'Austerity' at the BBC

[Jimmy-J]

So telling the TVL that you don't need a licence would put a stop to the threatening letters and the enforcement officers knocking at the door? Nah...

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Jimmy-J

So telling the TVL that you don't need a licence would put a stop to the threatening letters and the enforcement officers knocking at the door? Nah...

Nah there just like Jehovah’s Witnesses they see it as a challenge to **** you off every Saturday morning by knocking at you door to convert you.

Originally Posted by Jimmy-J

So telling the TVL that you don't need a licence would put a stop to the threatening letters and the enforcement officers knocking at the door? Nah...

"Nah" is correct, for the reasons above. They get commission, so they want to sell you a licence. Add to that the fact that many - probably most - people who say they don't need one are lying, and the mail-bomb/doorstep strategy isn't so unreasonable. Highly annoying for all those honest people who don't watch any live TV at all and so don't need a licence, but hey, what can you do with all the lying chavs who say they don't need one when they do. They're ruining it for everyone else.

On their website they say you can write to them to declare you don't need a licence and they might make a quick visit "just to confirm" - I'd be curious to hear if anyone has gone down that route and got TVL to agree in writing that they don't need a licence.

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by Chris

"Nah" is correct, for the reasons above. They get commission, so they want to sell you a licence. Add to that the fact that many - probably most - people who say they don't need one are lying, and the mail-bomb/doorstep strategy isn't so unreasonable. Highly annoying for all those honest people who don't watch any live TV at all and so don't need a licence, but hey, what can you do with all the lying chavs who say they don't need one when they do. They're ruining it for everyone else.

On their website they say you can write to them to declare you don't need a licence and they might make a quick visit "just to confirm" - I'd be curious to hear if anyone has gone down that route and got TVL to agree in writing that they don't need a licence.

I did go through the steps earlier to see whats involved, but it looks like it ends up needing to give them authority to enter your premises. They state that after filling in the declaration they will leave you alone for 2 years, but I guess I am a little cynical.

I actually got rid of Sky TV about 3 years ago and don't miss it one bit. I intend taking down the TV antennas from the chimney and the dish from the wall, I will probably just cut the cables and push them outside for now until the weather gets better . On one hand I don't mind in principle anyone inspecting if it satisfies them and they leave me alone, on the other hand I don't see why I should give them the authority to enter my house.

Back around 2005 when I had no TV and no licence for a few years I received loads of threatening letters about what they were going to do to me, all of which they had no power to do. I never once received a visit, perhaps that was due to working during the week, and that my gates were locked with only a postbox available to them.

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by Chris

The TV licence permits use of equipment to receive live TV, not ownership of that equipment. It doesnt matter how many TVs, Freesat boxes or VHS machines you own, if you don't use them to receive live TV, you don't need a licence. No need to rip any tuners out of anything.

Very clear and precise and not at all "muddy".

It is in TVL's interest to muddy the waters...

See above comment

because they are an agent that gets commission on licence sales so they want every household to have one, whether it's needed or not.

Then those type of people need to be found and sacked.

Also, to be fair to them (not that they deserve it), almost every household in the UK does watch live telly, so a significant proportion of the unlicensed addresses in the country almost certainly *do* need a licence and the door-to-door enforcers salesmen agents have met every chav and scutter and heard all their lame excuses.

Another well-put point.

---------- Post added at 20:07 ---------- Previous post was at 20:06 ----------

Originally Posted by Jimmy-J

So telling the TVL that you don't need a licence would put a stop to the threatening letters and the enforcement officers knocking at the door? Nah...

Yes.

---------- Post added at 20:08 ---------- Previous post was at 20:07 ----------

Originally Posted by Chris

Add to that the fact that many - probably most - people who say they don't need one are lying, and the mail-bomb/doorstep strategy isn't so unreasonable. Highly annoying for all those honest people who don't watch any live TV at all and so don't need a licence, but hey, what can you do with all the lying chavs who say they don't need one when they do. They're ruining it for everyone else.

Also well-put.

---------- Post added at 20:09 ---------- Previous post was at 20:08 ----------

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

BTW We're not chavs, just don't subscribe to the conventional model.

The what-now?

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

Yep, they rely upon the perceived threats. In reality they really can't do much if you keep to a simple rule set.

Yes. It is easy. Just co-operate

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

Don't think you're going to be run over in the rush.

BTW We're not chavs, just don't subscribe to the conventional model.

You call it 'not subscribing to the conventional model' ... I call it breaking the law. . Like it or not, the TV licence is mandatory in the UK if your viewing habits fulfil the criteria.

