Criminally Wrong?!

[@pa4450]

If any other company was doing these kind of threatening tactics they would have been shut down and prosecuted. Because it's the BBC ( State Propaganda) they are continually allowed to do it.

[@jamiemcglynn6600]

I could be wrong here, but I don't think the BBC or TV Licensing actually have been granted an exemption from UK laws concerning unfair and misleading trade practices; that could see them in trouble if brought up with the ASA (or maybe OFCOM for that matter) if they are touting factually-incorrect information. There was a report published on 12th July 2022 by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office, via FOI request RFI20240235, in paragraph 5.2.4, branding BBC/TV Licensing's detection effort success rate as "limited" ; but even today, BBC/TV Licensing still claim in some of their letters to have a high success rate of detecting evasion... so that means they **are** misleading since what they say has been proven to the contrary by the IPCO's findings. And that is only just one scratch on the surface of this deep-rooted scandal...

[@SpartasEdge]

Yep, it's insane a company is allowed to harrass people like this.

[@robtheplod]

Its only harassment if your name is on the letter....it never is!!

[@SpartasEdge]

@@robtheplod No, it's harassment full stop, to whoever lives at the address the letter arrives to and reads it.

[@robtheplod]

​@@SpartasEdgei think you'll find you're wrong... ask yourself why nko lawyer brings a case....??

[@williambarnes3868]

I do not have a fishing licence, a gun licence or a licence to sell alcohol. None of the appropriate authorities have ever written to me to threaten me with any sort of visit. Why are TV licencing allowed to do this? We are correctly licenced. We DO NOT watch live TV as it is broadcast nor use BBC iplayer so DO NOT NEED a licence.

[@Steve14ps]

TV licencing assume that everybody has a television, so therefor they assume every address that does not have a TV licence is committing an offence, it does not occur to them that there are those with no television. ASSUME makes an Ass of yUo & me

[@tonypotter5589]

It doesn’t matter if you have a television or not they will send to every address to scare people. You could watch tv on laptops. Having a tv makes no difference to weather you need a tv licence or not.

[@wudipest]

Even that assumption is half baked. You can own a TV without needing a license as long as you don't watch/record live TV or use BBC services. For example, if you just use your TV to play video games or watch streaming services only

[@dh2032]

​@@Steve14psThere are all most drug pushers. Why are you not hooked on our product? Everything except the free samples to get you hooked?

[@themoderateecowarrior]

​@@Steve14ps 😮😂 love it

[@shellybelly35]

Tv licensing and the BBC have seriously put me off ever wanting to go near their rubbish ever again.

[@Chippychips83]

That's why BBC now commonly stands for big black c**k

[@davidmayer4579]

@shellybelly35 their brazen pro-EU stance sealed it for me. Haven't watched since Brexit.

[@Raymond-w5i]

I despise the BBC

[@quigglebert]

As should all people who value the innocence of children. I don't understand how the Baby Buggery Corporation is allowed to operate in civilised society

[@barbaraallen435]

You only get it free of you have pension credit apparently.

[@willdixon2349]

I loath, detest and abhor the BBC and everything they stand for.

[@julianhl9439]

A license is rightly required to drive a car,industrial equipment or a plane. Something that if you're not trained to control, you will be a danger to the public. A UK TV license is a mandate to buy, punishable by imprisonment if you don't comply, which pays for government BBC news propaganda. I left the UK 30 years ago, I love UK people, I despise what the previous 30 years government have done to the UK people

[@barrieshepherd7694]

It's not their fault really it's the government that dumped it on them - Licensing used to be the Post Office matter, both collection and enforcement - then having no infrastructure to collect license fees the BBC employed (probably at government 'suggestion' ) CAPITA.

[@sandyblue8082]

Thank you again. I am coming up to 75 years of age but will not be intimidated by these intentionally scary and upsetting demands. If I relinquish my driver's licence I do not expect a rep of DVLA to appear at my door, nor pester me with letters demanding I confirm I no longer drive. Coming from the BBC the arrogance is outstanding! I happily pay for streaming services, as my personal preference. I will not add to the coffers of a company who have historically protected grotesque criminals from due justice. Even if I am given a free licence on reaching 75 I will never again watch anything from the BBC. That is my choice.

[@Chris-wz5yd]

Your right, the BBC have some dark secrets still to be known, I am absolutely sure of that.

[@adenwellsmith6908]

You can do more. Report every letter as a crime to the police. Read a biased story on their website? Easy to spot. Report it as bias.

[@kelly4187]

This would all be simply resolved if the BBC switched to a paid model of funding. They cannot pretend they don't already as that is what a tv license is. Lots of broadcasters now deliver content which uses no part of BBC infrastructure, so the argument that this licence fee also pays for the infrastructure is no longer valid.

[@jamiemcglynn6600]

@@kelly4187 Can definitely say they don't own the Sandy Heath tower, as that one's owned by Arqiva.

[@victoriaofthewattsfamily1198]

Well said. Even the statue on the front of the BBC building is a naked man and a toddler. How have the bbc become part of governmental obligations. It’s on the government website.

[@sniperpd9505]

When my sister died seven years ago I was tasked with informing every company she dealt with of her death. Banks, council, utility companies, Insurance companies were all very sympathetic and agreed to close her accounts without further ado. Her TV licence still had 2 months until it expired but I thought I should tell them of her death so they would not expect her to renew it. They did not express sympathy as the other companies did. I was staggered when they asked for a copy of her death certificate. I pointed out that a dead person (she lived alone) did not watch TV and did not need a TV licence. I told them they could send their enforcers to the named cemetery and hung up. Such callousness I have not experienced before or since.

