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Other Cancelled TV licence

Discussion in 'General' started by goldstar0011, 28 Jan 2025.

  1. goldstar0011

    goldstar0011 Multimodder

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    Howdy

    So finally cancelled TV licence, did on the phone, was simple enough but they do try to trick you with questions like "oh you like Sci-fi, do you watch Dr Who?"....good one

    Anyway, I got an email confirmation saying valid until Jan 2026.
    Not that I intend to, do they expect me to advise them every year?

    My aerial is unplugged from the wall, you can even see my TV socket from my window so they could look if my blinds are open but I'm not entertaining entry or letters.

    Cheers
     
  2. Gunsmith

    Gunsmith Maximum Win

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    i told em to fo nearly 15 years ago, they'll whine every 5 ish years i think but just keep telling them to do one, they may send someone around but remember; they have no powers of entry and if they're acompanied by an officer it'll be to stop the guy getting twatted, licensing guy might use the cops presence to gain entry but he wont have powers of entry either, just be nice, say no and close the door, unless ofc if its pissing it down then its your mission to keep him talking until he dies of hypothemia.
     
    Last edited: 28 Jan 2025
  3. Mr_Mistoffelees

    Mr_Mistoffelees The Bit-Tech Cat. New Improved Version.

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    My wife reached 75 last year.

    Free licence!
     
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  4. goldstar0011

    goldstar0011 Multimodder

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    If they turn up when I'm working at home I will tell them I'm busy and call the police if the harass me as I'm on business hours :naughty:
    I followed the process to cancel, it's their issue I can't have perpetual cancelled, if I want one I would renew, I don't need someone harassing me to ask, Netflix wouldn't!
     
  5. RedFlames

    RedFlames ...is not a Belgian football team

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  6. goldstar0011

    goldstar0011 Multimodder

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  7. LennyRhys

    LennyRhys Fan Fan

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    Since we moved house in June 2021 we've been getting threatening letters from them on a regular basis, often with red letter warnings on the envelope. It's comical how far they will go to intimidate people without actually doing anything.
     
  8. goldstar0011

    goldstar0011 Multimodder

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    Kinda excited to see what happens as I am totally legit with this, my TV is a monitor now
     
  9. CrapBag

    CrapBag Multimodder

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    Ditched mine and have saved about 450 quid so far.

    Get a little nudge everynow and then to confirm, which i do and alls been well.

    Only watch Netflix, Prime and Disney plus, nothing live not even you tube.
     
    goldstar0011 likes this.
  10. Gunsmith

    Gunsmith Maximum Win

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    nothing will happen, they'll notify you informing of a date they want to come around (mine wanted to come over on xmas eve, lol) mroe and more people are dumping the license these days, the bbc is nothing but biased crap these days
     
    goldstar0011 likes this.
  11. Mister_Tad

    Mister_Tad Will work for nuts Super Moderator

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    After I initially reported "no license required" I had a visit - all sorts of veiled threats from some cowboy (in that he was literally wearing a cowboy hat) on the doorstep, making all sorts of inaccurate statements of why I "need" a license until he realised I wasn't about to let him in for an inspection as per his demands.

    That was... maybe 6 years ago. Since then I've had reminders to renew my "no license required" declaration every 12-24 months, which I have done - no visits or further follow up.

    The first question Mr cowboy asked was "Do you have a TV in the house", to which I was replied honestly "yes, several"... he seemed to think this was his "gotcha" moment. I explained to him why I don't need a license but he wasn't bothered - either didn't care or didn't know. As he left there was some ominous threat like " we have our ways to catch you out" - not sure if he assumed I must be illegitimately claiming I didn't need a license, or whether threats and intimidation are just the default operating mode regardless.

