Television License Enforcement Agency Trouble

[xraanswerban]

For many years now my brother in York has had lots of trouble with the Television license enforcement agency.
They insist that he purchases a Television License, this insistence is backed up with threatening letters, even threats to break into his home.

Is there anything he can do.
the police don't want to know even though it's making him ill.

Before anyone asks, he has NO television in his home.

[ichkeria]

Contact them to tell them he has no TV? I worked with these people once (it was CAPITA at the time) and they had no power of entry to anyone's home. All they could do was threaten court action with persistent offenders.
Misunderstandings sometimes arise over new addresses and changes of occupancy.

[frugalfred]

Write to his MP, including as much detail as possible, letters received, dates of visits, etc.

[China Doll]

Has he completed a form? We have a telly but it's impossible to get a signal in our flat so is only used for DVDs. We filled in an online form and a fella came round, we told him if he could get the telly to work then we'd happily pay ths license.... never had any trouble from them since.

[factor-fiction]

I know some people have been on here about the problems they had but the young factors-fictions found there was no problem after they filled a declaration in.

[heathfield]

The license is for the use of an apparatus capable of receiving a television broascast. This includes computers, where live brroadcasts can be viewed. If he has a computer, it would be difficult for him to prove that he never ever used it for watching live TV...

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one

[flump1]

I feel his frustration, i suffered the same endless tirade. Keep all corespondence, photocopy it if possible then write a letter advising that if this harrassing does not stop within ( insert time frame ) you will be seeking legal advice. They are bullies.

[heathfield]

(Must clean my keyboard !)

[China Doll]

We have three laptops, two smart phones and a tab all capable of picking up TV signal... we still haven't had a problem with the license people.

[flump1]

Hi CD, when I lived alone I had no devices indoors and was still harrassed regularly ! I even received letter saying the equipment I had recently bought at the local Tesco store needed a license. Huh ?? Since when did pasta and chicken need it ???

[shoota]

How old is he?
If he's over 75 he becomes eligible for a free one anyway.

[China Doll]

Odd! Can hand on heart say we've had no problems and found them easy go deal with.... maybe it's differant in other parts of the country?

[xraanswerban]

Thanks everyone for the information.

[sir.prize]

Tell your bro to offer them a box of chocolates to go away. :o)