We often mention that anyone that doesn't need a TV licence is under no legal obligation at all to confirm their circumstances to TV Licensing.
Even so, we're pretty sure that there must be some people hoodwinked into believing that TV Licensing - with its caustic correspondence and pretentious air of authority - has the right to demand information from TV-free folks. It really doesn't, as we keep on saying, but you don't need to take our word for it. Here's what the Secretary of State said on the matter in response to a recent Parliamentary written question:
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Rob Flello, Labour, Stoke-on-Trent South:
- To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what legal powers TV Licensing have to compel an occupier who does not have television receiving equipment to notify TV Licensing that no television licence is required.
- There are no legal powers to compel an occupier to notify TV licensing that no TV licence is required. All TV Licensing letters ask people who don’t need a licence to get in touch in order to update their records.
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Mr Flello, who clearly has some constituents pissed off with TV Licensing, also asked the following question:
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Rob Flello, Labour, Stoke-on-Trent South:
- To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has received any representations about the tone of letters sent by TV Licensing to occupiers who do not have television receiving equipment but who choose not to notify TV Licensing of that fact.
Matthew Hancock, Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport):
- We have received one representation about the tone of letters sent by TV Licensing to an occupier who did not have television receiving equipment but who chose not to notify TV Licensing of that fact.
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Only one person has complained to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport about the tone of TV Licensing's menacing enquiries? We find that hard to believe.
It's about time we upped that number, so instead of complaining to the BBC - which is a total waste of time, as it thinks TV Licensing is entirely justified to act in the manner it does - why not write to the DCMS instead?
The address is:
Department for Culture, Media & Sport
100 Parliament Street
London
SW1A 2BQ
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Good idea! I have today written. I tried to put the text of the letter on here but received an error message saying that there were too many characters(!).
ReplyDeleteI will write to them asking them whether they intend covering current events in Mexico in an honest and non biased fashion as they are on the brink of a revolution according to Waking Times who have also stated that NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT IT.The BBC is quick to hound, harass and use underhanded tactics to extort money, as they continually fail to present news as it is happening around the globe. Filtered news from the MSM is not what licence fee payers should receive. They must be told the complete truth. Licence fee payers should be compensated where it is found that the BBC are not providing the services they claim to provide. The BBC must not be allowed to get away with a flamboyant lifestyle whilst they repeatedly tell us what they want us to know which is not the same as what is actually happening in our world.
ReplyDeleteJust sent this off via email,
ReplyDeleteDear Sir/Madam/Ms,
Could you please confirm whether I have any legal obligation to respond to Capita Business Services Ltd. trading as TV Licensing mailshots?
Regards,