iPlayer to require TV licence

[MaxxPower]

iPlayer to require TV licence from September 1st

No more free BBC on-demand.

 

Doesn't impact other on-demand services though.

[hightail]

Does anyone know how this is going to work? My TV is only on wifi, not tuned into any TV channels, and I only ever watch either catch up or Netflix. I have no aerial. Up to now I haven't needed a TV licence because I don't have any way of watching live TV. Will I start getting hounded because I 'could' watch BBC iplayer even if I don't?

[unclebulgaria67]

Does anyone know how this is going to work? My TV is only on wifi, not tuned into any TV channels, and I only ever watch either catch up or Netflix. I have no aerial. Up to now I haven't needed a TV licence because I don't have any way of watching live TV. Will I start getting hounded because I 'could' watch BBC iplayer even if I don't?

 

I thought that they were changing Iplayer, so that you had to confirm your licence number before you could view any of their programmes from 1st September ?

 

The current APP does not even need you to register. I would think this would have to change.

[Mr.P]

Up to now I haven't needed a TV licence because I don't have any way of watching live TV. Will I start getting hounded because I 'could' watch BBC iplayer even if I don't?

 

No, you will get hounded because there is no TV licence registered for your address. TVL do not care that you don't watch any live TV or use iPlayer. Their assumption is that because you don't have a licence, you are breaking the law.

[Consumer dude]

No, you will get hounded because there is no TV licence registered for your address. TVL do not care that you don't watch any live TV or use iPlayer. Their assumption is that because you don't have a licence, you are breaking the law.

 

Is this harassment by TV licensing ?..

[hightail]

So far I have not been bothered other than confirming every couple of years that I have no way of receiving a live TV signal. If they are going to make iplayer somehow coded then I have nothing to worry about and they can check if they want. If they are just going to assume everyone has access to iplayer then even ownership of a mobile phone will require a TV licence won't it?

[Stigman]

If they are just going to assume everyone has access to iplayer then even ownership of a mobile phone will require a TV licence won't it?

 

This is unfortunately another example of why the TV Licence is not fir for purpose.

Technology has changed and advanced to render this dinosaur of a revenue maker to the scrap heap.

 

The BBC are frightened of change, frightened of the technological advances that they have no control of so in their minds everyone who does not own a TV Licence is therefore liable to be harassed.

Just think though, every letter that you get through the post is a little less money Capita are making in profits.

 

Stigman

[Mr.P]

[...]so in their minds everyone who does not own a TV Licence is therefore liable to be harassed.

Just think though, every letter that you get through the post is a little less money Capita are making in profits.

 

Indeed. I have had yet another letter through the door yesterday warning of an impending "home visit", so that is yet more money that they will waste. This agent of theirs will be refused access to the property in question and be instructed to leave by the most convenient route.

 

I'm in half a mind to write to John Hales, enforcement manager, Leicester reminding him of the penalties that could be imposed by the courts for harassment by himself or any of his agents. eg: Up to 6 months imprisonment, and/or a £5000 fine; or. punishable in the crown court with up to 5 years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine. But unfortunately, Capita do not publicise the address of the Leicester office...

[renegadeimp]

its not harassment if you havent told them not to visit. They are mandated to chase up non payment.

[unclebulgaria67]

Indeed. I have had yet another letter through the door yesterday warning of an impending "home visit", so that is yet more money that they will waste. This agent of theirs will be refused access to the property in question and be instructed to leave by the most convenient route.

 

I'm in half a mind to write to John Hales, enforcement manager, Leicester reminding him of the penalties that could be imposed by the courts for harassment by himself or any of his agents. eg: Up to 6 months imprisonment, and/or a £5000 fine; or. punishable in the crown court with up to 5 years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine. But unfortunately, Capita do not publicise the address of the Leicester office...

 

You don't need to speak to them or even open up a door. They have no right of entry and have to ask whether they can come in. It is mostly Women with kids who get caught out, as the knock on the door causes kids to go to the door and the inspector hears the kids watching TV. The Women then complete a form admitting to the offence. There was an article in the press discussing this awhile back.

 

If you don't watch live TV at the address you can just complete the declaration form on the TVL website and then they will stop writing, but may visit to carry out an inspection at some point. But apparently several million have completed declarations, so it would be difficult to carry out inspections. They have enough people not buying licences or completing declarations to harass.

