TV Licence and Office Premises

[sisternumber1]

A week or so a go we received a request from the TV Licensing people asking us o consider if we should be paying for a Licence. It implied if we have any euqipment capable of receiving and viewing TV programs we should be paying for such Licence. I filled in the form implying that we do not have such equipment nor do we watch TV at work. My question is - we have computers, we have access to the internet, does that mean we should have a TV Licence. We do not view TV programs on our computers, and any one doing so would get short shrift from me. But if you have the equipement that has the capability surely that means that every business in the land would have to pay for a Licence, and then how many? each person here has a PC and a couple of people also have laptops.

 

Is this another way for the Beep to increase its income?

Was I correct in the way I filled in the form?

 

Any ideas?

[raydetinu]

Yes IMHO.

[Kenobee]

No. Only if they were capable of recieving and interpretting the signals, of which requires a TV Card. If you can prove to them none of your equipment has the technology they have no right to charge.

 

They are phishing, looking for more income. I don't actually believe they've visited your property, they just see a company with a site without a TV license and send off that form.

 

We have a TV license already, however whenever we bought a Television, they tried their luck and demanded we pay extra. (As to how they found out we bought a new tv is beyond me, we payed by cash everytime and did not fill in a TV licensing form (which can cause a fine for the retail outlet I believe)). Keep us updated if they continue.

[MrShed]

Yes IMHO.

 

How?!?!

 

The answer is exactly as Kenobee said OP - if they have TV Tuner cards, yes - but even then, only if they are USED.

[Chesterexpress]

Yes IMHO.

 

Please explain and preferably quote any legislation that you have referred to.....

[raydetinu]

Was I correct in the way I filled in the form; answer YES.

[MrShed]

Apologies in that case - but might want to make it clearer in future

[robin9342]

Additionally, you are allowed to watch TV programmes using BBCiPlayer (or equivalent) over the internet without a licence, because these programmes are not broadcast live.

[pompeyfaith]

kenobee they found out from the supplier who have a duty to inform the tv licensing dept i have a tv license in my mums name who lives here with us but i brought 2 portable tv for my sons in my name and i got a tv notice though the post i did not pay because its the property that needs it a phone call to explain sorted it

[robin9342]

Um, no they didn't:

 

we payed by cash everytime and did not fill in a TV licensing form

[Lula]

they must have given an address for the invoice , if ony for the guarantee, this is what is passed on to the TVLA

[ForestChav]

Even so, having the equipment is not enough, you have to have the aerial etc plugged in and use it to receive the broadcasts to need a licence. If you do not use it to receive tv broadcasts you do not need a licence for it.

[pompeyfaith]

everytime you pay for a tv no matter how you pay for it you will be asked for an address at the till and a tv licensing form will follow in the post standard procedure. i used to work for currys so know it is then down to you what you do about it like i said before if you have a licence for that property there is a number on the form to ring so they can check having said that its not hard for them to check if that property is licensed and save a fortune in wasted forms sent out.

[robin9342]

Buyers should give a different address if they dont want tvl on their back!

[callumsgran]

Now that is naughty!

[robin9342]

This is the address I give:

Barton House Bond Street Bristol BS98 1TL

[legalpickle]

Please see my thread in the Campaign section here:

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/campaign/159773-cancel-tv-licence-fee.html

 

Is very relevant to this specific issue!

[Kenobee]

they must have given an address for the invoice , if ony for the guarantee, this is what is passed on to the TVLA

 

We did not opt in to the guarantee.

 

I do know that whenever you purchase a T.V. the retailer is required by law to have you fill out the form and to inform the TVLA, however in this instance we were not requested to and for the sake of saving trouble having to deal with these people did not suggest we should to the cashier.

 

However if people feel they should fill in the wrong details I do not doubt for a moment they would be on your heels should they find you out. As said above, they cannot charge you per television as much as they want you to believe, it is based on the property television signals are recieved at.

[patdavies]

everytime you pay for a tv no matter how you pay for it you will be asked for an address at the till and a tv licensing form will follow in the post standard procedure.

 

No, not standard.

 

Communication from TVLA will only follow if the address is not showing as already licensed

[sisternumber1]

OK now we have had a letter saying thank you for filling in the form, but they will now be coming into to visit us to ensure that what I have put on the form is true.

 

" We do this because when we visit people who have told us that they do not need a TV Licence, over a third of those we make contact with do, in fact, need one.".........

 

 

"By visiting these addresses, we hope to identify licence evaders and ensure that those who, like you, legitimately need no contact from TV Licensing are not troubled unnecessarily int the future."

 

 

Hm - do they believe me or not?

[MrShed]

Nope....but as long as you dont require one, you'll be fine

[Kenobee]

No they don't believe you, they naturally believe everyone is an evader.

 

As long as you are fully 100% aware that none of your equipment is able to recieve television signals you are not at risk of these sharks. Be aware of that, because I have no doubt they will attempt to dupe you into believing a regular office PC is worth paying a license.

[MrShed]

Even if they CAN receive TV signals, the important factor is if they DO receive them.

 

You can have a TV capable of receiving signals but you are not liable to pay the fee unless you actually use it for this purpose.

[Lula]

the best way would be to have it de-tuned, you can watch such things as BBC Iplayer on your computer as long as you do not watch LIVE programmes. basically that is it.

 

Do not let them bully you and dont let them hoodwink you into thinking that you need a licence, and also, Very important - Do not sign anything unless you have read in FULLY.

[ForestChav]

In fact, I just wouldnt let the TVL in without a search warrant. You don't have to prove anything - the onus is on them to prove you are using it illegally.