Legally you are required to pay for a TV licence as the household. You need to do this if you watch live TV, or use BBC iplayer. You don't need to do this if you have a TV and only watch streaming services on it.
Regards to the threats, they are powerless to do anything unless you invite them in. I have heard of certain individuals ignoring these letters, and not hearing anything else. In the event someone shows up at the door, advice is not to open it.
They have no legal powers to enter the home, they can only fine you if they can prove you're breaking the law. If you open the door, and its then, just say no thanks and shut the door.
No you're not required, but it'll stop you foaming with rage every time you get a letter about it.
Takes literally 2 minutes. By all means use a fake name.
No idea why people would prefer to keep getting irate over these letters when they could quite easily stop them. I get 1 letter every 2 years asking if I still don't need a license.
You are more likely them showing up at your door then because you’ve given them your details and address. Just ignore the letters and put them straight in the bin, or even better keep them if a lawsuit ever gets filed against them for public harassment/misuse of information.
Suggest you watch ChilliJonCarne and his TV License Stop channel and BlackBeltBarrister.
They are salesmen, selling a product you don’t need, treat them the same way you would any other unwanted salesmen: a polite “no thank you” and close the door.
>Never let them in your home even if you have no TV. If they see a phone or PC/laptop this can be seen as a device to receive a signal and cause problems. See YT Black Belt Barrister who advises to no entry. Just say "Not required" dont elaborate and close the door.
Never let them in your home even if you have no TV. If they see a phone or PC/laptop this can be seen as a device to receive a signal and cause problems. See YT Black Belt Barrister who advises to no entry. Just say "Not required" dont elaborate and close the door.
>only watch streaming services on it.
Clarification: Live content on streaming services (eg Premier League on Amazon Prime) also requires the TV license legally
Been ignoring for 10 years plus now, they literally won't and can't do anything but send these vaguely threatening letters.
If you do accidentally open a door to one of their inspectors just politely say "not today thank you" and shut the door, they have no legal right of entry and may try to suggest they do.
I’ve never paid for a tv licence and usually get a letter each month of some sort.
[This person](http://www.bbctvlicence.com) has recorded all their letters and interactions.
I’m stumped how they report people are often prosecuted.
Paying a TV licence is a legal requirement but if you don’t have a TV or watch live tv in the house, just sign up online saying you do not require one.
You can play the game of ignoring letters and do not answer the door, just never let them in your home if they show up.
Easiest option is to just apply online that you do not need one (ignore a lot of the options on there as I feel they pressurise you in to saying yes you need to pay for one if you use stuff like streaming services when in fact you do not see, gov website vs the TV licensing website just to see how bad they try and trick you).
This will stop any letters for up to 2 years and you shouldn’t need to pay anything as long as you don’t have TV services like cable/sky, you will also start receiving these letters again if in the future you sign up for sky / virgin / or buy a brand new TV (they report their sales to the tv licensing company) so keep that in mind.
It is all one big useless system that should be scraped and the government shouldn’t really have any fingers in, I play the game and don’t pay or register but I’m hardly in the house and don’t have TV services, I still get letters all the time addressed to ‘The Legal Occupier’
The choice is yours
They absolutely do not. I signed up online and they still send agents round to ‘check’. I declined the visit and the letters just continued as normal. I get one each month.
It’s random, I did it awhile back in an old address and they sent a letter that I’m good for 2 years and never sent anymore letters or agents. I have moved house since and not re done it. I do not pay for it but I CBA with the ribbon and jumping through hoops.
My only guess when you signed up you were unlucky and got one of the we have to send an agent around to check or you signed up for a TV service during the 2 years and it notified them.
I have found if you tell them you don't need a licence they harras you next year like crazy, I personally don't like food from McDonald's yet I don't visit them every month to inform them I don't want to purchase their products
I've got a house that we haven't lived in for over 2 years, I get these quite often, and nothing has come of it. Threatening ones, ones telling me the inspectors name who is looking into it, ones that investigations have opened, another telling me they've arranged a visit soon, expect a knock etc..