[@steeltrap3800]

One of many issues with government 'services' is so many of them are performed by people with no fear of being held responsible for their conduct, let alone experiencing consequences for it.

[@chrisgaskell3706]

Absolutely disgusting. I fail to understand how the TV licencing has any business in your deceased sister's death certificate.

[@Steve14ps]

@@steeltrap3800 Like the Post Office

[@barrieshepherd7694]

@@steeltrap3800 The bigger problem is many of those 'government services' are provided by CAPITA who must be raking billions in - I strongly suspect they are paid on the number of letters/threats issued. If truth be known CAPITA probably receive more money for the 'services' they perform is greater than that lost to none license holders. Similar to the obnoxious (IMHO) those companies that operate 'enforcement' services for Councils.

[@atlasnetwork7855]

Wow, the audacity of that too, like why would they need a death certificate, i bet people even send in death certificates and they get lost or don't get sent back too. So what do you have to do, take it to the post office and pay for a verified copy? Absolutely not, these clowns don't need to see anything.

[@andie6666]

Absolutely absurd system. Imagine having to contact companies we don't plan on using, to tell them we don't plan on using them. Baffles belief!

[@billdoor3140]

They're doing it to scrare the elderly

[@Foxy64]

Well put 👍

[@karl53133]

Exactly I agree 100% ....!!

[@robtheplod]

Its the government you voted for that mandates the bbc to send these letters......

[@andie6666]

@robtheplod which "you" are you referring to? You may have voted for them but please don't judge others by your standards.

[@londonbobby]

My dad, an retired policeman, used to call these letters Demanding Money with Menaces, which is a crime.

[@ganndeber1621]

Yet he did nothing about it

[@HumansAreShitFactories]

Police are the biggest criminals. Hired bully boy enforcers of state policy, who have sacrificed any morals they may have had for a pittance.

[@londonbobby]

@@ganndeber1621 And what would you suggest? This barrister has completely failed to make any impact with then so what could a single policeman do?

[@ganndeber1621]

@ LOL make excuses for the poor plod who enforces this. Your father is part of the problem

[@Steve14ps]

@@ganndeber1621 That's rather rude and disrespectful statement and totally out of context. I would suggest that your attitude is on a par with the letter shown in this video

[@MikeKey-y7l]

Trying to obtain money by threatening someone surely is in itself a crime.

[@Andrea.583]

Demanding money with menaces, how can that be legal?

[@DrRock2009]

Sounds like council tax…🤔

[@robtheplod]

It is if done by the government, which it is really since they authorise bbc..

[@azillliasmith2734]

It's the BBC they employ pee dough files what do you expect.......

[@madmike987655]

@@DrRock2009 Council tax is different. You agree to pay that simply by living in a house and therefore paying for council services. TV licence is not a necessity and therefore they shouldn't even be sending letters out.

[@Wendy-Ma]

Thank you, my husband and I will not renew the TV licence when it expires at the end of January, we have not watched any live tv or any bbc iplayer since the Paris Olympics. Our money is not going to a company who protects those who injure children. I will sleep more peacefully from February.

[@PUNKinDRUBLIC72]

Do it! x

[@Antonyhughesjones]

You don’t need to cancel the licence. Just cancel the direct debit and never get into any conversations with them. If they knock on the door, just simply say “no thanks, I’m not interested”. Then just shut the door

[@willdixon2349]

Good for you! Welcome, two more soldiers of the peaceful revolution!

[@thebig9720]

I'm doing the same soon (expires April and I'm not renewing). I hardly ever watch live TV and will happily go without it. So angry to see these tactics....which is the main reason I want to go cold turkey. F them!

[@robtheplod]

​@@thebig9720why wait?? Just cancel your direct debit....

[@rickbear7249]

I've received exactly the same letter. Will also be raising a criminal harassment complaint with my local police. Being legally trained, although not a lawyer - I'm actually the wordsmith who advises organisations about legal wording - I immediately realised this was unlawful harassment.

[@ganndeber1621]

Cool story bro

[@Chris-fr2kq]

Can you clarify a point please if you are able. I have seen many people suggest that these letters can only be classed as harassment if they are addressed to an actual person. Many are addressed to the legal occupier and therefore do not constitute harassment. It would be really helpful to know.

[@rickbear7249]

@Chris-fr2kq addressed to me, using my full legal name.

[@Treeborer]

Pure intimidation. They should be banned from using these bully boy tactics.

[@barukkazhad8998]

Someone needs to take these criminals to court

[@AgentSmith001]

I say we all stop paying it ,everyone, lets see what they can do about it

[@jasoncdebussy]

I stopped at least 12 years ago

[@WotsisFace]

What on earth are you watching to need a tv license? 🧐

[@TheFruitycow]

they've been talking about adding the tv license fee to our taxes, so... apparently that. -.-

[@WotsisFace]

@@TheFruitycow it won’t happen. There are millions of people who don’t need one.

[@truth121]

Hear hear, they couldn't do sweet FA

[@vascobrighton1364]

I have had countless harassment letters from BBC like that one for many years. I do ignore all of them and never anyone did show at my address...I have peace of mind because I make 100% sure I don't need a licence.

[@follow_the_money_trail]

I've ignored them for years. Don't respond. Don't engage. Don't provide information - and definitely don't allow their goons in your home.

[@robl5833]

Good advice. Don't have any contact with them whatsoever and you won't have a problem.

[@Fazzer57]

Can you imagine what a letter like this would do to say....an elderly person, a vulnerable person with some mental health conditions who have no support? They may not even have a television, and I know a few older people that have no television. It would frighten them to death, and they'd be running down the post office to buy a licence they do not need, or they will shut the curtains and hide in fear. This is very wrong.

