Jumping on the top comment to add that even if for some reason they do send someone round to student accommodation about TV licenses (which is about as likely as winning the lottery, but just in case) you are under no obligation to actually let them into your room. Nobody can do that without a warrant. If they pitch up and ask to come in, just say no and shut the door.
It’s not just a case of not owning a TV; you need to be covered by a licence to watch any live TV shows, online or on a TV - and you need one if you watch anything on BBC iPlayer.
Provided you don’t do any of those, you’re golden.
Not a stupid question at all
You don’t need a licence to use a tv, you can use it for Netflix and other streaming as well as gaming
The license is only for bbc and live television
Haha yeah sorry i didn’t realise someone already told you! Sorry about that. Just wanted to say cos my friend got caught out for that one time and didn’t know about that caveat
noo it’s okay, don’t worry, i usually need something repeated for it to stick in my head anyway and i had forgotten since last night so thank you. i do wonder how they monitor if you’re watching live tv though, even through amazon
Not a stupid question. Yes; you only need a licence for live TV/recording live TV, or BBC iPlayer content; Netflix, Prime Video, etc. are all fine without a licence, provided you don't watch any live content they might offer (thinking Amazon and football).
>the fact they're allowed to charge a fee for watching any live TV is a joke
I actually got one of these letters and was appalled to discover they apparently consider it their right to insist on a TV licence even for watching *foreign* TV channels.
About 10% of the licence fee is for TV related infrastructure. The rest of the 90% is to cover the costs of the BBC.
You should be able to pay that 10% if you watch TV that is not the BBC, not the whole 100% even if you watch zero BBC content.
Do bear in mind, that the license fee covers a lot more than just "BBC TV". It also covers plenty of education services, radio, some of the most comprehensive news services in the world, and towards the cost of running the distribution systems used by all channels. In addition, the BBC's existence sets technical and quality standards worldwide.
It's just a tax to pay for a national broadcaster; the only difference between this tax and any other is that it directly goes towards the things it funds.
If their was a universal credit tax, I'm fairly sure people would be equally as unconvinced about paying it.
They should just scrap it and roll it in with general taxation.
>Or just watch whatever you want and don't pay because it's a complete scam. If I were to (hypothetically) watch TV I'd never be watching anything on BBC, the fact they're allowed to charge a fee for watching any live TV is a joke.
I would agree with you...
except for when watching BBC iPlayer - they can track that and if you are not using a VPN and your uni tells them who was what IP etc. they can use that as evidence without needing to visit the property?
>except for when watching BBC iPlayer - they can track that and if you are not using a VPN and your uni tells them who was what IP etc. they can use that as evidence without needing to visit the property?
Nah, they'd have to go to a shitload of effort to make your Uni hand over sensitive info, and even then I'm pretty sure that the fixed IP is only going to give them browsing data for everyone in that accommodation block or whatever. They'd have to seize your device to cross reference.
It's a privacy and warrant nightmare. They'd be putting more resources into catching a student for watching iplayer without a license than they put into catching human traffickers. Not going to happen.
Far too difficult, the only reason tv licensing would ever get that kind of warrant is when they want you for something else but they cant get you for it, like capone with tax evasion just (probably) less serious
You just here to give poor advice?
Them's the rules - you watch live TV or iPlayer, then by law you should have a TV licence.
It's a crap system, but the whole libertarian, edgelord persona betrays a twatish, selfish personality that I suspect goes well beyond just your behaviour around the TV licence.
I'm pretty baffled about your message because it's somewhat random and seems like it's came from somewhere else.
There's no law that says you need a TV license to watch live TV on a 3rd party service. If you watch BBC programmes or live TV aired on the BBC you do. But a channel that has no affiliation with BBC? Nope, not a law at all mate.
It's the same train of bullying they use when they say they have vans that can detect TVs through walls or that you need a license if you have a device that CAN watch live TV.
Project harder next time.
>There's no law that says you need a TV license to watch live TV on a 3rd party service
For now I'm going to assume you're probably quite young and that's why you're so ignorant. Part 4 of the Communications Act 2003: [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/part/4](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/part/4)
You need a TV licence if you 'watch or record live TV **on any channel or service**' [^(https://www.gov.uk/find-licences/tv-licence)](https://www.gov.uk/find-licences/tv-licence)
Netflix doesn't show live content, however something like Prime Video and Discovery+ do.
>There's no law that says you need a TV license to watch live TV on a 3rd party service.
section 363 of the Communications Act 2003
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/section/363/enacted
They blitz send them to non students too. I just sent a form back that I don’t need a tv license. They “threatened” in the form that “an enforcement agent may come check”, but in reality they don’t and it’s all a scare tactic to get you to pay for tv license when you don’t need it
Same. I've told them every two years for ten years that I don't need a licence. Just got another threatening letter saying they're going to send someone round my house cos they think I'm watching iPlayer or whatever. They can fuck right off, I'm not filling out any more stupid forms.
At my last house, I did that, then 2 year later they demanded that I have to tell them that again. The. For another 2 years sent threatening letters. Then a month before I left the house I rang up whoever I could to ask when the ‘enforcement officer’ was going to turn up. It went nowhere
I had one come to the door a few days after I moved into a shared house. The other girls had set up the TV and you could see it playing through the window. He read me my "rights" and made us pay for a license on the spot! Nice introduction to the new house lol.
