TV licencing

[murvic]

I'm just about to move house and do NOT intend having a tv. I've heard that others without a tv still get harassed about licences. Has anybody got any experience of this?

[gammaray]

The licensing authorities can not, despite their own claims, track addresses that do not have a license but watch TV. They rely on historical evidence. For example if you previously bought a TV license then stopped (for whatever reason) you would get the obligitory standard letter - the one that claims "TV detector vans are operating in your area". This is total crap. The vans don't exist nor do they have the staff or financial resources to persue such activities. Moving to a new address won't make any difference to you. The licensing authourity will only contact the address when the previous occupants don't renew the license for that address. At which point you just ignore the letters (which will be addressed to the previous occupants in any case).

[raysparx]

Hi murvic, Yes you will be targeted,when we moved into our house (jan 05) we decided not to have a TV untill we had decorated,I couldn't tell you how many threatening letters we had, a lot were asking us to reply but no reply paid envelope provide,so we just ignored them,then we got letters saying they were taking us to court,then they would be visiting within the next few days to caution us and then prosecute,all the time assuming we had a TV,it is pathetic, we actually got our TV going in Jan this year after we finished the house,and for the amount of rubbish on there I wish we hadn't bothered, the time without it was great,we spent time together sitting in the garden in the summer evenings,playing music while decorating, god,think i'll get rid of the TV again!!! Cheers, RAy

[chazza]

Check the legislation on owning radios, if you intend to own one, as they are covered by TV licences as well

[saintjohnny]

Also, don't forget that even if the TV Licence inspectors do call around, you are under absolutely no obligation to let them into your property. That said, if you do get a TV, you should pay the licence out of fairness, but I think many people react badly to TV Licencing's heavy handed, bully boy tactics, and are delighted to inconvenience them as much as possible.

[LeMarchand]

Don't forget that the "TV" license covers a variety of bits of kit that can recieve and display a TV signal...