[@robl5833]

Absolutely. Any vulnerable person would be put at high risk by receiving this intimidation. These vile letters have to be outlawed.

[@10aDowningStreet]

Im a postie, we have certain days where TV licencing send letters en masse with a special window cut out to display "AN INVESTIGATION IS NOW OPEN" (paraphrasing)... point is, they're sent out like advertising spam.

[@rickbear7249]

@10aDowningStreet that's a good point. I believe this may be another offence, to publicly display "AN INVESTIGATION IS NOW OPEN". Not sure what the Blackbbelt Barrister's email address is, as he needs this bringing to his attention.

[@martyndawson7484]

It is a pity that posties are forced to deliver legally unacceptable letters.

[@davidmayer4579]

Yup - it's Bluff and Blunder

[@advorak8529]

I got a series of these. TV was broken (huge crack in the screen, would not turn on, not set up, etc.) and I did not use BBC at all. Which made me very bold to that threat (even if there was the real police coming) … I have been looking forward to a visit. Alas, all bark, no bite. Clearly even a minimum pay young person with a used, ill fitting uniform cos-playing some “enforcement officer” costs much more than a sheet of paper. But I get the psychology behind this … it is a protection racket so cheap and cheesy that it has no muscles to smash your shop at all, they are just barking up any tree. Almost like some obscure sect that tells you to join their club and give them your money and your time because after you are dead (so nobody can ever report back) club members are treated like VIPs while their definitely existing Big Guy(s) will beat up everyone else. It’s like they replaced the very real horse’s head on the pillow with a low resolution image of a Lego horse’s head on a Lego pillow and sent that per email.

[@r1madbrit]

Thank you for this video. 2 days ago I got a letter from the Licencing pests and went on line and declared I watched no live TV (not owned a TV for over 40 years) and chucked the letter. What is annoying is that EVERY YEAR they pester me again. I'm 75 years old, I read books and cannot remember when I had a telly. I raised 4 children without any TV and they are all well educated and speak 3 languages! So shove your mindless TV shows where the sun doesn't shine. My American friends cannot believe we even have such a thing!

[@robtheplod]

NEVER contact them... each time you are authorising them to keep your details.....

[@Steve14ps]

Our local funeral director gets them, they come and check that the chapel of rest does not have a television

[@allygilmour6182]

Zero contact you made a mistake there.

[@MrJordanwain]

We wouldn’t accept these letters coming from another supplier of a service we no longer require so how can the BBC get away with the tactics used.

[@medler2110]

Because it hasn't been tested in court.

[@blastaway1784]

I think you take it because of your strange, Stockholm Syndrome-like relationship with your new religions - the BBC and the NHS. They know you are soft for them, so they push you around.

[@andyhulme2274]

It's not the bbc who sends these letters its a private company who oddly has no business dealings with the bbc or goverment is it an age old scam looks like it they have this sense of entitlement where there is none with intimidation.

[@movarvo1217]

If they persist in putting things on to my receiving equipment then why am I to blame ? If I have asked bbc to stop broadcasting to my address...then who is to blame if it gets through to me for no fault of mine? BBC....please stop broadcasting...please😢

[@chaosenergy1990]

Can we do a group action against TV licensing. Aren’t they harassing thousands of people at the same as a matter of course?

[@sniperpd9505]

A Petition on Gov.uk website so they would have to debate it if it had the required number of signatures. A subscription service would be fair as only those who pay can watch & listen. No more freeloaders.

[@irfanalley]

Not had a licence in years, I'm still waiting for them to turn up so that I can give them back all their junk mail

[@no-one-no-one]

My 80+ year old mum, felt so intimidated by them. She paid it to stop the harrasment. She did not watch them she was paying subscription to another online company, she now has cancelled the other subscription as not going to pay for both. We all despise them and their bully boy tactics

[@dianemallon7207]

The sooner this ridiculous racket is closed down, the better society will be and the less threatened the citizens will feel.

[@TK-ux5du]

I had a letter last week reminding me that it had been a year since I last told them I didn’t need a licence and I MUST get in touch as soon as possible because it is an annual legal requirement to either buy a licence or confirm that I do not need a licence. When I called them to say that I still do not need a licence, they wouldn't just accept that and proceeded to ask other questions such as do I own a TV set, is there a TV aerial at the property etc. Finally, they said it would be wisest to get the property licensed now so that I would be prepared in the event that I decide in future that I want to watch the BBC. It makes me wonder how many people (particularly elderly) they have convinced to buy an unwanted licence "just in case". Really despicable.

[@paulthomas5724]

I had the exact same letter a couple of days ago. Definitely harassment. Doesn’t matter to me, the letter went straight in the bin like all the others. According to THEIR rules and stipulations I DO NOT need a license. It worries me not. But how many elderly, disabled, vulnerable people have been frightened half to death by these horrid, cruel and threatening unsolicited letters?? Shameful

[@ScottiStudios]

Previous letters went into the bin. Now I'm saving them incase I want to sue for harassment and need a paper trail

[@jaylo912]

Gonna be needing a fishing licence soon for anyone keeping tuna tins in the cupboards

[@petelattimer6808]

dont give the govt. any ideas!

[@Tony-c7z9t]

Oops I'd better dash out and get a licence I've got a couple of tins Salmon in stock and Kippers in the fridge.

[@PUNKinDRUBLIC72]

I might pinch that!🤣

[@jayawilder3835]

😆🐟🐠🐟🐠

[@BronyumHexofloride]

Better go Register your Fish, i got 30 of their fingers in the freezer

[@madmike987655]

I filled out the No Licence Needed form back in 2021 as we found that we never watched TV. I sent this to them and have never heard from them since. If I were to receive a letter like this I would be horrified at it's wording and I would complain and request an apology from them. I would urge anyone to do the same. If you don't need a TV licence then fight back and demand an apology. They need to be stopped from what they are doing.

