I don't have a TV Licence

[Champagne]

I haven't had a TV set for the past 5 years and therefore do not require a TV Licence. However, I thought that I would have had a surprise visit by now from the TV licensing people at least once in the 5 years as they tend to indicate that they are clamping down on licence-evaders. After all, how do they know that I'm telling the truth? Is this an indication that they actually have no ability of checking who does or does not own a TV, and therefore have the rely on people's integrity?

[bellasasha]

how on earth have you lived 5 yrs without a tv?? i am addicted to tv...very sad i know!!

[gammaray]

It's true. They can't tell by sitting outside in a van. Just in the same way as the DVLA don't know where are the untaxed cars are. If they did why do they put a "shop your neighbour" telephone number on screen!

[tonymclark]

I have to say, I lived without TV for about 6 years in the 1980's.

I believe that when someone buys a TV and/or DVD player, they have to give their name and address. This information is passed on the see if that person has a TV licence. If you bought a TV and there was no licence registered to your address, I'm sure they would investigate.

[bellasasha]

i must be really thick!!! i thought they knew who was receiving a link thru their aerial via computer!! god i'm a dumbass!!

[Champagne]

I'm living proof of this gammaray. Aside from the standard issue "we may send a representative to your home to ensure that you do not own a tv" letter I haven't heard a peep from them!

p.s. Bellasasha - it's easy. I simply watch tv through other people's living room windows. ;o)

[bellasasha]

lol @champagne!!

[aka pixi]

I got caught by the tv licence people when I was about 18. He caught me on the friday and told me to get a licence by the monday or he would put it through court. It was bank holiday on the monday so I bought the licence on the tuesday. The little weasel still put it through court and I got fined �30.00 :(

[aka pixi]

oops sorry meant to say that tonymclark is right. My mate bought a tv about 15 years ago and gave my name and address for it to be delivered cos she knew i had a licence the cheeky sod lol

[dot.hawkes]

I bought a new license in the middle of march and quite happily thought that I didn't have to think about it again for a year, yesterday i got a letter off them telling me I hadn't actually had a valid license since last August and this new one now runs out at the end of this July not next February! What a nuisance! They say they can legally do this under some Government legislation! I wish I had paid more attention to my letters last year, thay say they sent me a couple!

[chazza]

The whole system is messed up. For 8 months we got letters from the TV Licensing company saying that we were going to get visited and fined as we had no license.

Of course we had one all the time, and no-one came near us, they just sent the personalised letters for the sake of ti!

[sarah_03uk]

haha champagne!...

thats tv licence invasion, its not fair, its not right, and its against the law!

im amazed i still remember that advert!!

[mata hari]

What happened to "Dave" ?

[robbo82]

They have equipment for monitoring which houses are receiving a TV reception, and therefore know that you don't own a TV. They would only come round if they detected you had a TV but don't have a valid licence for it. Just after moving into our house last year (before getting a licence), we came back from holiday with a note from the TV licence people saying they'd called, and, had we been in, we would have been liable for a fine. We only got away with it because we were away at the time! We now have a licence.

[Veggibear]

Does that mean you never listen to the radio either?

[Mattk]

do you own a radio ? you need a license for that surely ?

[Mattk]

sorry veggie - just read your post ! sorry to piggy back !

[mydogsandme]

champagne- is it you with the tattoo on your face? You probably just sit and stare at that instead..

[Ethel]

Years ago I didn't have a licence - but did have a tv.

Three times they caught me receiving the signal, each time I gave them admittance and each time they could not find my tv.

I eventually gave in and bought a licence. They knew I was watching tv, they knew I didn't have a licence - but they could not prove that I had a tv.

[lankeela]

Ethel was it hidden in Little Willie's basket?

[Champagne]

FYI, radio only licences were abolished in February 1971. So I'm fine.

Actually, I must mention that after moving into my property and receiving various TV Licensing letters, I did call them to explain that I didn't own a tv set. They were absolutely fine with that and just asked me to contact them if ever that changes.