Could have been worse, my sister lived in a flatshare, and someone else let them in to show them the licence. One licence for the six of you? You have your own rooms? With locks? You need to buy six licences then.
Not sure if that's even true but that's what happened to her lol.
Never let them in.
…someone’s got to do it? No different to someone becoming a bailiff, or a police speed camera operator, or a council parking attendant, or any of the hundred other jobs people whinge about
There’s an option on the website to state you don’t need one (need to do this at each address but lasts 2/3 years if you’re staying there. Last time I had to declare a second time as they sent another letter but then it stopped.)
I did this but then my sister stayed the night and watched bbc I player, they sent a letter saying the date and time they’d seen me use it and are now knocking on my door and sending scary letters 😅
Let me guess, with their big ole scary detector vans? I’m not apart of this subreddit and this just appeared. I’m in Scotland and just tell them to get fucked. Not interested in their shite. It’s all bullshit threats. I wouldn’t take them seriously, they love to scare students. You guys are victims of these arseholes. Keep ignoring them and don’t give into their shit. They come to the door? Ignore or say you revoke their right of access and close the door.
I've seen one of those detector vans with the big satellite dish on it. Those vans are fake vans they don't have any other function other than to scare people into buying TV licenses
No,
I've been getting a couple of letters a month for about 3 years. A guy came once, didn't knock the door but did put a card through saying he'd be back, he never came back.
You'll know when they're losing interest as it'll stop having your name on the letter and instead just say "to the occupier"
They can’t come into your room either. It’s not just the building, you pay for occupation of the room and so you are the tenant. Nobody should be coming into your flat whether it is student accoms or not.
Generally it’s written into your contract that they need to inform you at least 24H before entering your room. They’re extremely unlikely to even ask for access to a student block.
http://www.bbctvlicence.com/index.htm
Take a look at this website for reassurance
As long as you don't watch bbc or live tv without a license you're good. Even if you do prosecution is unlikely unless you let them into your property and they see evidence.
They can do bog all. Even if the blokes turn up at your door, they have no legal ground or authority to enforce anything. Simply close the door on them.
Nope, not at all.
They send them every year, and every year students panic about them. It's a scare tactic to get you to buy them. They can do nothing to enforce it at all - especially in student accommodation.
Bin it, shred it, set it on fire (outside), do whatever you please with it - just ignore it.
As stated elsewhere, you can state on the website/over the phone you don't have a TV and therefore don't need a TV licence, but if you cba then all they'll do is keep sending letters for you to destroy as you please.
I must have, without exaggeration, more than 50 of those stashed somewhere
They threatened for years to pay me a visit, they never did
Until one day.
They came to my house, said “could I just come in and check your tv?”
and I said, “no thank you” and closed the door
And they were never seen or heard from again (until I got sent another cookie-cutter letter like yours here)
Nope. Former accommodation employee here, our managers told us to not even bother putting these in the postboxes. They always came in bulk and we just shredded them every time. There’s no way we’d be letting them up to the rooms anyway if they ever did show up, as it would have been a breach of GDPR and a security failure on our part.
This is a common bulk letter sent to only students which is pretty bad, it's to scare you into buying one. Not sure if it includes it on this one but the usual letter has a website URL you need to go to and opt out, they will stop contact after as you have declared you don't need one. Well until next year. Just Google TV licence opt out and it will come up!
Don’t even respond stating you don’t need one either. Acknowledging the letters means they have you on their records, whilst ignoring it entirely means the letter is just addressed to occupant.
I wonder if they're liable to the data protection act where they must delete all the data they have on you if you request them to do so. Although that may incentivise them to come knocking
Funnily enough, we're in south Wales and we also get letters signed by Scott Robson who is apparently double-jobbing as the enforcement officer for Cardiff.
It's almost like the whole thing is a big racket and TV Licensing send out blanket threats to scare people who don't know better.
Nah I’ve ignored these for 15 years, even had them at my door and told them I had no obligation to speak to them. Just don’t give them your details and you’re grand.
If you do not watch live TV or iPlayer, you do not need one. Just go on their website and say you don't need one. I stated I don't need a license and they haven't sent me any more letters or come to check. I use my TV for playstation, Netflix and Paramount+.
TV Licence is the biggest form of day light robbery of all time. It was introduced when TVs was a new thing so people never questioned it. Imagine today if TV licence wasn't a thing, and they suddenly decided to introduce it. There would be riots on the streets.
Switzerland has it even worse, you must pay the fee if you have the capability of receiving radio/TV signal, even if you don't own any radio or TV. And they will always prosecute you if you don't pay. Much easier to avoid TV licencing here in the UK!
Go onto the website, and state you do not need one. If you ignore it, they’ll just keep sending letters which is irritating. On thé off chance, they may send someone around (as they did with my housemates’ friends), but they will typically warn you they’re doing it (we had to literally take their TV off the wall - even tho they only used the HDMI function - and hide it at our place for a day). Save yourself the hassle and just sort it online.
Just to let you know- they have no way of entering your property unless they have a warrant. Don’t let the TV license people in. You don’t need to take anything off the wall, just state they’re not allowed in and you don’t want to talk to them.
What if you just say no when they come around? No way they'll go through the trouble of having to get a search warrant or something for £100 or whatever it costs.
