TV licence letter

[V8MoneyPit]

Anyone else had one of these chaser letters? We don't have any need for a licence at work and the TV licencing department send the most aggresive letter you have ever seen assuming that you are a crook and should have a licence  Every sentence in the letter seems to assume you should have a licence and that you will be investigated if you say you don't need one!

What ever happened to 'innocent until proven guilty'? I'm of a mind to complain, but not sure who I should approach. I don't think trading standards are the appropriate authority. Any ideas?

[Rich_P]

What ever happened to 'innocent until proven guilty'?

That disappeared under Phoney Bliar among the biased Media from all sides that act as the judge now.  :roll:

[Gordo]

Just ring them up and tell them you don't have a TV.

When I moved house I got a letter from them saying that even although I hold a licence they were sending an inspector to visit, so I put the kettle on and got the chocolate biscuits out - only to find out, when I phoned them, that it was a mistake...  :roll:

Since responsibility for the licences moved to a private company, who I assume have some sort of detection target rate, they have got a lot more aggressive.

[mike142sl]

Just write back saying you have no intention of buying a licence - don't tell them you don't have a TV, and let them do a lot of running around - then take pics of them trying to find your TV and post them on here so we can have a laugh as well.

[muddyjames]

I got one saying that they will be keeping an eye on the place and watching to see if I have a tv. I thought fantastic, no worries about being broken into then!

I rang them up and said I have no tv and the letters stopped. I dont know if they did ever sit outside and watch the house for me. I would recomend they watch a tv instead of my house. Much more goes on, on tv!!! :lol:

[Mud_Medic]

If they are going to keep a check on you, time to ask if they have applied for permission under Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (Commonly known as a RIPA)

Also remember, television licence people do not have right of access to your property, so you are within your powers to refuse them access to you property, or ask them to leave at any time. If they refuse... call the police.

Ed

[LiftedDisco]

If you think the first letter is aggressive, just wait for the rest - there is a whole series of them as I discovered when Mum died...

The best bit was that she qualified for an age related free licence so I suppose our mistake was writing to advise that she had died and we had all sorts of threats that they would gain permission to force entry (to an empty flat...) and so on.

When I rang to remonstrate (very cool and British about the whole thing...  :troll:, ](*,) ), I was told that they would note this... but that the letters would only cease for 6 months as this was 'how the system was set up...'

Long live bureacracy...

[V8MoneyPit]

Yeah, I remember it from when I did without a telly for a couple of years. As you say, even if you tell them you are not required to have a licence, the letters keep coming.

One thing that bugs me is that it is our licence fees that are being used to send out these insulting letters instead of being used to produce half decent programmes.

There is a great 'catch you out' question on the form you have to return too. One of the options to tick is "I do not require a licence because the receiving equipment on these premises is not being used to view TV programmes". If I remember correctly, the licence is required if there are receivers kept on the property. Not whether you use them or not.

[Range Rover Blues]

Anyone else had one of these chaser letters? We don't have any need for a licence at work and the TV licencing department send the most aggresive letter you have ever seen assuming that you are a crook and should have a licence  Every sentence in the letter seems to assume you should have a licence and that you will be investigated if you say you don't need one!

What ever happened to 'innocent until proven guilty'? I'm of a mind to complain, but not sure who I should approach. I don't think trading standards are the appropriate authority. Any ideas?

I've got an empty house and I still get the threatening, accusing letters and I've stopped bothering to respond now.  Let them come, waste their time and see there is no TV, it won't stop the letters though.

If they do turn up, demand to see a search warrant before you let them in.  They can't do anything unless they catch you watching a TV and they either have to have your permission to enter or a warrant, for which I believe they have to demonstrate a reasonable suspicion.

[BorisSpencer]

I got the same treatment at the unit I run as a hockey club.
I have been meaning to keep a bit of flex with a plug on the end by the door. If they ever call, I can re-enact the scene with Vivian in the young ones, and claim to have eaten the television.

[Range Rover Blues]

 :lol:

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