TV licencing?

[Abe Ditori]

Whenever I buy an electrical appliance that can pick up TV signals I am required to give my name and address for TV licencing records.

The last few purchases I have made have been as presents for other people. I have stated this at the time of purchase and they insist on my details and no one elses.

As I have a TV licence I will never have any problems, but the people I am buying for may not have licences. Should I be giving my details or the persons details I am buying for?

[Zen]

You could always tell them a load of fiction.

[Whickerman]

I agree - it's a ridiculous invasion of privacy. Make up a name and address, and make them as obviously ridiculous as possible. Encourage your friends to do the same. If everyone did, they'd soon get the message

[Loosehead]

I don't tell them, I just wave cash under their noses and amazingly the paperwork disappears!

[kempie]

The purchaser is not required to give details to the retailer; it may be a technical point but it is the retailer which is required by law to give details of the purchaser to the TV Licensing authority.

If you will not pass on your name and address, and they have no other way of obtaining them, they are then obliged not to complete the sale or else face a possible fine of �1000.

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/tvdealers.jsp

Of course, just because a law exists doesn't mean that everybody takes heed of it, but those people have no reason to complain if they are prosecuted.