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I moved to the UK a few years ago, I'm still really surprised with the state of TV here. Between this and things like "TV licence" - It's just an embarrassment

I moved to the UK a few years ago, I'm still really surprised with the state of TV here. Between this and things like "TV licence" - It's just an embarrassment really.

retrac98 9y ago
Yes, TV here is shit, but the TV licence is completely optional if you're not the applicable content, you can opt-out online: http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/te...
- jkgeyti 9y ago
  This is being complicated by the out-of-touch rules on what constitutes "live TV" - I occasionally watch news from my home country through a VPN, and sports events that are also might be broadcast live to at least one country somewhere. Despite neither having anything to do with live broadcasting in the UK, I still have to pay TV license.
- madaxe_again 9y ago
  Not that that does anything other than tell them you exist. I'm working on renovating a property currently, have been for a year and a bit. It's uninhabited. There's no TV, no internet connection; just drills and saws. There isn't even running water. I notified them that the property was unoccupied in response to their first letter, 18 months ago. They said that they didn't believe me, and an enforcement officer would be over. One came while I was away and left a "I'll be back with bailiffs" note, and about six months ago, I had them show up on my doorstep with police in tow. The cops seemed highly bemused to have been dragged to a property which didn't even have windows at the time, never mind a bloody television. They left, he said not a problem, no more letters. Since then I've collected about 15 more "we know you have a television!" letters from the doorstep there, and yet another note from a different visiting enforcement officer. Based on this and a previous similar experience a decade ago, I can't help but conclude that they spend every penny they collect on arse-about-tit enforcement. Whole system is daft.
  - Symbiote 9y ago
    Was the house expensive? The last time I lived in the UK without a TV, it was in a fancy part of London. We replied to the first letter, and never again heard anything from TV Licensing.
    - madaxe_again 9y ago
      No, it's a tiny cottage up a mountain in north wales. The previous shenanigans were in Fulham, however.
  - teh_klev 9y ago
    I haven't had a license since 2006 when I binned my Sky box. I don't watch any live telly and when the new rules about needing a license for BBC iPlayer came into force I just stopped using it (I only ever watched top gear and a bit of Masterchef, so no great loss). So anyway, I kept getting letters from TV licensing. I called them up and told them to remove me from their database which they did. One year later the letters were back (except addressed to "The Occupier"). I get a letter every month with varying degrees of threatening outcomes if I don't contact TVL again. It pisses me off that a private company (it's managed by Capita) is allowed to send harassing letters like this despite being told not to. I did once get a TVL "enforcement officer" come knock on my door. After he identified himself I politely told him that I didn't need to let him in (they have no powers) and that I wouldn't be confirming or denying if I have any TV equipment (you don't need to). At that point he just walked away. That was about three years ago so I'm no doubt due for another visit.
    - madaxe_again 9y ago
      I'd assumed it was capita, who seem to run the entire uk at this point - the state exists for their profit.

I moved to the UK a few years ago, I'm still really surprised with the state of TV here. Between this and things like "TV licence" - It's just an embarrassment really.

retrac98 9y ago

Yes, TV here is shit, but the TV licence is completely optional if you're not the applicable content, you can opt-out online: http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/te...

jkgeyti 9y ago
This is being complicated by the out-of-touch rules on what constitutes "live TV" - I occasionally watch news from my home country through a VPN, and sports events that are also might be broadcast live to at least one country somewhere. Despite neither having anything to do with live broadcasting in the UK, I still have to pay TV license.
madaxe_again 9y ago
Not that that does anything other than tell them you exist. I'm working on renovating a property currently, have been for a year and a bit. It's uninhabited. There's no TV, no internet connection; just drills and saws. There isn't even running water. I notified them that the property was unoccupied in response to their first letter, 18 months ago. They said that they didn't believe me, and an enforcement officer would be over. One came while I was away and left a "I'll be back with bailiffs" note, and about six months ago, I had them show up on my doorstep with police in tow. The cops seemed highly bemused to have been dragged to a property which didn't even have windows at the time, never mind a bloody television. They left, he said not a problem, no more letters. Since then I've collected about 15 more "we know you have a television!" letters from the doorstep there, and yet another note from a different visiting enforcement officer. Based on this and a previous similar experience a decade ago, I can't help but conclude that they spend every penny they collect on arse-about-tit enforcement. Whole system is daft.
- Symbiote 9y ago
  Was the house expensive? The last time I lived in the UK without a TV, it was in a fancy part of London. We replied to the first letter, and never again heard anything from TV Licensing.
  - madaxe_again 9y ago
    No, it's a tiny cottage up a mountain in north wales. The previous shenanigans were in Fulham, however.
- teh_klev 9y ago
  I haven't had a license since 2006 when I binned my Sky box. I don't watch any live telly and when the new rules about needing a license for BBC iPlayer came into force I just stopped using it (I only ever watched top gear and a bit of Masterchef, so no great loss). So anyway, I kept getting letters from TV licensing. I called them up and told them to remove me from their database which they did. One year later the letters were back (except addressed to "The Occupier"). I get a letter every month with varying degrees of threatening outcomes if I don't contact TVL again. It pisses me off that a private company (it's managed by Capita) is allowed to send harassing letters like this despite being told not to. I did once get a TVL "enforcement officer" come knock on my door. After he identified himself I politely told him that I didn't need to let him in (they have no powers) and that I wouldn't be confirming or denying if I have any TV equipment (you don't need to). At that point he just walked away. That was about three years ago so I'm no doubt due for another visit.
  - madaxe_again 9y ago
    I'd assumed it was capita, who seem to run the entire uk at this point - the state exists for their profit.