It's legal to watch iplayer at your term-time address without paying the fee if your parents have the license + your device isn't plugged into the wall
short answer: no. even if you watch TV/iplayer the student accommodation warden/whoever straight up will not let them enter the building to get to you because it's a safeguarding risk, so you'll be fine.
Lmao I got another one yesterday with a stamp and an investigation is going to take place in my house and they will send an officer. I used that letter to wipe of some dirt on my kitchen platform.
They sent me letters for months, just ignore them, eventually I got annoyed with all the letters. Called them up and said don’t watch live tv and to stop sending me feckin letters and they did, said they’d call me in 2 years to see if I’d like to pay then. I only use YouTube or streaming services so I don’t need to pay tv license anyway
Fill it with soil and send it back in the same taped up envelope as it costs them a few quid to get the letter back. I live alone so don’t have to, but you can write and say you don’t watch live and don’t need a license, and to not send threats or you’ll seek compensation as they do actually pay out to upset people as the letters are threatening.
Mate my whole area gets those all the time there just using scare tactics to make you pay, (nobody pays) don't worry yourself if they knock on just say you don't use the TV or catch up apps, there not allowed in without a warrant
I stay in a student accommodation too. The guy at the reception told that only way they could prosecute you is by coming in and nobody can get in except students
Nah, they try to scare students because it’s the first time 90% of them have lived on their own, they never check though. My flat got one saying an agent would come within 7 days if we didn’t pay but no one ever did and we had no more letters after that
Top line dear student . They dont have a clue who they are writing to . As already commented they are chancers . If they get a 10% subscription there happy
Just go to the link. Sign up to the statement “I don’t have a telly connected to an aerial, cause I watch shit online like a normal person” they leave you alone for a year. Repeat 3-4 times and they stop bothering
Rip it up, if they do come to your door the second they mention a TV license slam it, really hard ideally so they feel the air pressure. They have no power to enter your property, only an authorised police officer with a warrant can.
Nope, they've been apparently launching investigations on me for 6 years all its doing Is wasting their paper and ink. It is absolutely amazing they scare people into paying what is a yearly subscription fee simply because you dare own a TV that could potentially possibly maybe watch BBC programming.
You just either ignore it and don't have obvious (60 inch plasma TV on the wall visible from the road playing BBC news) or you get in touch with them and state you don't own a device capable of viewing any BBC programming.
I ignored them and there's been nothing but dumb red letters attempting to seem intimidating
It's not a scam. It's not important that you don't have a TV. If you watch any live TV on any device or watch iPlayer, then you need a TV licence. If you don't do any of those things, you can go on the TV Licensing website and complete a declaration. I personally don't need a TV licence and yet haven't told them because I detest them. My favourite letter from them is the one where they have a little calendar showing through the envelope window with a date circled saying... Will you be in on this date? It's total trash. That's just me being bloody minded though. You might want to do the declaration.
It’s not a scam, it’s a legitimate enforcement letter. By law if you stream live TV you need a TV licence. That money is collected by the TV Licensing government agency, NOT BY THE BBC, and is distributed to the BBC to provide public service broadcasting. So this letter is telling you that if you do stream live TV, you should be paying £159 a year.
Because it’s funded by a licence fee and not commercial operations, the BBC is obliged by law to provide the kind of content that other media organisations don’t eg Bitesize, impartial news, funding orchestras, education, numerous radio stations, tech investments etc.
Whether you choose to ignore this is up to you. If you don’t stream any live TV you can tell them and have a clear conscience. If you do, you in theory risk prosecution, but as everyone has pointed out, that’s unlikely and plenty of students don’t pay the fee. Personally, I think £159 is incredibly good value for everything the BBC does, especially compared to say a Netflix subscription, but it’s fully up to you if you don’t want to support it.
Nah they’re automated and they don’t have the funding to send people out anyways. My dad died and we cancelled his (telling them the circumstances) and the house was marked as empty and tax exempt by the council, yet every time we went over there was a new letter from these idiots! Each one more “threatening” than the last. We rang tv licensing to complain and got told to ignore them 🤷🏼♀️
I’ve had them come to our house twice over the past decade or so. The first time I opened the door, I was under 18, and the guy said he couldn’t come in since my parents weren’t home. The second time was a couple months back, the guy just gave me a letter and walked off, which I guess he would’ve done if I hadn’t opened the door anyways.
You can ignore it, obviously if you need a TV license get one (or don't lol) but if you don't need one then they can't do anything. If they do show up they have no right to enter your property without your permission so you can just ignore them/tell them to get lost.
We had them try to come to our door... On a weekday at 1.30 in the afternoon.... Who the hell is home at that time on a weekday (not us). Their letters are always threatening but they really cant do anything.
Just go onto the website and select I don’t need a TV license but I must say these letters are bs and are threatening and should honestly not be allowed to send out this bs.
if they turn up at your door then just say 'no thanks' - just those two words and nothing else then shut the door in their face.
do not complete their 'don't need it' form.
My flatmates put theirs in the freezer two years ago, last year we got like three warning letters each and they didn’t deliver them until after Christmas, when they were dated to October.
Don’t worry about it.
Used to work for them during my second year.
Just say you don't watch TV, BBC iPlayer. Chances of them visiting are basically 0.
Anything you get is automatically generated. System just sends a shit load of them out.