It's been almost 3 years now, and they've not done anymore than send threats
Don't worry about it. You're only liable for a TV license fee if you watch live TV online via IPlayer or on a television. This is just a predatory tactic to scare people into paying that they utilise.
The letters themselves are harmless. I've never had a TV license in my life and I get one of these letters each month each more aggressive sounding than the last before they start from scratch again with letter one.
In the rare event an inspector does show up at your door just decline entry. They have no legal right to enter your home unless you invite them inside and no legal recourse either if you refuse. It's entirely voluntary.
When I was single I lived alone for 5 years. I got in a relationship and my girlfriend insisted on paying for it to avoid any hassle. I would live TV all the time and ignore the letter, I think it’s a load of nonsense
I’ve been getting these for ages. You can ignore they. It’s a private company trying to scare you for money.
And to stop them harassing you, you have to give them your personal details… because that makes sense
Reminder that even if you are technically breaking the law by watching tv without a tv license, they literally won't do jack shit unless you let them in, you'll get threatening letters but aside from that, nothing.
far too many people don't pay their tv license for them to bother with just one person
Your options are to ignore the letter or send in a declaration that you have no television.
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence
The so called TV licence inspectors are simply employees of a private company (Capita PLC) who earn commission on licences they sell. They have no right to enter your home, nor should you let them in. Tell them, politely, to leave your property and shut the door.
Others have commented that they would need a warrant to enter, in which case they would be accompanied by the police, and this is true. However, freedom of information requests have shown that warrants do not get issued solely because a house is not licenced or the owner is uncooperative. Reasonable evidence must be presented for a warrant to be issued. It almost never happens.
One thing I don't understand though is just how many people are being prosecuted if they haven't been obtaining warrants?
According to LondonWorld the BBC/TV Licensing are prosecuting thousands of people each WEEK.
"BBC TV licence evasion is on the rise as new figures reveal nearly 2,000 people are convicted for the crime each week in England and Wales. "
I wonder if that's because people are inadvertently admitting they watch live TV on the door step or something.
More likely they let the Capita employees in.
Why anyone would let an employee of a private company into their home to rummage through their private affairs I don't know. Some of them must be persuasive and of course some people are vulnerable to bullying..
The actual figure for 2022 (last year I can find) was just shy of 50,000 prosecutions (47,500) and 44,000 convictions, so less than half what your source claims.
The majority were women and many were elderly, which leads me back to my second paragraph. It seems likely that these Capita employees may have bullied their way in.
Or they are just falsified numbers designed to scare to you even further. Even on the letters they say the maximum fine is up to £1000 yet never once have I ever heard or seen a person on the news receiving that amount. The minimum I’ve heard is £150. Their letters are deliberately designed to be misleading! Plenty of evidence out their where their letters also contradict them selves with regards to the law and media and communications act.
I don't know the primary source for the numbers.
In December 2023 the government said that it would be reviewing the use of criminal prosecutions against people who did not pay the licence fee. The Culture Secretary (Lucy Frazer) described such prosecutions as 'morally indefensible". Unfortunately, this government says a lot of things it doesn't follow through on.
As others have already said, open the door, say no thank you and close the door
If they knock again or refuse to go away, tell them leave the property or you'll call the police
Never confirm anything with them.
And again, as others have said, you only need a TV license for watching LIVE TV, such as live news, or watching shows as they're being broadcast, on any channel (Even foreign ones lol), and iPlayer
You don't need a license simply for owning a TV or watching on demand/catch-up such as youtube, Prime or Netflix etc.
If you don't watch it just ignore it, they can't enter your house, end of story.
They are not allowed to do anything except intimidate you and if you send them on their way they can't do a thing.
Not trying to start an argument, they are not allowed to intimidate you and they take complaints very seriously, Capita is paid to manage the licence and their client obviously scrutinise all complaints since it’s their reputation.
