you don't need a licence - and they want details I'd rather they didn't have, viz. email and phone number. Since I'm probably going to be moving in a month or so and I have no intention of telling them that, I rather suspect my best option is to do nothing. Once I've moved, the issue of licensing at that address becomes a problem for the next tenant, the poor sap - and they should totally lose track of me.

And I'm still not going to get a TV even when I do move! They've ticked me off so much over the last 15 years that it's now gone beyond whether or not I actually want to watch TV - it's a matter of principle now, and on one of those I will not give in!

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

The threatening letters are usually sent every month, most people just ignore them.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anonymouse (Post 35750269)

I found their site impossible to navigate, when I tried to inform them I didn't need a licence it kept sending me around in circles. When I tried to tell them I didn't need one it kept sending me arount the 'Do I need a licence' questions. In the end I just cancelled the direct debit and didn't bother claiming any refund. I think the refund bit is only to get you to contact them so they can try the hard sell again, I did email them and tell them that I didn't need one and stated the reasons but to no avail.

I would not provide them a telephone number and I have heard stories of TVL salemen phoning up in these instances doing a market study about favourite TV progs!

I should have canceled the TV licence when I cancelled my Sky about 5 years ago, I only kept paying to stop the hassle from them. In the past 5 years I have spent very little time at my house, so earlier last year I took the satellite receivers boxed them up and put them away in the attic, took down the TV aerial and cut the cable from the dish. I suppose they could claim I'm watching it live online, but if that's the case surely they just need to apply to the courts to obtain the information from my ISP. Strangely I had an email shortly after cancelling for me to 're-register' for iplayer, which I found strange because I don't think I had ever registered!

It's also principle with me now, I don't like the hassling letters implying that I'm breaking the law and a liar.

Here is the contents of the email about my 'Channel 4 account', as far as I'm aware I have never had one and failed to find any other emails relating to one. I received it 29th September 2014 which was not lon after my licence finally ran out!

We just wanted to let you know that we're planning to close your Channel 4 account very soon.

We're doing this because our Viewer Promise commits us to removing accounts that haven't been used for a long time.
You can still keep your account active if you sign in. It only takes a few seconds, and if you've forgotten your password we can send you a reminder. Remaining one of our registered viewers means you can watch free online box sets of some of our most popular titles and download 4oD shows to iOS and Android devices, to watch whenever – and wherever – you like.
If you don't sign in we'll close your account. But we hope you stay with us!

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

According to the Sunday Post, if youve been fined for No tv license and havent paid the fine, you could be stopped at the airports.
http://www.sundaypost.com/news-views...he-uk-1.768944

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthorn (Post 35750316)

According to the Sunday Post, if youve been fined for No tv license and havent paid the fine, you could be stopped at the airports.
http://www.sundaypost.com/news-views...he-uk-1.768944

This "inconveniencing" people at airports for non-payment of various fines has been going on for years now.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Angry (Post 35750324)

This "inconveniencing" people at airports for non-payment of various fines has been going on for years now.

Whilst those that don't have a UK passport and committed low level crimes are often waved through to see the back of them, but they are not allowed back as in the case of my partners ex husband.

He tried to come back a few years later but was turned back when he arrived. ( She didn't help by ignoring the phone calls from immigration) He just waited another 7 years, re-applied for a visa and was allowed back in here.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anonymouse (Post 35750269)

Regardless of whether you agree with the TV licence or not the fact is we need one in this country if certain conditions are met,so what makes you think that that TVL shouldn't be able to verify the fact that you say you don't need one .People tell lies you know

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh (Post 35750360)

Verify: allow entry into your home because you're assumed to be stupid. a liar. or both.

Verify: assumed to own a TV like everybody else. bit strange if you're not like everybody else.

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L (Post 35750368)

Verify: allow entry into your home because you're assumed to be stupid. a liar. or both.

Yes ,most people are at least 1 of the above

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh (Post 35750369)

Yes ,most people are at least 1 of the above

Which one are you then?

or do you mean only those that don't own a TV?
or those that own a TV but don't use it in the way that would mean having to own a TV licence?
or those that don't need a TV licence but won't allow a company with no legal powers to enter and search your home?

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L (Post 35750376)

Those who constantly whine about TVL knocking on their door and sending letters but refuse to answer the letters or show TVL they don't need one

Re: TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh (Post 35750380)

Those who constantly whine about TVL knocking on their door and sending letters but refuse to answer the letters or show TVL they don't need one

Regardless of what this is for. (a TV)

Would you mind if Tescos were to send an employee around to search your home for a tin of their beans. would you still allow them in even if they don't believe that you buy your beans from Sainsbury's?

Yes it is the same thing.