[Mr.P]

If you don't watch live TV at the address you can just complete the declaration form on the TVL website and then they will stop writing, but may visit to carry out an inspection at some point. But apparently several million have completed declarations, so it would be difficult to carry out inspections. They have enough people not buying licences or completing declarations to harass.

 

Unfortunately, their form requires an email address and name (they would also like a telephone number too). Anecdotal evidence on the internet would suggest that even after submitting the form, the harassment continues. As there is no legal requirement to fill in the form, I'll forgo providing personal information.

[hightail]

Will the licence still be tied to the address? The whole point of laptops, phones etc. is that you could watch anywhere you can get wifi so can you only watch iplayer in your own home from 1st September?

[dx100uk]

no doesn't say that at all

[hightail]

So if someone with a licence comes to stay with me can they watch iplayer on their own laptop even though my household is not covered or would I be at risk of prosecution?

[dx100uk]

as long as the household that that person normally resides in has a TV licence and they are covered by it - no.

its called mobile use

[dernawi]

Indeed. I have had yet another letter through the door yesterday warning of an impending "home visit", so that is yet more money that they will waste. This agent of theirs will be refused access to the property in question and be instructed to leave by the most convenient route.

 

I'm in half a mind to write to John Hales, enforcement manager, Leicester reminding him of the penalties that could be imposed by the courts for harassment by himself or any of his agents. eg: Up to 6 months imprisonment, and/or a £5000 fine; or. punishable in the crown court with up to 5 years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine. But unfortunately, Capita do not publicise the address of the Leicester office...

 

 

 

Your in leicester too mr p. Ive had letters for the last 2years and no one has ever been

[hightail]

as long as the household that that person normally resides in has a TV licence and they are covered by it - no.

its called mobile use

Thank you. I had visions of having to make guests surrender all devices before they retired to their rooms

[Mr.P]

Your in leicester too mr p. Ive had letters for the last 2years and no one has ever been

 

Nope, some 120 miles away. Despite the distance, I've had one daytime visit and an evening call whilst out. Both within the last three months.

 

Would also add: I'm fast coming to the conclusion that this John Hales is a fictional character. He seems to pop up in Bromley, Birmingham, Bristol, Leicester, and more. Apparently be contacted via a PO box in Darwin (see: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/116717/response/289202/attach/html/3/RFI20120536%20final%20response.pdf.html).

[JetSetJim]

Does anyone know how this is going to work? My TV is only on wifi, not tuned into any TV channels, and I only ever watch either catch up or Netflix. I have no aerial. Up to now I haven't needed a TV licence because I don't have any way of watching live TV. Will I start getting hounded because I 'could' watch BBC iplayer even if I don't?

 

iPlayer has had the ability to watch live TV for ages now.

 

 

Had you been doing this then you should have been paying for a license.

 

 

Surely (despite not legally needing a TV license) you listen to BBC radio or visit the BBC website

(I can't imagine there's a single person who genuinely doesn't)?

 

 

Don't you think you should pay towards the BBC if that is indeed the case?

[dx100uk]

so you are paying to use cag by donating are you?

same theory applies then according to you?

[JetSetJim]

so you are paying to use cag by donating are you?

same theory applies then according to you?

 

Not really as most websites like this are funded (to some extent) by advertising, coupled with the fact that I'm not a regular user of this site. I do however choose to donate to sites I use regularly, like the Guardian website (despite that also having some advertising).

[hightail]

Surely (despite not legally needing a TV license) you listen to BBC radio or visit the BBC website

By that logic anyone who only ever listens to the radio should have a licence. The radio licence was abolished a long time ago.

And no - I have never watched live broadcasts on iplayer. There's never anything on I want to watch when I want to watch it on any channel.

[hardboiled]

There's no way this can be enforced accurately. it's going to be one big pain for them from which I doubt they recover anything.

[momma]

Not really as most websites like this are funded (to some extent) by advertising, coupled with the fact that I'm not a regular user of this site. I do however choose to donate to sites I use regularly, like the Guardian website (despite that also having some advertising).

 

Only 2 post from Jetsetjim and he chooses this one. Me thinks he works for Capita!

[Teefenn1]

There's no way this can be enforced accurately. it's going to be one big pain for them from which I doubt they recover anything.

I wonder whether the BBC have been promised access to internet connection records at some future date after the insidious IP Bill becomes law, mandating ISPs to keep logs of every website visited by their customers. If so, there's a simple way round that: connect to iPlayer via a secure VPN. You'll have to make sure to use a UK server of course or be automatically blocked.