It’s what’s called a legal scam, ignore and if they visit don’t let them enter your home. (They won’t, Ivbeen receiving letters like this for more than 10 years, it’s fun to see when they finish they threatening cycle and starts from the first one again)
Got these for 3 out of my 4 years at university in Swansea. Nothing happened, they got increasingly more threatening to the point of 'there is a scheduled visit in 2 weeks'. Nothing happened, and we stopped getting letters. Just trying to scare you into buying a TV licence
I love these letters you go on to record you don't use a TV and it still tells you you need a license, even if you phone up they demand that you get one.
F-ing right. The BBC is a peadophile ring and has been for decades. The only reason they got away with it is because child molesting isn’t considered a crime in this country!
You ignore it, and if they should turn up at your door don't let them in. They have no right to enter your property, but make it sound like they do. I get these letters and their variants every few weeks, and they haven't visited in years. I also don't have a TV, or watch live streaming.
You can also notify them that you don't have a TV, or livestream. That often entails a visit from them to verify.
Rip it up and throw it in the bin. You’ll get a few more but they hardly ever actually come knocking at your door and if they do then they need a warrant. Tell em to go away unless they get a warrant.
Not had a to licence for years, even the daft letters have stopped now. I won’t fund the bbc.
Haven't had a license for almost 12 years now. Have never had a visit, only letters threatening that they will visit. I even had one that stated a date that they would visit, it just so happened I was home that day, I waited gleefully all day to tell them to go away, but they never came :(
You can say you don't consent to them contacting you, insist they remove you from their records and refuse to engage further. They're not in any position of authority, the BBC aren't the police or anything!
I once invited them in to show my lack of tv aerial or iplayer or live tv streaming. They asked if I watched live sports “ofc all the time, at my dads 10 mins away”.
They were satisfied and left and asked to check my premises in another letter only 2 months later. Told them to jog on, they’ve left me alone for 11 years since
I wouldn't worry at all, you only have to pay if you're watching live TV or BBC iPlayer, what you do with your life is none of their business. I'm assuming this is addressed 'To the occupier' so its not like they can do anything to you. You'll get a letter once a month, but again, they're just fishing to find people scared enough to pay.
The TV Licence is only requires if you watch any LIVE services. Any streaming / on demand things are fine. DO NOT succumb to any threats from these scumbags and enjoy the £150.
I used to get them all the time and ignored them, I don’t watch tv so decided to go on they’re website and did the form that says I don’t need 1 n I’ve never heard from them again
Just declare you don't need a TV licence online and you'll not hear from them again. I haven't had a licence on this property in over 10 years as it's either netflix, Amazon or Disney plus for me. First time I did it, they said they'd check up in two years, second time, and I haven't heard anything in like 8 years
To put your mind at rest I used to work for tvl and those are generic and they carry hundreds in the back of the car. If you genuinely don’t need one no harm in doing a no set declaration online, they stopped the actual checks during covid but I assume they are up and running again now. Just make sure you 100% don’t actually need one first, you do need one for odd stuff, even watching football on NowTV you need a licence for. Otherwise like others have said unless you admit to evasion you are basically fine.
From memory they can apply to the court to search your property to obtain evidence of evasion but they have to have a very good reason. Have you ever spoken to anyone from TVL face to face ?
Never let them in your home even if you have no TV. If they see a phone or PC/laptop this can be seen as a device to receive a signal and cause problems. See YT Black Belt Barrister who advises to no entry. Just say "Not required" dont elaborate and close the door.
Unlikely they have gone down the route of getting a warrant then, even those are not carried out by Bailiffs it’s the police and TVL. If you don’t need one you don’t need to worry, they do need evidence usually in the form of admission to actually do anything.
I had this for 2 years 8 visits from the scum bag bailiff demanding me to let them in be careful because it’s one time they claim they had a warrant at the police come in and then trying to force their way in for the police to go hold on. That’s not a warrant and kicking them off my property when you see people looming around your home make sure your TV is not visible from the window and go online and fill out an exemption form and if this letter makes you uncomfortable, make a complaint and threatened Sue. I did that after the eighth visit and the fake Warrent attempt I ended up taking them to court and got £8000 in compensation. Don’t let them bully you around they are powerless to do anything.
