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Do you have to reply to TV licence letters?
If you have just told us you don’t need a licence and then receive a letter from us a day or so after, this is usually because our records are being updated. You don’t need to respond. Find out more about when you need a TV Licence.
Are TV licence threats real?
TV licence officials are “terrorising” over-75s who have been stripped of free licences. Letters sent by Capita, the firm that enforces the licensing system, to people who have not paid up, say a probe is under way and a visit has been authorised, accompanied by threats of a £1,000 fine.
Are TV licence letters real?
Generally speaking, everything that BBC/TVL routinely does is non-statutory (has no legislation behind it) and therefore you can ignore it. This includes the threatening letters and the routine “home visits”. None of the demands and coercion in the letters has any legal significance and they can all be safely ignored.
How do TV Licensing investigate you?
You’re not really under investigation, they have a database with people who do have licences and those whose addresses are not on the database they target for their campaign of intimidation, the man in the van might use a GPS which is how they say they have satellites telling them where the houses without licenses are.
Do TV license inspectors have right of entry?
Administering the Licence fee – TV Licensing ™ Visiting officers do not have a legal right of entry to a person’s home without a search warrant, and if refused entry to premises they will end the visit.
What powers do TV Licence enforcement officers have?
They do have the power to go to the police and get a search warrant to get inside but without a warrant you do not have to allow entry. You do not have to buy a TV Licence from the person visiting if you only watch programmes that do not require a licence.
Is it a criminal Offence not to pay TV license?
If you don’t have a licence or fail to repay your arrears, you could receive a court fine. It’s a criminal offence to watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer unless you have a valid TV licence.
Do TV Licence inspectors have the right to enter your house?
How do I deal with TV license inspector?
The easiest way to get rid of a TV Licensing inspector is to tell them that you revoke their implied right of access. The implied right of access is there so that people with legitimate reasons to enter your property, such as delivery men or milk men can do so without fear of prosecution.
How can I legally avoid a TV Licence?
You don’t need a TV Licence if you never watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel, or live on an online TV service, and you never download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand.
Should I let my TV license inspector?
Can TV licence inspectors visit your house? Inspectors can visit your house, although you’re likely to receive a letter before this point. You can refuse to let an inspector in, but this might lead to them getting a court order – which means they would be allowed to enter by law without your permission.
Does anyone get prosecuted for not having a TV licence?
Do TV licence always prosecute?
If you’re prosecuted However, it’s highly likely that you’ll be prosecuted and still need to buy a TV licence if any of the following applies to you: You have a previous TV licensing conviction, or you have been considered for prosecution in the past.
Is it illegal to send threatening letters without a TV licence?
We’ve had various periods without a licence and no threatening letters using this method. It’s just very wrong that TV Licensing target pensioners and other vulnerable groups with harassment and threats for the purposes of extortion, this type of conduct is reprehensible and probably illegal.
What do I do if I have a TV licence?
I have had a warning letter but I have a TV licence, what do I do? If you have received a letter from TV Licensing and you have a valid TV licence you need to contact TV Licensing on 0300 790 6165 as soon as possible to ensure they update their system.
Is TV Licensing a law enforcement official?
They are not officials, but it is central to their bluff that people think they are. The power of the threatening letters which TV Licensing sends (I have received more than 100 and never answered any of them) lies in their implicit threat that they have legal force.
What happens if I don’t contact TV Licensing?
If you do not contact TV Licensing they will continue to send you warning letters and possibly send enquiry officers to your address.