Comments on: Thoughts on TV Licensing http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/ What's Next? Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:15:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: MistleyMatt http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-79261 MistleyMatt Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:44:58 +0000 http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-79261 In reply to comment 36 - Sarah:- "For the first 6 months, you pay double the normal rate, so that then “you are always 6 months ahead”. Leaving out the strangeness of being 6 months ahead, which strikes me as free interest for the beeb, my bigger question is … when do you get this back? So my question to those of you who have given up a tv licence: did you remember to claim back or stop paying 6 months ahead of your decision?" Just took the decision to get rid of my TV and cancel the license. I had already paid for 3 months of next year's license and this year's had 3 months still to run. Refund for both came through after about one week of my phone call to TVLA. I'm now waiting for the threatening letters to start!" In reply to comment 36 - Sarah:-

“For the first 6 months, you pay double the normal rate, so that then “you are always 6 months ahead”. Leaving out the strangeness of being 6 months ahead, which strikes me as free interest for the beeb, my bigger question is … when do you get this back?

So my question to those of you who have given up a tv licence: did you remember to claim back or stop paying 6 months ahead of your decision?”

Just took the decision to get rid of my TV and cancel the license. I had already paid for 3 months of next year’s license and this year’s had 3 months still to run. Refund for both came through after about one week of my phone call to TVLA.

I’m now waiting for the threatening letters to start!”

]]> By: Justin http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-75586 Justin Sun, 14 Sep 2008 10:54:44 +0000 http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-75586 I think that there is an incredible amount of confusion as far as the correct implementation of the TVL requirements are concerned - but this is not restricted simply to 'consumers'. It seems to me that the people working for TVL are themselves terribly confused. I don't watch TV - haven't done for a long time, and just use my set to watch DVDs. An 'Enforcement Officer' (what a title!) came to visit, and I confirmed that my television doesn't even have an aerial. I was surprised, therefore, to receive a letter from Tim Upton, the Customer Administration Manager at TVL stating categorically that I had admitted to owning a televsion set, and to not having a licence, and that therefore I was breaking the law. He went on to state that he would be taking me to court, and I would be forced to pay an enormous fine unless I relented and bought a license within 7 days. I wrote back to Mr Upton pointing out his incorrect interpretation of his own rules, but despite two duplicate copies and reminders being sent to him, have never heard anything since. Perhaps it is time to update the licensing rules for the sake of those whose job it is to enforce them, as much as for those who need to ensure they adbide by them. I think that there is an incredible amount of confusion as far as the correct implementation of the TVL requirements are concerned - but this is not restricted simply to ‘consumers’. It seems to me that the people working for TVL are themselves terribly confused.

I don’t watch TV - haven’t done for a long time, and just use my set to watch DVDs. An ‘Enforcement Officer’ (what a title!) came to visit, and I confirmed that my television doesn’t even have an aerial.

I was surprised, therefore, to receive a letter from Tim Upton, the Customer Administration Manager at TVL stating categorically that I had admitted to owning a televsion set, and to not having a licence, and that therefore I was breaking the law.

He went on to state that he would be taking me to court, and I would be forced to pay an enormous fine unless I relented and bought a license within 7 days.

I wrote back to Mr Upton pointing out his incorrect interpretation of his own rules, but despite two duplicate copies and reminders being sent to him, have never heard anything since.

Perhaps it is time to update the licensing rules for the sake of those whose job it is to enforce them, as much as for those who need to ensure they adbide by them.

]]> By: Owen http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-58723 Owen Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:39:59 +0000 http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-58723 >So let me get this straight because I am not sure >about this article. As I see it I do need a license for a >PC with broadband internet connection as it can >receive live broadcasts ? No that is incorrect, you only need a licence if you actually use your PC to watch live TV, the burden of proof lies with them. So we just need to have some great British stiff upper lip and send them packing!! Personally I shred without opening any correspondence from them, and have done for 10 years... >So let me get this straight because I am not sure >about this article. As I see it I do need a license for a >PC with broadband internet connection as it can >receive live broadcasts ?

No that is incorrect, you only need a licence if you actually use your PC to watch live TV, the burden of proof lies with them.

So we just need to have some great British
stiff upper lip and send them packing!!

Personally I shred without opening any correspondence from them, and have done for 10 years…

]]> By: Roo http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-57208 Roo Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:47:13 +0000 http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-57208 No. Despite which Nick Reynolds said in comment #3, you don't need a licence just because you own a PC + broadband which is capable of receiving live broadcast. <blockquote>You need a TV licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, set-top box, video or DVD recorder, computer or mobile phone to watch or record TV programmes as they are being shown on TV.”</blockquote> e.g. you only need a licence if you watch or record TV (regardless of the equipment) as it is being broadcast live. Owning such equipment is not the same as using it to watch live TV. No. Despite which Nick Reynolds said in comment #3, you don’t need a licence just because you own a PC + broadband which is capable of receiving live broadcast.

