The TV Nazi's

[PpPete]

I like telly.
If I didn't have a tv I wouldn't have seen Sherlock and that woman in the nuddy last week.

Bugger! missed that !

 

[MontyVeda]

afaik some double up as freeview receivers Some, not all. If it doesnt have a tuner, it doesn't need a licence

,besides if you have a dvd player then the odds are you have a TV see below

They do,you can access iplayer I don't look at iplayer often which explains why i haven't noticed the watch live TV button

If it as no web browser then it is old. If a mere web browser was grounds for needing a TV licence, why don't they mention "an internet connection' specifically on the "why you need a tv licence" page you linked to?

PS2 afaik will connect to the web, Plus by having them you have a tv by assoociation.monitors exist which one can plug dvd player, video player and games consoles into, and they come WITHOUT a TV tuner. this modern technology really is amazing

 

[oldfatfool]

Ignorance of your equipments capabilities is no defence in the eyes of the law!! Saying you don't watch iplayer is no different to me saying I only use my TV as a games monitor.

 

[marinyork]

Yes, yours.

It's not a 'civil matter', it's a criminal offence under section 363 of the Communications Act 2003.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/section/363

Tells you how out of date it is if we're quoting recent legislation for an idea that has been around decades and for which every ten years its scrapping is always shuffled on to be the problem of some future government.

 

[MontyVeda]

Ignorance of your equipments capabilities is no defence in the eyes of the law!! Saying you don't watch iplayer is no different to me saying I only use my TV as a games monitor.

my point is.. why don't they just say on this page...
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/understanding-your-tv-licence-top3/
..."if you have an internet connection" ??

if it was that simple they'd specify it.

and having just looked at iplayer, there is in fact a 'watch live' button, I clicked it and it asked me if i had a licence, i clicked no and it took me to the tv licensing payment page. What would happen if i clicked 'yes'??? would it ask me to type in the big number on my licence so i could proceed viewing legally?


edit... and.... Ignorance of your equipments capabilities is no defence in the eyes of the law! ... my computer is capable of giving me access to all sorts of illegal stuff, so am i as guilty as gary glitter just because he used his internet for something i dont use mine for?

 

[oldfatfool]

my point is.. why don't they just say on this page...
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/understanding-your-tv-licence-top3/
..."if you have an internet connection" ??

Like everyone else they presume you have an internet connection,particularly if you have a computer.

if it was that simple they'd specify it.

See above

and having just looked at iplayer, there is in fact a 'watch live' button, I clicked it and it asked me if i had a licence, i clicked no and it took me to the tv licensing payment page. What would happen if i clicked 'yes'??? would it ask me to type in the big number on my licence so i could proceed viewing legally?

No they would trust you, or maybe depending on your ISP they would request your address, X ref it with their records and send the boys round

 

[ianrauk]

I like telly.
If I didn't have a tv I wouldn't have seen Sherlock and that woman in the nuddy last week.

*checks the catch up tv on demand schedule*

 

[MontyVeda]

so in this list...

This includes a TV, computer, mobile phone, games console, digital box, DVD/VHS recorder or any other device.

Does that mean...
...if i had an old ZX spectrum in the loft, i need a licence?
...if i have a Saga Master system, i need a licence?
...i have a 10 year old mobile phone which does have some form of internet access on it, but doesn't seem to actually do anything when i go to it, i need a tv licence?

yes I'm being pedantic. but surely the list would be far less ambiguous if they simply stated 'an internet connection' instead of computer, phone, games console.

and any other device??? does that include a calculator, washing machine, kettle?

I'm still being pedantic... but the list the licensing folks give us is the most ambiguous sentence i think i've ever read.


edit... I'm in the clear!

Exception: If you only watch catch-up services online, then you don’t need a licence. For example, you don’t need one to use BBC iPlayer, or ITV player, to catch up on programmes after they have been shown on TV.

from
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/technology--devices-and-online-top8/

 

[oldfatfool]

so in this list...

This includes a TV, computer, mobile phone, games console, digital box, DVD/VHS recorder or any other device.

Does that mean...
...if i had an old ZX spectrum in the loft, i need a licence?
...if i have a Saga Master system, i need a licence?
...i have a 10 year old mobile phone which does have some form of internet access on it, but doesn't seem to actually do anything when i go to it, i need a tv licence?

yes I'm being pedantic. but surely the list would be far less ambiguous if they simply stated 'an internet connection' instead of computer, phone, games console.

and any other device??? does that include a calculator, washing machine, kettle?

I'm still being pedantic... but the list the licensing folks give us is the most ambiguous sentence i think i've ever read.

Not sure the point your trying to make, you pointed out it was a tv license not a BBC license, by the same margin what constitutes a TV in the eyes of the license providers is so vast, it might as well be part of your council/poll tax/ rates.

 

[MontyVeda]

I was editing my post as you replied. adding...

edit... I'm in the clear!

Exception: If you only watch catch-up services online, then you don’t need a licence. For example, you don’t need one to use BBC iPlayer, or ITV player, to catch up on programmes after they have been shown on TV.

 

[marinyork]

Why would they be as clear as they possibly could? Their revenue would plummet. It is a very similar situation to Sky where they make vast amounts of money out of complete ignorance and people simply pay up and stay on it for years on end.

 

[col]

Sorry, but you do.

you dont, only for live broadcast.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Engage with them in the style of a scroate and they will persist in seeing a legitimate Target. Engage with them as an educated middle class person and they will be more inclined to move on.

Sorry, that's simply not true. In response to their first letter, I sent a politely-worded reply ... in fact, I probably still have it on my Mac, one min ...

Yep:

Thank you for your recent letter concerning my lack of TV licence.

I am writing to advise that I do not own a television set or any other equipment containing a television tuner, nor is one used by anyone else at this address. Please update your records accordingly. Should the position change, I will of course obtain a television licence as I did in the days when I owned a TV.

They still ignored it and sent increasingly threatening letters until I responded in kind by threatening legal action.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Totally uninclined, more like ...

They are bully-boys who kept hassling me until I eventually threatened them in return.

 

[col]

Totally uninclined, more like ...

They are bully-boys who kept hassling me until I eventually threatened them in return.

Just ignore,and bin their letters . As long as your being honest.