The END of TV Licensing Letters? (It should be!)

[@SmileyMack]

It's absurd that a company can harass people so much for not using their services any more. Imagine Asda representatives turning up at your house, and demanding to come in, because you stopped shopping there.

[@SmileyMack]

@@witssen9954 modern mindset. Guilty until proven innocent.

[@S.Trades]

@@witssen9954 is Spar still around? Wow!

[@JasonSpielberg]

And then they spot a Tesco bag so they come back with a warrant.

[@Gollammeister]

Just imagine if we did such a thing to the bbc and 3rd party reps at their households front door they wouldn’t like or appreciate or appreciate it I’m sure

[@TheFurrry]

@@Gollammeister someone did, they sent a letter to head of BBC I think it was telling them to stop harassing them, they got a visit from the police saying they were harrssing the BBc. you couldn't make this shit up

[@mortuaryartist]

9 years ago informed them I did not require a licence. I have not watched live tv since. The letters are relentless. Chilli John is a legend

[@stephenchurch9563]

Write on the envelope “return to sender” and pop it in the mail box

[@4TheRecord]

@@stephenchurch9563 If everyone did that then they would end up swamped in their own letters. Might even cause them to stop but it takes everyone doing it. I would be tempted to collect up 6 months worth of letters and RTS them all at the same time.

[@CJ0175]

@@stephenchurch9563 Wrap it round a brick first. Cost them a few quid in postage fees.

[@jamespsyfer]

Ditto

[@Rachel_M_]

Nearly 20 years and counting for me..... Relentless

[@glynnepritchard2526]

It used to be an offense to send threats through the mail, and I believe it still is.

[@S.Trades]

Unless you are effectively immune from prosecution?

[@NoOne-hq9cp]

I believe the universal postal union police the post or mail world wide

[@laceandwhisky]

They do it on implied words so not threatening if they go to court.

[@DJWESG1]

Malicious communications.

[@petercrawford2912]

According other posts the police and the government are all part of the Plan to keep this going

[@ChilliJonCarne]

Appreciate your take on this one mate. It’s the ‘you left us no alternative but to continue with the investigation’ that got my goat up on that letter. But I never thought about it how you have here. Some very fair points

[@anonnemo2504]

I got the same letter recently, CJ. TV Licensing probably cover themselves by saying "proceed with the final stages [plural] of their investigation". Every investigation has a beginning, middle and end, often not clearly defined, and who could say when the opening stages become the middle stages and the middle stages become the final stages, or how long each lasts? Thanks for all your good work. You gave me the confidence to go licence free quite some time ago now.

[@doOf3r]

I have amassed a collection of well over 200 threatening letters from TVLicensing, several missed 'Visits', I am legally Licence free and have been since the early '90s. How is this not harassment?

[@KemPeck1701]

people have reported this to the police without telling the police that its a TVL letter.. the police DO say it is harassment.. until they find out its a TVL letter

[@jwsuicides8095]

Wow! You really were ahead of the curve.

[@jonwyatt3694]

When they are addressed to "The legal occupier" they are not actually harassing a named individual. It's a loophole they take advantage of. I began to retain their letters in 2004 and have collected ~250 since then. They are kept as evidence. I'll occasionally return one with a blunt or mocking message written on the unopened envelope (photographed), in the hope they would take some sort of action. Nothing I have put into words has ever produced a response of any kind.

[@BABYWOLF--1966]

Well done I hate bullying 😡😡😡😡😡

[@LindaCharles-sg6mz]

I agree especially since we as a coupe have not watched TV for so many years.

[@homersimpson118]

I hope they don’t stop sending them, the envelopes are great for jotting down shopping lists, and the letters themselves make great kindling for my chiminea.

[@mrsm9974]

I got fed up with the amount of irrelevant paperwork that came through my door. That I had to then shred and put in my recycling. In the end, I started to let my toddler scribble drawings all over the paperwork colour in the boxes. It gave her a good hour of entertainment while I did some bits of housework. Then I would stuff them into one of the stamped addressed envelopes along with any other random adverts and post it back. I think TV Licensing was one of them. Knowing they have to pay for that letter to be returned and then ultimately they would have the job of shredding it, was a little satisfying. 😂

[@rjj00]

​@@mrsm9974 You are paying for it via Tax not them

[@Homerun153]

I have no tv licence, having woke up and smelled the coffee. After the 3rd letter I received from the twerps I wrote on the 3rd letter itself, telling them that should I receive any more they will hear from my solicitor, claiming harrassment and stress and they were damaging my mental health. No more letters.

