TV Licence Treats Non-Live TV Users like Criminals
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It's no wonder why people are afraid of the TV Licence and just keep it, even when they don't need it as they can be threatening, but folks who know how it works shouldn't feel as such.
The TVL is only necessary if:
I can't believe we're in 2021 and these goons are still active. They should be defunded.
not sure what the problem is - the notice makes it clear when you need the licence. If you are not doing any of these things then there is no problem.
The wording. They don't even have respect for the non-Live TV users, they treat them like a bunch of crooks.
PhilipMarc Well, let's face it. I guarantee 99% of people who claim never to watch live TV, do.
TractorGirl327 How can that possibly be correct, more than 1% of people who claim not to need a licence don't have a television?
Furthermore you don't have to claim not to WATCH TV. (Just not to watch live TV in own home).
TractorGirl327 I have a TV but don't have aerial or a box to watch TV on we just steam games on it from the computer and watch back games we have played watchmen no programs in over 5 years and not missing it they are just bully's can come in my house day or night to check
What they don't want is for people to stop paying so they are using bully boy tactics to make sure that the money keeps rolling in. If it was a personal relationship it would be considered abuse.
The BBC and the TV licence fee should be scrapped immediately, I don't know how it staggers on with all the scandals it has in the cupboard.
I think the text in the lower box is very clear. I have disconnected my aerial and cannot watch live broadcasts plus do not use iplayer. I watch itv, channel 4 and channel 5 on catchup services and can still legally listen to BBC radio stations and use the BBC website. I do not feel threatened at all. I do nothing wrong and it would be near enough impossible for them to prosecute me.
The only program I currently quite like on BBC is the Impossible quiz show which I watch on my mother's tv when at her house who lives nearby. She gets a free tv license so she doesn't pay either.
I still watch BBC programs I have on DVD, boxsets etc and could subscribe to Britbox if I wanted to without having a tv license.
I've been without a tv license for about 3 years and it has been incredibly easy I wish I'd done it sooner as soon as it was legal to do so.
Not having an aerial or having one plugged in does not give an automatic exemption from having a TV licence, those of us who use catch up etc. via internet do not have to prove we don't watch live TV. It is up to the Licensing authorities to prove that we DO.
My opinion is that it will become so difficult to enforce regulations (with so many now honestly claiming exemption) that other ways of funding the BBC will need to be found).
Added by edit: There is absolutely no need to claim exemption from having a TV licence, if you don't need one all you have to do is ABSULUTELY NOTHING. Until things change if you do need a TV licence and don't have one BUY ONE or you are committing a criminal offence.
davidstockport I literally disconnect the aerial cable so I don't forget and end up with a live channel being shown by mistake. One of the tactics I've heard they use is to phone up randomly and record the sound of the tv in the background when someone answers the call if it is the sound of a live tv broadcast then they know they are falsely claiming they don't need a license.
I'm sure there are many who falsely claim they don't need a license but actually watch BBC programs but for me there is nothing on the BBC I want to watch apart from maybe 10 hours viewing in a whole year which I can watch elsewhere. It's absolutely easy for me to go without. I'm not into soaps or the type of dramas the BBC make. I'm a science fiction fan who doesn't like modern Dr Who and other science fiction programs they have done like war of the worlds are truly awful versions, amateur at best. There may have been a few BBC programs I would have enjoyed if I'd known about them but unlikely. I read some science fiction websites and keep generally up to date on what science fiction is coming out.
I don't really like the BBC as an organisation so really don't want to pay them £150 or whatever it is.
The one thing that does annoy me is when it comes to voting I think there should be access to live tv for everyone as I felt like I was missing out on the debates that were going on, on live tv. I.e. you should be able to play such programs on iplayer without signing in.
More and more households don't have a tv license so will miss out important information or political debates. I run versions of youtube that are advert free like vanced youtube so I won't see any government information adverts there either. I have advert blockers on the webpages I read too. So people like me are harder to reach. I feel a free uk live news channel with important debates should be available to all.
BonzoBanana I feel the same way as you about the BBC, I'd love to challenge them regarding the way they con people into thinking they have any rights to intrude or expect people to opt out, they even put people to unnecessary expense with their pretences and even if they supplied a business reply envelope or freephone number to "help them" I would still expect reimburement for my time.
Some years ago I did notify them, online, that I didn't need a licence - about two months later they were asking me again, that was the final straw!
I stopped paying my tv licence over a year ago. We never have the tv on. Its always youtube/netflix or ps4.
Not had TV licence for over 2 years now and not missed watching any programes for 2 years b4 I was scared to stop my TV licence due to these threats off bully's but did it and no regret s
Well ... to be fair if you watch TV without a licence you are breaking the law so why shouldn't you be treated like a criminal?
It is a ridiculous law though which means many people can't watch itv, ch4 and channel 5 live as well as other channels not funded by the license. The concept you need a license for a tv is pretty stupid, you don't need a license for a toaster or microwave oven etc. The BBC signal should be scrambled and those who want the service should pay for a smartcard to unscramble it. Laws should be fair and reasonable not an extortion racket. In my opinion it makes a mockery of the law when it is used to fund a commercial tv network.
I totally understand there should be a impartial news channel which is funded by general taxation which could be a BBC news channel although the BBC is grossly inefficient so maybe it should be ITN rather than BBC.
I rang them and said I don't watch live TV, I just record everything, they said because I turn the TV on to record I need a licence!!
Assuming you don't watch BBC programs just use catchup services to watch the other channel programs you don't have to record them. Obviously if you are recording BBC programs or watching them on iplayer you will need a TV license.
I stopped it a while ago as I was just streaming.
They kept on at me. Then I told them again then they shut up.
It should be abolished. There is a word for them and it Rhymes with munts.
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