Is this legal?

[Sheffield Tony]

I agree that the BBC channels and their lack of advertising is worth paying for. But it does not justify the harassment.
I too have had grief from them when I didn't have a TV. When I did have both TV and license, I once had a TV licence expire when I was away in Japan for several weeks. When I came back, I got a new one. Reckoning that I had not operated a TV or any such from my home address in the intervening time, I reckoned that the 1 month gap in my license payment was completely above board. Not so TVL. Letter arrives saying "We notice that your TV licenses are not contiguous, and have adjusted the start date fror you new license to match the expiry of the old one". Cue nice argument over whether I could operate a TV in the UK from a hotel in Japan where I could prove I was. Do you think they backed down ? Fat chance.

 

[beech1948]

... I learned that SOME so called public service employees are lying, conniving and self serving Bas*ar*s. Surprise surprise indeed.

As an ex public servant I've fixed that sweeping generalisation for you. :evil:

No thanks I'll stick with the original statement.

Al

 

[beech1948]

The TV licence fee is an anachronism which should be repealed and TV watching should be free to all. There is no justification anymore for TV licence fees. The BBC is now a business just like other commercial TV stations so why do we need a licence.
Al

Disagree with this entirely. We pay a license fee to keep the BBC ran stations advert free and I for one and vastly grateful for that. Have you watched the other stations? Let me give you a breakdown.

A 1 hour show starts on the hour.
2 minute introduction to the show showing what the show will show you.
At the 5 minute mark we break to commercial for 5 minutes.
There on in we break for commercial ad breaks every 10 minutes. Each break is five minutes.

A content packed 1 hour show is actually less than 40 minutes long.

The other stations are an utter bag of dung.

It seems you do not watch attentively. The BBC uses large amounts of air time for advertisements for its own services and programmes much more than other channels. Its all advertising.

THE TV LICENCE FEE SHOULD BE ABOLISHED IMMEDIATELY

Al

 

[RogerS]

The TV licence fee is an anachronism which should be repealed and TV watching should be free to all. There is no justification anymore for TV licence fees. The BBC is now a business just like other commercial TV stations so why do we need a licence.
Al

Disagree with this entirely. We pay a license fee to keep the BBC ran stations advert free and I for one and vastly grateful for that. Have you watched the other stations? Let me give you a breakdown.

A 1 hour show starts on the hour.
2 minute introduction to the show showing what the show will show you.
At the 5 minute mark we break to commercial for 5 minutes.
There on in we break for commercial ad breaks every 10 minutes. Each break is five minutes.

A content packed 1 hour show is actually less than 40 minutes long.

The other stations are an utter bag of dung.

It seems you do not watch attentively. The BBC uses large amounts of air time for advertisements for its own services and programmes much more than other channels. Its all advertising.

THE TV LICENCE FEE SHOULD BE ABOLISHED IMMEDIATELY

Al

But NOT during the programme. Keep the Licence fee. It is excellent value for money.

 

[vally bar]

If I had the option not to recive the BBC sinal and therefore not pay the TAX that the licence fee is, I would most definitely take it. As I do not feel that it represents value for money and should not be forced upon those who do not want it.

 

[nanscombe]

... I learned that SOME so called public service employees are lying, conniving and self serving Bas*ar*s. Surprise surprise indeed.

As an ex public servant I've fixed that sweeping generalisation for you. :evil:

No thanks I'll stick with the original statement.

Al

Arrogant bar tender.

..I have recently had to fight off a Local Authority which deployed lies, naked fabrication of false legal positions and compounded by them applying the law such that they were in error.

"It wasn't me Guv, I've woz framed." :roll:

 

[monkeybiter]

Is this the largest font available without resorting to attachments?

 

[Robbo3]

Maybe. Why? :?

 

[PeterBassett]

LOUD NOISES!

Anyway, I'm actually in the complete opposite boat. When I moved into my last house, five years back, we didn't get a license as I didn't bother hooking the TV up at all first the first month and after that only plugged the DVD player in.

We got a reminder about licensing so I rang them up and said we aren't using it for watching TV, just DVDs. The helpful person on the phone said that this was fine. We only need a license to watch broadcast signals, not to actually own a TV capable of such. They just said that they may send someone round to check it's not plugged into the aerial. I'm fine with that but they haven't ever sent anyone. The TV doesn't have an aerial and isn't even tuned in so they can look all they like.

Now, I recently bought a fancy new TV with smart capabilities. Just means that it's capable of watching the iPlayer etc without me starting up the laptop and now I'm giving *serious* consideration to just getting a license because, honestly, I believe we have to support such a fantastic service. The iPlayer was great on its own but having it integrated right into the TV is fantastic.

beech1948 :

Large amounts of air time? In comparison to what? As for the BBC having adverts, I think you'll find they are trailers for other BBC shows and they are only between programs. There are no CILLIT BANG ads. No Fecking window ads. No scumbag "No Win No Fee" ads. etc etc etc and they DO NOT INTERRUPT THE PROGRAMS.

