We've binned the TV licence

[tomatoada]

I wish there was an ignore button on TV which I could apply to certain programs and people like J.Ross.  I know there is the off button but when I am watching the news etc. I would like him to disappear before  he appears if you know what I mean.

[tomatoada]

[Borlotti]

We used to watch a lot of Fred knocking down chimneys and with his steam engines.  OH loved it and I got into it, he was a real character.  Also watch Judge Judy and she seems to give sensible advice, but don't watch much in the summer, but would miss TV in the winter.  Find a few old programmes on Freeview.  Used to love the boating programme on Sunday night, can't remember the name but it was something we could watch with my mother and all enjoy.  Dc Martin isn't bad and lovely scenery.  Upstairs downstairs was good, and of course the coverage of Wimbledon is good apart from the fact the commentors talk rubbish most of the time.  Better in the finals as they let you watch the game without keep making obvious comments.

[elvis2003]

well done!youve certainly set me thinking if we could give telly up one day,we certainly are watching less and less...spend most of the time flicking thru 5o chnnels to find something we want to watch! would miss the news i think,and a few other things,esp as someone else said,in the colder months when the lottie doesnt need us as much

[tonybloke]

our Tele blew up about 8 1/2 yr ago, we didn't bother replacing it !! have we really missed anything? LOL
After a month or 2 you'll wonder how youmanaged to manufacture  the time to sit in front of the infernal box!!
If there was an option to purchase a radio licence, we would, BTW

[SamLouise]

I like the escapism and education from TV.  Mine's staying!  ;D

[Unwashed]

We got rid of the telly about five years ago because there was so little we were watching and we weren't impressed with how unhealthy it had all become, not least that dirty little man Ross.

Now there's iPlayer we even get to watch much of what we miss.  Though I do now spend way too much time on the internet.

[Borlotti]

And I thought I was the only person in the world that didn't like the lovely Jonathan Ross.  He certainly gets paid enough for talking rubbish, I can do that.

[banshee]

djbrenton and baccyman - thanks for the info, obviously I have either misunderstood or been given the wrong info in the first place.

I just need to get the tvla to stop threatening me with court action for not having a licence on my late mum's home, even though there is nothing in it to receive tv channels/radion channels or anything else for that matter.  ::)

[1066]

Banshee - you really need to be firm with them. I'm on a "list" that means they don't send me their stupid and factually incorrect letters every other week, and it gets reviewed every 3 or so years. I managed to do this by phoning them and speaking to 1 of the managers / team leaders. Tell them there is no TV there, the property is empty (?) and its upsetting (your late mum's house etc).

Haven't had a telly now for 6 years, the only things I miss are Wimbledon (but I got a cheap ticket this year), the olympics (winter and summer. Other than that I can honestly say I'm "not bovvered", don't really miss it at all, and don't bother watching anything via the internet either. But do love the radio  :D

1066

[Ishard]

Banshee we buy houses and do them up to sell and often get harassed for not having a TV licence at a property so now if we get 2 letters about non licensing we send a letter back saying we consider the letters to be harassment and if it continues we will take it to courtunder the Protection from Harrassment Act 1979.

We've never had to go to court.  ;D

Its up to the licencing authority to PROVE that you have a TV and are using it, not for YOU to prove you don't have one!

[landimad]

In my mind the liscence is there to allow you to pay for the OFF button and nothing else.
I would rather pay for the upkeep of radio network, but the kids would hate me.
They have their progs to watch and its also a way of them communicating nowadays. I think its the same with all this texting on phones.
The art of communication has fallen by the wayside to some and this just proves it.
What would happen if all electrical goods failed to work?
The world would grind to a halt.

[banshee]

1066 and Ishard - Thanks for the advice. I have sent them letters and made numerous phone calls over the last 4 years explaining the situation, but still the continue to send me more letters. Every time I speak to them on the phone they assure me that it has all been sorted out and I will receive nothing more, a month or so later more letters arrive. (Perhaps if my brother would make his mind up what he wants to do with the property, (sell or rent) they would give over sending me the letters.)

Thanks again for the advice, I'll contact the managers and see if that helps.

[carosanto]

Hi Y'all, Seems my post struck a plangent chord out there.  Thanks for all the comments and also some of the useful info, specially on websites which support us non licence-payers.

One bit of website info I really enjoyed was the fact that TVLA personnel have no actual RIGHT to come onto your property, (unless they have a warrant). If they come in on your invitation and you ask them to leave they must leave immediately.  Mmmm, very interesting, and shows what bullies they are insisting that they have the right to inspect etc. 

Also the onus is on them to prove that you use your TV equipment to watch real-time TV, not on you to prove otherwise. Mind you we get no signal as all aerials are disconnected.  In August Cornwall goes digital anyway, which means no piccies without new set top boxes. I feel this is the start of a brand new era!

Again, thanks to you all, A4A is A14ME!

[saddad]

I've not had a license since going to Uni ('79) they do stop asking eventually...  ;D

[labrat]

I'm pretty sick and tired of the BBC and the license. Everyone I know thinks like me that they are in clear breach of their charter let alone the quality of their output. There is a guy TV licensing are taking to court for non payment and he has requested a jury trial is trying to prove that the BBC are in breach of their charter and therefore the license fee cannot be levied.

What really annoyed me was that they released a list of the highest public sector pension pots and in the top 10 are 5 BBC executives/employees with Mark Byford the Deputy DG and Alan Yentob at the top. They will get even more than Mervyn King the Governor of the Bank of England.

I used to like Countryfile but they've destroyed it and turned it into a 'lifestyle/holiday/adventure' programme. They did the same to Landward and destroyed it. The BBC simply has no interest in catering for people who live and work in rural areas. As far as they're concerned the countryside is for town folk to use at the weekends.

[carosanto]

Hi Y'all,

A quick update. Got a letter from TVLA today saying they wan to come and inspect, (becuse a quarter of those who say they have chucked out the TV licence are, in fact, watching TV!).  So we are to be deemed guilty because of that.  However, I have said they can come but no way do they wander round my house, poking about. 

I think I have the right to refuse them entry to the house let alone to any of my rooms although whether or not I/we do refuse will depend on how we feel on the day.I have nothing to hide, but it's just the principle of the thing.  So I await their knock at the door with interest, and believe me I will not mince my words if they are the least bit snippy with me.

I will also certainly ask them to leave, as I have a right to, as and when I/we are finished with them.  Watch this space!! (but not on TV lol).

By the way Cornwall goes digital next months and this will save us a packet by not buying digi-boxes for a system we feel is being foisted on us. 


Caro

[cornykev]

If it was me Caro I'd answer the door and tell them your too busy today and could you come back another day and have a TV times in your hand as if you've been reading it, well that's what I would do anyway.     ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Kea]

Just out of interest how many people have seen what's inside a tv license detector van?
http://www.tvlicensing.biz/wpblog/?p=6#comments

i didn't think they had a real detector going by the number of visits I got when I didn't have a TV it was clear they couldn't really detect because they kept knocking on the door insisting I had a TV and wouldn't take no for an answer! It made it very clear they didn't really know.

Anyway Caro if you lose analogue and don't have a digital box then it proves you're not watching live TV.

[Digeroo]

digital next months

Don't get me going on the subject of digital.  Luckily we have a way to go.  But everytime someone uses a lawn mower we loose the signal, and there are a lot of lawns round here.

[Flighty]

This may be of interest!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/charlesmoore/5797954/Dear-BBC-No-you-cant-have-my-142.50.-Will-I-see-you-in-court.html