[@coldbreeze6344]

Stopped watching TV 5 years ago best thing I ever did

[@LindaCharles-sg6mz]

I agree I actually can't remember the last time we watched live TV. There is nothing on TV I want to see.

[@jasonroberts6063]

Me too about 10 years ago

[@rickymort135]

The best thing you've EVER done? Would you write it on your grave stone: "Here lies Cold Breeze: Stopped watching TV in 2019"

[@Professor-Scientist]

@@rickymort135 😂😂

[@Professor-Scientist]

So you just watch KZbin now instead?

[@onenote6619]

I have been getting very threatening TV licence letters for over a decade. I just toss them in the trash, because I don't need a licence. They follow a cycle.

[@NigelStainforth]

WHY…

[@LellyJelly-j8l]

I’m their target - a single white female in her 60s - therefore a prime target for their threatening letters.

[@Si74l0rd]

​@@NigelStainforthIt's hassle one way or another. I resent having to let them in every year to prove I'm not watching TV. It's much easier and less stressful for me to have their letters arrive addressed to The Legal Occupier, because then their threats are completely hollow, and I don't have to worry about some toerag on my doorstep making threats. I don't own a car, so I don't pay road tax, but I don't have the DVLA or govt all up my butt about not having road tax. I don't see why the BBC, or worse still the complete arseholes they employ from Capita, should be able to impact my quality of life by sending dozens of letters every year, or turning up on my doorstep. Most of those letters are thinly veiled threats, and while it doesn't worry me, because there's not a snowballs chance in hell a judge will sign a warrant for a search of The Legal Occupiers premises, it does worry a lot of other people who get strongarmed into buying a TV licence they no longer need. It's not 4 channels of TV and nothing else anymore. The TV licence is an anachronism and needs to be scrapped.

[@davecooper3238]

Of course they do. It’s the only way they can know if a property is correctly licenced. Perhaps it ought to be done automatically via an equivalent of ANPR that automatically checks that vehicles are correctly documented.

[@NigelStainforth]

@@JackOfski I do not have a tv, so why would i ever communicate with tv licensing ??

[@stuungar3390]

TV licensing has never been fair and just.

[@MYBIGKINDHEART]

Neither has the council tax

[@stuungar3390]

@@MYBIGKINDHEART - agree 💯, a tax to be able to live with a roof over your head

[@Linda-p3d1g]

Gave up my TV years ago. They've visited me - satisfied there's no TV. But still, I received threatening letter after threatening letter. It's a joke - but it's not! I put them on a pile - a very high pile. It's so wrong and it needs to stop. Can you facilitate a group court action of harassment?

[@stestar09]

Your someone thats had the "visit" & left you true to the fact you don't require, & yet your still harassed by there letters !! A legal intervention IS needed!

[@S.Trades]

@@stestar09 same here. Came in, looked around, apologised... now another letter!

[@livinglife8565]

Obviously not enviromentalists

[@ianc4178]

Hmm, a class-action against, allegedly, a government supported institution? ... might work.

[@MikeEves]

Are the police satisfied you don't have a gun?

[@archstanton5603]

Years ago my cousin was prosecuted for not having a TV licence. In court TV licensing stated they' had written to her many times yet she'd still not bought a TV licence. With her many letter copies in hand, my cousin explained how she'd replied to TV licensing many times explaining she did not own and had never owned a TV set. In throwing out the case, the Magistrate admonished TV licensing for not doing their research before bring the case before asking what reasonable expenses did my cousin have....

[@HillbillyYEEHAA]

They're an absolute joke. Tv licensing just lie.

[@Mk-oy9ns]

Just had another one through the letterbox,didn't open it ,filed in the big grey bin! I refuse to pay to be lied to !!

[@johnystrange665]

I think BBC licensing and the convictions they have brought may be the next biggest miscarriage of justice scandal to unfold after the Post Office Scandal. Thank you for all that you’re doing, keep up the great work and content you supply.