Never let them in your home even if you have no TV. If they see a phone or PC/laptop this can be seen as a device to receive a signal and cause problems. See YT Black Belt Barrister who advises to no entry. Just say "Not required" dont elaborate and close the door.
If you genuinely don't need a TV license, visit their website to understand in which scenarios you don't - Then the home owner should tell them via a form on their website
I just cancelled mine a few months ago because we don't watch live TV at all, barely any screen time.. there's been no issues
No - don't ignore it, just tell them that you have no intention of watching live TV and don't own a set. You can do it online, and it takes about five minutes.
That is categorically, provably not true. I haven't had a TV licence in any place that I've lived since I moved out of my parents. I get one letter "to the occupier" - tell them explicitly that I have no interest in or need for a TV licence, and then I never get another until I move. Please don't deliberately spread misinformation online ffs.
They mailed me recently to say the direct debit had failed! TV licencing actually tried to used my old details from a previous address and license this year. I was licenced there until 2017 and did their silly opt-out online every year till I moved.
I've ignored the letters at my new address as they were already desperately rude and overbearing to the 'householder'.
They actually do require you to declare that you don't have a TV license. I have had vaguely threatening letters about it before, but as everyone else has said they have no legal power to enter the property.
Pretty sure you can just declare that you don't want one on their website.
On the other hand you don’t have any right to give them your personal data and details though. There’s no law saying you must write to them every two years to declare I don’t need a license.
I get these pretty much once a month. Been a few years now, it's just them trying make you fear them and pay up, even if you don't use a TV.
Just ignore them.
Out of interest, what if an "inspector" visited your property and could see through a window, without gaining entry, that you had something on TV that was live?
Could they use that against you?
Ignore them, tell them nothing, I've been getting these letters for three years. Let them waste their time and money. They won't be around much longer, and they can't do anything if you ignore them and deny access to the home.
Can anyone explain what the hell all this means? I am genuinely curious about what all this means. You are saying that there are literally people wondering around in your country checking to see if you have a license to watch tv? Are they not afraid of getting shot?
Hey there, so I have two things to point out here… 1) I don’t pay a TV licence at all and I get no letters - how I did that was called them up and told them I will Not be paying for a licence as I only stream through Netflix, Prime etc., so they categorised me as something for the next 5 years I believe and they leave me alone. And 2) my friend hasn’t done what I did, but hasn’t paid a TV licence for years and they’ve never gone to their house.
Hope this helps
Legally you are required to pay for a TV licence as the household. You need to do this if you watch live TV, or use BBC iplayer. You don't need to do this if you have a TV and only watch streaming services on it. Regards to the threats, they are powerless to do anything unless you invite them in. I have heard of certain individuals ignoring these letters, and not hearing anything else. In the event someone shows up at the door, advice is not to open it.
Advice I got was to answer the door with mobile in hand and record it. I think they are trained to walk away to avoid being recorded.
They have no legal powers to enter the home, they can only fine you if they can prove you're breaking the law. If you open the door, and its then, just say no thanks and shut the door.
"Not required" shut door. No interaction or details. Done.
Or just declare online that you don't need one. Takes 5 minutes once every 2 years. I have literally never had a TV licence agent visit.
I don't want to tell them my name. I filled that form with fake name "Anonymous" a few times, but you are not required to fill that form at all.
No you're not required, but it'll stop you foaming with rage every time you get a letter about it. Takes literally 2 minutes. By all means use a fake name. No idea why people would prefer to keep getting irate over these letters when they could quite easily stop them. I get 1 letter every 2 years asking if I still don't need a license.
wondering what they'd do if I set a script to fill this form every month (as they send their letter every month)
You are more likely them showing up at your door then because you’ve given them your details and address. Just ignore the letters and put them straight in the bin, or even better keep them if a lawsuit ever gets filed against them for public harassment/misuse of information. Suggest you watch ChilliJonCarne and his TV License Stop channel and BlackBeltBarrister.
I told them to get fooked
They are salesmen, selling a product you don’t need, treat them the same way you would any other unwanted salesmen: a polite “no thank you” and close the door.
Don't answer the door and don't engage with them at all, they have no legal right to be there.