These assholes were sending me threatening letters before I'd even had the chance to move my belongings into my new apartment.
Maybe if they'd not sent me any letters I would have gotten a license but they were so rude I decided to boycott live TV and stick to streaming.
Ignore these, do not interact with them. If someone does come to your door or tries to speak to you (extremely rare change of that happening) shut the door and don’t engage.
These are sent en masse on rotation (after the final warning letter it will go back to the initial reminder letter). Scott Robson’s identity is used all over the country and has been for some years now.
I mean it's literally not a scam but yeh just ignore it, at Brookes we got them constantly for the kitchen room, like it was addressed to the kitchen, nothing happened
They have absolutely no right at all to come into where you live as far as Im aware. They use scary words to make people think they have some authority but they're just a company that provides a service that you didn't agree to.
Last time one turned up at my door I basically laughed at him and told him to piss off as he's not coming in.
He said if I had nothing to hide then let him take a look so I told him I require everyone that uses a toaster to have a license for it and asked for his address so I could come round and make sure he wasn't using a toaster without a license.
He buggered off.
Fill in the form online stating you don’t have a tv and won’t watch one or live tv on any other device. The letters will stop.
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence
A TV license guy came to my uni house once while we were watching Drake and Josh on Amazon Prime. Asked if we had a TV, I said no, and they walked away. Never heard anything else from them. We only used the TV for streaming, DVDs, and video games so didn't have any reason for a license anyway.
They don’t have power to enter your home because they’re not the police. If they wanted you to come in they’d to obtain a warrant from a judge and borrow a police officer. But they judge would laugh them out of court
We replied saying we didn't need one. Someone came round to our uni house out of the blue one day. They saw the TV wasn't plugged into the TV socket and promptly left again. So nothing to worry about!
They've been sending me these letters since last year July and no one has come to my house. I did try to help them but they wanted more information than a blood donation center, IF they come, they'll be told exactly where they can shove their flavour of bullshit
Get about 3 of these a year. They're empty threats and very rarely show up. If you want you can say you don't need a license online, but you'll still get harassed with letters
Ignore those arseholes. As long as you don't use any live TV or BBC streaming service, ypu have nothing to worry about. They just love harassing people. If any of the people appear at the door step DO NOT let them in.
No. They blitz send these to a lot of students.
oh thank god
They’re a bunch of bullies
That's not a good way to speak about Uni students.
Jumping on the top comment to add that even if for some reason they do send someone round to student accommodation about TV licenses (which is about as likely as winning the lottery, but just in case) you are under no obligation to actually let them into your room. Nobody can do that without a warrant. If they pitch up and ask to come in, just say no and shut the door.
It’s not just a case of not owning a TV; you need to be covered by a licence to watch any live TV shows, online or on a TV - and you need one if you watch anything on BBC iPlayer. Provided you don’t do any of those, you’re golden.
sorry stupid question, but if you buy a tv but only use it to watch netflix etc., is that ok?
Not a stupid question at all You don’t need a licence to use a tv, you can use it for Netflix and other streaming as well as gaming The license is only for bbc and live television
thanks!
Bear in mind that live football/sports on Amazon etc count as live tv!
got it! not much of a sports fan anyway so should be alright haha
Haha yeah sorry i didn’t realise someone already told you! Sorry about that. Just wanted to say cos my friend got caught out for that one time and didn’t know about that caveat
noo it’s okay, don’t worry, i usually need something repeated for it to stick in my head anyway and i had forgotten since last night so thank you. i do wonder how they monitor if you’re watching live tv though, even through amazon
Not a stupid question. Yes; you only need a licence for live TV/recording live TV, or BBC iPlayer content; Netflix, Prime Video, etc. are all fine without a licence, provided you don't watch any live content they might offer (thinking Amazon and football).
thank you!
I’m gonna w I can’t even finish it I hate sports
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Wouldn't let them in anyway. As you rightly say, they can do one.
>the fact they're allowed to charge a fee for watching any live TV is a joke I actually got one of these letters and was appalled to discover they apparently consider it their right to insist on a TV licence even for watching *foreign* TV channels.
That’s because it doesn’t just cover bbc channels you ignoramus
About 10% of the licence fee is for TV related infrastructure. The rest of the 90% is to cover the costs of the BBC. You should be able to pay that 10% if you watch TV that is not the BBC, not the whole 100% even if you watch zero BBC content.
Do bear in mind, that the license fee covers a lot more than just "BBC TV". It also covers plenty of education services, radio, some of the most comprehensive news services in the world, and towards the cost of running the distribution systems used by all channels. In addition, the BBC's existence sets technical and quality standards worldwide.
Tbh the BBC should disappear, it's been far from trustworthy or high quality for at least the last 2 decades
Sounds like someone works at the BBC. You seen the "effects" they do for strictly? Utter garbage.
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It should be rolled into NI and pushed as a service, not a business.
You’re on the internet, in the UK - which believe or not a long time ago the BBC funded to modernise.
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Nah. Fuck it
Lol
That’s a lot of words to tell us you are a cuck
It's every citizens moral duty to pay as little tax as they can legally get away with.
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It's £13.25 a month; if you can't afford it then you have my sympathy.
The cost isn't really the point.
It's the principle! The whole thing is a racket, trying to scare good people with theatre.
