View Full Version : This should confuse the TV licence people
not sure
14-01-2002, 22:30
Had a look at their web site today and it was no use, so just sent them this email :)
"Hi I've looked at your web site, and am VERY confused as to if I need a licence or not.
The first one is, If I buy a TV JUST to watch pre recorded films and DVD`s, and have no way of receiving TV picture or sound, do I still need a licence? My 2nd home has no aerial socket, cable or satellite receiver, so could not receive any broadcast; your "do I need a licence" reads that in my situation I don't need a licence?
And my other question is, if at a later date I did get a cable/satellite system, under your "2nd homes" section, it says I would need a licence if I lived at a 2nd home, but wouldn't if I stayed at a static caravan, and the tv in the "main home" wasn't being used, due to the fact that while I'm at my 2nd home, the main home is not in use, and while I'm at my main home the 2nd home is not in use would this rule apply to me?
I would have phoned to ask these questions, but due to them being difficult to explain, I felt it was safer to write, and cheaper in phone costs.
Thanks"
I`ll let you know what they say, it does sound stupid that i`d need a licence if I can't get TV, and I`d need 2 licences, just cause I have 2 homes due to work, but if I lived in a tincan I wouldn't! :nuts:
Bapapapa
15-01-2002, 08:27
If your TV or video is capable of receiving terrestrial transmissions ie has a built in tuner, then you need a licence regardless of whether you have an aerial or not.
But a tuner cant receive transmissions! It can just decode the ones that an 'aerial' receives.
Picky possibly, but why should you pay for something you don't get?
the only reason i pay my licence is because the Mrs insists otherwise I would never pay it. I think the whole system sucks big time.
i agree, why cant bbc just get their revenue from either subscription or adverts like all the other channels do? maybe then they will start using our money more wisely.
Bapapapa
15-01-2002, 09:20
If all you want to do is watch DVDs, then either buy a monitor/plasma display or a projector. Get a seperate sound system without a radio tuner or you'll need a licence for that too. :p
Paul Bennison
15-01-2002, 18:32
I knew some people who owned a 14" TV and used it soley for use with their Spectrum computer.
They went to court to argue the case that they didn't use it for picking up channels (TV was 'banned' in their house) and won.
Urban Tiger
15-01-2002, 20:25
Originally posted by cjb110
But a tuner cant receive transmissions! It can just decode the ones that an 'aerial' receives.
Picky possibly, but why should you pay for something you don't get?
But how do they know you havent got an indoor aerial hooked to a bit of coax hiding behind the sofa just for occasions when you fancied watching some programs?
I don't agree with the system, but can at least understand why they classify any equipment with tuners. :(
Are the rules, TV licence if you have a tuner, or TV Licence if you have a receiver??
If is the later, why don't the BBC try to get licences from anybody with metal coat hangers? :) :D
The rules are utterly out of date and need updating for the modern way of life.
They can't just make blanket assumptions, or they can but have to realize the fact and allow for it.
Nice work mate, very nice. I sent some crazy confusing email to customs enquiring about costs/policies and a sh*tload of other stuff. Wether its BS or legit these people deserve to be wound up as far as I'm concerned :D
not sure
15-01-2002, 23:33
told a friend today about this, and he said if i have a "tv/video and it`s not connected to the ariel how can i be breaking the law as i`m NOT recieveing any signal"?
after all there vans can only see what CHANNEL i`m watching, so if they were to visit, and say i`m breaking the law, HOW? wouldn`t they have to put on the court document, at such a time on such a day i was watching "bbc1"
when my defence would be "at my property i have NO means of recieving a picture,i have NO ariel NO cable box NO satelite box, and due to the fact that i was watching a DVD when the Licence police called, does that now mean we ALL have to buy a licence to watch shows/films not produced with the licence fee even if it is watched on a monitor"
This is a STUPID "law" and i`m still waiting to hear from them!! (i think the last part has fried there minds)
ISTR it`ll be 2007 before the Government reviews the way the BBC is funded. So we`re stuck with it until then. :mad:
Paul Buglass
16-01-2002, 17:40
Chaps,
Let me add a bit to this interesting debate.
I am almost definitetly sure (Due to previous experience while at college many years ago) that the licence we pay for is for the receiving of television transmissions, nothing to do with owning equipment capable of receiving those transmissions.
i.e. you could have a TV in a locked box in you cellar, or a TV in your lounge with no aerial attached, or a TV with an aerial attached and no mains plug, etc, etc . . . right up to a TV with an aerial plugged in and plugged into the mains but not turned on.
In all these cases you are not receiveing a transmission so do not need a licence. The law required the TV detector/licencing people to prove you have been receiving transmissions at a property which is not covered by a current licence.
Obviously in the examples I gave above if you are accused of doing so it is easier to prove it otherwise if there is obviously no way you could have really received anything, but if you have a nice TV infront of the sofa with an aerial attached and a copy of the TV Times next to it, things get a little difficult to defend.
This is why TV detector vans are used as they can clarifiy the used or not used question. They roam different areas from time to time and have a list of all addresses which don't have a current licence. If they detect a receiver operating they log the time and channel and locate the set to within a few meters, (often 1 meter depending on how close they can park to your house or flat).
