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Does anybody know if I get rid of the telly would there be any circumstances where I still have to pay for a TV License?
Thanks
As long as you dont have any television reception equipment (includes computer TV cards) then you dont have to pay, unless you have already been caught without one and they have said you need to pay.
I’m quite lucky as have never been caught without one, and never bought one, I generally disagree with the principal of it, the sooner they do away with the TV license the better.
I seem to remember something about you are still due a licence fee if you watch "TV" though your computer
yes I read that too Kevin, but I think you need a licence if you watch live t.v. via the p.c. as opposed to repeats, like ATR’s replays for instance.
I don’t think you need a licence for that but it’s all very confusing and not something they want us to find out too much about I feel.This is the "official line":-
"You must be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record television programmes as they’re being shown on TV. It makes no difference what equipment you use – whether it’s a laptop, PC, mobile phone, digital box, DVD recorder or a TV set – you still need a licence.
You do not need a TV Licence to view video clips on the internet, as long as what you are viewing is not being shown on TV at the same time as you are viewing it.
If you use a digital box with a hi-fi system, or another device that can only be used to produce sounds and can’t display TV programmes, and you don’t install or use any other TV receiving equipment, you don’t need a TV Licence."
Regards – Matron
Thanks,
So from the offical line am I right in thinking that if I were to ONLY use a computer to watch ‘live’ racing on Betfair I would need a license.
This does seem right to me. How can the BBC justify collecting this payment under those circumstances?
I might be wrong here but I think live racing from Betfair is not live "TV". I would be peeved if I had to pay a licence just to watch live racing from Betfair and nothing else. The argument that you could use the same technology to watch live "TV" might count against you i.e. who would know if you were watching other stuff.
The other argument would be that that was rather sad (no offence meant) if that was the only thing you watched.
The other argument would be that that was rather sad (no offence meant) if that was the only thing you watched.
Well it’s not the only thing…also the football from that Chinese website thingy.
What about next year’s celebrity big brother Pompete?
looks like it’s just going to be me i have to beat in the nominations competition then
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
What about listening to the radio?
No longer required Mo, although those of us of a certain age may well remember a separate radio licence.
Actually one of the best ways to get harassed like a criminal in this country is not to have a TV Licence.
I actually ditched the TV for a few years as I was fed up with the rubbish on it – the constant harassment I had from the TV Licencing people was unbelievable.They just would not and could not accept I had got rid of my television.
It got so bad I actually had to get my solicitor involved to get them to back off – that managed to get them off my back to just a once a year check rather than one every six weeks or so,
Also when I worked for the BBC back in the 80’s I was told on day one that the only way you could effectively get instantly dismissed from the Beeb was not having a TV Licence.
Also when I worked for the BBC back in the 80’s I was told on day one that the only way you could effectively get instantly dismissed from the Beeb was not having a TV Licence.
No mention of harrassing burlesque dancers or their elderly relatives, no?
Good point Nathan I hadn’t thought about that
That’s interesting Paul because we’ve got friends that got rid of their telly about a year ago and for about the last six months (since the old license ran out) have had at least one letter a month and have been visited on no less than four occasions by the TV Licensing Authority. Now, I should make it absolutely clear these are law-abiding citizens who simply don’t have a telly and are not in anyway attempting not to pay for something they receive.
However, as you say Paul, are currently being made to feel like criminals. Personally, I think the way they are being treated is bordering on harassment and possibly a criminal offence in itself (but that’s a different story). Also, it seems as if they have been lied to on more than one occasion with regard to what they can and can’t do, for example they were told if they have a broadband connection they are liable for a TV License, which is not true but left them a one stage concerned to even turn on the computer.
Re the Betfair thing. I think Betfair get their pictures straight from ATR & RUK which are being shown ‘live’ on telly at the time…so I suspose a license would be needed
Have to pay a fortune to have a radio on at work I understand…our practice manager phoned me up the other day to find out if I had music on at the surgery; I replied that I did sing occasionaly but didn’t think that would count.
Have to pay a fortune to have a radio on at work I understand…our practice manager phoned me up the other day to find out if I had music on at the surgery
I heard a stange thing on the radio just before christmas. A caller into Radio 5 said that she had been told she was not allowed to play Christmas music in the charity shop where she worked. Not as she orginally thought because of the PC brigade but because the shop didn’t have a Public Entertainment Licsense (or whatever it’s called). To get one costs about a grand or something like that.
I didn’t believe her at the time but apparently it’s true – what sort of madness is this
I remember when the Public Entertainment License came out, apparently it goes towards the acts that are being played or something along those lines, but just sounded like another brown-esque revenue generator to me.
I heard a stange thing on the radio just before christmas. A caller into Radio 5 said that she had been told she was not allowed to play Christmas music in the charity shop where she worked. Not as she orginally thought because of the PC brigade but because the shop didn’t have a Public Entertainment Licsense (or whatever it’s called). To get one costs about a grand or something like that.
I didn’t believe her at the time but apparently it’s true – what sort of madness is this
.. it’s jobs worth clip board time ..
When my Grandad went into a home about 18 months ago, after the Hull floods my Mother became legally responsible for him. She had to get a solicitor involved as well, due the hounding from the arseholes at licencing. No matter how many times she explained that the house was empty, unihabitable. The final straw was when she got a letter saying, ‘You are to attend the court and you will be fined £1000 wether you appear or not .. ‘.
She told me you have to apply to some department twice a year to be exempt from paying the licence or you are liable to pay it.
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