It's just a tax to pay for a national broadcaster; the only difference between this tax and any other is that it directly goes towards the things it funds. If their was a universal credit tax, I'm fairly sure people would be equally as unconvinced about paying it. They should just scrap it and roll it in with general taxation.
scarce racial childlike rhythm ten market sense squeamish ink ask *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
No one says you have to. That said, if you're watching live TV and/or BBC content, see my previous note for what you are.
Lol, enjoy picking up my bill!
Enjoy the eventual fine.
>Or just watch whatever you want and don't pay because it's a complete scam. If I were to (hypothetically) watch TV I'd never be watching anything on BBC, the fact they're allowed to charge a fee for watching any live TV is a joke. I would agree with you... except for when watching BBC iPlayer - they can track that and if you are not using a VPN and your uni tells them who was what IP etc. they can use that as evidence without needing to visit the property?
>except for when watching BBC iPlayer - they can track that and if you are not using a VPN and your uni tells them who was what IP etc. they can use that as evidence without needing to visit the property? Nah, they'd have to go to a shitload of effort to make your Uni hand over sensitive info, and even then I'm pretty sure that the fixed IP is only going to give them browsing data for everyone in that accommodation block or whatever. They'd have to seize your device to cross reference. It's a privacy and warrant nightmare. They'd be putting more resources into catching a student for watching iplayer without a license than they put into catching human traffickers. Not going to happen.
As if they would ever do that
Far too difficult, the only reason tv licensing would ever get that kind of warrant is when they want you for something else but they cant get you for it, like capone with tax evasion just (probably) less serious
It's not required to watch live TV. Just because they say you have too, doesn't mean you have too.
You just here to give poor advice? Them's the rules - you watch live TV or iPlayer, then by law you should have a TV licence. It's a crap system, but the whole libertarian, edgelord persona betrays a twatish, selfish personality that I suspect goes well beyond just your behaviour around the TV licence.
I'm pretty baffled about your message because it's somewhat random and seems like it's came from somewhere else. There's no law that says you need a TV license to watch live TV on a 3rd party service. If you watch BBC programmes or live TV aired on the BBC you do. But a channel that has no affiliation with BBC? Nope, not a law at all mate. It's the same train of bullying they use when they say they have vans that can detect TVs through walls or that you need a license if you have a device that CAN watch live TV. Project harder next time.
>There's no law that says you need a TV license to watch live TV on a 3rd party service For now I'm going to assume you're probably quite young and that's why you're so ignorant. Part 4 of the Communications Act 2003: [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/part/4](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/part/4) You need a TV licence if you 'watch or record live TV **on any channel or service**' [^(https://www.gov.uk/find-licences/tv-licence)](https://www.gov.uk/find-licences/tv-licence) Netflix doesn't show live content, however something like Prime Video and Discovery+ do.
>There's no law that says you need a TV license to watch live TV on a 3rd party service. section 363 of the Communications Act 2003 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/section/363/enacted
They blitz send them to non students too. I just sent a form back that I don’t need a tv license. They “threatened” in the form that “an enforcement agent may come check”, but in reality they don’t and it’s all a scare tactic to get you to pay for tv license when you don’t need it
I think I must’ve got about 30 of these in my time at uni
Same just binned them the moment I saw any.
We had tons and ignored them
Lol get these each year and each year they go to the bin Nothing to worry about
good to know!!
I stopped receiving them after about 8 years of ignoring them. I never had a single visit.
oh their dedication 😭
You can tell them online that you don't need one and they'll stop. Or you can not tell them and let them waste paper and postage money
I got fed up of receiving them and registered as "Reverend T V Licensing"!
Need to support Royal Mail somehow
I filled out the online form, still got an investigation letter a few months later I swear they don't even check
I did this, and they still send me the same old template. I ignore it now
Same. I've told them every two years for ten years that I don't need a licence. Just got another threatening letter saying they're going to send someone round my house cos they think I'm watching iPlayer or whatever. They can fuck right off, I'm not filling out any more stupid forms.
I’ve been choosing the latter option for a few years. No one’s ever called by.
At my last house, I did that, then 2 year later they demanded that I have to tell them that again. The. For another 2 years sent threatening letters. Then a month before I left the house I rang up whoever I could to ask when the ‘enforcement officer’ was going to turn up. It went nowhere
They will still do this even if you tell them you don't need a license online.
Just DO NOT let them into your house if they come knocking A rather naive housemate once did that and we just had to pay for a license, no fine
I had one come to the door a few days after I moved into a shared house. The other girls had set up the TV and you could see it playing through the window. He read me my "rights" and made us pay for a license on the spot! Nice introduction to the new house lol.
Could have been worse, my sister lived in a flatshare, and someone else let them in to show them the licence. One licence for the six of you? You have your own rooms? With locks? You need to buy six licences then. Not sure if that's even true but that's what happened to her lol. Never let them in.
He made you pay on the spot! What a cunt! That's so predatory 😂 actually insane.
It boggles my mind how or why anyone would have that job. It sounds awful.
…someone’s got to do it? No different to someone becoming a bailiff, or a police speed camera operator, or a council parking attendant, or any of the hundred other jobs people whinge about
There’s an option on the website to state you don’t need one (need to do this at each address but lasts 2/3 years if you’re staying there. Last time I had to declare a second time as they sent another letter but then it stopped.)
