Bleeding TV License people!

[~SapphireStar~]

OMG! They are so money grabbing! This is what it says in my letter word for word:

If you watch or record programmes as they're being shown on TV, you are required by law to have a TV licence which costs £131.50 or £44 for black and white. Equipment which you need a licence to use inlcudes:

Television - colour or black and white.
Set-top box.
Video or DVD recorder.
Computer.
Moblie phone!

I mean I only use my TV to watch DVDs and play games on. I cant watch normal TV or record anything. I only use a monitor for my PC and shock horror, I own a moblie phone!

Whats go upsetting is that on the website, I cant do weekly or monthly installments because Im not on benefits. So they think students can afford these do they? I mean, why not have students on the weekly or montly pay option?! Its disgusting and I cant afford this! I may have to sell stuff in order to get the cash. I know my family wont help.

Has anyone else had to deal with this and can students some how pay in installments? Its just really upset me.

[Little Blue]

We haven't heard from them yet where I am, but there's been notices warning us about them checking up on us soon.

I didn't bring a tv with me, just a laptop which I know can't recieve tv, but it wouldn't surprise me if they tried to say it could before slapping me with the £1000 fine...

I think students can pay in monthly installments as long as you can set up direct debits on your account. But I never really looked into it much after deciding not to take a tv.

EDIT: Actually, I do recall hearing something about getting refunded if you live in the university residences cos you're not there for the whole year if that's any help.

[Rosenti]

well my mother just tells the company she has black n white tv, so she doesnt pay that much. Even dough we do have coloured

[~SapphireStar~]

I read this on the site under the student section:

You need a TV Licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, set-top boxes, video or DVD recorders, computers or mobile phones to watch TV programmes as they are being broadcast.

Now I dont use anything to record because I cant get a signal to watch normal TV. And I cant watch broadcast shows as I get no signal here. Now Ive called my mum and she said I shouldnt have to pay it as Im only here 3 times a week, barely here for a year and I dont watch broadcasted programmes or record them in any way. So shes going to give them a call and tell them this. But my uncle and grandad said it doesnt matter and I will still have to get the licence because I watch DVDs on a TV.

EDIT: Actually, I do recall hearing something about getting refunded if you live in the university residences cos you're not there for the whole year if that's any help.

If I do have to get one, I'll look into that!

[Burtsplurt]

I went for a year without one when I was at university. It wasn't too bad - they called round once, but I had time to detune my TV card before they reached my room. I think they've got tougher, though - just having the equipment is bad enough.

They still kept on sending us warning letters even after they'd inspected the house, so I wrote a letter of complaint. They replied that they were sorry and said that they wouldn't send any further warning letters. Predictably, they did. Prats.

[~SapphireStar~]

My friend at uni got one sent to her in her first year when she didnt even have a TV. She wrote to them and told them, yet they continued to send letters to her. She said they never came round to inspect her halls, same with my ex and he had one.

But my mums going to sort them out^^ Super mum!

[edczxcvbnm]

What the hell is all of this about for those of us who don't hail from the land of tea and crumpets.

[fire_of_avalon]

edlalalala is right, I have no idea what's going on.

[edczxcvbnm]

I looked it up and I am still lost.

[~SapphireStar~]

I had this in General Chat and for some reason it was moved here.
Im going on about how the TV licence people are trying to get me to buy a TV licence when I use a TV, but can only watch DVDs on it, I cant get a signal to watch normal TV.

This thread was asking people, mainly students if theyve ever incountered this before. Dont know why it was moved to the longue.

[MecaKane]

Wow, England's lame!

Get a credit card. Buy the thing. Pay off your credit card monthly.

[Psychotic]

OK, as an explanation for all you foreign folk, the BBC demands that everyone pays for a TV licence in order to fund its programming. This means that the BBC does not have any advertising, and instead has many pointless TV channels and radio stations. Most of them are crap because the BBC is wonderfully biased towards the government and/or minority groups (and recently admitted it)

They claim they have "television detection" devices, but that's just bull, and there's plenty of stories like the ones ~SS~ told where they've accused people of having TV without a license, when they didn't even have a TV.

No, you're not likely to get them to budge because you're a student, because they'll just tell you that's what your student loan is for. Anyway, someone I knew didn't have a TV license, and just refused to let them into his room when they came knocking, and they couldn't do anything about it. All they did was send him warning letters from then on.

[Raistlin]

You need a license to <i>watch TV</i>? Good god.

[edczxcvbnm]

That is bull<img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif">. That means war to me. I would just refuse. They would have to prove that you use that TV to actually watch television. If they want you to pay to watch their programming then they should provided decoders to those who pay and encode their signal when it is put out through the airwaves.

[Sephex]

Wow. England IS lame. I almost feel proud to be an american right now. Almost.