If there's one thing that drives us absolutely bananas here at the TV Licensing Blog, it's the number of uninformed keyboard warriors rushing to defend the BBC and deny its association with TV Licensing.
For the avoidance of doubt: The BBC is TV Licensing.
The BBC knows fine well that TV Licensing is a despised menace, which is why it goes to great lengths to distance itself from the caustic TV Licensing brand.
You have to drill pretty deep into the TV Licensing website for acknowledgement of that fact, but here it is. Notice how there is no mention of the BBC on the readily available "About us" page of the TV Licensing website.
The BBC has been legally responsible for all aspects of administering and enforcing the TV licence fee for the past 20-years.
Sure, it contracts a series of private companies to do the dirty job of scaring the public and bullying money from them, but be under no illusion that the BBC retains full responsibility for all aspects of TV Licensing.
It inherited that responsibility from the Home Office under the terms of section 180 of the Broadcasting Act 1990. If you don't believe us, you can read the relevant legislation here for yourself.
So the next time someone comes out with "the BBC has nothing to do with TV Licensing" please set them straight. The BBC is TV Licensing. And the next time someone says "the TV Licensing Authority" remind them that legally speaking, it's the BBC that holds that title.
4 comments:
There's an aside here. If a Licensing goon turns up at your doorstep and you feel obliged to speak to them, ask who they work for. If they produce ID that says "TV Licensing, say that is not possible as "TV Licensing" is a registered trade mark of the BBC. So just keep asking them. If at some point they say "Capita" say the only person you would speak to is someone from the BBC. A high risk windup strategy but would at least waste their time and cut down on their daily commission.
Notwithstanding the above, the best strategy is to have absolutely nothing to do with them. Been doing that for 20 years.
http://www.proximitylondon.com/about-us/who-we-are/
"We embrace the massive responsibility of a database covering 20 million homes for TV Licensing."
So many fingers, so many pies.........
It's very notable that the BBC does not want to be associated with collecting the licence fee. As they say in their guidelines for the use of their brand:
"The TV Licensing brand is separate from the BBC brand. No link between the two brands should be made in customer facing communications, in particular, use of the BBC name and logo.
However, the BBC name and logo can be used on internal communications and in communication with suppliers. The name BBC TV Licensing may also be used within department names or job titles for BBC employees."
BBC TV Licensing also says: "We do not obfuscate, omit or spin." and "We never assume guilt."
However, their standard letters that they send to unlicenced properties lead up to one that is is clearly written to give the (wrong) impression that the recipient is about to be taken to court. It says: 'Dear Sir/Madam, you have not responded to our previous letters. We want to ensure you have the information you may need before a hearing is set at your local court'
If you're not connected to the Aerial (BBC Transmitter), you don't need a TV Licence since you're not buying any SERVICES from the BBC. Why should you pay for something you don't receive? You don't buy a Road Tax because you use the road not as a motorist.
A friend of mine has just had a hearing at the Magistrate Court. The case was dismissed against Capita after he presented his argument on Freedom to Choose your Supplier as in power(ENERGY) and communication (BT, O2, VOD, TALK TALK). He claimed he had the freedom to choose the supplier of his entertainment needs, including broadband services. He has no connection to TV Aerial. He receives his services via satellite dish hence pays Sky his Licence Fees! You may need to back up with Human Rights Acts - 8, 10, 18 (rebutting the 2003 communication Act). If you're connected to the BBC Aerial, you MUST PAY since you're buying services from the BBC; otherwise that would be Fraud!
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