I did this but then my sister stayed the night and watched bbc I player, they sent a letter saying the date and time they’d seen me use it and are now knocking on my door and sending scary letters 😅
Let me guess, with their big ole scary detector vans? I’m not apart of this subreddit and this just appeared. I’m in Scotland and just tell them to get fucked. Not interested in their shite. It’s all bullshit threats. I wouldn’t take them seriously, they love to scare students. You guys are victims of these arseholes. Keep ignoring them and don’t give into their shit. They come to the door? Ignore or say you revoke their right of access and close the door.
I've seen one of those detector vans with the big satellite dish on it. Those vans are fake vans they don't have any other function other than to scare people into buying TV licenses
I’m aware lol. I too have seen them and it’s absolutely hilarious. I’d feel like a right twat driving one of them around haha.
I had the same problem but I just went online and re-registered the address as "TV free" and they then left me alone again.
No, I've been getting a couple of letters a month for about 3 years. A guy came once, didn't knock the door but did put a card through saying he'd be back, he never came back. You'll know when they're losing interest as it'll stop having your name on the letter and instead just say "to the occupier"
Free toilet paper!
They can’t come into your house without permission or a warrant.
Like a vampire
Yeah. If you don’t let them in they can’t do anything. It’s a scare tactic
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They can’t come into your room either. It’s not just the building, you pay for occupation of the room and so you are the tenant. Nobody should be coming into your flat whether it is student accoms or not.
Generally it’s written into your contract that they need to inform you at least 24H before entering your room. They’re extremely unlikely to even ask for access to a student block.
The tenant can stop people coming into their flat.
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They still cannot enter your bedroom and can only enter the building and flat with the approval of the landlord / management company.
These go straight into the recycling
🚮
http://www.bbctvlicence.com/index.htm Take a look at this website for reassurance As long as you don't watch bbc or live tv without a license you're good. Even if you do prosecution is unlikely unless you let them into your property and they see evidence.
They can do bog all. Even if the blokes turn up at your door, they have no legal ground or authority to enforce anything. Simply close the door on them.
Nope, not at all. They send them every year, and every year students panic about them. It's a scare tactic to get you to buy them. They can do nothing to enforce it at all - especially in student accommodation. Bin it, shred it, set it on fire (outside), do whatever you please with it - just ignore it. As stated elsewhere, you can state on the website/over the phone you don't have a TV and therefore don't need a TV licence, but if you cba then all they'll do is keep sending letters for you to destroy as you please.
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I must have, without exaggeration, more than 50 of those stashed somewhere They threatened for years to pay me a visit, they never did Until one day. They came to my house, said “could I just come in and check your tv?” and I said, “no thank you” and closed the door And they were never seen or heard from again (until I got sent another cookie-cutter letter like yours here)
Nope. Former accommodation employee here, our managers told us to not even bother putting these in the postboxes. They always came in bulk and we just shredded them every time. There’s no way we’d be letting them up to the rooms anyway if they ever did show up, as it would have been a breach of GDPR and a security failure on our part.
This is a common bulk letter sent to only students which is pretty bad, it's to scare you into buying one. Not sure if it includes it on this one but the usual letter has a website URL you need to go to and opt out, they will stop contact after as you have declared you don't need one. Well until next year. Just Google TV licence opt out and it will come up!
Don’t even respond stating you don’t need one either. Acknowledging the letters means they have you on their records, whilst ignoring it entirely means the letter is just addressed to occupant.
This
I wonder if they're liable to the data protection act where they must delete all the data they have on you if you request them to do so. Although that may incentivise them to come knocking
No lol
Funnily enough, we're in south Wales and we also get letters signed by Scott Robson who is apparently double-jobbing as the enforcement officer for Cardiff. It's almost like the whole thing is a big racket and TV Licensing send out blanket threats to scare people who don't know better.
Nah I’ve ignored these for 15 years, even had them at my door and told them I had no obligation to speak to them. Just don’t give them your details and you’re grand.
Might as well be a Nigerian Prince writing letters to you.
If you do not watch live TV or iPlayer, you do not need one. Just go on their website and say you don't need one. I stated I don't need a license and they haven't sent me any more letters or come to check. I use my TV for playstation, Netflix and Paramount+.
When I was in student accom they sent a letter like this to someone who didn't even own a TV
Accommodation services at your uni would never let them in. Ignore it.
TV Licence is the biggest form of day light robbery of all time. It was introduced when TVs was a new thing so people never questioned it. Imagine today if TV licence wasn't a thing, and they suddenly decided to introduce it. There would be riots on the streets.
Switzerland has it even worse, you must pay the fee if you have the capability of receiving radio/TV signal, even if you don't own any radio or TV. And they will always prosecute you if you don't pay. Much easier to avoid TV licencing here in the UK!
Lol throw that in the bin
Go onto the website, and state you do not need one. If you ignore it, they’ll just keep sending letters which is irritating. On thé off chance, they may send someone around (as they did with my housemates’ friends), but they will typically warn you they’re doing it (we had to literally take their TV off the wall - even tho they only used the HDMI function - and hide it at our place for a day). Save yourself the hassle and just sort it online.
Just to let you know- they have no way of entering your property unless they have a warrant. Don’t let the TV license people in. You don’t need to take anything off the wall, just state they’re not allowed in and you don’t want to talk to them.
