Well that's Christmas all over bar the shouting. It's been another year of festive overindulgence, woeful repeat TV and spending way too much. Thank goodness it's only once a year!
One of the best things about Christmas is picking up a bargain in the end of year sales. It's been a terrible year for business, so a lot of retailers are wanting to shift as much stock as possible. Plenty of real bargains are to be had if you know where to look (our Amazon shop is a good place to start).
If you're thinking of snapping up new television equipment remember not to let your personal information fall into the evil clutches of TV Licensing. Time and time again we have seen how TV Licensing use people's personal information to intimidate and harass them, quite often when there are no grounds for them to do that. As I type this I am aware of several campaigns TV Licensing are running around the country, which are purely designed to intimidate legitimate non-TV users who have shown vocal opposition to the licence fee (look out for their plain white VW Transporter vans, usually crewed by a couple of lard arses quaffing doughnuts).
The law requires retailers notify the Licensing Authority, the BBC, of the sale or lease of every piece of TV receiving or recording equipment. However, as TV Licensing has confirmed to us, there is no legal obligation on the retailer to verify the details given. Furthermore, the person making the purchase is under no obligation to give the correct details.
Most shop assistants are unaware of the full intracacies of TV licence law and will probably refuse the transaction if you openly refuse to give your details. That being the case the best option is to provide them with some misleading information instead.
Most shop assistants are unaware of the full intracacies of TV licence law and will probably refuse the transaction if you openly refuse to give your details. That being the case the best option is to provide them with some misleading information instead.
If you're making a television purchase this festive season take our advice: Pay with cash and go armed with an alternative postcode (your local swimming pool or whatever).
Happy shopping!
Edit (25/6/13): Due to a recent change in the law, retailers are no longer required to inform TV Licensing about the sale of TV receiving equipment. That said, we are unfortunately aware that some retailers are still attempting to collect information. Further information in this post.
Edit (25/6/13): Due to a recent change in the law, retailers are no longer required to inform TV Licensing about the sale of TV receiving equipment. That said, we are unfortunately aware that some retailers are still attempting to collect information. Further information in this post.
2 comments:
I wonder what thr legal situation would be if the only address offered by the purchaser was "I live on the moooooooon!"
The shop assistant would probably refuse to process the transaction.
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