The next step is to visit a few days later and knock on the door to 'see' your licence. Note they wait a few days as you'd be surprised how many TV licences are purchased the day after a detector van has been in the area!!! (I have a friend who runs a PO)
If you can't show them a licence and deny having a TV a policeman may be called to insist on entry to the property and the matter will go to court where the TV detector van evidence will be used in conjunction with any visual sighting of a TV through the window or with the aid of a police visit, etc. It is very difficult to 'get off' under these circumstances.
Obviously the example posted previously where the TV was used for computer use only was proven in court so the family got off. I imaging they could call character witnesses who confirmed TV was banned in the house and the portable was only used with the spectrum and if junior ever dared to switch it to even 5 seconds of Eastenders by mistake he would be severely punished, etc.
It's interesting to note that there have been cases of people who owned a video and a monitor (not a TV) who thought they were safe, but ended up getting fined all the same as they were using a TV Transmission receiver.
Hope this sheds some light on the technical side of the debate.
Best wishes
/Paul B, York, UK.
but you can receive a signal from a coathanger
Paul Buglass
16-01-2002, 18:13
LOL ;-) ..... OK Mr Kcx...
You are absolutely correct but since it is an un-demodulated signal and un-watchable/listenable broadcast I bet even some of the 80 year old judges would throw out that case.
Cheers
/Paul B, York, UK.
I thought it it was quite watchable, back in the days of student life :D :nuts:
I'll get me coat...
Paul, do you know if they have to prove you were watching a BBC channel, or can it be any channel?
I am here at uni and can't get any reception in my room (even with several boosters) so I phoned the TV licence people and they said that If i don't get reception I don't have to have a licence. What thy did say is that as long as I was not using the TV for recieving TV channels (I assume they meant BBC channels).
Lucky one of my mates here has over 300 videos for me to watch (including all the buffy and angel box-sets, lucky me:) )
Paul Buglass
17-01-2002, 08:18
Raziel,
I'm almost 99.9% sure it's all/any terrestrial broadcast TV channels which the licence permits reception of. The "but I only watch ITV" excuse has never worked very well unfortunately.
Cheers
/Paul B, York, UK.
When I first met my partner she only had a portable 14" set and no video. (Bless!) Although she did have a licence for the tv. One day the detector people visited the flat to make sure that she hadn't 'upgraded' to a colour set. They noticed a CD player nearby and when confronted I had to actually open the tray for the plonker to see that I was not lying!!
Never let the TV licence people into your premises....they have no legal right to enter without a warrant. I`ve been visited three times and each time I tell them to come back with a warrant....they never do. Bar-stewards!! :mad:
not sure
18-01-2002, 14:12
Right, got a reply today, so I'll give you the basics of what they said.
To my first Question, their response was..
"Televisions and video recorders, must be licensed if they are used to receive/record television programmes. Televisions which are used with a home computer or video game machine must be licensed if they are ever used to receive television programmes, otherwise no licence is required."
"However, I should advise you to make sure that the television and video are not tuned to receive television broadcasts, also that the equipment is not connected to any aerials"
"One of our enquiry officers may visit your home to check that the equipment being used does not receive broadcast signals.
In other words, as long as it is NOT connected to receive pictures via an aerial or digital box I DON`T need a licence.
As to my 2nd mind twister, his was even more complicated :p the jist was..
1 licence is for 1 property, if you have a touring caravan you only need 1 licence as long as "the TVs in the caravan and at home were not used at the same time" HOW WOULD THEY KNOW? :nuts:
The GOVERMENT decided "that if the caravan/mobile home was capable of being moved it should be regarded in the same way as a touring 'van"
How can a static van, plumbed into a water supply, electric mains and sewer system be classes as a touring van? Have you seen some of these vans on campsites, gardens, patios and WAY to wide/long to be legal on the road!! :nuts:
If you have 2 homes, then you need 2 licences :mad:
Now to write to ask, if I use a satellite system that doesn't show UK channels, as it only shows European porn, do I still need a licence? :D
Originally posted by not sure
1 licence is for 1 property, if you have a touring caravan you only need 1 licence as long as "the TVs in the caravan and at home were not used at the same time" HOW WOULD THEY KNOW? :nuts:
Keep an eye on the rear-view mirror next time you're trailing down to Anglesey...
Ian
(<i>Okay</i>, so your caravan will block the rear view mirror, drivers side mirror...)
The licence fee should be scrapped! If you want to watch BBC-ITV-C4-C5 in the UK you have to pay the Licence fee, BUT if you live in ROI, France, Norway, and some other country I can't remember the name of, you can watch them for FREE.
I remember last year watching "This Morning" and they had a caller on from FRANCE!
I wrote to the Licence people asking why we have to pay, yet those countries don't to watch OUR TV, which WE fund!!
And they wrote back with a load of bull about why they cant charge them or stop them, as they have no control over the radio waves.
So why should we have to pay!!, I'm sure non of us asked them to send the picture to our systems, when the money goes to just 1 company, what next will sky start to charge us all £40 a month as there beam can be picked up in our homes?
When the country goes Digital, the fee should be scraped or the boxes should be set up, so if we don't want to buy a licence then we don't get BBC!
But knowing the BBC & Government when it finally happens the fee will be £200, and you'll get 1 box per house ONLY if you pay the fee, and each extra box will cost £100
They made £120 MILLION from sales of the Harry Potter story on audio in just 2 months, where will that money be spent?
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