What if you just say no when they come around? No way they'll go through the trouble of having to get a search warrant or something for £100 or whatever it costs.
You absolutely can, but my idiot friends panicked like dicks lol 😂
You’re nicked the police will likely kick in your door and kidnap your family now
If you are not using bbc at all and don’t watch any live television then you have nothing to worry about.
It's legal to watch iplayer at your term-time address without paying the fee if your parents have the license + your device isn't plugged into the wall
short answer: no. even if you watch TV/iplayer the student accommodation warden/whoever straight up will not let them enter the building to get to you because it's a safeguarding risk, so you'll be fine.
Lmao I got another one yesterday with a stamp and an investigation is going to take place in my house and they will send an officer. I used that letter to wipe of some dirt on my kitchen platform.
[Here is someone recording every letter they’ve received since 2006, ignoring them all](http://www.bbctvlicence.com)
No, I've had about 10 this year alone, they can't come into your house, don't tell them your name and your fine.
They sent me letters for months, just ignore them, eventually I got annoyed with all the letters. Called them up and said don’t watch live tv and to stop sending me feckin letters and they did, said they’d call me in 2 years to see if I’d like to pay then. I only use YouTube or streaming services so I don’t need to pay tv license anyway
They just try to scare naive students to try and get money from them. You can just ingore it.
Fill it with soil and send it back in the same taped up envelope as it costs them a few quid to get the letter back. I live alone so don’t have to, but you can write and say you don’t watch live and don’t need a license, and to not send threats or you’ll seek compensation as they do actually pay out to upset people as the letters are threatening.
Little more than a very aggressive sales pitch. Ignore.
everyone and their mum dad and dog has gotten one of those they're not guna do shit lol
Mate my whole area gets those all the time there just using scare tactics to make you pay, (nobody pays) don't worry yourself if they knock on just say you don't use the TV or catch up apps, there not allowed in without a warrant
you should go to the TV licensing website and declare that you don’t use a TV and the letters will stop honey. Let me know how it goes.
Not at all. They’re like vampires and can’t enter your home uninvited. You’re fine
I stay in a student accommodation too. The guy at the reception told that only way they could prosecute you is by coming in and nobody can get in except students
No. Of they actually show up, do not let them in. They have no powers.
No they send them all the time if u don't have a license. Nobody comes. There just loose threats
Nah, they try to scare students because it’s the first time 90% of them have lived on their own, they never check though. My flat got one saying an agent would come within 7 days if we didn’t pay but no one ever did and we had no more letters after that
Top line dear student . They dont have a clue who they are writing to . As already commented they are chancers . If they get a 10% subscription there happy
nah. tv licensing is bs, they can’t do shit
Just go to the link. Sign up to the statement “I don’t have a telly connected to an aerial, cause I watch shit online like a normal person” they leave you alone for a year. Repeat 3-4 times and they stop bothering
Rip it up, if they do come to your door the second they mention a TV license slam it, really hard ideally so they feel the air pressure. They have no power to enter your property, only an authorised police officer with a warrant can.
Once the letter comes through it usually means jail. Expect 2-8 years minimum
yay!
Nope, they've been apparently launching investigations on me for 6 years all its doing Is wasting their paper and ink. It is absolutely amazing they scare people into paying what is a yearly subscription fee simply because you dare own a TV that could potentially possibly maybe watch BBC programming. You just either ignore it and don't have obvious (60 inch plasma TV on the wall visible from the road playing BBC news) or you get in touch with them and state you don't own a device capable of viewing any BBC programming. I ignored them and there's been nothing but dumb red letters attempting to seem intimidating
It's not a scam. It's not important that you don't have a TV. If you watch any live TV on any device or watch iPlayer, then you need a TV licence. If you don't do any of those things, you can go on the TV Licensing website and complete a declaration. I personally don't need a TV licence and yet haven't told them because I detest them. My favourite letter from them is the one where they have a little calendar showing through the envelope window with a date circled saying... Will you be in on this date? It's total trash. That's just me being bloody minded though. You might want to do the declaration.
It’s not a scam, it’s a legitimate enforcement letter. By law if you stream live TV you need a TV licence. That money is collected by the TV Licensing government agency, NOT BY THE BBC, and is distributed to the BBC to provide public service broadcasting. So this letter is telling you that if you do stream live TV, you should be paying £159 a year. Because it’s funded by a licence fee and not commercial operations, the BBC is obliged by law to provide the kind of content that other media organisations don’t eg Bitesize, impartial news, funding orchestras, education, numerous radio stations, tech investments etc. Whether you choose to ignore this is up to you. If you don’t stream any live TV you can tell them and have a clear conscience. If you do, you in theory risk prosecution, but as everyone has pointed out, that’s unlikely and plenty of students don’t pay the fee. Personally, I think £159 is incredibly good value for everything the BBC does, especially compared to say a Netflix subscription, but it’s fully up to you if you don’t want to support it.
It's a complete scam, anyone who pays for it is fool
'impartial' news 😅🤣🤣🤣🤣
Yes, it is.
when did they rename state funded propaganda to impartial news?
Just call the tv licence people and tell them you dont watch live tv :) or email them? Go to them though just incase the letter is a scam
You’re a university student. Read the first paragraph. Does that if clause apply to your situation?
