TV Licensing: Same Old Threats, Different Headline

We have just become aware of a new variant of TV Licensing threatogram that has entered circulation.

The letter begins with a bold four sentence headline. The first three sentences, at least in TV Licensing's depraved mind, are some of the benefits of having a TV licence. The fourth sentence is the bold red-letter threat common in most of TV Licensing's caustic correspondence.

Unfortunately the copy we have been forwarded is very poor quality, so we reproduce the text below in full. We'd be grateful to any reader who can send us a suitably redacted high resolution version.

=====

A thrilling live nature show.

A mouthwatering baking final.

A winning goal in the big game.

A fine of up to £1,000 without a TV Licence.

Dear Sir / Madam,

Nothing beats your favourite live TV.

But whether you're watching on a big screen or a laptop, you'll need a TV Licence.

And not just for the BBC.

You need to be covered by a TV Licence to watch or record programmes live on any channel or device, stream programmes live through an online TV service, or download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer.

Get caught breaking the law, and you could face prosecution* and a fine of up to £1,000. There is a 93%** conviction rate for licence evasion cases determined by the courts in England and Wales.

Buy your TV Licence today at tvl.co.uk/pay

Or call 0300 790 6015.

To find out when you need a TV Licence, as well as your payment options, please turn over.

*In Scotland, Scottish criminal law applies. A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal, who will decide on prosecution.

**Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly, December 2019 - Ministry of Justice.

=====

So what happens, we hear you ask, if a person ignores the threats and fails to respond?

Absolutely nothing is the answer. The letters will continue to arrive every month; perhaps a TV Licensing goon with very few rights will attempt to visit; and then the cycle will eventually restart all over again.

Even if a person decides to humour TV Licensing by getting in touch, it will probably be a wasted effort. A quick glance at TV Licensing's Twitter feed aptly demonstrates how it continues to harass legitimate non-viewers, even after being informed about their no-TV status.

A TV licence is only needed for those properties where equipment is used to receive TV programme services or BBC on-demand programmes via the iPlayer. Anyone who doesn't need a TV licence, is under no legal obligation at all to communicate or co-operate with TV Licensing - they don't need to provide any assistance or information to TV Licensing.

We strongly recommend non-viewers ignore TV Licensing entirely: simply keep quiet, bin its threatograms and leave its employees out in the cold. Most people who fall foul of TV Licensing have made the mistake of saying the wrong thing, thus incriminating them self. Totally blanking TV Licensing and saying nothing is by far the most effective approach.

Communicating with TV Licensing is a totally futile effort, so it's better to spend your time in more productive ways (like by reading our free ebook).

A few general points to conclude with:

• The wording of every TV Licensing letter is approved by the BBC. The BBC has been told, on numerous occasions, that TV Licensing letters cause real anguish to people who do not legally require a TV licence.
• The BBC's response is: "We do not agree that TV Licensing letters are threatening or intimidating".
• TV Licensing goons only work certain hours during the week, as discussed in a previous article.
• TV Licensing goons have no special legal rights or authority. They are just another cold caller to a person's home and can be treated as such.
• TV Licensing goons cannot be trusted. They receive a financial incentive for selling licences and "nabbing" evaders, which has resulted in several of them fiddling the books and stitching up innocent householders. TV Licensing goons have been convicted of work-related crimes up to and including rape (see here, here and here for the tip of the iceberg).

If you've found this article useful please support us by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter or downloading our free ebook.