[@155andRising]

I received a letter informing me that an agent would be paying me a visit on the 25th December. I woke up Christmas Day and told the kids that a special man was coming to visit. The kids confused , pointed to their presents under the tree and said “but dad he’s already been “ I waited in all day and there was no visit from the tv licensing man . Mr Scott Robinson lied to me 😢

[@Sine-gl9ly]

I got an identical letter. I laid an extra place at my Christmas table, and put out an extra cracker and a paper crown. My self-invited guest never turned up, and I had a lonesome Christmas Day with just next door's cat as company, and he, bless his paws, couldn't pull the cracker, or wear the paper crown - although he did enjoy the turkey!

[@155andRising]

@ 🤣🤣🤣👏👏👏

[@Wolfie387]

Threatening and intimidating...the authors/ source of these letters must be brought before the Courts in a civil case.

[@marioncampbell2156]

Ive been told an enforcement officer will be calling on me tomorrow 26th January. To bad I wont be here.

[@annhaynes5955]

Hahaha

[@Clodhopping]

It's a shame you won't be in - you won't have the satisfaction of witnessing them not turn up.

[@jimg9820]

I had one of those too - and, no, they didn't show up. Rather pathetic of them really.

[@Rekaert]

I stopped paying this tax what, 10 years ago now? I had the letters every month for probably the first five or six years. I had two goons knocking on the door in the first year or so, whom I thanked for coming out, told them I wasn't interested and then closed the door on them. Politely, but firmly. The letters are sporadic now. They occasionally turn up, probably in case my house has been bought by someone else so they're just checking. Other than that, it's been no hassle. Saved what, £1500 there or thereabouts?

[@anythingbut...]

Do I have a right to demand that BBC removes my data (my name and address, email, telephone number etc) from their TV Licence database as per GDPR?

[@BrightonandHoveActually]

Presumably they do not have the name of the recipient of this letter (or it would not be addressed to "legal occupier").

[@anythingbut...]

​@@BrightonandHoveActually my question is in case they already have all the data (for whatever reason). Can one revoke the consent for them having it. Btw those letters used to be every 2 years, now they are every year.

[@InderjeetSingh-im3eh]

My Mother has been emailing them to get her details removed as per DPA 2018. They refuse, claiming "public interest" to hold onto her details and they refuse to adher to Right to Restriction in the same grounds. They claim that their letters are "inquiries" and don't say what they are doing is harrassment. Just because she doesn't watch broadcast TV.🤬

[@notyourordinarygran]

Maybe we should all email them at the same time then they couldn't claim that.😂

[@Mike-UKTH]

Called them up and asked about watching KZbinrs live stream games or other content (NOT SHOWS OR NEWS). TVL (TV licensing) said oh you need a TV licence for that.... I told TVL that I don't as it is not a national TV station or News it is user generated content.... They were adamant about the need of a TV licence until I said you better check with you manager or someone.... They checked and told me I won't need one for KZbin providing it's not BBC news or something similar Goes to show that not even TVL know what they are on about

[@alpinaCD]

If you are over 60, teach your friends to watch KZbin because info like this will stop older people from being afraid of stuff like this.

[@Lee_Proffit]

Why are people even opening these letters ? RTS (return to sender) them straight back and let them pay the extra postage 🙂

[@carolannevans7533]

I'm not opening any..letting them stack up ready for court if need be...Proof of harassment...

[@Lee_Proffit]

@@carolannevans7533 Just RTS them, if it goes to court, they will have to prove that they sent them, so they will have copies

[@DrRock2009]

But that lets them know there is someone at the property….🤷‍♂️

[@follow_the_money_trail]

Never return the letters. They then know you exist.

[@Lee_Proffit]

@@follow_the_money_trail No problem if they know I exist, I have no TV so they can keep wasting their money

[@shellybelly35]

I have 37 of these letters and I'm on the verge of taking legal action as i struggle with depression and anxiety these letters virtually accuse me of committing a crime. I refuse to ever go near BBC again they disgust me with their biased dishonest programming and fake news (1500 breaches of editorial guidelines last year alone) live TV is outdated when i watch KZbin and on demand. I watch when i want and no adverts, it's so much better. I'm sick of their threatening letters. It's not right and keeps upsetting me.

[@ProfYaffle]

I never wrote to anyone to tell them I don't need a gun licence - and noone ever wrote to me to ask if I need one.

[@GrahamCampbellNZ]

As a fellow lawyer, why not report them to the Law Society for bringing the profession into disrepute? Conduct unbecoming and letters designed to extort money or defraud people? Are there no legal limits to misleading people?

[@robtheplod]

Sanctioned by the government in the BBC charter.

[@davidgriffin8334]

As a lawyer why don't you do it?

[@Ne0BLu3]

Im sick of them, had officer's year's ago when my kids were young , they adults now. The tv officer's burst into my house demanding i pay my tv licence, i went off on them forcibly removed them, rang the police and was told i did the correct thing, now every time i get a letter i send a ln email to the police through my old incident no and they contact the BBC to say further harassing. 😂😂😂

[@chrisdervin5420]

I don't open them it's junk mail and goes straight in the bin.

[@richardstott6023]

Same.

[@nicksloan8860]

I open it to laugh at how ridiculous it is and then pop it in the bin. I used to notify them that I don't need a licence, now I just let them waste their money sending me letters that I will keep ignoring

[@SirJimmySavileOBEKCSG]

They sent around the Ghost of Jimmy Savile, good thing my hoover was on full suck!

[@DarkNight-kp4bv]

Jim definitely enjoyed that one, don't empty that hoover whatever you do!