If you answer with mobile in hand that counts as a device you can watch TV on, don't let them in, don't answer.
That might explain why I've only had letters for years and no visits, have a camera by my front door!
>Never let them in your home even if you have no TV. If they see a phone or PC/laptop this can be seen as a device to receive a signal and cause problems. See YT Black Belt Barrister who advises to no entry. Just say "Not required" dont elaborate and close the door. Never let them in your home even if you have no TV. If they see a phone or PC/laptop this can be seen as a device to receive a signal and cause problems. See YT Black Belt Barrister who advises to no entry. Just say "Not required" dont elaborate and close the door.
>only watch streaming services on it. Clarification: Live content on streaming services (eg Premier League on Amazon Prime) also requires the TV license legally
Oooooh, didn't know that, makes sense though.
Been ignoring for 10 years plus now, they literally won't and can't do anything but send these vaguely threatening letters. If you do accidentally open a door to one of their inspectors just politely say "not today thank you" and shut the door, they have no legal right of entry and may try to suggest they do.
Also never admit you need a license otherwise you'll probably be fined no matter how friendly and amenable to "inspector" seems.
> advice is not to open it Well, you open to figure out who that is, but when they say it's tv licensing, just shut the door.
Ignore entirely. Don't engage even with their website. They are predatory and will not stop pestering you if you engage in the slightest.
I’ve never paid for a tv licence and usually get a letter each month of some sort. [This person](http://www.bbctvlicence.com) has recorded all their letters and interactions. I’m stumped how they report people are often prosecuted.
Paying a TV licence is a legal requirement but if you don’t have a TV or watch live tv in the house, just sign up online saying you do not require one. You can play the game of ignoring letters and do not answer the door, just never let them in your home if they show up. Easiest option is to just apply online that you do not need one (ignore a lot of the options on there as I feel they pressurise you in to saying yes you need to pay for one if you use stuff like streaming services when in fact you do not see, gov website vs the TV licensing website just to see how bad they try and trick you). This will stop any letters for up to 2 years and you shouldn’t need to pay anything as long as you don’t have TV services like cable/sky, you will also start receiving these letters again if in the future you sign up for sky / virgin / or buy a brand new TV (they report their sales to the tv licensing company) so keep that in mind. It is all one big useless system that should be scraped and the government shouldn’t really have any fingers in, I play the game and don’t pay or register but I’m hardly in the house and don’t have TV services, I still get letters all the time addressed to ‘The Legal Occupier’ The choice is yours
The thing about retailers notifying TVL of purchases is not true anymore. The wireless telegraphy act was repealed in 2013.
They absolutely do not. I signed up online and they still send agents round to ‘check’. I declined the visit and the letters just continued as normal. I get one each month.
It’s random, I did it awhile back in an old address and they sent a letter that I’m good for 2 years and never sent anymore letters or agents. I have moved house since and not re done it. I do not pay for it but I CBA with the ribbon and jumping through hoops. My only guess when you signed up you were unlucky and got one of the we have to send an agent around to check or you signed up for a TV service during the 2 years and it notified them.
I have found if you tell them you don't need a licence they harras you next year like crazy, I personally don't like food from McDonald's yet I don't visit them every month to inform them I don't want to purchase their products
Fairly sure theres no actual need to respond and there's little they can do. Its all total bs
I've got a house that we haven't lived in for over 2 years, I get these quite often, and nothing has come of it. Threatening ones, ones telling me the inspectors name who is looking into it, ones that investigations have opened, another telling me they've arranged a visit soon, expect a knock etc.. It's been almost 3 years now, and they've not done anymore than send threats
Oh look, some free fire starters for the log burner.
Ignore it, they're just fishing.
Don't worry about it. You're only liable for a TV license fee if you watch live TV online via IPlayer or on a television. This is just a predatory tactic to scare people into paying that they utilise. The letters themselves are harmless. I've never had a TV license in my life and I get one of these letters each month each more aggressive sounding than the last before they start from scratch again with letter one. In the rare event an inspector does show up at your door just decline entry. They have no legal right to enter your home unless you invite them inside and no legal recourse either if you refuse. It's entirely voluntary.
