Not for the first time we have heard how innocent non-TV users are being terrorised in their homes by perhaps the most heinous TV Licensing letter so far.
The letter, shown above, is designed to intimidate TV Licensing non-respondents by threatening them with court action, for an offence they probably haven't committed. Their only "crime" is to have ignored TV Licensing's previous requests for information - despite the Licensing Authority, the BBC, having confirmed that non-TV users are under no obligation to respond to any of TV Licensing's mailings.
The law requires that a licence is obtained for any device that is "installed or used" for "receiving or recording a television programme at the same time (or virtually the same time) as it is by members of the public". If equipment isn't used for that purpose then the property does not need to be licensed - end of.
The BBC and TV Licensing would do well to re-read and understand that legislation, which was set in a plane well above their own. Unfortunately TV Licensing, with its misguided impression that no-one could possibly survive without televisual stimulation, tend to assume that anyone failing to pay the fee is an evader.
For anyone left in any doubt at all, the way the BBC and TV Licensing enforce the licence fee is truly despicable. As we have seen time and time again they hide behind legal jargon, half-truths and veiled threats to coerce licence fee payment, often where none is due. If you ask them any uncomfortable questions about the seemingly indiscriminate way they enforce the fee then they hide behind the law to avoid answering. This is despite the BBC Trust saying it would take action to temper TV Licensing's accusatory tone.
Imagine your elderly relatives, enjoying a perfectly legal TV-free existence, received a letter like this designed to put them at their wits' end. I for one would not be happy.
14 comments:
Television Licencing threatening mail.
The threatening mail originates from a source in east London, Team 365, Unit 80, London Industrial Estate, Roding Road, Becton London, E6 6LS. It is a small industral area at the far end of Roding Road. There is a gate that is open and unattended and is the only way to drive onto the Estate. Number 80 is a short way down on the right. It is where the "Enforcement Officers" hang out, as I found out when one of them turned his car around and wanted to know why I was taking photographs of his car and the area. Team 365 is or was associated with another with the name Equipe 52 and has its offices in a shady looking building in the Grays Inn area. The infomation can be found on the internet.
Entered by Alvin.
Useful information Alvin. Is that where Proximity London, who previously unceremoniously booted for telling lies in TVL mailings, run their operation?
Does this mean you need a licence to watch the ITVplayer online for live programmes? Not that I would get one. I've always needed air, food, sleep etc, but I've never needed a TV licence.
Technically speaking, you do need a licence to watch live-streamed content via ITV Player.
I believe they describe needing a license for 'near live' streaming, which I think is watching a program whilst it is still being broadcast for 'real tv' viewers; as long as you are watching after the broadcast proper has completed, you do *not* need a license.
:-D
Of course they want to intimidate TV Licensing non-respondents.
They've publicly stated as much.
From the Select Committee on Public Accounts:-
"192. What I do not understand is why we have 3.5 million visits. Why cannot we just use vans? Would that not be more cost effective?
(Mr Smith) No. What you really need is a whole package of things that add to the picture of making people feel uncomfortable."
Hi, I've just received this letter but it is simply addressed to the legal occupier as they don't have my details.
I don't have a tv and don't stream live content so don't see why I need to respond to their intimidation letters.
Could anyone be kind enough to advise me on how to deal with this intimidation? How can they take me to court if they don't have my details? Also, how can they take me to court if they have no evidence (and will find no evidence) I need a tv licence.
Hello Anon.
As a legitimate non-TV viewer you have no legal business with TV Licensing so can simply ignore their letters.
TV Licensing threatograms are nothing more than a kite-flying exercise. They hope their hot air, bluster and bullshit will scare people into paying. They aren't bothered whether the person actually needs a TV licence or not.
Much more info in our free ebook, which I'd encourage you to download and share with your friends.
Hah! Just received this letter today. It is the fifth letter. We live in a new build house, first to live here. Three letters arrived before we'd even viewed the house, quite threatening.
What makes us laugh is simply looking at the house you can see there is no aerial, sky dish, cable box, etc. In fact, given the previous letters, they hadn't even checked to see if anyone lived here! Now we're receiving threats over an assumed crime, when we don't watch TV. Surely, if another body acted like this, assuming an offence without any evidence at all, there would be uproar. But apparently the TVL folks believe themselves above the law.
With ref to the letter, who are they taking to court ?....there is no name on the letter.
I have had the exact same treatment from the bristol Enforcement division. My name is mr. Rogers, I need to somehow get this monkey off of my back!!! ????
I have been harassed by the So called TV licensing Enforcement Division, since 2015, when I moved to my new property. Though I have always payed my TV licence all my adult life! I am so stressed by their threats of investigation and county courts and leaving me no one to phone, i.e.; a number to call and get answers from. I am already on antidepressants from my dr's let alone many other issues that I have to deal with on a day to day basis. Please can someone throw me a line before I do something that I'll regret! Thanks!!
I am at my wits end!
Hello Roy and thanks for your comments. Sorry to hear that the bastards at TV Licensing are grinding you down. The reason TV Licensing is so aggressive is because it wants to scare everyone into compliance - even those that do not need a TV licence. It is far easier, from TV Licensing's point of view, to send out a lot of threats and harangue people via their letterboxes, than it is to actually do any proper investigation work. If you don't need a TV licence you should just ignore them. Honestly. Just put every letter in the bin and do not give them a second thought. As you're within the law, they cannot have anything over you - despite what they might pretend.
Please download and read our free ebook.
Chin up and good luck.
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