[@geraldinecasey5741]

🤣

[@annemcniell6956]

😂😂😂

[@londonbobby]

@SirJimmySavileOBEKCSG Ironically, "full suck" exactly describes the quality of BBC programmes these days.

[@keithwesley2471]

Thank you for showing the contents of these letters! For 40 years I have treated these as junk mail and just torn them in half and put them in the bin! Thanks BBB for the information.

[@ParanoimiaUK]

Apart from harassment, at what point does this effectively become "demanding money with menaces"?

[@Elaineshaw-d6m]

I got so fed up with these letters, haven't watched broadcast telly for years, but still own one for watching DVDs. Last time I phoned them and warned them that any more harassment would incur a charge at a minimum of £20 per letter received. I was told they would refrain for 1 year. The year isn't up yet, but I'm anticipating being harassed again. I wonder if a class action would do some good?

[@K9Weddings]

I had a letter last week asking me to pay for licence or verify I don't need one. I had verified in October 2024 and had the email. As such I launched a complaint saying they should not be contacting me so soon. They have finally replied to say they have updated their records but i would love to take legal action for harassment.

[@rikbryan9709]

I got the same one yesterday. I, too, declared no license needed in November. They are desperate and using fear to get you to pay. It's pathetic, really.

[@gawill2327]

It’s also happening to me. I have already declared I do not need a tv licence online and received an email saying they wouldn’t contact me until 2026….however I’m still getting these threatening letters.

[@GlastoGeek7]

Please take them on Dan!🙏 This blatant intimidation and harassment must be brought to an end!!!

[@Ian-zx9rp]

I received the same letter last week and found the wording amusing, it went straight in the bin like the rest of them. I can understand though how people who don't know could get stressed out.

[@ItsFish-n-Chips]

Moved in to new place a month or so back only to find a few of these already addressed to the legal occupier. The last letter informs me that they will visit on Monday, I look forward to this visit, maybe they can set up an ariel and get things going for me. 😅

[@petelattimer6808]

ive been in my house about 14 years now. the aewrial cable at the aerial on the roof can VISIBLY be SEEN flapping in the wind

[@oldpondfrog788]

TV licencing advertisments for decades explicitly suggested licensing authorities had "detector vans" they could use to follow a live signal to a particular house. They do not! How is it legal for authorities to use deception in that way? Surely that's a serious breach of trust?

[@Vic-d5b]

The BBC contractor is not an "Authority", it is just a contractor!

[@davidhamm7909]

If you put a tin foil hat on your head, their detector van cannot detect a signal….. mind you, even if you don’t put a tin foil hat on your head, it still cannot detect a signal.

[@bernieburrows3731]

The BBC and trust, are not associated with each other.

[@chaosenergy1990]

They did actually have some detector vans decades ago, but they only worked on old style CRT TVs.

[@davepfizer]

Detector vans are a real joke. In the old days of CRT TV and the radiated field that they put out yes you might have been able to pick up a particularly bad TV if it was close enough and was in the right orientation and there were not two TV's back to back on the opposite side of a brick wall in a row of terraced houses but the whole thing of knowing what you were watching and then having someone knock on your door was all part of the threat and scare tactics that they used then. A modern TV is a totally different sort of beast and its radiated field strength is so much reduced than the old style TV that you would need something rather more advanced than a transit van with an aerial on the top to pick up its signals. Also remember that the world is full of digital and analog signals all interfering with one another and broadcasting their noise so your thermostat, your smart meter, your phone, your computer, even your microwave and the clock timer on the oven is happy to send out its signal so picking out your TV above that hash is going to require something rather more advanced than a big aerial and a man in a brown coat sitting in the dark of the van. So they have to use another threat and scare tactic and when you have billions of peoples money to throw around you can afford to give away millions of it to Capita to have goons bang on doors. Same system different technique. The sooner the BBC goes the better. I don't watch anything more than 20 minutes of their output a week and yet I still dutifully pay my license but there will come a time when I will say ENOUGH! I will leave a TV permanently leaning up against my front wall so they can see i have done away with it. So many cretins so little time. ENOUGH!

[@lesmaybury793]

This activity does need to be challenged in court. Perhaps BBB could lead this with backing from ChilliJonCarne, he had a pile of evidence. It could be crowd funded with the objective of stopping tv licensing harrasment. I bet a Judge would take a very dim view of the wording on the harrasment letters.

[@petelattimer6808]

Judges are probably going to back the government/BBC though. if they didnt, the license would probably have been abolished years ago, as it rightly should have been.

[@davidadiwego4608]

Just had a letter from TV licensing telling me I'm not licensed, wanting to know if I should be (I shouldn't). I went on their 'declaration' web page, again, to shut them up. I found their terminology to be notably vague considering we're 25 years into the 21st century, and it's a legally binding declaration too : "TV", "live", "programmes". It would be plain and simple to understand if TV licensing only had regard for TV channels, but they don't. Now, TV licensing include (non BBC) internet streaming, namely KZbin and Amazon. If someone asked me if I ever watch live programmes on TV, the technically accurate answer could arguably be: yes. . . I watch KZbin content, on a TV, that was scheduled for viewing (i.e programmed), and that isn't pre-recorded/is labeled as live. However, I gather that TV licensing, and the law, doesn't mean: the Jimmy Dore live stream on YT, or the Tim Dillon one (etc). However, TV licensing's terminology could technically apply to the aforementioned YT content... WTF do they mean exactly? I don't think they even know. I'd bet my last £ that one of their enforcement agents couldn't tell me, in anything like simple terms, the technical (actual) 'tele-visual' difference between me watching, say, the evening news (non BBC), sent digitally down a wire to my receiving device which, itself, was set on pause at the time of initial broadcast, so I skipped back 5 minutes, and me watching a Tim Pool live stream on YT. Because TV licensing is trying to apply friggin' 1950's regulations to 21st century technological reality and viewing trends, we plebs have to decode TV licensing's obsolete terminology lest we fall foul of, serious, law! Outrageous! Rant over.

