...so again I've a letter from the TV license people. A long time ago I won the "there are no TVs being used to watch TV in my flat" with them - but having since bought a new telly, they're back on the case - convinced once more I'm watching TV. We still don't.

But times have changed since I last spoke with them - and I note they now mention a whole list of equipment in the blurb that "qualifies" needing a license - although I'm not sure how they can qualify "games consoles" as such, since we don't stream internet TV to them (I couldn't even if I wanted since the Pro edition of TVersity isn't supported by 2K).

So I guess what I'm trying to ask, is how do I go about (in this modern day technological quagmire) telling them to go bother someone else?

Write them a letter that states go [LIFTED] themselves

It's a standard letter; if you brought a new TV the retailer has to info the TV licensing company.

If you have no means of watching streamed or broadcast TV then you have no worries let them keep sending the letters.

I'm confused... so you bought a new TV but you don't use it?

I'm pretty sure if you own a TV that's kept at your premises, then you need to buy a TV License - whether it's used to watch TV or not. It's a piece of equipment that's capable of viewing TV broadcasts, and for that reason you need a license.

I don't know how it is exactly there, but a computer or games console in the building + Internet connection means you need to have a licence, whether they are actually connected to the connection or not and whether or not you stream TV; they have the ability to receive...

My understanding from the last time I had this issue myself is that if the system is setup in such away that simply scrolling through all the channels yields no picture then that was fine and no license was required.

It has to be impossible to watch TV if connected to an aerial before you are exempt form having to have a license.

I suppose if your property has no aerial whatsoever, or you rip it out if one exists, then you may be able to prove that no TV picture is achievable then you could argue that watching TV on your, erm, TV is impossible. Simply unplugging it from the existing working aerial socket won't be enough for them, as you could easily plug it back in once they've gone (if they chose to pay you a visit) - your property would have to have no aerial at all in order to prove that watching TV was impossible.

But I think it'll be hard to prove, legally. May even mean a visit to the courts eventually. Personally, I would just pay up, is it worth the hassle?

Hell yeah! If you don't watch TV on the set then there's nothing to pay for.

Mark

Yes, but I could also argue that I don't watch any BBC channels as there's never anything on them worth watching, so I don't need a license, yes?!
I could also say that I've turned the colour down on my TV, so I'll only pay for a Black & White license... that OK?!

As you know, it doesn't really work like that - if you've got a working TV set on the premises (or the ability to watch live TV or BBC iPlayer), then you need a TV License - there's no grey areas as far as I know.

I know. [LIFTED] stealth tax, that's what it is.

Mark

Agreed, scrap it and it would save millions in paperwork.

Yes. And No. We use it only as a monitor to watch DVDs, play our console games on & to navigate our music server (via the xbox)

I've just spoke with them and explained that no TV is watched in our house - explaining that although we had equipment capable of recieving, we didn't actually recieve any because we never sought to. We did once look into it, years ago, but house aerial is kaput - so even if we wanted to (for which we'd gladly pay) we couldn't.

They've got me on record saying as much, and have told me to ignore any subsequent letters until such a time when we require a license. Which, if I've anything to do with it, will be never.

The BBC always hide how much it costs to collect fees by mixing it in with transmission costs.

Clarified by them themselves - http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-y ... logy-top8/