You need a TV licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, set-top box, video or DVD recorder, computer or mobile phone to watch or record TV programmes as they are being shown on TV.”

e.g. you only need a licence if you watch or record TV (regardless of the equipment) as it is being broadcast live. Owning such equipment is not the same as using it to watch live TV.

]]> By: marshy http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-57207 marshy Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:29:30 +0000 http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-57207 So let me get this straight because I am not sure about this article. As I see it I do need a license for a PC with broadband internet connection as it can receive live broadcasts ? I don't own a TV. So basically if I don't pay the BBC they are black mailing me by making me a criminal and denying my right to use my internet connection and mobile phone. Let me see that is blocking me associating with my contacts. Blocking me from free expression in forums. Blocking me access to information. Blocking me from banking shopping and any other activity I wish to do on my internet and mobile phone connections. How would one prove that one as not accessed a live stream or how can the BBC prove you have without legally accessing your ISP records. Remember as far a s TVL is concerned you are guilty till you can prove your innocence I can't see any ISP handing over records legally. There is a serious human rights abuse going on here and the BBC must be stopped. You can have access to anything you want but only if you buy a product you don't want from the BBC ? So let me get this straight because I am not sure about this article. As I see it I do need a license for a PC with broadband internet connection as it can receive live broadcasts ? I don’t own a TV. So basically if I don’t pay the BBC they are black mailing me by making me a criminal and denying my right to use my internet connection and mobile phone. Let me see that is blocking me associating with my contacts. Blocking me from free expression in forums. Blocking me access to information. Blocking me from banking shopping and any other activity I wish to do on my internet and mobile phone connections. How would one prove that one as not accessed a live stream or how can the BBC prove you have without legally accessing your ISP records. Remember as far a s TVL is concerned you are guilty till you can prove your innocence I can’t see any ISP handing over records legally. There is a serious human rights abuse going on here and the BBC must be stopped. You can have access to anything you want but only if you buy a product you don’t want from the BBC ?

]]> By: monkeyleader http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-53486 monkeyleader Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:59:43 +0000 http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-53486 My own recent thoughts on this http://www.nigelcooke.com/?p=342 Your post was very interesting as were a number of the comments ! cheers, Nige My own recent thoughts on this

http://www.nigelcooke.com/?p=342

Your post was very interesting as were a number of the comments !

cheers,

Nige

]]> By: kyb http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-50732 kyb Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:05:48 +0000 http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-50732 The BBC has it's own fund raising powers, specifically so that it can hold the government to account. If the fee was a normal part of income tax, the government could do whatever it liked with it with impunity. The BBC has it’s own fund raising powers, specifically so that it can hold the government to account. If the fee was a normal part of income tax, the government could do whatever it liked with it with impunity.

]]> By: Patrice Cameron http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-50724 Patrice Cameron Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:47:56 +0000 http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-50724 I think the most sensible option, given the very high user rates for BBC content (TV and Radio) is to have the current fees for licenses absorbed into income tax and specifically budgeted for the BBC. This is essentially what happens in Australia, the ABC gets funded by the government through taxes and can thus broadcast ad free content. I think the most sensible option, given the very high user rates for BBC content (TV and Radio) is to have the current fees for licenses absorbed into income tax and specifically budgeted for the BBC. This is essentially what happens in Australia, the ABC gets funded by the government through taxes and can thus broadcast ad free content.

]]> By: James Tatlow http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-50573 James Tatlow Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:21:45 +0000 http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-50573 I don't have a TV license. Its much cheaper to just buy the DVDs when they come out. There are only a few good programs which are worth watching so you save loads. Although now iPlayer has been invented you don't even need to do that! (although the good stuff I buy to watch again anyway) I don’t have a TV license. Its much cheaper to just buy the DVDs when they come out. There are only a few good programs which are worth watching so you save loads. Although now iPlayer has been invented you don’t even need to do that! (although the good stuff I buy to watch again anyway)

]]> By: Sarah Eggleston http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-48664 Sarah Eggleston Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:48:29 +0000 http://rooreynolds.com/2007/12/14/thoughts-on-tv-licensing/#comment-48664 PS In case it isn't obvious, I did own a licence at the time when I watched Planet Earth & Blue Planet. PS In case it isn’t obvious, I did own a licence at the time when I watched Planet Earth & Blue Planet.

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