TV licence non payment could be made a civil offence

[rhyds]

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

What do you get for the 0.90 Dave tax?

Top Gear repeats.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by rhyds

Top Gear repeats.

Not a signed photo, pulling his best frowny constipated baby face then, shame

[denphone]

BBC licence fee could be re-examined, says Harriet Harman.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/201...-harman-labour

Originally Posted by denphone

BBC licence fee could be re-examined, says Harriet Harman.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/201...-harman-labour

but she didn't offer any ideas of how to fund the BBC

Originally Posted by denphone

BBC licence fee could be re-examined, says Harriet Harman.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/201...-harman-labour

Who also said:

Originally Posted by Hattie Harperson in the Grauniad

"If there's a better way to have universal ... and a measure of independence from government in terms of the finance, if there a better way of doing that, let's hear about it.

"We haven't found it in the past; we might do in the future. Let's see. It's not easy to see what would be better than the licence fee, but that doesn't mean it actually shouldn't be looked at."

So she's not on the verge of announcing some kind of radical policy shift.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by martyh

but she didn't offer any ideas of how to fund the BBC

Indeed but a good debate on how the BBC goes forward is something that cannot be put off for much longer as the TV licence fee as it is is not substainable in the long run.

Look at what she said though. She wants the BBC to be universally available, so that rules out subscription. She wants it to have a measure of independence from government, so that rules out funding out of taxation. By implication, she doesn't find the prospect of making the BBC advert-supported appealing, otherwise she wouldn't have said "we haven't found it in the past" - the State-owned broadcaster, Channel 4, is funded in precisely this way. It is a solution that is well understood.

She wants to keep an open mind but she does not want to come to the table with a radical plan for change. I don't think the TVL is going anywhere quite yet.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by denphone

Indeed but a good debate on how the BBC goes forward is something that cannot be put off for much longer as the TV licence fee as it is is not substainable in the long run.

Indeed, role on decriminalisation.

[Escapee]

I'm very surprised, it was over 3 months ago that I cancelled my licence. I had an initial contact where they had completely ignored my wish to cancel and sent me a letter to set up direct debit. I sent them an email reply being very blunt so I assume they got the message.

Since that I have heard nothing further from them, I guess they could have been around looking for me but they would be lucky to find me at home. A number of years ago when I didn't have a TV licence the letters arrived at least one a week. Then again I guess the threatening letters could start any day soon.

[Qtx]

Originally Posted by Chris

So she's not on the verge of announcing some kind of radical policy shift.

She's not said anything that hasn't been said before over the last two years. She's not even in power so can't change anything.

Must be an election coming up and she wants some publicity. She's been on a few things lately, maybe she is trying to become leader of the Labour Party. I doubt she could care less about the BBC and licence fee tbh.

[heero_yuy]

Originally Posted by Escapee

I'm very surprised, it was over 3 months ago that I cancelled my licence. I had an initial contact where they had completely ignored my wish to cancel and sent me a letter to set up direct debit. I sent them an email reply being very blunt so I assume they got the message.

Since that I have heard nothing further from them, I guess they could have been around looking for me but they would be lucky to find me at home. A number of years ago when I didn't have a TV licence the letters arrived at least one a week. Then again I guess the threatening letters could start any day soon.

It'll be 4-6 months before the first bozo turns up. Before that you'll get the following numbers of increasingly silly letters all in envelopes marked "Urgent action required" or something equally stupid.

"Every home needs a TV licence" Blatent lie.

"Official warning: We have opened an investigation"

"You have not responeded to out letters yet" No reason that I have to morons.

"We are in the final stages of our investigation" Not much of one when you've supposidly had a dozen or so now.

"What you need to know if you go to court" I'm not going to court, idiots.

"Ignoring this letter could cost you more than the licence fee"

And they'll try harassing you by phone too. Caller ID is your friend.

Repeat ad nausium. You'd think after 5 years they might get the message: Get lost losers.

Oh I forgot the one that looks like a form where you should declare whether you have TV receiving/recording equipment and then send it back to TVL. I mean you have no licence and you're going to admit you're breaking the law. Really are these people for real.

[richard s]

To think that people have been in jail for non payment of a TV license and the cost of the court case. How much does it cost to keep people in jail. Poor old tax payers footing the bill.

Originally Posted by richard s

To think that people have been in jail for non payment of a TV license and the cost of the court case. How much does it cost to keep people in jail. Poor old tax payers footing the bill.

No they haven't ,they go to jail for ignoring the fine as anyone else would for ignoring a speeding fine for example

[richard s]

Originally Posted by martyh

No they haven't ,they go to jail for ignoring the fine as anyone else would for ignoring a speeding fine for example

Dooh.. as if I did not know that... the point is what does it cost to keep THE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT PAY THE FINE... in jail.

Originally Posted by richard s

To think that people have been in jail for non payment of a TV license.

Originally Posted by richard s

Dooh.. as if I did not know that... .

you sure ??

the point is what does it cost to keep THE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT PAY THE FINE... in jail

presumably the same as anyone else who goes to jail for non payment of any other fine .Having said that it looks now that non payment will be decriminalised so it won't matter .It looks like the BBC will have to rely on peoples honesty to pay for the service they receive.