The continuing saga of TV Licensing harassment has reared its ugly head again over at thedailynag blog.
The author, who you might remember published a whole string of correspondence with TV Licensing, recently moved home to find a pile of TV Licensing calling cards on their doormat. Rightly annoyed that their first memory of their new home will be hollow TV Licensing threats and lies they decided to contact the errant organisation to express their displeasure. This culminated in them withdrawing TV Licensing's common law right to access their property (read our earlier post about WOIRA).
A lot of people don't realise that TV Licensing visiting officers have no more rights to access their property than anyone else. A common law right exists that allows delivery people and suchlike access from the garden gate to the front door by the most direct route, but this right can be removed by the legal occupier at any time. The legal occupier does not need to sign or give their name for the request to be valid, despite what TV Licensing imply to the contrary. If TV Licensing break this statutory instruction they are guilty of trespass, which could be pursued under civil law. If they break the instruction and intimidate the legal occupier by hammering on their door or shouting through the letterbox, as they're known to do, then they are guilty of the criminal offence of aggravated trespass.
thedailynag's author informed TV Licensing on 17th October that he/she was removing their common law right of access to the property. Two days later, in direct contravention of his/her lawful instruction, a TV Licensing employee trespassed onto the property to establish the legal occupier's earlier no-TV declaration was truthful.
Another glaring example of TV Licensing thinking they're above the law. They're not and every now and then they need a firm public reminder of that.
Loving your blog, power to the people lol! I'm almost enjoying my stand off's with TV Licensing now, knowing that I have the upper-hand, it's just a matter of time until they learn to leave people alone and stop doing all they can to squeeze pennies out of them. harassment included! Thanks again for the mention, there's nothing like sharing information to empower people against money-grabbing corporations who'd go to any extent to get their cut, even if it means using marketing strategies which involve clearly lying to the general public.
ReplyDeleteThanks again,
Your comrade at thedailynag!
Keep up the good fight hypnagogic and all the best to you!
ReplyDelete@TV Licensing: Your no BS postings are full of good info for people trying to deal with letters/visits from TV Licensing. Kudos!!
:-)))
You guys might be interested to know that TVL have now trespassed for what I count to be a third time, this one being at my new property. I specifically withdrew their implied right of access and they still popped round, this time admitting it was an error on their behalf that their records were not updated and offering me a measly £75 as a 'goodwill' gesture. You can read about it here: http://thedailynag.wordpress.com/ and hopefully, give me some advice on what to do!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your recent comment hypnagogic.
ReplyDeleteAs you will have noticed, we have also left comments on your recent blog post about TV Licensing's offer to you.
Our advice: As TV Licensing are attempting to silence you by offering you £75 of licence fee payer's money, they are obviously acknowledging the fact that their continued harassment/trespass is unlawful.
Please pursue them as far as you can!