Tv License question....just curious

[mfpa]

What about when you pay them and they keep giving your money back, then chasing you for having no licence?

[Conniff]

I think you will need to explain that in more detail if you want an answer.

[The GodMother]

they have demanded money from me and i sent them a letter saying i dont watch tv as i dont want to watch CR*P and any enforcement office MUST make an appointment with me before they come to the door.

I got a lovely letter back saying ty for informing us that you dont watch tv and we may sent an enforcement officer round without notice to check on your claim. Good luck i thought they hve always been told to leave the premises when ever they call on me as they need an appointment. They then try and inform me they dont need an appointment then l just tell them that under english common law they do and they dont have an appointment then they cnt come in and i will count to 3 and if they have not left i will be pressing send on my mobile and asking for the police.

theythen leave saying i cant avoid them for ever.

[mfpa]

Originally Posted by Conniff

I think you will need to explain that in more detail if you want an answer.

They tell me how much per month they want. I pay the first month by internet banking, quoting the TV licence number they gave me. Three weeks later get a cheque from them, so pay double second month. Back to normal third month, fourth month, fifth month as far as payments are concerned. But get a letter forwarded via my bank towards end of fourth month from TV licensing, quoting the TV licence number, claiming they do not know what the money is for and a letter after the fifth month from my bank quoting the TV licence number and stating that TV Licensing have said it is insufficient reference for them to apply the payment. In the meantime, they send me letters claiming I'm not licensed.

[Conniff]

Well at least they have been honest in returning you money.

I think in this case you should email them quoting the licence number and the circumstances and ask them what further information they require.

TV Licensing - Contact us

[mfpa]

Originally Posted by Conniff

I think in this case you should email them quoting the licence number and the circumstances and ask them what further information they require.

They don't require any further information. After several exchanges of email they finally admitted they had received and returned the money. The reason they give is that payment by BACS transfer can only be for the full annual amount. They give no indication how this relates to their return of my monthly payments made by internet banking.

[buzby]

Internet banking 'IS' BACS transfer. If you pay by any method other than full payment, they insist on controlling the monthly debits.

[borisbeaver]

It'll be interesting to see what happens when the analogue signals are finally turned off.

This potentially means that unless you have a digital converter for your TV, then it would be impossible to receive television signals.

As these converters range from set-top boxes to simple plug in "dongles" TVLA would have problems confirming the existance.

[buzby]

How so? There is no distinction in the regulations as to the method of delivery, analogue, digital terrestrial, cable or satellite - it makes no difference. As for detecting them, this is a bit of a misnomer, as it's fairly well known that the 'TV Detector vans' were simply a ruse to encourage licence take up - indeed what was left of the fleet were formally retired over 10 years ago.

The detection is simpler than you think. Every UK address is flagged as being business or residential, if the latter then it it assumed it will need a licence. If there is one for that address, there's no enforcement. If there isn't you are placed on the monthly mailing list and scheduled a visit by a field agent - normall within 12 months.

To make things easier, every sale of a device capable of recieving TV signals must be recorded and sent to the TVRO within 14 days (by law). Again, if there's no licence for the address given, this kickstarts a renewed flurry of mail-shots.

[The GodMother]

Yes but what gets me is when you ar temperaly placed in a B+B buy the council and the TV licence ppl enforcement officers say that every room needs a licence but the tv licence call centre ppl say you are covered by the one for the buildingas it is down to the landlord to pay for a building one.

Who is rite?

[The GodMother]

Originally Posted by buzby

How so? There is no distinction in the regulations as to the method of delivery, analogue, digital terrestrial, cable or satellite - it makes no difference. As for detecting them, this is a bit of a misnomer, as it's fairly well known that the 'TV Detector vans' were simply a ruse to encourage licence take up - indeed what was left of the fleet were formally retired over 10 years ago.

The detection is simpler than you think. Every UK address is flagged as being business or residential, if the latter then it it assumed it will need a licence.Theres that word again. Assumed you need a TV licence. What if you dont and there enforcement office wont stop harassing you and saying you cant avoid us for ever and that they dont need a warrent to enter your property? If there is one for that address, there's no enforcement. If there isn't you are placed on the monthly mailing list and scheduled a visit by a field agent - normall within 12 months.

To make things easier, every sale of a device capable of recieving TV signals must be recorded and sent to the TVRO within 14 days (by law). I have brought TVs and never had to give where it is going to. I was never asked about a tv licence either. The company must have thought i had a licence. Again, if there's no licence for the address given, this kickstarts a renewed flurry of mail-shots.

..........

[dave]

I have brought TVs and never had to give where it is going to. I was never asked about a tv licence either. The company must have thought i had a licence.

Then, in that case, if the TV's were new, the seller was breaking the law.

Unless you paid by card, in which case, your address details will be collected that way and passed to the TVLA.

[buzby]

Originally Posted by The GodMother

Yes but what gets me is when you ar temperaly placed in a B+B buy the council and the TV licence ppl enforcement officers say that every room needs a licence but the tv licence call centre ppl say you are covered by the one for the buildingas it is down to the landlord to pay for a building one.

Who is rite?

For a hotel/B&B a licence is required by the owner(s), however irrespective of this, if you're in temporary accommodation your existing licence will cover you, providing nobody is viewing TV at the licence address - so any issue with the TVLO and the owner is not your concern.

