TV Licence

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Lee Smith

Lee Smith

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I have just cancelled my Sky subscription and plan to make 100% of my TV viewing through catch-up TV / on-demand / Netflix etc. As I will no longer be 'watching or recording live broadcasts' I will no longer require a licence.

I've seen loads of (quite humorous) videos on YouTube of people recording their visits from the TV Inspectors (aka Capita Goons), and was wondering if anyone had any first hand experiences of them?

(I know there is a thread on this topic but it was locked in 2009, and actually contains some incorrect information on the rules of requiring a licence)
 

As far as i know you need to be watching live tv for the license to kick in.

If you want to rid yourself of the bother just invite them in to see you have no live recording equipment and then they will mark you off the list. After all, there would then be no signal from your home to mark against you :)
 
Ashtonian said:
As far as i know you need to be watching live tv for the license to kick in.

If you want to rid yourself of the bother just invite them in to see you have no live recording equipment and then they will mark you off the list. After all, there would then be no signal from your home to mark against you :)
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Yep, contrary to what many people think, you can potentially own loads of TVs and still not require a licence, it's simply a case of 'do you watch or record live broadcasts' (this is applicable via TV, freeview box, Sky box, tablet, PC etc). If you only use your TVs to watch catch up TV, movie streaming services, DVDs, play video games etc then you don't.

Technology has moved on light years since the licence rules were last revised (in 2003 I think) and so there are thousands of people in the UK who don't even need a licence yet are still paying for one.

The trouble is, the 'inspectors' work for a private company (Capita) and work on a commission basis, so there are loads of examples where they've tried to trick people into lettin them into their houses, signing forms, fabricate 'evidence' etc. just to earn more money. Half the time they blatantly try and make out that if you own a TV you need a licence which is simply untrue, and many people (a high percentage of who are single women) are bullied into letting them in.

These inspectors have zero authority to enter your premises (unless you invite them in, or, in very rare cases, manage to get a search warrant). Also, if they decide to knock on your door you are under absolutely no obligation to provide them with any information whatsoever. They have no more authority than a double glazing salesman, though they like to give the impression that they have.

Even though I won't actually need a licence and everything will be above board, on principle I have zero intention of letting them in if they decide to pay me a visit.
 


Basically, you can watch it live still and not have a TV licence as long as you don't fall into their trap. It's a civil matter, not a criminal matter therefore Police will not get involved generally.

A friend of mine who is quite high up in the food chain told me that if they come to the door, don't let them in and providing tell them you dont watch live tv. They have no way of confirming whether you've been watching it or not. He said that as long as you don't admit to have been watching it ("Oh I was watching it but now i've stopped" or the likes) they cannot prosecute you because they have no proof.

Worked for me for my three years at Uni. Get the occasional letter to say court action is being taken, but I just ignore it and it soon stops.

*don't shoot the messenger.
 
Would it be a naive or incorrect statement to say that the licence fee directly pays for the output on BBC channels? And the BBC website?

I watch plenty on catchup and very little live tv, but if no licence fee means the BBC output is compromised, then I'm happy to keep paying for it.
 

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