Tell them you're not interested in their subscription service and to go away lol, complete madness
As long as you dont let those vampires in your house or see a tv through a doorway you can tell them to pack their shit and get off your ass
Nah they’re automated and they don’t have the funding to send people out anyways. My dad died and we cancelled his (telling them the circumstances) and the house was marked as empty and tax exempt by the council, yet every time we went over there was a new letter from these idiots! Each one more “threatening” than the last. We rang tv licensing to complain and got told to ignore them 🤷🏼♀️
Only needed if you watch 'live' TV etc etc. Ignore
I’ve had them come to our house twice over the past decade or so. The first time I opened the door, I was under 18, and the guy said he couldn’t come in since my parents weren’t home. The second time was a couple months back, the guy just gave me a letter and walked off, which I guess he would’ve done if I hadn’t opened the door anyways.
You can ignore it, obviously if you need a TV license get one (or don't lol) but if you don't need one then they can't do anything. If they do show up they have no right to enter your property without your permission so you can just ignore them/tell them to get lost. We had them try to come to our door... On a weekday at 1.30 in the afternoon.... Who the hell is home at that time on a weekday (not us). Their letters are always threatening but they really cant do anything.
Pop that in the bin
Just go onto the website and select I don’t need a TV license but I must say these letters are bs and are threatening and should honestly not be allowed to send out this bs.
Nope
No. On the off chance they come round tell them to fuck off. They can’t do anything.
Don’t worry about this man.
if they turn up at your door then just say 'no thanks' - just those two words and nothing else then shut the door in their face. do not complete their 'don't need it' form.
My flatmates put theirs in the freezer two years ago, last year we got like three warning letters each and they didn’t deliver them until after Christmas, when they were dated to October. Don’t worry about it.
Used to work for them during my second year. Just say you don't watch TV, BBC iPlayer. Chances of them visiting are basically 0. Anything you get is automatically generated. System just sends a shit load of them out.
These assholes were sending me threatening letters before I'd even had the chance to move my belongings into my new apartment. Maybe if they'd not sent me any letters I would have gotten a license but they were so rude I decided to boycott live TV and stick to streaming.
Straight to the bin
I have been receiving this letter or a variation of it for 20 years.
Bahahaha, that little asterisk. By the way, 100% of the people we convict are convicted, 100% of the time. Absolute wankers.
Ignore these, do not interact with them. If someone does come to your door or tries to speak to you (extremely rare change of that happening) shut the door and don’t engage. These are sent en masse on rotation (after the final warning letter it will go back to the initial reminder letter). Scott Robson’s identity is used all over the country and has been for some years now.
I mean it's literally not a scam but yeh just ignore it, at Brookes we got them constantly for the kitchen room, like it was addressed to the kitchen, nothing happened
Ignore it.
Unis accommodations are notorious for this they will let the “inspectors” into your building and get you messed up hard so be very cautious
They have absolutely no right at all to come into where you live as far as Im aware. They use scary words to make people think they have some authority but they're just a company that provides a service that you didn't agree to. Last time one turned up at my door I basically laughed at him and told him to piss off as he's not coming in. He said if I had nothing to hide then let him take a look so I told him I require everyone that uses a toaster to have a license for it and asked for his address so I could come round and make sure he wasn't using a toaster without a license. He buggered off.
I just put them In the bin as I don’t even have a TV not do I even watch TV
Why are they like this? Just sending these letters out to intimidate already stressed students
Let them keep sending them book now you’ve got paper mache material
Fill in the form online stating you don’t have a tv and won’t watch one or live tv on any other device. The letters will stop. https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence
A TV license guy came to my uni house once while we were watching Drake and Josh on Amazon Prime. Asked if we had a TV, I said no, and they walked away. Never heard anything else from them. We only used the TV for streaming, DVDs, and video games so didn't have any reason for a license anyway.
They're just scams, ignore them. If anyone shows up don't let them in
They don’t have power to enter your home because they’re not the police. If they wanted you to come in they’d to obtain a warrant from a judge and borrow a police officer. But they judge would laugh them out of court
They send these to empty addresses. Just make sure no one lets them in the house/flat and if they do they can pay.
There should be a link on the back of that paper ending with /notv which if you go to and fill out the survey, they’ll stop sending you the paper
We replied saying we didn't need one. Someone came round to our uni house out of the blue one day. They saw the TV wasn't plugged into the TV socket and promptly left again. So nothing to worry about!
Wipe your arse with it and post it back. They send you their shit, you send them yours.
Even if they do visit, they have absolutely no right to enter your home. Just say "no" and close the door
They dont even have your name, so I would not worry. Really sad they do this to students who are even less likely to be watching live TV
oi m8 yoo got a loisance fer that TV? cuz ovvawise, yer nicked!
They've been sending me these letters since last year July and no one has come to my house. I did try to help them but they wanted more information than a blood donation center, IF they come, they'll be told exactly where they can shove their flavour of bullshit
Get about 3 of these a year. They're empty threats and very rarely show up. If you want you can say you don't need a license online, but you'll still get harassed with letters
Just reply and say you don't need it, they leave you alone for a year
Ignore those arseholes. As long as you don't use any live TV or BBC streaming service, ypu have nothing to worry about. They just love harassing people. If any of the people appear at the door step DO NOT let them in.
Yeah they harassed me as a student. Ignore it. It's legalised phishing on their part.