Hey CAG,

Posting on behalf of a friend. In short she doesn't have a tv licence as doesn't watch live tv only netflix. However her young daughter downloaded BBC iplayer on her tablet and signed up and gave her mums post code etc and obviously must of said she had a TV licence.

Fast forward a few weeks and my friend gets an email that says "Our records show you've used BBC iplayer on a number of occasions in recent weeks. As your no licence need status is now invalid you need to buy a TV licence" and gives her a link to buy.

Does she need to buy one, her daughter being on early teens did not know her mum needed a TV licence. Anything she can do?

did she watch live tv?

if not no.

she'll get scary letters and even a doorstepper possibly.

don't entertain them,

they are totally powerless

simply say nowt and close the door on them.

if ANYONE in the household watches LIVE TV from WHATEVER platform, then a licence must be purchased.

dx

I think that iplayer is also subject to licencing

I think that iplayer is also subject to licencing

Yes, watching any BBC programmes on iPlayer, whether live, catchup or on demand, needs a licence.

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/bbc-iplayer-and-the-tv-licence

It's irrelevant that it was a child watching.

I often wondered whether they check when you tick 'I have a TV licence' when you sign in to iPlayer. Now we know.

They've got to prove that you were actually watching it from that specific address though

They've got to prove that you were actually watching it from that specific address though

Well we wouldn't recommend telling porkies.

They've got to prove that you were actually watching it from that specific address though

Not really difficult to trace an IP address back to a specific address. Given that violating the TV License is still a criminal offence then they can probably report it and get the ISP to provide an address of which house had that particular IP at the time.

Which could be someone sitting outside your house using your wi-fi. Most routers have free wi-fi to other members like bt sky etc

Not really difficult to trace an IP address back to a specific address. Given that violating the TV License is still a criminal offence then they can probably report it and get the ISP to provide an address of which house had that particular IP at the time.

And to do that... theyd need a court order . Something that is unlikley to happen unless they do it en masse, and that would be costly. Then they still need to prove the householder actually did it, as IP's etc can be changed, faked, redirected etc.

They dont stand a chance. Theyd have to get you to admit it so they have complete proof.

As for Telling porkies BF... i didnt say for anyone to do it. What i meant is they would have to show unequivocal proof that the householder actually did it. And it wasnt someone else... Same as the doorsteppers have to have proof of either seeing the tv on and receiving live broadcasts or a householder filling in their forms.

Not really difficult to trace an IP address back to a specific address. Given that violating the TV License is still a criminal offence then they can probably report it and get the ISP to provide an address of which house had that particular IP at the time.

violating? Its unlawful. Not illegal. And they would still need to get an IP address, and then prove beyond a doubt the householder did it. Remember goldeneye and all the trouble they had proving a user with an IP downloaded their content?

Unless they have been to the actual ISP they can only have traced it back to a Point of Presence and no further. Who is the email actually from?

Also, your friend only had an email. That means nothing. They have no idea if that email is still used or not. Same as when a DCA emails you, hoping youll bite.

Brilliant thank you all for the replies.

The email is from the BBC. However her daughter used her own email address and not her mothers. When she got the email she got scared and showed her mum. If she didn't she would of been none the wiser.

I've told her to ignore this email and keep me informed if she receives any more and remove all BBC iPlayer apps from any device she has in the house. She has confirmed she does not have the TV aerial plugged in.

Ignore the email. Only bother with anything they say if its via post.

Dont really need to remove BBC apps, as theres no way they could ever check it without a court order, and its extremely unlikely tv licencing will ever get a court order to check someones computer.

BBC may forward the info they have to TV Licensing - Capita - but as far as I am aware they have to see it themselves and of course if they do visit then you do NOT have to allow them access.