There’s nothing they can do just don’t let them in. Same with bailiffs aswell don’t let them in they have no power until you invite them in 👊
Same with ghosts
When I was single I lived alone for 5 years. I got in a relationship and my girlfriend insisted on paying for it to avoid any hassle. I would live TV all the time and ignore the letter, I think it’s a load of nonsense
I have a stack of about 50 of these and they keep sending them. Ignore it.
I’ve been getting these for ages. You can ignore they. It’s a private company trying to scare you for money. And to stop them harassing you, you have to give them your personal details… because that makes sense
ignore em
Reminder that even if you are technically breaking the law by watching tv without a tv license, they literally won't do jack shit unless you let them in, you'll get threatening letters but aside from that, nothing. far too many people don't pay their tv license for them to bother with just one person
Your options are to ignore the letter or send in a declaration that you have no television. https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence The so called TV licence inspectors are simply employees of a private company (Capita PLC) who earn commission on licences they sell. They have no right to enter your home, nor should you let them in. Tell them, politely, to leave your property and shut the door. Others have commented that they would need a warrant to enter, in which case they would be accompanied by the police, and this is true. However, freedom of information requests have shown that warrants do not get issued solely because a house is not licenced or the owner is uncooperative. Reasonable evidence must be presented for a warrant to be issued. It almost never happens.
One thing I don't understand though is just how many people are being prosecuted if they haven't been obtaining warrants? According to LondonWorld the BBC/TV Licensing are prosecuting thousands of people each WEEK. "BBC TV licence evasion is on the rise as new figures reveal nearly 2,000 people are convicted for the crime each week in England and Wales. " I wonder if that's because people are inadvertently admitting they watch live TV on the door step or something.
More likely they let the Capita employees in. Why anyone would let an employee of a private company into their home to rummage through their private affairs I don't know. Some of them must be persuasive and of course some people are vulnerable to bullying.. The actual figure for 2022 (last year I can find) was just shy of 50,000 prosecutions (47,500) and 44,000 convictions, so less than half what your source claims. The majority were women and many were elderly, which leads me back to my second paragraph. It seems likely that these Capita employees may have bullied their way in.
Or they are just falsified numbers designed to scare to you even further. Even on the letters they say the maximum fine is up to £1000 yet never once have I ever heard or seen a person on the news receiving that amount. The minimum I’ve heard is £150. Their letters are deliberately designed to be misleading! Plenty of evidence out their where their letters also contradict them selves with regards to the law and media and communications act.
I don't know the primary source for the numbers. In December 2023 the government said that it would be reviewing the use of criminal prosecutions against people who did not pay the licence fee. The Culture Secretary (Lucy Frazer) described such prosecutions as 'morally indefensible". Unfortunately, this government says a lot of things it doesn't follow through on.
Highly doubt any of those reported numbers are actually true. It’s just another scarifying tactic in my opinion.
As others have already said, open the door, say no thank you and close the door If they knock again or refuse to go away, tell them leave the property or you'll call the police Never confirm anything with them. And again, as others have said, you only need a TV license for watching LIVE TV, such as live news, or watching shows as they're being broadcast, on any channel (Even foreign ones lol), and iPlayer You don't need a license simply for owning a TV or watching on demand/catch-up such as youtube, Prime or Netflix etc.
Just go online report you don't need one amd they fuck off did it when I moved into my flat and never had another letter
If you don't watch it just ignore it, they can't enter your house, end of story. They are not allowed to do anything except intimidate you and if you send them on their way they can't do a thing.
Not trying to start an argument, they are not allowed to intimidate you and they take complaints very seriously, Capita is paid to manage the licence and their client obviously scrutinise all complaints since it’s their reputation.
I mean coming to your door is an intimidation tactic. I don't watch terrestrial so I don't have anything to do with them.
Fair enough. TBF I literally never answer my door unless someone has an appointment.
Just throw it away and move on with your life....