    Just make sure you know the can and can'ts of no license and have fun with it if you get a visit :D
     
    Last edited: 30 Jan 2025
  12. GeorgeStorm

    GeorgeStorm Aggressive PC Builder

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    Haven't had one for a couple of years, had the odd letter asking to confirm but that's about it, don't watch live TV so not an issue.
    Do wish they did monthly though so I could get it for a month or two and go through a bunch of BBC stuff vs waiting and hoping they may appear on another service eventually. I think I'll probably just get a year at some point to watch it to be honest.
     
  13. MLyons

    MLyons 70% Dev, 30% Doge. DevDoge. Software Dev @ Corsair Lover of bit-tech Administrator Super Moderator Moderator

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    had this since I moved in 2 years ago. nothing will happen.
     
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  14. goldstar0011

    goldstar0011 Multimodder

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    It's crazy some of the stories I've read and videos I've seen on YouTube on how the treat genuine people who don't need a licence.
     
  15. Weekly_Estimate

    Weekly_Estimate Random bird noises.

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    The police need a warrant to enter your property, what makes these jumped up idiots think they can Walt’s in and check for a tv lol.

    Even if they do come mob handed with the police, the police are only there to keep the peace so if you close the door and say good bye. They have to leave anyway.
     
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  16. goldstar0011

    goldstar0011 Multimodder

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    Interesting, so in theory, they come in, I have 2 TV's, doesn't prove I'm watching any BBC or live TV though?
    The living TV has BBC iPlayer installed as default and the bedroom TV, I need to unplug the TV aerial but I have only ever used to watch TV when the living room was having insultation work 2 years ago.
    Does having an aerial plugged in constitute an offence?
     
  17. Mister_Tad

    Mister_Tad Will work for nuts Super Moderator

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    You're going wrong straight off the bat with "they come in" - you do not invite them in. Ever. Even if you think it might be fun to troll and waste their time, just no.

    If anyone comes to inspect they will almost certainly imply you that you must let them in so they can check you're not breaking the rules (how they would actually do this is a mystery, short of actually seeing a TV playing iPlayer for instance), but this is absolutely not the case.

    But - having iPlayer installed, having an aerial connected, even having a sky/virgin box sitting on your TV stand or subscribing to either service (i.e. through a bundle with internet) - none of these are offences. That said, if your front room is visible through the window for example its probably easier to remove the a redundant sky box than leave it there to taunt and potentially be documented as "evidence".

    I have a dish on the back of my house that's probably just about visible from the road from the right angle - I did go to take it down simply because I wasn't using it, but as soon as I removed it and saw the state of the render underneath I put it back - so its been there for the 5 years I've been in this house. Couldn't even tell you where the coax that leads to it terminates though.

    Watching broadcast TV live on any device, recording said content, watching live TV on any service, or using iPlayer - these would be the offences.

    There is an area of muddiness around things like live streams from individual content creators (for instance Twitch) - when I last looked there was a vague definition of a media provider or some such - so for instance watching a twitch stream wouldn't be an offence but it could be argued that watching a live stream from a large YT channel (LTT maybe, something like Sky news almost definitely) could be.

    That said - know the rules and recite the rules to any clown that may turn up and misrepresent them. Plainly state that whilst you do own multiple TVs you do not use them watch or record broadcast TV, live TV on any services or use iPlayer on any devices, and send them packing.
     
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  18. goldstar0011

    goldstar0011 Multimodder

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    Not that I would ever let them in, the idea of saying, come in and waste their time, I don't have anything like a sky or aerial cable in living room, I wouldn't let them turn TV on to check for players and wouldn't let them wonder the house as that would be too much but I just like the mind theory of f**king with them because I know I'm legit and they want to catch everyone out.

    I do have a sky dish but leaving that up as it's good for when I move house for next owners, the aerial and the sat is terminated to a box so the cables are removed.

    Am sure when I was cancelling, the guy I was talking to said that watching some streaming, if they had live TV on, you're ok, that was interesting.

    Am sure I've a year of peace like my email said, I'll return here when they contact me :naughty:
     

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