[@bohmao]

Agree entirely. I filled out an online form about 6 years ago stating that I do not watch live TV and therefore did not need a TV Licence. About three years later I received a letter from the licencing authority telling me that according to their records my circumstances had changed. They had not. It was a lie. However I went back onto their website and made another declaration that I did not need a TV licence. The other day I received yet another letter telling me my circumstances had changed. They have not. This is just another lie. The letter went straight into the bin. These people are crooked and dishonest and are involved in harrassment.

[@dospalmascb]

Great information, thank you. We receive these letters on a weekly basis. We never watch Live tv and most definitely never watch the BBC. I have no intention of paying to fund an organisation that spreads lies and untruths about people, countries and religions. Give me another 6 months on my LLB and It might be me taking them to court for harassment ;)

[@wideyxyz2271]

I have gone from being named to being legal occupier in their stupid letters, which tells you a lot about their record keeping skills. They all go straight into the wood burner. Not the slightest bit interested in TV at all.

[@chaosenergy1990]

I don’t respond to letters addressed to ‘The Occupier’. I have a name. If you don’t know it, don’t write to me.

[@MyRackley]

It could be for legal reasons that they don't retain personal information. It could, of course, mean they can work more efficiently that way.

[@stuartfountain9929]

Send them a “cease and desist” or you will be suing them for harassment

[@follow_the_money_trail]

No, don't engage with them in any way

[@conanthebarbarian6307]

The letter i got said that you need a licence if you watch anything live on ANY platform, including KZbin, iplayer, sky sports etc on any device that you stream live video. I would like to know how they can claim to take revenue for watching youtube or other subsciptions like sky that people pay for already and are also apparently independent companies? If this is legal for them to claim, wouldn't it suggest the govemerment is actually behind the tvlicensing company- perhaps a front for a stealth tax. How else could the tvlicensing company make such a claim if they are not government backed by law? I wonder if they dont get enough revenue they will likely claim you need to pay a license if you own any device that is capable of streaming live content. In which case you would end up needing a licence to own a phone.

[@darkstardavros]

I told the BBC last year that I didn't need a license because I only watch DVDs , listen to the radio or go on social media. Last time I heard. You didn't need a license for any of those (yet). And yet this year I received another letter , the second one of two this year, telling me that I've got a window of ten days to get one before they send round an enforcement officer. I have enough mental health issues as it is without the BBC adding to it. Which is partly why I don't watch live TV anyway. I don't need the endless grief of it. Unfortunately. At the moment I can't even bring myself to speak to them anyway. But if they're going send round an enforcement officer. They had better make an appointment with me for it. Otherwise they won't be getting in. Period.

[@Foxy64]

Thanks for doing these Licensing videos Dan , really appreciate it that you highlight the different letters that they send out and then explain in detail what nonsense they are .. Cheers Dan 👍

[@deicidedad]

What happened to being innocent before proving your guilt? They seem to think that you are guilty, and thats that.

[@Kivetonandrew]

Surely could TV Licensing be taken to court for using the term "Enforcement Officer" when they are really only door to door salespeople trying to sell you something you don't want. I've now had 33 of these letters, two in the last three weeks.

[@Tom-gv2eo]

😮 yu unlucky person! I've had ~ 33 inth last 30 yrs -- No T v-. Som I burn, some write 'Retn to Sender' on & stick bak in postbox!

[@robtheplod]

So many people are realising they dont need one and are cancelling that they are getting a bit desperate!

[@madeyoulook6392]

I'm on my 15th or 16th investigation 🤷🏼‍♀️ still no physical visit . . . they're such teases 😆

[@FuelPoverty]

The clowns last came here in June 2021, got politely told to leave, no sign of them since, when they do show up, they will be politely told to leave, but told to go to the village post office first, and buy me a book of stamps, such that I can anonymously reply to their letters addressed to the anonymous person ( and animals) who live in my house, none of whom watch the BBC or live TV.

[@madeyoulook6392]

@FuelPoverty best way to deal with them, a polite "no thank you" then shut the door 👍 I really worry that labour will replace the licence with a stealth tax, despise the thought of funding the BBC

[@knrdvmmlbkkn]

@@madeyoulook6392"replace the licence with a stealth tax" Some years ago they did so on this side of the North Sea. That is, replaced the "usual" public disservice license fee with funding from general taxation. I never paid the licence fee, but now there's no way to get around it if you are a net tax payer.

[@madeyoulook6392]

@knrdvmmlbkkn exactly, BBC can't survive based on the pure quality of what they produce, kids don't watch the BBC and they are the future consumer audience, if the BBC provided outstanding value for money then a subscription model wouldn't bother them, they know as well as we do that a subscription model would be the very quick death of the corporation, so why keep it alive? It's invaluable as a mouthpiece for government disinformation and social engineering, kept in line by the outrageous subsidised wages of the parasites at the top and the 'stars' who know how to do as they are told 🍻

[@MrJordanwain]

Imagine the Avon lady sending you a letter to say she is escalating your lack of purchase of her wares to the enforcement team!!!

[@Dirty_Hamble]

Our records show you haven't hosted a Tupperware party since 1978. You can expect a visit from Party Susan.

[@bigolbearthejammydodger6527]

To be fair I have had one Avon lady hammering on my door demanding I pay for the stupid book she put through my door and I put in the bin. I didn't ask for it, Im not paying for it, it was junk mail advertising and thus it went in the bin, I dont give a damn If its costs you.

