Do I need a TV licence?

PostDo I need a TV licence? by **Gario** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 6:58 pm

The TV licence company is threatening me with all sorts of fines and court appearances if I do not buy a TV licence immediately. However, I can't get a decent picture in my house so I don't watch any television at all. I just play DVDs on my TV whenever I'm having a night in.

Why do they take such an aggressive approach to these matters, when it's possible I won't even need to pay anything?

PostRe: Do I need a TV licence? by **Madness** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 6:59 pm

You don't need a TV licence as long as you don't have an aerial connected to your TV.

PostRe: Do I need a TV licence? by **Dolph Wiggler** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:02 pm

I got a letter the other week saying i had to buy one if i had any receiving equipment (tv, aerial, or both). We're just gonna see how long we can get away with it though.

PostRe: Do I need a TV licence? by **Gario** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:04 pm

I think they must keep their explanations deliberately vague so that people end up buying TV licences anyway, when they may not have needed one.

I've certainly lived in a few student houses where we flouted the law and watched TV without paying for it, but as I only watch DVDS in my current address, I'm pretty sure I don't need one...

PostRe: Do I need a TV licence? by **Gario** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:13 pm

Anyway, I just watch the X Factor performances on YouTube and BBC stuff on their playback website. My housemate also buys episodes of Heroes from Apple so we're sorted 8-)

PostRe: Do I need a TV licence? by **new*allusion** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:14 pm

Apparently if you watch live stuff on iPlayer you need a TV licence. Not sure how they work that one out though.

PostRe: Do I need a TV licence? by **Gario** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:17 pm

new*allusion wrote:Apparently if you watch live stuff on iPlayer you need a TV licence. Not sure how they work that one out though.

Surely not if you watch it through the internet on a computer?

PostRe: Do I need a TV licence? by **Cuttooth** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:20 pm

If you watch anything live then you do.

PostRe: Do I need a TV licence? by **Gario** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:20 pm

I watch your mum live.

PostRe: Do I need a TV licence? by **Forest** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:21 pm

I've yet to receive any letters about paying for a license since I moved into my student house in mid-Sept. I only ever watch downloaded shows through my 360. I'll be buggered if I pay for one while I'm here. They can strawberry float right off.

PostRe: Do I need a TV licence? by **new*allusion** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:25 pm

Gario wrote:
new*allusion wrote:Apparently if you watch live stuff on iPlayer you need a TV licence. Not sure how they work that one out though.

Surely not if you watch it through the internet on a computer?

Apparently you do:

PostRe: Do I need a TV licence? by **Gario** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:28 pm

Where's Cal when you need an account of why we shouldn't have to pay the inflated salaries of juvenile personalities such as Brand/Ross/Moyles, who merely serve to 'perpetuate the myth that homosexuals' something or other.

Flat I live in used to be (talking over 20 years ago) two flats but is now just one big one. Anyway couple of weeks ago we got a letter from the TV Licence people addressed to what used to be the old flat (again, over 20 years ago) demanding that we need to get a TV Licence and that we've been using a TV without one for years. Morons need to update their information.

PostRe: Do I need a TV licence? by **degoose** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:30 pm

the tv licence letters you recieve are completely automated, if your not plugging an aerial into your tv you dont need one as your not using the service.

PostRe: Do I need a TV licence? by **Grumpy David** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:33 pm

new*allusion wrote:
Gario wrote:
new*allusion wrote:Apparently if you watch live stuff on iPlayer you need a TV licence. Not sure how they work that one out though.

Surely not if you watch it through the internet on a computer?

Apparently you do:

That's a live stream - so it requires the TV licence. Watching TV on demand using the iPlayer isn't, so it doesn't require a TV licence.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/ ... _tv_1.html

PostRe: Do I need a TV licence? by **chalkitdown** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:34 pm

I don't know about the law in Britain, but over here, if you have any device capable of recieving a television signal, you need a license.

PostRe: Do I need a TV licence? by **Akai XIII** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:44 pm

If you don't watch or record live TV then you don't need a TV license. It says so on the initial letter they send you under the 'What do I need a TV license for?' section.

The whole 'picture isn't good, so I'm not paying' argument wont work. Just unplug the TV cables, un-tune your TV and phone them up saying you don't need a TV license. They'll say that they'll send someone out to confirm that you don't need one, but I phoned back in September and haven't heard anything since.

I wasn't sure about the iPlayer, thanks Cubeamania. I'll start using it on the Wii then

Realistically, what can they do to you if you refuse to get a licence?

PostRe: Do I need a TV licence? by **chalkitdown** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:46 pm

Jailtime. It's happened here, seen it on the news once.

Seriously, that happened? With over-crowded jails they'd really lock someone up for not having a licence?

I'm half tempted to stop paying the licence fee just to see if that was to happen.

Do I need a TV licence?

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