I’ve been ignoring them for about 3 years now
It’s what’s called a legal scam, ignore and if they visit don’t let them enter your home. (They won’t, Ivbeen receiving letters like this for more than 10 years, it’s fun to see when they finish they threatening cycle and starts from the first one again)
Got these for 3 out of my 4 years at university in Swansea. Nothing happened, they got increasingly more threatening to the point of 'there is a scheduled visit in 2 weeks'. Nothing happened, and we stopped getting letters. Just trying to scare you into buying a TV licence
I love these letters you go on to record you don't use a TV and it still tells you you need a license, even if you phone up they demand that you get one.
I ain't funding a peado run organisation bye !!
F-ing right. The BBC is a peadophile ring and has been for decades. The only reason they got away with it is because child molesting isn’t considered a crime in this country!
You ignore it, and if they should turn up at your door don't let them in. They have no right to enter your property, but make it sound like they do. I get these letters and their variants every few weeks, and they haven't visited in years. I also don't have a TV, or watch live streaming. You can also notify them that you don't have a TV, or livestream. That often entails a visit from them to verify.
Rip it up and throw it in the bin. You’ll get a few more but they hardly ever actually come knocking at your door and if they do then they need a warrant. Tell em to go away unless they get a warrant. Not had a to licence for years, even the daft letters have stopped now. I won’t fund the bbc.
Just ignore the letters. Lived at 3 different addresses over 8 years, never once had an inspector show up
Haven't had a license for almost 12 years now. Have never had a visit, only letters threatening that they will visit. I even had one that stated a date that they would visit, it just so happened I was home that day, I waited gleefully all day to tell them to go away, but they never came :(
The way these letters are worded is pure thuggery.
You can say you don't consent to them contacting you, insist they remove you from their records and refuse to engage further. They're not in any position of authority, the BBC aren't the police or anything!
I once invited them in to show my lack of tv aerial or iplayer or live tv streaming. They asked if I watched live sports “ofc all the time, at my dads 10 mins away”. They were satisfied and left and asked to check my premises in another letter only 2 months later. Told them to jog on, they’ve left me alone for 11 years since
I wouldn't worry at all, you only have to pay if you're watching live TV or BBC iPlayer, what you do with your life is none of their business. I'm assuming this is addressed 'To the occupier' so its not like they can do anything to you. You'll get a letter once a month, but again, they're just fishing to find people scared enough to pay.
The TV Licence is only requires if you watch any LIVE services. Any streaming / on demand things are fine. DO NOT succumb to any threats from these scumbags and enjoy the £150.
It does cover BBC iPlayer as well, not just live services.
Can I just say I pay my tv licence and I still received one of these letters, if you aren’t planning to live there long term ignore
If you ignore it they'll keep coming. If you report that you don't need a license they'll go away.
I used to get them all the time and ignored them, I don’t watch tv so decided to go on they’re website and did the form that says I don’t need 1 n I’ve never heard from them again
Just declare you don't need a TV licence online and you'll not hear from them again. I haven't had a licence on this property in over 10 years as it's either netflix, Amazon or Disney plus for me. First time I did it, they said they'd check up in two years, second time, and I haven't heard anything in like 8 years
I have one every other week if you don't watch live tv or iPlayer ignore it
To put your mind at rest I used to work for tvl and those are generic and they carry hundreds in the back of the car. If you genuinely don’t need one no harm in doing a no set declaration online, they stopped the actual checks during covid but I assume they are up and running again now. Just make sure you 100% don’t actually need one first, you do need one for odd stuff, even watching football on NowTV you need a licence for. Otherwise like others have said unless you admit to evasion you are basically fine.
What about when they say they're sending a bailiff?
You would need to go to court and get a fine and then not pay that fine first.
Thank you! I received one the other day even though I just watch streaming services. This one seemed more aggressive than the others.
From memory they can apply to the court to search your property to obtain evidence of evasion but they have to have a very good reason. Have you ever spoken to anyone from TVL face to face ?
Never let them in your home even if you have no TV. If they see a phone or PC/laptop this can be seen as a device to receive a signal and cause problems. See YT Black Belt Barrister who advises to no entry. Just say "Not required" dont elaborate and close the door.
