I don't have a TV. Quite a few people

[Rapunzel61]

think this is odd. And I'm yet to convince the license people I haven't got one. 'You have a TV and are watching it at the moment' they say
'come in and knock yourselves out trying to find it' said I the last time. After looking around and asking what's in every bloomin' cupboard I have (and then looking in them) going up stairs the guy pointed to the loft hatch with his pen and asked 'What's up there?' 'A water tank, a few old tea chests and some old packing cases - and a wasps nest, but you can go ahead and look'. He did so and found nothing. I've lived here 4 years now, and this is their 7th visit, I wouldn't let them in one time as I had an appointment I didn't want to break, at what stage do I call time on this ridiculous situation and it becomes harassment?

[paddywak]

I had the same problem some years ago, until I won a telly in a raffle and became addicted again, after possibly the sixth or seventh visit I wrote them a nasty letter stating that if it happened again the next letter would be from my solicitor. It must have worked in that they stopped calling at the house though they often drove by in the detector van which in those days was easily recognised by the array of aerials.It was the joke in the pub that ours was the only estate in the country without a licence dodger as the licence police spent that much time on it trying to catch me

[weecalf]

Tell them its Pointles & News to you ,What a Carry on .Tell them you are Not going out.until Breakfasttime ad if you had a television it would Go under the hammer.

[Gromit]

I went without a TV for a couple of years. I did not get any visits in person, but had numerous letters and telephone calls. Rather than annoy me, I used to take it as a joke and tease them. They would invariably phone at 7.40pm on monday (it was deliberately timed). I used say things like "No I don't have a TV and can you hurry up Corrie is on".

[B00]

Is 7 times in 4 years excessive?

Still trying ot wrap my head around not having a TV. What does all your furniture in your living room point towards then?

[THECORBYLOON]

Mecca?

[B00]

A bingo hall TCL? Bit dull viewing innit?

[vallaw]

It seems that TV licensing is one of those cases where you are guilty until proved innocent. Why don't they admit that it's just another form of tax? If it really is a broadcast receiving license, why does it all go to the BBC?

[ubasses]

Have an uncle in his 80's he has never had a tv lin his life and both he and his wife never intend to have one. On the last visit from the men in the van, he asked them if they were calling him a liar and a cheat, very embarassed they said no. So his answer was then why did they think he had a TV. Red faced, no answer. They have not been back. The letter they get each year goes straight in the bin.

[snags]

You don't even have to let them in. TV Inspectors have no legal rights beyond that of any member of the public... they have no more right to enter your home or question you about your television than your postman or dentist, without obtaining a Warrant.

Have a read of the links down the left hand side of this site:

http://www.televisionlicence.info/

[THECORBYLOON]

vallaw, ITV and other broadcasters who advertise, charge for the adverts. How do you think the manufacturers recoup their advertising budgets?

[snags]

We don't have a tv or any recieving equipment either. We filled in the form stating this (found in the following link) and had a letter saying all was fine and the letters stopped...

http://www.tvlicensin...-is-not-needed-top12/

[snags]

And one more thing: having a tv is irrelevant. It is whether you use it to receive 'live' broadcasts that is important. You 'do not' need a licence if you only use your tv for watching videos or playing a games console or watching 'catch up' tv, such as iPlayer...

[Arksided]

Years ago... I'd just moved into a new flat I'd been there for about three weeks before a TV licence inspector called asking if I was using a TV or Radio (Way before phones etc... became under the TVL fee) to which panic stricken I lied a simple 'no' then quite clearly in the background the dulcet sound of Coronation street started playing. The fella gave a wry smile and was I informed that I would have four weeks to acquire one. It was a moment I couldn't escape from. Funny on reflection though.

[Rapunzel61]

Ubasses - can't they tell the age of your uncle? - after 75 you don't have to have a license - I only know this as my parents have n exemption letter.

[JonnyBoy12]

You have other ways to amuse yourself then, I presume? I used to have this problem as my family did not have a TV for many years. We used to get asked why we had no licence but strangely enough they believed us and never once came to our house and nosed round.

Do not worry, rapunzel, they can not find you if they do not find a TV set and even then it has to be plugged in and operating. If it is not then they do not have a case against you. Can anyone else back me up on this one?

[Rapunzel61]

Yup jonnyboy, my hubby and I have our own businesses. when I finish of an evening, i go over to hubbys place, play secretary for him as he hasn't got one, or i fill in the audit books or do ordering. then we go for something to eat, by the time we get home it's gone 10, hubby has a shower, I have a bath and it's bedtime weekends we go see friends and family, Sundays are just for the two of us, we go out for lunch, go to the cinema or theatre, or just mooch around antique shops and such!

[britannica]

Rapunzel 61 I am a TV less person over 75 but I do not have an exemption letter. As far as I know, you have to have a licence to get an exemption from having a licence. Their logic is amazing!
It was in 1975 when my B/W TV breathed its last and it would have been too expensive to repair it and so I thought that I would wait until the next year and get one for the Olympics but next year has never come. I used to get letters until the guy had a look. Several people I know live in this world without a goggle box and they have all had abuse and visits so take heart.

[Ann]

My brother doesn't have one either - he is just not interested in watching any programme. I think he had a visit too and they seemed amazed that anyone would not have one!

[scotman]

When I first moved into my own place I did not have a TV for about 2 years. I received 1 visit from licensing people. I informed them that i did not have a TV and they went away. Sometimes I long for those days again.