TV Licensing

[classic33]

No problems with them being civvies, no ID, no coming in.

"But I'm here to check" or words to that effect, before I shut the door and locked it, to prevent him opening it again.

 

[classic33]

Do they still use those magic TV detector vans that can even tell what channel you are using?

Aye, and they're checking your WiFi now as well.
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/08/06/bbc_detector_van_wi_fi_iplayer/

 

[dan_bo]

I believe the latter. Reminds me of stories, possible apocryphal, of people preventing junk mail by attaching any such firmly to a house brick and marking it 'return to sender'.

once upon a time when this kind of thing was all the rage, I sellotaped a credit card companies' freepost envolope to a car tyre and took it round to the post office.

 

[Dirk]

Aye, and they're checking your WiFi now as well.
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/08/06/bbc_detector_van_wi_fi_iplayer/

No they're not. Did you read the article?

 

[classic33]

No they're not. Did you read the article?

In the same way they're checking which channel you're watching.

 

[MontyVeda]

I would rather the inspector working and paying taxes rather than on the dole,, I cannot understand why letting somebody check you do have a tv is a problem. I am sure somebody will enlighten me.

It's the assumption of guilt and the way their frequent threatening letters are worded that's the problem... and the fact that my first notification (by post) was ignored and their letters continued. My second notification (online) was also ignored and the letters continued. My third contact with them (by phone) resulted in them saying they wouldn't send me any more letters for three years. They began again after six months. I now ignore their correspondence since they appear to be ignoring mine.

There's loads of things I'd potentially need a license for, such as selling booze, driving a car, owning a firearm, fishing, etc... yet I'm not constantly harangued for not having a license for those things.

 

[slowmotion]

I used to get about five a year, sent to my office. I ignored every single one for twenty years. Nothing happened. All they had to do was provide a pre-paid envelope, but they didn't, and I didn't feel like giving them a bung.

 

[Inertia]

Do they still use those magic TV detector vans that can even tell what channel you are using?

As featured on bbc, surely they wouldnt lie

 

[screenman]

If somebody might be avoiding tax should they be investigated? Note the words might be.

 

[jefmcg]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5MnyRZLd8A&feature=youtu.be&t=174

 

[classic33]

If somebody might be avoiding tax should they be investigated? Note the words might be.

No problem with that. But why private companies doing the work, sending out letters with the name of a person known not to exist and operating in the same role in different countries. If you got a few like that as e-mails what would you be thinking?

SPAM

 

[screenman]

No problem with that. But why private companies doing the work, sending out letters with the name of a person known not to exist and operating in the same role in different countries. If you got a few like that as e-mails what would you be thinking?

SPAM

Private companies seem to be able to do many jobs cheapest than public servants, off that

Must admit I have no experience of these things. Not once have I had a letter about a tv licence.

 

[jefmcg]

If somebody might be avoiding tax should they be investigated? Note the words might be.

Well, how much effort should we put into those who are avoiding £147, compared to those who are avoiding millions?

 

[shirokazan]

But why private companies doing the work

Possibly contracted out on point of principle: the Government often require public sector to identify services which can be contracted out.

 

[shirokazan]

Well, how much effort should we put into those who are avoiding £147, compared to those who are avoiding millions?

Those with millions usually find it easier to make it difficult for the authorities to enforce collection.