Is this legal?

[John Brown]

Hmmm..

That youtube link and the similar clips on youtube say it all for me.

I accept that a very small minority of people do not own a TV set, and thus do not have a licence, and that some of them feel hassled and aggravated by the attitudes of the licence inspectors, but most of the people who have run-ins with the licensing authorites are simply trying to get away without paying.

Just confirm that you don't have a TV, it will be quicker and far less trouble in the long run.
You can bang your head against a brick wall for as long as you like but you are unlikely to effect any material change in the structure of anything outside of your head.

 

[devonwoody]

Remember those letters are computer generated and the old computer has no feelings like you and it will just keep pumping those letters out until someone at the office decides to stop chatting and do some computerisation. :wink:

 

[beech1948]

quote

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 pineapple 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.

>>The BBC is NOT without adverts given the amount of time it wastes trailering and invoking celebrities to do stuff.
The BBC cost of operations and revenue is far higher than the Licence fee so where does this money come from....the commercial arm of the BBC. Its a business just like any other.

The lack of commercial advertising as opposed to BBC funded internal adverts could be managed by limiting by law how much time could be used for adverts.

I watch maybe 2 hrs at most a week....that makes the licence fee expensive and arguably unfair or discriminating against me.

Al

 

[Pond]

I think there may a 'campaign' on at the moment for realising revenue.
I pay my TV licence by DD, have done for years. I got a randon letter in the post on Monday, saying "don't forget to let us know if you move house"!
Our house is for sale at the moment, I find it hard to believe 'they' know this, or maybe they do?!

The TV licence is still the best VFM around. For £12 a month you get 4 of the best TV channels on the planet, 2 HD channels, News channels. At least 30 radio stations, on demand tv. 2 childrens channels. They had over 20 HD channels for the Olympics. The BBC website, I could go on.... Compare it to SKY!

Dr Phill, I have to ask: if you have no TV and no car, what the hell do you do? Do you crowd around the mahogany Bush radiogram in the corner of an evening and hail a Hackney Carriage to visit anywhere?? Is Spam a major foodsource in your house? :wink:

 

[Pond]

quote

I watch maybe 2 hrs at most a week....that makes the licence fee expensive and arguably unfair or discriminating against me.

Al

That is a ridiculous argument. The same as saying, I have only ever used the Council for the bin collection, that makes my Council Tax extortionate. Just doesn't hold water, does it?

 

[DrPhill]

Dr Phill, I have to ask: if you have no TV and no car, what the hell do you do? Do you crowd around the mahogany Bush radiogram in the corner of an evening and hail a Hackney Carriage to visit anywhere?? Is Spam a major foodsource in your house? :wink:

I do not know why you feel that you have to ask - if you read carefully the post in which I used not having a car as an analogy, you will see that I explicitly stated that I do have a car.

I am not sure about the reference to spam. I am a partial vegetarian (I do not eat birds or mammals) and therefore would not eat spam.

As far as what do I do without a TV, well I produce entertainment as often as not, rather than being a passive consumer of others output. I play music - recorded for others and as entertainment for myself and friends at local pubs. I carve wood (including making presents for freinds and family), I grow an excess of vegetables and give some away to freinds and family. I walk locally with the dogs enjoying the local countryside, I write free software to give to any who want to use it. The thought of blobbing out in front of a TV horrifies me. Life is too short and too precious to waste on such banality.

Was that the answer you wanted?

 

[barkwindjammer]

As opposed to Pond-life,,,,,then

 

[RogerS]

As opposed to Pond-life,,,,,then

=D>

 

[Pond]

The :wink: in my post should have indicated a 'tongue in cheek' response.

Obviously a sense of humour failure! :wink: :wink: (see wink wink)

 

[RogerS]

The :wink: in my post should have indicated a 'tongue in cheek' response.

Obviously a sense of humour failure! :wink: :wink: (see wink wink)

:lol:

 

[beech1948]

quote

I watch maybe 2 hrs at most a week....that makes the licence fee expensive and arguably unfair or discriminating against me.

Al

That is a ridiculous argument. The same as saying, I have only ever used the Council for the bin collection, that makes my Council Tax extortionate. Just doesn't hold water, does it?

Nothing ridiculous about it. Keep your name calling to yourself.

The BBC is so far from the Council in organisation and purpose so that there is no comparison except to those who lack any analytical skills.

The fact remains that the BBC is in the main a commercial organisation. It accepts money from us because it claims to be a Public Service Broadcaster when in reality it has failed in that role over the past 40 yrs. Let the BBC fund itself from its income from its commercial activity.

What is ridiculous is to say that because the BBC does not show commercial adverts it is valuable and more valuable than the commercial only stations. Utter rubbish.

Time to get rid of this antiquated tax.

Al

 

[Pond]

Nothing ridiculous about it. Keep your name calling to yourself.

Al

I don't remember calling anybody any names :? I called your argument ridiculous, not you!
These are all opinions. We are all allowed them, even if they differ; the advantage of living in a democracy!?
Differences of opinion are (in my opinion) the thing that makes internet forums fun!!

 

[Pond]

As opposed to Pond-life,,,,,then

That's name calling! Or possibly insulting, if you gave a t*ss! :wink:

 

[Steve Maskery]

Have we strayed a little from the original topic?
S

 

[nanscombe]

As opposed to Pond-life,,,,,then

That's name calling! Or possibly insulting, if you gave a t*ss! :wink:

That's not name calling ...

... lying, conniving and self serving Bas*ar*s

That's name calling.

 

[Pond]

As opposed to Pond-life,,,,,then

That's name calling! Or possibly insulting, if you gave a t*ss! :wink:

That's not name calling ...

... lying, conniving and self serving Bas*ar*s

That's name calling.

Oh yeah, so it is!

 

[Pond]

I am a partial vegetarian (I do not eat birds or mammals)

So you eat fish and insects! You should get a TV, I'm pretty sure there will be a cookery programme on channel 4 for you!

 

[Steve Maskery]

Come on guys! 'Tis the season of goodwill, and all that nonsense.
S

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Sodd goodwill - xmas is shyte.

 

[RogerBoyle]

Sodd goodwill - xmas is shyte.

Go on then I'll bite
Why ???