TV Licensing

[dodgymanc]

OK ok this isnt really a TV question but i couldnt think of where to put it...how do the licensing people know if your paying or not? I mean ive never seen anyone knock at my door and say 'S'cuse me, can i see your TV license'!

[Phantaxus]

they have a list of all the properties that dont have a licence. while living in a flat a number of years ago i did manage to advoid paying a licence for three months. Then I got a letter saying they were coming to inspect my property for unlicensed TV sets at which point I went out and bought a license. you might get away with it for a while but they will get you in the end

[j2buttonsw]

If you buy a new TV the reseller tells the license people.

[stephen.hove]

i wonder what happens if you refuse to give your name and address if you bought a new tv. would the shop refuse to sell it to you,and lose out on the sale? you could give them a false address of course.

[BenDToy]

I reckon TV detector vans are a complete con. I think they do just as described above - ie get a list of premises without licenses and visit them. They start with the assumption that everyone has a TV and off they go. No need for a detector so why bother to develop complex technology which isn't needed? (sorry forgot about picture messaging for a minute there!) ;-)

[smorodina]

The detector vans do work, but these days they have hand held detectors as well. Although just having a tv that is installed and capable of receiving transmissions is enough evidence to require a license, it makes a better case if they can catch you actually watching. You don't actually need a license to watch videos and dvds, but if the tv can still pick up off-air broadcasts you do, wether you watch them or not. A ludicrous law which is long overdue for scrapping.

[TRINITY]

If they catch you try this one. Just because I've milk in the fridge doesn't mean theres a cow out the back. So an ariel, cable doesn't mean Ive got a T.V. alright. :)

[nykkieberry]

My friend is a strict Muslim and he doesn't have a television. The TV people refused to believe him and checked his premises - surely a detector van would have established that he didn't have a TV without the need for a search?

[Tomothy]

Yes, the vans are complete nonsense. I had a look inside one when it was parked up near my house...as I peered round the sliding door, my heart raced expecting to finally see the remarkable technology within....oh...rows of seats and a sandwich. So that's how they do it.....