[@AlienFishGames]

"ACT NOW"? I do. Every time. I read the letter, dismiss their threats as petty posturing, then tear up the letter and throw it in the bin where it belongs. I wonder how much money the BBC wastes each year on these wasteful threats..?

[@quillo2747]

I received one yesterday. It says 'An officer will be visiting your property soon' What kind of officer is that? If I didn't know better they are trying to put fear in people that the police is coming round.

[@derek-press]

their officer is jsut some geezer with an id,just be polite dont let him in and tell him you are busy and bye and have a nice day

[@CJ0175]

@@derek-press Why be polite?!

[@chaosenergy1990]

@@CJ0175Basic human courtesy. You can say ‘no’ to someone nicely but also firmly. “Sorry, I’m not interested thanks. Have a nice day. Bye!”. Much more enjoyable than, “Fuck off!”.

[@derek-press]

@why make their life more miserable, they have a shit job ,probaby their own fault but just be polite and they will move on

[@siansteed8610]

​@@CJ0175 For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction (Newton's Third Law of Motion).

[@tomm856]

I'm 76 and on pension credit, so could get a free licence. However, I stopped watching TV over ten years so don't have a TV now but I still keep getting these letters, I could get a free licence, even though I don't have a TV just to get them off my back, but why should If I don't have a TV.

[@roberthardy2013]

I once applied for free tax on my vintage Landrover, all quite legal, but they DID ask of if I wanted 6 months or 12 months ?

[@pelocitdarney5718]

I call them up and issue a warning to the call-taker: "Your organisation has sent letters to this house which are demanding money with menaces. This is blackmail, and you are part of the blackmail process, and as such, if found guilty in a court of law, you may be sentenced to a prison term of up to 14 years".

[@helensusanarrowsmith5926]

For 2 years l received these letters, even after going on line and filling in the questionnaire and stating that "I didn't have a TV" No one from the TV licencing came round... I even accused them of harassment because I was getting that many letters.

[@markellott5620]

I had a visit. I was out, so they left a leaflet demanding that I contact them within the next seven days.

[@pigstick132]

They should encrypt their broadcasts if they worry about people watching who shouldn’t be.

[@MyRackley]

But the licence is for reception of any live TV broadcasts, not just the BBC.

[@pigstick132]

@ exactly my point

[@lks6248]

In case all the scandals haven’t made it sink in yet, theBBC is indeed beyond redemption….

[@jinxysanchez2990]

I am 77yrs of age disabled and live alone. I have eleven of these letters sent to me throughout 2024 each with an unpleasant or threatening headings . I have explained via telephone I DO NOT WATCH TV At tAll. I tried to purchase a license just to stop the letters but they said my bank details were wrong ( they were not.) I feel very intimidated especially when they threaten a caller. I just watch the parts of KZbin that are allowed.

[@FuelPoverty]

Do not be intimidated, you are doing nothing wrong.

[@ronnierush9379]

Get the BBC to fact check it ! Totally out of order and dishonest behaviour from these

[@l3nny47]

These letters look like the old fake competition and prize winning letters that were a thing many years ago - a scam, dishonest, cheap attempts to deceive. This is what happens when you contract out the collection of TV licence fees to Capita who seem to run most government services and are responsible for eating your tax money and Akinika their debt collection agency who I'm sure are a professional and respectable company.

[@leannewright3529]

Got this letter to my business address today. I have no TV I don't have any of the BBC apps on my phone and don't watch it!

[@BrianHarbut-v5k]

I have exactly the same letter here. I’ve had similar as well & some are worded as if children have written them! “Will you be in on the 23rd? Well it might not be the 23rd” That sort of thing! I’ve had one visit and told him off. I refuse to contact them or tell them anything. I am 76 years old & although there it a tv here, I’ve never watched it. I just read or use my iPhone. It is harassment & intimidation & I get very angry. I suffer with high BP, PTSD & cancer plus asthma etc. i think they are disgusting.

[@yvonnewarner2664]

I had one of these letters last week, addressed to householder. I have been legally licence free for more than 10 years. I had a visit last year. Gave no details, but simply told them i dont legally need a licence so dont require their services. I emailed tvl, only gave letter ref and email address i rarely use. Advised them that i consider they are harassing me with continuous threats and asked themto cease. They emailed me, asking for my details, and telling me to verify online i dont need a licence. Not responding to their requests for further information.

[@MyRackley]

That's the right strategy. I used to tell them "no licence needed", but soon enough the letters would arrive again. I made the mistake of contacting them by email, then I got a personalised email from them asking "Do you still not need a licence?". I used the "unsubscribe" feature in gmail to get rid of them. Now I avoid having any contact with them, and the letters go in the bin.

[@mh060168]

Just imagine if they removed Live TV from the licence requirement. Why should I require a licence to watch live broadcasts from sources that have nothing top do with the BBC. I rarely watch anything live but still pay as a safety net. The BBC already have Login functionality, they should throw all their content behind this and charge if they feel their content is premium enough to be worth the money.

[@C.Hmoore]

JUST THROW THE LETTERS STRAIGHT INTO THE BIN. My neighbour told me that they’ve NEVER paid this fee and they’ve had a TV for 40 years. How do these people get away with non payment when others don’t?

[@PUNKinDRUBLIC72]

You beat me to it!

[@jazmo6662]

Because they are either never in when the goons visit or don't let them in. The only way they can prosecute you is if you talk to them, or let them in to get evidence. EVen engaging with them will give them evidence. Just don't engage with them at all.

[@karl53133]

​@@jazmo6662Exactly it's that simple...!!

[@barbaraallen435]

Well if they have never bought a licence then they may not be registered .