Re chavs and scutters, I used to know a TVL agent and he got almost all his business on council estates. He got a bounty for every house he signed up. Often, people would sign a direct debit on the doorstep and cancel it 2 months later. He would go back and sign them up again and get another bounty. This could sometimes be repeated several times and is probably why TVL is so desperate to collect fees wherever it can (and why some of the agents are so aggressive at trying to sell a licence to you).

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by Chris

You call it 'not subscribing to the conventional model' ... I call it breaking the law. . Like it or not, the TV licence is mandatory in the UK if your viewing habits fulfil the criteria.

I did wonder if that's what he meant; but decided to give him the chance to confirm it first

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by carlwaring

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy-J View Post
So telling the TVL that you don't need a licence would put a stop to the threatening letters and the enforcement officers knocking at the door? Nah...

Yes

I will put it to the test, I will fill in the forms, cancel the DD, ask for any refund due and see how I get on. The cables will be cut and hanging outside for the TV aerials and Satellite dish to be removed when the weather gets warmer.

I will update on the communications I receive, because I know from experience you are entirely incorrect and perhaps a little naive if you think TVL will not be bombarding me with threatening letters and easy payment plans.

[Jimmy-J]

Originally Posted by Escapee

I will put it to the test, I will fill in the forms, cancel the DD, ask for any refund due and see how I get on. The cables will be cut and hanging outside for the TV aerials and Satellite dish to be removed when the weather gets warmer.

I will update on the communications I receive, because I know from experience you are entirely incorrect and perhaps a little naive if you think TVL will not be bombarding me with threatening letters and easy payment plans.

I wouldn't cut any cables, remove any satellite dish or aerials. They are the ones that are assuming you are a liar, and it is illegal for them to gain entry to your property without your permission or a warrant.

My brother informed them that he no longer needed a TVL but still he has had 2 enforcement officers visit him on separate occasions.

In my opinion, the only way to make their system a fair one is to give citizens a proper choice and not one that uses threats and fancy language to intimidate and force people to pay for something they don't require.

Think of all the money the BBC could save if they actually followed the same type of system as other media companies such as VM and Sky.

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

You'll need to check out For all the letters and tricks they play here

Best of luck. We've not paid for five years or so but you need to be aware of their nasty tricks. "We're phoning you on a survey of the TV programmes that you watch" It's TVL entrapment!!!! BBC B'stards.

They wouldn't get any luck surveying me because my house phone is always on silent, I only have one because I need it for the internet. Anyone who needs to get hold of me urgently uses my mobile.

Everyone cringes in work when I get someone phone me up to survey me or some Indian phones about my PPI or accident I have had.

Originally Posted by Jimmy-J

I wouldn't cut any cables, remove any satellite dish or aerials. They are the ones that are assuming you are a liar, and it is illegal for them to gain entry to your property without your permission or a warrant.

I would because in the 1st line of the law it says you can't have any equipment installed capable of receiving signals and having loads of cables through your wall into a sky box is probably classed as installed ,so i would yank em out

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by martyh

I would because in the 1st line of the law it says you can't have any equipment installed capable of receiving signals and having loads of cables through your wall into a sky box is probably classed as installed ,so i would yank em out

I intended to remove the aerials and dishes anyway when the weather gets better, so cutting the cables is no expense.

I have a 1m dish with an actuator on the wall that has been there since the late 1980s when my grandfather owned the house, I wish I hadn't put it so high up now.

Anyway, the BBC will have to be a little more austere, because that's £105 they wont be getting off me.

[Jimmy-J]

Originally Posted by martyh

I would because in the 1st line of the law it says you can't have any equipment installed capable of receiving signals and having loads of cables through your wall into a sky box is probably classed as installed ,so i would yank em out

They would still probably assume that you are receiving a signal using an indoor aerial, many people have theirs installed out of the way in the loft.

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

You'll need to check out...

No he doesn't or it won't be a true test.That site is merely one person's opinions and interpretations.

Best of luck. We've not paid for five years or so...

So you don't watch any live TV then?

---------- Post added at 22:12 ---------- Previous post was at 22:09 ----------

Originally Posted by Jimmy-J

In my opinion, the only way to make their system a fair one is to give citizens a proper choice...

You have the choice to watch live TV or not. If you do then you need a licence. If you don't then you do not.

Think of all the money the BBC could save if they actually followed the same type of system as other media companies such as VM and Sky.

Which would fundamentally change the very nature of the BBC for all the reasons previously stated.

Originally Posted by carlwaring

You have the choice to watch live TV or not. If you do then you need a licence. If you don't then you do not.

.

Not much of a choice that is it.For the sake of argument lets assume that i don't ever watch any channel or listen to any radio station that is connected with the bbc ,i watch subscription sky tv and other terrestrial programs paid for via advertising .But as the law stands i am breaking the law if i don't have a TVL .So in order to watch over 200 channels that i pay for, i have to pay £145 p/a to fund a company i don't use .You think that is fair ?