Posted 29 August 2023

BBC License fee woes

uk.yahoo.com/fin…tml

When will this madness end, perhaps till BBC goes subscription/ad supported only? Cant wait for that day.

They have such a bias now, and am being put off even more so. Condescending almos,t and dumbing down down the populace.



Apart from the odd wildlife documentary and nature programmes, there isnt much to watch. Depressing.
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  1. Laurel-Hardy's avatar
    Gave up on live TV about ten years ago. I’ve no worries about them knocking on the door as I don’t have a TV. I watch old programmes on Pluto and UKTVPlay. I doubt if I’d go back to live TV even if it became free.

    Question: Am I obligated to fill in the form when they send it out? Thinking of ignoring it next time. (edited)
    FrampyStinkwonkel's avatar
    Just shred the letters. I don't even open them now. Straight in the shredder.

    They CANNOT come in your house unless they have a warrant.

    The people that appear on your door (usually Capita) are just salesmen. They're trying to sell you a licence.

    If...and that's a big if, they appear at your door, just say "not today thank you" and close the door. No need for a conversation.

    As long as you're not watching/recording live tv or using BBCi Player you do NOT need a licence.

    The licence IS needed if you watch/record live TV or use BBCI Player.

    You do NOT need a licence just because you "own" a tv. (edited)
  2. richp's avatar
    I still have a TV licence (yeah I know) but am looking to get rid of it. You guys just unplug your arieal from the TV or from the main arieal because knowing my luck the missus will let them in, even if I tell her not too.
    When you sorn a car, you don't keep getting threating letters or get DVLA popping round to check, so why do the BBC keep this bombardment up!
    slimy31's avatar
    It's nowt to do with the aerial nowadays, their terms and conditions talk about any live TV on any source. So if you watch sport events live on Amazon or Yahoo (to quote a couple of examples) you still have to pay for a licence.

    Now can someone explain to me why I should pay the BBC for something they don't even broadcast or pay for?
  3. johnny_storm's avatar
    I love them sending me those letters. Every one is less money for them to spend on their propaganda .
    sm9690's avatar
    Just report online that no licence is needed. Takes 1 min
  4. krankup's avatar
    Dont mind paying, we get a lot of mileage out of BBC TV, IPlayer, Sounds, radio esp 6music.
    I lived in the States for a while and got to see just how bad ad-supported telly/radio can be, and how bland commercial tv and radio is there because of it. They could sack off R2 to save some cash - same already provided by Forever FM clones (Carshare - another good BBC comedy).
    Wouldnt pay for Netflix, the pseudo-documentaries are criminal.

    I can see why they nag - its a bit easy to deny watching and still use it
    deleted2904274's avatar
    You don't need a licence for BBC radio, including the BBC sounds app.
  5. deleted2904274's avatar
    No licence fee since January 2022. They can stick their poor output and right wing bias. Not paying for state tv. (edited)
  6. joxeruk2000's avatar
    I get sick of justifying to people why I don’t watch the BBC or buy a licence. They just assume I’m too tight to buy one.
  7. Chiptivo's avatar
    I fill out the form to stop the letters and the door knocking. I don't watch LIVE TV as it's broadcast or BBC iPlayer. So I'm all good.
  8. jordanleno's avatar
    Don't understand the people moaning about the licence fee, and yet like clockwork they renew it every year, and continue to moan about it. Just say you don't need it online, don't pay and ignore the letters, don't let them in when they come knocking, its that simple. Like throwing away money when you already have the power to stop it.
  9. Onlydongles's avatar
    Author
    With the proliferation of IPTV (Live Foreign Channels) via Android boxes, how does the law treat that ? It is Live TV (mainly sports and films) but from foreign soil.

    Is there a legal case for them to pursue you for that?
    E_T_C's avatar
    I am not an expert in this Field but from what I saw on the black belt barristers Youtube Channel, it is for any Live Broadcast Stream e.g. If you watch SkyNews via Youtube or via the SkyNews website. It has to be a real TV channel not YouTuber just doing a live stream.

    Some grey areas are like you say foreign channels and also if you did not seek the channel as can happen when there is a big news story and SkyNews stream the channel on their front page or via TickTok when a live stream is inserted without your request.
  10. Ilostmyselfin1984's avatar
    The only way you can be prosecuted for not having a TV license is by signing a statement incriminating yourself, which conveniently is provided by the BBC enforcement goons. The big fish doesn't get caught if it opens its mouth.
  11. Tyrone_H_'s avatar
    Just said I'm not paying due to televising covid misinformation, not heard from them since 2020
  12. Onlydongles's avatar
    Author
    On another note, am wondering how much postage was paid to Royal mail for issuing those 36 Million notices. Staggering.

    Royal mail must be chuffed and must have made a pretty penny out of this saga.

    Can anyone sue BBC for wasting precious resources (our, taxpayers money) as a public interest litigation?
  13. Roger_Irrelevant's avatar
    I used to send the "We have opened an investigation" type letters back to Crapita (who I presume still "enforce" it) with a huge, leaking, cockerel and 🏀s drawn on, but that was about 10 years ago and now they just go straight in the recycle bin with the other junkmail.
  14. beaversrus's avatar
    The time is near when they do something about those dodging the fee.
  15. XP200's avatar
    I tore out the tv ariel in 2014 and have not had any Uk terristrial tv in my home since, and it has been a godsend, no more doom and gloom for BBC 24, no more baking, no more selling, no more soaps, no more talentless shows, Uk Tv died in the 90s, so use that tv licence fee to jump between the streaming services and also grab yourself boxsets from tv shows from the 60s,70, and 80s.......you will not miss one single trash UK tv show at this point.

    Oh and as for the tv licence goons, get yourself a door cam, as almost all will no longer even knock on the door once they see it, and alos a sticker on your door stating no cold callers, as that is what these tv goons are, so going on 9 years of joy of being UK tv free.....everyone needs to do this. (edited)
    Onlydongles's avatar
    Author
    BUt how do you catch up on news /Weather ?
  16. Onlydongles's avatar
    Author
    So when one cancels the license (by informing no live channels watched), do they have to rip off the aerial/Satellite dish to prove it, if the worse happens (knock on the door) ?

    eg. SKy channels (most) are piped thru the net. So is Virgin.
    Tyrone_H_'s avatar
    Nope just leave it. If any knock on the door say you have covid and they can't enter as not insured.
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