How it Works: TV Detector Vans

[deptfordmarmoset]

I saw inside one of them back in the 70s. It looked like it had been made by the Doctor Who props guys in between series. In fact I think it probably was.

 

[Piemaster]

Isn't it more
Every household in UK - every household with a TV licence = households to hassle

There was a couple at a club I was a member of that didn't have a TV and frequently had visits, with inspectors peering through their windows trying to catch them.

There does seem to be a general effect that once the authorities have an idea in their collective heads they find it very difficult to change it.

 

[mark st1]

My dad used to drive round in a TV licence van back in the 80's. He was provided with the most up to date software on the market to catch the licence dodging public. Namely a big list printed out of all the houses that hadn't purchased a TV licence oh and a pair of eyes. Hi tech my ass !

 

[Davidc]

I very rarely watch TV and the cost was something I could do without when I moved home. If there's anything worth watching I go up the parents' or use the catchup services so I cancelled it.

I've had four or five letters since and filed them all in the bin without reply. A private company with whom I have no business needn't know my details and I resent being threatened with investigations and warrants for the crime of not plugging my TV/monitor into a receiver.

You need a TV licence for that.

It can be checked through your ISP.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

so if you only watch tv catch up via an app on your phone do you need a license?

I have a tv licence but mostly only watch via my phone, except for tonights football final withch is on the big screen...but i could easy live without the tv set if it saved the licence fee.



just read above post

 

[ColinJ]

You need a TV licence for that.

It can be checked through your ISP.

Astoundingly, you don't if you wait for the live broadcasts to finish and just watch the recorded versions!

A friend got rid of her TV when we went digital here and told me that she was going to just use iPlayer so she wouldn't need a licence. I told her that she was wrong. She insisted that she was right, so I looked it up - here. She was right!

 

[Goldcoast]

W

 

[Spinney]

I don;t think you DO need a licence for things like iPlayer, only to watch things when they are actually being broadcast.
(But I could be wrong....)

 

[Deleted member 23692]

I don;t think you DO need a licence for things like iPlayer, only to watch things when they are actually being broadcast.
(But I could be wrong....)

Nope, you're correct. You only need a license to watch programmes as they are broadcast, which includes iPlayer and the like.

 

[Globalti]

The day I saw one of these I suspected it was a fake:

 

[MontyVeda]

As I've not had a telly for the past 8 yrs and I thought I would have seen at least one checking me out in that time... but alas, all I get is a [sign and confirm] letter every 3 years and the continual 'threat of a visit'.

You're lucky... my supposed '3 year' no hassle guarantee ended after about 6 or 8 months, apparently i live in an area where people 'move a lot' so they simply assume I've moved are start sending threatening letters to 'the occupier' again. These days i just can't be arsed continually informing them of what i don't posses, so their threats just go in the bin... the recycling bin of course.

 

[Over The Hill]

You're lucky... my supposed '3 year' no hassle guarantee ended after about 6 or 8 months, apparently i live in an area where people 'move a lot' so they simply assume I've moved are start sending threatening letters to 'the occupier' again. These days i just can't be arsed continually informing them of what i don't posses, so their threats just go in the bin... the recycling bin of course.

My mother has been TVless for about 30 years (since the advent of swearing not being bleeped out probably) and has been hassled every year all that time. Even when she was 75 and could have a free licence they still sent her threatening letters and blokes peering in the house.

 

[Deleted member 23692]

When I first moved in I got endless letters telling me that I needed one, to which I replied that I didn't
Then I got a letter asking why I thought that.. my reply (in marker pen) was simply, " BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A F%&KING TELLY". They backed off after that!

There's an online no-telly declaration now so it's easy to get them to go away again.. I just make sure I give them my 'throw away' email address

 

[Custom24]

Sounds more like a TV for free life!

I see where you're coming from, but no it wasn't. We said "TV is crap, let's not have one". But then, between their threatening letters and her missing the aforementioned crap, she rescinded.

 

[Custom24]

The day I saw one of these I suspected it was a fake:

A TV detector van and a speed camera van. Was this at a most unpopular jobs fair, or something?