[buzby]

As Dave says, if you buy a TV from a retailer, they MUST take your details - it is filled into a Duplicate Book, usually by the retailer and the completed pages sent off weekly to TVLO. I've seen staff in Argos and ADSA all taking these details. Of course, whether the information gives is accurate or not is another issue. (Especially if a gift). If you buy the TV second-hand, there is no such obligation.

As to your point about them assuming you need a licence when you may not - well, that's the way it works. Once you have established to TRVRO's satisfaction you DON'T have a TV, the monthly demands stop for 2 years ONLY, before it all starts again.

[The GodMother]

Originally Posted by buzby

As Dave says, if you buy a TV from a retailer, they MUST take your details - it is filled into a Duplicate Book, usually by the retailer and the completed pages sent off weekly to TVLO. I've seen staff in Argos and ADSA all taking these details. Of course, whether the information gives is accurate or not is another issue. (Especially if a gift). If you buy the TV second-hand, there is no such obligation.

As to your point about them assuming you need a licence when you may not - well, that's the way it works. Once you have established to TRVRO's satisfaction you DON'T have a TV, the monthly demands stop for 2 years ONLY, before it all starts again.

I could name all the companys but that would take to long.

Needless to say Asda have had me buy a Tv and digi box b4 christmas brought for my sister paid in cash and never asked anything.

I then went to Argos and they did not ask me for any details when l brought mum a digi box.

but l went to Tesco and was asked for my details when l brought a DVD player which does not hold any type of recording facilitys. I did and was told they did not need to take them for a DVD player.

I do have a TV actually more than one but we only use the one in littlens room for DVDs. The one in my partner and my room for DVDs and occassionaly the PS2 and the one in the front room for the same reasons.

I am still getting montly visits and letters twice a month even tho they have been informed and have accepted by letter i dont have the need for a licence. One TV enforcement officer tried pushing me out of the way of the door and forcing his way into hte house. He soon backed off when l asked my partner to call the police and he saw my partners dog.

The police came in and checked the TVs and even told him they were not contected to any ariel or digi box and he was to leave after they had taken his details and ststement.

He told them l had repeatly refused to tell him if l was using a TV and refused him entry to the property to check the tvs were not recieving a signal and that he had every rite to enter the property buy force if necessary.

In the mean time l had found all my documents to saying l had informed them they new l had no reason for a tv licesnce and found where l was told they needed a warrent to enter the property on one of the TV licence threads, think it is this one.

I gave them copies of everything and they then left.

The police sent me a letter a few days later saying they are not taking the matter further as he has admitted he may have been wrong.

4 weeks to the day of the letter later he was back on my doorstep.

I have even had a visit between my posts this morning saying he has to gain entry to the property to inspect the tvs.

I told him to get a warrent and he said he does not need one.

[dave]

I must admit, I do get a steady stream of these letters. I have had phone calls from them and have informed them over the phone that I do have a TV but it is connected to my xbox and is not tuned in and has no aerial plugged into it. She said she would "update their records". I still receive the letters.

Normally I would ignore their threats (and do still ignore them), but I don't mind them phoning and asking. I do object to me phoning THEM to tell them that I don't have or use something.

I've not had a visit from an 'enforcement officer', but look forward to the day they try to barge into my house!

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[buzby]

The trouble here is that the requirement for a licence is based on owning 'TV receiving equipment' the fact there's no aerial plugged in it technically an irrelevance as this bears no part of the rules. Indeed the only defence is that the tuners are electronically disabled. Anyone can pop a set-top aerial in place to watch Corrie and then hide it.

As for demanding right of entry, there is none and they usually use bluff and bluster to make access and force you to give a statement under PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence) act - all spurious and bogus legalese to catch out single mothers and those prepared to accept 'officials' doing their thing.

[robin9342]

Without a warrant, TV licensing officers have absolutely no right to enter your home. What really annoys me about the BBC is that the British public is forced to pay £3.38 Billion :o a year, under threat of prison, to fund a "service" which the rest of the world can watch for free.

[dave]

If what Buzby says is true (and I have no reason to doubt it) then technically I should be paying the BBC to make more of the same crap shows that helped me make the decision to stop watching it in the first place. How is that fair?

[barracad]

Originally Posted by buzby

The trouble here is that the requirement for a licence is based on owning 'TV receiving equipment'

Not true. You only need a licence if you actually use the receiver to receive transmissions.

The following scans are taken from BBC letters provided under the Freedom of Information Act:

Originally Posted by buzby

As for demanding right of entry, there is none

One point to remember - Although houses and flats are private property, there exists an "implied right of access" to enable postal deliveries, newspaper rounds, etc. This means that the pathway, doorbell and letter box may be used by visitors without the express permission of the owner. Invitiation to use them is implied. As a result of this, TVL can come up your path and ring your door bell.

To prevent TVL approaching your property, write to them, stating that you have withdrawn their implied right of access. There is no need to indicate whether you have a television, and you do not need to give your name. You can withdraw access in the name of "legal occupier".

That will (should) keep their employees away, but it will not stop the delivery of TVL letters, since it is the postman who uses your letter box. So, inform TVL that you consider their written contact as harassment. This combined approach - withdrawing the right of implied access and informing them that their actions are harassment - should prevent further contact. At least for a while.