You remove the license fee and the ad free nature of the BBC ends. No to mention other nasty effects like the BBC news being potentially influenced by ad revenue. If you have never seen horrorshow the Americans call TV I should count yourself lucky. It is basically viewer abuse and they have to pay for the privilege.

I'm sure there is something you'd much rather ABOLISH IMMEDIATELY.

 

[monkeybiter]

If you have never seen horrorshow the Americans call TV I should count yourself lucky. It is basically viewer abuse and they have to pay for the privilege.

Agreed, it's about 20 years since I watched TV in the states and I was shocked and found it unwatchable. A programme would start with the opening credits then go straight to adverts. I would wager it hasn't improved.

 

[andersonec]

The TV licence fee is an anachronism which should be repealed and TV watching should be free to all. There is no justification anymore for TV licence fees. The BBC is now a business just like other commercial TV stations so why do we need a licence.
Al

Disagree with this entirely. We pay a license fee to keep the BBC ran stations advert free and I for one and vastly grateful for that. Have you watched the other stations? Let me give you a breakdown.

A 1 hour show starts on the hour.
2 minute introduction to the show showing what the show will show you.
At the 5 minute mark we break to commercial for 5 minutes.
There on in we break for commercial ad breaks every 10 minutes. Each break is five minutes.

A content packed 1 hour show is actually less than 40 minutes long.

The other stations are an utter bag of dung.

I presume you are not including the advertising carried out by the Beeb in which every celeb and his dog are queuing up to advertise their latest book, dvd, film, programmes (on other channels) etc. etc. and don't tell me the BBC are paying these people to come on and advertise their stuff, surely they wouldn't advertise these peoples wares unless they were the ones being paid to do so, how do they get round that is what I want to know?

And the one hour content packed show is a bit like the Beeb's Strictly Come Dancing, 10 minutes dancing and the rest, well I think you all know.

Oh, and as for the iplayer, why does anybody need it? all programmes are repeated at least twice weekly.

Andy

 

[Oryxdesign]

You need the iplayer if you don't mindlessly sit in front of whatever they serve up. Pick and choose what you want to watch, don't watch live and then you don't need a licence.

 

[RogerS]

....
...why does anybody need it? all programmes are repeated at least twice weekly.

Andy

That's utter tosh.

 

[nanscombe]

Oh, and as for the iplayer, why does anybody need it? all programmes are repeated at least twice weekly.

Because they'd have to pay for a TV Licence to watch it live?

 

[whiskywill]

I think you are being a bit silly about this.

No he is not. I have a collection of 23 letters from the licensing people, most of them red and threatening to take to court if I don't respond by a certain date. I am still waiting.

The point is I do have a television and I do have a license, paid by direct debit. When I built my house 21 years ago there was some confusion about the address but that was sorted about 15 years ago.

I just wish that they would knock my door. I like confrontaion when I am in the right. :twisted:

 

[seanybaby]

Ignore the letters, they are from a private company.

You could remove their implied right of access to your property.

http://www.bbctvlicence.com/Withholding implied right of access.htm

Detector machines are a fiction!

Just don't let them in, and never give your name.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdOVEKocXuQ

There are lots of videos on youtube of how to deal with these parasites.

 

[seanybaby]

Who are you and what do you want? :lol: :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfHRhXW1hno

 

[morfa]

I've not had to deal with this for a while, but I have to say the TV licencing authority are a bunch of horrible bullies. Other government agencies aren't any where near as bad. The letters are very threatening and they make a blanket assumption that *everyone* has a TV. They just keep on sending them and sending them, even when you're paying the fee. I really wish I could disconnect the TV, just so I can stop paying them, just cause of the behaviour of them. I like the BBC and I'm happy to pay them the fee, I just strongly dislike the TV licencing authority. Personally I'd be more than happy with just watching the odd DVD, no need for TV.

 

[Chems]

I'd love for someone to be a decent human, invite the person in, show them what they want, offer them a cuppa and ask kindly that you hope you don't receive anymore letters and see what the outcome is.

 

[DrPhill]

Thanks for the links to sites (especially the site dedicated to frustrating the BBC/TVL people. I think I may try the revocation of implied right of access together with warnings that I will raise a charge of harassment. I need to read a bit more about both first though (and as I am a lazy beggar it may take some time).

It is good to know that I am not the only spikey one around, though a large number of folk do prefer the supine route.

As for 'why not just tell them you do not have a TV' - if you read the BBC site carefully you will see that this will like as not provoke rather than prevent a visit. Also they will check 'from time to time' that the situation has not changed. In other words you will just have to go through it all again every six months or a year. I see it as impertinence (which I routinely ignore) or aggressive bullying (which rattled my cage this time).

My preferred solution would be for them to leave me in peace and go harrass somebody who enjoys it instead.