Court of special investigation

[MrGongGong]

Am I alone in thinking that the detector vans have more than a bit of myth about them ?

Yes, I know its possible to detect whether someone is using a TV in a given house
but surely all they have in the back is a list of the small number of properties without a TV licence
wait for Doctor Who to start and then knock on the door

[umslopogaas]

I dont have a TV and in the three years I have lived at my current address I have had at least a dozen letters containing various levels of threatening language from the TVLA. I no longer bother to open them. I have decided to ignore them, but if they ever do visit I will welcome them in and give them the run of the house. I do get irritated at the presumption that I am avoiding my legal obligations by not having a licence. I also do not hold licences for fishing, shotguns, dogs or flying, because I also dont own or indulge in those things, but no-one threatens to take me to court for the lack.

Thinking about it a bit more, it would, I imagine, be very difficult to find anywhere worthwhile to fish without showing someone your fishing licence, you probably cant buy shotgun cartridges without producing a gun licence, its very unlikely anyone would let you near a plane if you couldnt produce a flying licence. Not sure if you could buy a dog without showing a dog licence. But can you buy a TV without producing a licence?

[french frank]

Am I alone in thinking that the detector vans have more than a bit of myth about them ?

I can no longer remember the source, but when I was digging into this I was told that detector vans were very expensive to run and it was more cost effective to employ human beings to knock on doors. If such door-knocking leads them to suspect that people may be viewing TV without a licence, they can get a warrant (plus a policeman) and come back to demand entry.

[Mr Pee]

Not been a good month, has it ol' flower

Thank you Amateur for those kind words. If only we could all be right all the time, as you clearly think you are.

Anyway, moving on- and I have checked this - the Dog Licence was abolished in 1987. Personally I think it should be re-instated, but that's another argument.

As for the TV Licence, I don't see why radio listeners should expect radio to be paid for by the majority who also watch TV. There's a reduced rate for Black and White TV, so why not a further reduced rate for those who claim they only listen to the radio? In these straitened times for the BBC I don't think it's unreasonable. Of course, when the BBC decide to cut an orchestra or two to save money, or further dumb-down radio 3, I'm sure those listeners will be on here,venting their spleen. But since they don't pay anything toward the BBC, they're not really in a position to protest.

Equally, I have no problem with the licencing authorities pusuing those whom they think may be dodging the system. I don't know why people seem so surprised by this. One expects DVLA to do the same with motorists, HMRC to pursue suspected tax dodgers, and DHSS benefit cheats. There's no difference. If you don't have a TV, then you needn't worry. Except about all the fascinating and educational programmes you're missing out on. But hey, that's your loss.

[french frank]

As for the TV Licence, I don't see why radio listeners should expect radio to be paid for by the majority who also watch TV. There's a reduced rate for Black and White TV, so why not a further reduced rate for those who claim they only listen to the radio? In these straitened times for the BBC I don't think it's unreasonable.

I'm not sure that many would disagree. But the fact is that there is no radio licence to buy and there are approximately half a million households which choose not to have televisions. And, incidentally, if you buy a mono TV licence you still get hassled by TVL because they suspect you of having a colour set.

[Frances_iom]

As for the TV Licence, I don't see why radio listeners should expect radio to be paid for by the majority who also watch TV. There's a reduced rate for Black and White TV, so why not a further reduced rate for those who claim they only listen to the radio?

I agree but there isn't - btw the TV licence is a licence to operate a TV receiving equipment - even if you don't watch the BBC with it - you can legally own a tv if it is only used as a computer monitor (tho obviously this can be difficult to prove ) - the catch is that if the BBC goes to a pay as you view/listen then the standard will of necessity drop - the old adage you can't insult the intelligence of an audience is all too true especially when the size of an audience is what matters.
There hasn't been a tv licence for this premises in over 25years - I did get a visit once but many years ago - judging from address on letters they are working from the public version of the electoral roll which in order to avoid spam mail I have exercised my right for my name not to appear - I do return all letters, admittedly unstamped but then they stopped enclosing a reply paid envelope some years ago but refuse to phone or give my email/ IP address away via a web access.

[tony yyy]

Some years ago my very elderly father was a victim of TV Licensing's rather nasty tactics and was quite upset when he got one of their ridiculous letters. As far as I'm aware, these are full of empty threats - their "Enforcement Officers" have no special powers and one has no obligation to deal with them or answer the letters. They could only enter your home by invitation or by obtaining a search warrant, which, I think, would only normally be granted if they had a genuine reason for believing there was a TV set being used on the premises.

[Bryn]

Thank you Amateur for those kind words. If only we could all be right all the time, as you clearly think you are.

Anyway, moving on- and I have checked this - the Dog Licence was abolished in 1987. Personally I think it should be re-instated, but that's another argument.

As for the TV Licence, I don't see why radio listeners should expect radio to be paid for by the majority who also watch TV. There's a reduced rate for Black and White TV, so why not a further reduced rate for those who claim they only listen to the radio? In these straitened times for the BBC I don't think it's unreasonable. Of course, when the BBC decide to cut an orchestra or two to save money, or further dumb-down radio 3, I'm sure those listeners will be on here,venting their spleen. But since they don't pay anything toward the BBC, they're not really in a position to protest.

Equally, I have no problem with the licencing authorities pusuing those whom they think may be dodging the system. I don't know why people seem so surprised by this. One expects DVLA to do the same with motorists, HMRC to pursue suspected tax dodgers, and DHSS benefit cheats. There's no difference. If you don't have a TV, then you needn't worry. Except about all the fascinating and educational programmes you're missing out on. But hey, that's your loss.

Oh do put a thinking cap on, Pee. The Radio Licence was abolished for the same reason that the Dog Licence was. It was uneconomical, costing more to administer than it brought in.

[Segilla]

The unnecessary TV licence system should be abolished because of its enormous administrative cost. Unfortunately, the only alternative is for the BBC to be paid for out of general taxation, (certainly not by advertising revenue), a very contentious matter but the nettle needs to be grasped.

[Mr Pee]

The Radio Licence was abolished for the same reason that the Dog Licence was. It was uneconomical, costing more to administer than it brought in.

Well that doesn't alter the fact that both should be reinstated. I'm sure they could be rethought and made to work. I never even knew there was a radio licence- when was it abolished?

[mangerton]

Well that doesn't alter the fact that both should be reinstated. I'm sure they could be rethought and made to work. I never even knew there was a radio licence- when was it abolished?

Google is a truly Wond'rous Machine, Mr Pee. It took me fully 20 seconds to find this:

http://www.radiolicence.org.uk/costlicence.html