[@follow_the_money_trail]

Because they never engage with them in any way. Just treat them like door to door salesmen. They have no authority over you whatsoever.

[@grahambate1567]

When I get a letter from tv licencing, I Don't open it and just use it to light my wood burner, in that respect I find it quite useful

[@follow_the_money_trail]

Paper is terrible for lighting fires

[@DataLoreHive]

I had a similar letter yesterday, which took a whole 10 days to get to me for starters (tho it doesn't have a deadline of 'ten days to act on', & of course the lie that they contacted me with no response). BUT, it also states that: 'It's important to buy a TV Licence immediately if you're watching TV ILLEGALLY'. I don't have/watch TV in any form, keep telling them every other year I don't need a licence & got confirmation letters, & now it suddenly adds that 'illegally' threat I never saw before. I would have gone online to tell them to stuff it, but their website was under maintenance.

[@chrisrowley5288]

After receiving yet another threatening letter from TV licencing, having submitted two online declarations that we DO NOT watch any BBC content or live TV, I have written to my MP for help. Hopefully he will intervene and stop TV licencing performing this blatant harassment!

[@fionagardner4257]

I would not hold your breathe, your MP is complicit in this happening,

[@roberthardy2013]

No he / she won’t !

[@georgegently3026]

Not sure you are aware, but ALL MPs are self serving two faced liars, their only concern is to get the nose in the trough asap and get as much as they can.

[@robtheplod]

Wasting your time.... the government mandates the bbc to contact anyone who is not licensed regularly.... your mp is part of the problem, not the solution. 😂

[@andrewbeckley728]

I rang them years ago and told them to stop sending me begging letters, they are far worse than junk mail sending them out.

[@MichaelSmith-us9ch]

Having received similar letters from other "official" companies, my first act is to bin the offending letter.

[@altvamp]

I starting saving these around 30 years ago when they kept sending very threatening letters, I found it quite upsetting so I stopped opening and reading them but continued saving them for several years with the intention of going to court but I just can't afford to.

[@robtheplod]

Why would you find them upsetting?? They dont put your name on the letter....

[@jonhewitt3]

Every 2 years I've had to go online and declare that I don't require a TV licence, I had another email reminder this month, strange I thought I'd recently done this recently, yes 6 months ago, are they now sending out these reminders more frequently? 😡

[@125brat]

I wonder if they're in trouble because so many people are ditching the licence?

[@XratedRC]

Yes I had the same thing. Just ignore.

[@MyRackley]

You don't "have to" declare anything to them! Just bin the letters and unsubscribe to their emails. I never answer the door to anyone I'm not expecting either.

[@associatedblacksheepandmisfits]

I don't even bother to open these letters any more , straight into file 13 😂 Never had a TV never will . Still they come, red letter writings and all ! Their loss in postage costs must be huge across the uk ! Thanks for your clarification on this topic 👍 good man.🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@augustlion6645]

The letters from TV Licensing letters get closer and closer to the line, they are relentless and extremely threatening. If they were a private business doing this they would be covered by the media and questions raised in parliament about harassment, threatening behaviour etc. I recall consumer programmes for years attacking the tactics of private business doing less than TV Licensing. This is a problem brewing and before too long TV Licensing will need to be reigned in.

[@125brat]

But Starmers mob have recently confirmed nothing will change in respect of funding of the BBC so looks like the situation either won't change or is likely to get worse as many people are ditching paying the licence fee.

[@Shenanigans57]

My partner had one to ask if she would be in on December 25th and could expect a visit.. I took a photo of it just to make sure I wasn't imagining it.. Unbelievable!!!

[@czechtactical8388]

Why is this not against the law, surely it is deliberate intimidation. Can the BBC be sued or criminally prosecuted for this? If so why not crowd fund multiple prosecutions against the BBC?

[@robtheplod]

Nope... these letters are not personally addressed...

[@robtheplod]

Only against the law if you are named on the letter... they get around this by calling you 'legal occupier'..... this also means its not aimed at you and you can ignore it....

[@czechtactical8388]

Thank you for the reply.

[@coraho546]

I would have been mortified by such letters as I’m new in this country. Thank you for your videos. And also comments from others. I understand now that I don’t even need to inform them that I don’t need a tv licence- so not to provide any personal information to them! I despise BBC. How can they get away doing this for years 🤬🤬🤬 Disgusting

[@andrewmackaybryan]

Get rid of the stupid licence system. We did it a quarter century ago. Waste of time and allows petty bureaucrats this unending ego trip.

[@rolyvonotter2693]

The aim of that letter is to Intimidate, Threaten, Bully, Frighten, Stress & Harass the subject.

[@grahamsmith8091]

This must b stopped. It is nothing short of harassment. Do I get constant threatening letters from the Environment Agency because I don't have a fishing licence. You won't get threatening letters from DVLA because you don't have a driving licence. I am sure there are many other examples you can think of. Time it was stopped.

[@user-he8su9oq8l]

Imagine if BBB sent letters like these demanding you subscribe to the channel and the picture becomes even clearer.

[@englishrose9809]

I finally got my 'licence not required' letter 2 weeks ago after months of harassing letters and complaint emails to their customer service person. But now they've dropped the declaration you have to give them from two years to one. But I refuse to give these people my money to broadcast woke propaganda and cover up the other nefarious shenanigans (y'all know what I'm on about).

[@keithbalding7258]

I'm very sorry, but you have wasted all of that time and effort because in six months time they will just start pestering you again. In the case of one of our employees it was only six weeks.

[@englishrose9809]

@ So I'll ignore them. They've got my records, they can refer to them.

[@moondance2129]

These threatening Letters are outrageous how can this go on & it is all about watching TV in your Home.