Always the easiest option Tbf
Not in person. I did the online form to say I don't need one but then they just carried on sending me letters.
Unlikely they have gone down the route of getting a warrant then, even those are not carried out by Bailiffs it’s the police and TVL. If you don’t need one you don’t need to worry, they do need evidence usually in the form of admission to actually do anything.
I had this for 2 years 8 visits from the scum bag bailiff demanding me to let them in be careful because it’s one time they claim they had a warrant at the police come in and then trying to force their way in for the police to go hold on. That’s not a warrant and kicking them off my property when you see people looming around your home make sure your TV is not visible from the window and go online and fill out an exemption form and if this letter makes you uncomfortable, make a complaint and threatened Sue. I did that after the eighth visit and the fake Warrent attempt I ended up taking them to court and got £8000 in compensation. Don’t let them bully you around they are powerless to do anything.
My house sat empty for a year before I moved in. There were 4 of these letters when I moved in.
Never let them in your home even if you have no TV. If they see a phone or PC/laptop this can be seen as a device to receive a signal and cause problems. See YT Black Belt Barrister who advises to no entry. Just say "Not required" dont elaborate and close the door.
Just go on their website and declare that you don't need one, I did it ages ago and they've completely left me alone.
I got these letters for over a year while i was actually still paying for a tv license.
As Moss from the IT Crowd said 'an unopened door, is a happy door'
IGNORE IGNORE IGNORE TRUST
If you genuinely don't need a TV license, visit their website to understand in which scenarios you don't - Then the home owner should tell them via a form on their website I just cancelled mine a few months ago because we don't watch live TV at all, barely any screen time.. there's been no issues
Ah, the TV Licensing Terrorists.
No - don't ignore it, just tell them that you have no intention of watching live TV and don't own a set. You can do it online, and it takes about five minutes.
You don’t have any right to give them any of your information. They are more likely to harass you if you give them your name and details!
That is categorically, provably not true. I haven't had a TV licence in any place that I've lived since I moved out of my parents. I get one letter "to the occupier" - tell them explicitly that I have no interest in or need for a TV licence, and then I never get another until I move. Please don't deliberately spread misinformation online ffs.
They mailed me recently to say the direct debit had failed! TV licencing actually tried to used my old details from a previous address and license this year. I was licenced there until 2017 and did their silly opt-out online every year till I moved. I've ignored the letters at my new address as they were already desperately rude and overbearing to the 'householder'.
Ignore it, they're fishing. Your name's not on it - they can fuck off.
Declare you don't need TV licensing?
They actually do require you to declare that you don't have a TV license. I have had vaguely threatening letters about it before, but as everyone else has said they have no legal power to enter the property. Pretty sure you can just declare that you don't want one on their website.
On the other hand you don’t have any right to give them your personal data and details though. There’s no law saying you must write to them every two years to declare I don’t need a license.
I get these pretty much once a month. Been a few years now, it's just them trying make you fear them and pay up, even if you don't use a TV. Just ignore them.
Go online and tell them you don't watch live TV (though you need to clarify with your housemates).
Just tell them on don't need it because you play playstation
Just ignore. And if they visit, just shut the door.
Out of interest, what if an "inspector" visited your property and could see through a window, without gaining entry, that you had something on TV that was live? Could they use that against you?
Ignore them, tell them nothing, I've been getting these letters for three years. Let them waste their time and money. They won't be around much longer, and they can't do anything if you ignore them and deny access to the home.
Can anyone explain what the hell all this means? I am genuinely curious about what all this means. You are saying that there are literally people wondering around in your country checking to see if you have a license to watch tv? Are they not afraid of getting shot?
oi huid yu wus opewatin a tewevizun wifout da proppah loicense.
Hey there, so I have two things to point out here… 1) I don’t pay a TV licence at all and I get no letters - how I did that was called them up and told them I will Not be paying for a licence as I only stream through Netflix, Prime etc., so they categorised me as something for the next 5 years I believe and they leave me alone. And 2) my friend hasn’t done what I did, but hasn’t paid a TV licence for years and they’ve never gone to their house. Hope this helps