I paid for a TV license for many years by direct debit without actually ever watching TV.

There was a short period when my ex lived here where she occasionally watched TV, but that was that.

Haven't required a TV license for over 12 months,

I cancelled my direct debit and wrote to the Licensing dept telling them I no longer required a license and would they refund me.

N

They refused to refund me without me giving them one of their reasons for cancelling (no longer needing one was not on the list).

in the end I gave up

- I think it was only a matter of £20 or so anyway i had to claim.

Now I get a letter from them threatening a visit from an enforcement officer who can apply to court for a search warrant!!

On what grounds can a search warrant be issued?

The mere fact that I no longer pay for a TV License?

If an "inspector" turns up, can I simply tell him to [removed] as I already told BBC Licensing I no longer need a license?

Is the onus on me to PROVE i don't need a license?

Or is this simply bully tactics?

You are well within your rights to instruct a TVL "inspector" to leave in what ever manner you feel appropriate. They have no right of entry without a court issued warrant. They will not get one purely on the basis that you had a licence in the past or that you currently own a TV.

I get an endless stream of their threatening missives posted through my letter box. Don't even bother opening them now and just add them to the pile. Only had one visit in the last two years, refused to answer any questions and didn't confirm my name. He eventually left with his tail between his legs, and I've not had anything from the courts.

If you get any more letters from TVL, you could write "RTS" or "Return to sender" across the front, even if it is addressed to the "Legal Occupier". Quite a few people I know of do this, not that it has any effect on the TVL harassment.

They have the right to breath, debatable!

They have a right to knock on your door, but you do not have to answer it, nor do you have to give any info such as name and if you have a tv

they have no right of access, and it is extremely rare that they apply/get warrants to enter and search!

Anymore letters file in the bin!

just like dca

Zero they are not bailiffs!!

My cat has more powers than TVL ever will.

If they come knocking, which is extremely unlikely, then YOU have the right to tell them to leave, or laugh at them and shut the door.

I tend to mess with them a little before I tell them to jog on.

Had one read me the caution once (like it was a PACE interview) then he couldn't understand why I replied "no comment" to anything he asked me afterwards. Kept him on the doorstep for almost an hour (I was bored). When he asked me to sign his form I laughed at him and shut the door. He didn't bother knocking

Had one read me the caution once (like it was a PACE interview) then he couldn't understand why I replied "no comment" to anything he asked me afterwards.

The feeling of self importance they must get when they spout the caution, guarantee they haven't the first clue what it means.

The feeling of self importance they must get when they spout the caution, guarantee they haven't the first clue what it means.

I might ask the next one to explain it to me. See how they get on

I might ask the next one to explain it to me. See how they get on

Now that would be worth seeing...

TV Licence Inspector = Capita Employee = No Mark

If one does deign to turn up make sure you do not sign anything as they will lie through their teeth about what it is you are signing. They work on commission.

Now that would be worth seeing...

No problem, I'll have it on HD video with sound

My one and only encounter:

Loud banging on the door almost as if he thought he was the police or something.

Door thrust open (outwards), nearly hitting him in the face.

"Are you Mr.P ?"

"Who the b**** ***l are you ?"

"I'm from TV Licensing, here is my ID"... Waving something in the air that might have been a credit card.

"And ?"...

"Do you have a TV ?"

"That is really none of your business."

"Do you watch TV ?"

"Silly question..."

A few more inane and leading questions followed, each time countered with a "None of your business" or "no comment".

Eventually, he asked if he could come in, and was told quite firmly, NO.

"Why not ?" came the next question.

"Health and safety. You are not wearing the appropriate clothing, nor am i willing to accept liability if you injure yourself."

Tail dropped, and end of conservation.

As someone who is legally license free and has been for nearly 10 years. I can tell you that TV Licensing have b*gg*r all powers. I would strongly advise against entering into any correspondence with them whether by letter or on the doorstep. You are under no legal obligation to do so or to furnish TVL with any personal details. This includes if they caution you under the Police and Criminal Evidence act.

Those letters that threaten court action and search warrants? Scary aren't they?? Well no.. not really. Read them carefully, they are very cleverly worded psychological threatogram letters. Full of "we may" "we could" etc etc. I've had over 100 of those letters and still have never had a Search Warrant served on me. I actually sent a Freedon of Information act to the BBC a couple of years back and asked how many people were fined the 1,000 they spout on their letters in a 12 month period. It was 8 people. That is just the maximum penalty a magistrate could order for the office under the Communications Act 2003. Most offences tried and prosecuted under CA 2003 are in the region of a couple hundred pounds depending on circumstances.

If you are ever caught off guard with TVL and a caution is read out to you. Exercise your right to Legal Representation and say nothing. This cannot be held against you until you've spoken with a Solicitor and it is your legal right. Also under no circumstances should you sign the record of interview form. They will use that as an admission of guilt and deliberately try and stitch you up. They cannot force you to sign the form.

But the golden rule incase you hadn't gotten the point. No contact. Period. File their letters away in the bin or "return them sender - addressee unknown" and post it back to them. I do this deliberately as they don't write to me by my name. When they can write to me using my name, I shall reconsider my response.

Just to add on a few other things as well. You only need a TV License if you are doing any of the following:

• Watching Live TV i.e. TV Being broadcast right now.
  
• Watching programs on the BBC iPlayer
  

Actual ownership of a Television for the use of a DVD Player, Radio, Games Console, CCTV or for use as a Computer Monitor* does not require a license.

*If you are watching Live Broadcasts or BBC iPlayer on a computer/mobile phone/games console etc etc then you DO need a TV License.

My understanding is that a Search Warrant must be applied for under RIPA (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000) for TV Licensing to touch a laptop / computer and that the Communications Act 2003 does not cover this. So if you did by some miraculous form of bad luck end up with TVL on the doorstep with a SW and they ask you to demonstrate there are no live broadcasts etc then you are well within your legal rights to deny that request. If they tried without your permission this would be an offence under the Computer Misues Act 1990.