[@JelMain]

Illegal taxation, unfair competition, quasi-monopoly.

[@afreeman1980]

I need the paper to start my log burner, if they stop I'll have to buy more newspapers and they are as bad as the bbc. I still get advertising circulars delivered for free by the Royal mail so not all is lost.

[@Internal.Inferno]

Lol I was just saying I use them as kindling hahaha

[@jwsuicides8095]

I use paper to line my cat litter tray. I don't buy newspapers but kindly souls donate their newspapers for my cause. lol.

[@foxstrangler]

In my last job before retirement, I used to get these letters addressed to various areas operated by my employer. Many were just locations, like '72 park', these were just stacking areas for shipping containers, There were no buildings, let alone an office, or a television. We just binned them as there was nowhere to deliver to. In eleven years of this, we never had a visit. If they arrived, they would have found a huge industrial area of some 700 acres of private property with Police and security to greet them, with absolutely no chance of ever gaining access.

[@chrisktm2010]

My father in law died a ew months ago and he keeps getting letters to his house that he hasn’t lived in for over a year. They are now threatening to take him to court. When we called to explain situation they won’t talk to us and can only talk to him.

[@deanmartin6052]

Ask them to come along for a meeting, and when they do, set up a Ouija Board and get them to ask their questions as you place your hands on the pointer.

[@maunsell24]

Condolences. Tell them he has moved. If they ask where give them the new address for service of court papers. The relevant cemetary or crematorium.

[@PINACI]

lol, I have multiple "final investigation" letters and received another one only last week !

[@NiceLoki]

I have kept the majority of the letters from them over the years and would be happy to take part in a class action harassment case against them.

[@Thurgosh_OG]

I think UK calls them Group Litigations but yes, I'd join this too.

[@NiceLoki]

@@Thurgosh_OG thanks, American influence.

[@simonwhyld3003]

I have all mine dating back to August 2007. They never have an address or a freephone number on them to respond. The assumption is that you need a TV licence because all normal people have one.

[@meeluanistyn1644]

Had to laugh that TVL sent out two letters at the very start of this year to warn the occupant of this apartment about the consequences of not having a licence. The apartments weren't open for tenancy at that time and I was the first person to move in ... in mid-April. I haven't watched any television since autumn 2022 after which I cancelled the licence so TVL are welcome to carry on sending letters that I will shred. Any door-to-door salesperson will be told a short and polite "no thank you" after which I will shut my door. By the way, love Chilli John - great entertainment and he provides solid advice to those who may feel intimidated by TVL / Capita.

[@MrWindermere123]

I have no TV. I'm using a laptop to watch this. I've had dozens of letters and three visits from licensing officers. If you get a letter to The Occupier with a Darlington return address on the back - bin it! Nobody is forced to answer junkmail! If an officer visits, say 'There is no TV here.' The officer will reply, 'May I enter to verify that?' You answer, 'No, this is a private house' and you shut the door. No need to give your name, no need to discuss things you don't have, but enjoy winding them up by doing nothing!

[@jwsuicides8095]

The whole issue of having a TV or not is incredibly outdated - just like the BBC's funding policies. I have a TV and have no idea how to watch live TV on it or record it. I used to use an aerial but that blew down. It's not the equipment we own but how we use it.

[@S.Trades]

I made the guy come in and look around, so he could see for himself. I have no TV! A few weeks later, guess what. Another letter! 🤯 What more can I do?

[@susie5668]

They are not officers 😒 🙄

[@allygilmour6182]

ZERO contact. Do not even talk to them. Just shut the door.

[@bobjames6622]

Yawn.... you don't need a licence to own a TV

[@simon7288]

I am legally licence free, If one of the TV licence sales people knock your door, do not be intimidated, be polite and ask who are you ? (TV licence) do not engage in conversation at all do not even confirm your name, simply say no thank you i'm not interested and close the door.

[@laratheplanespotter]

I found out something really interesting last week. My university halls has a license for the entire building. Yet TV Licensing has been harassing students

[@gypsygem9395]

Halls don't normally have a licence for the entire building, so that's quite unusual unless things have changed recently. However, the digs (rental houses usually used by 2nd years up) usually do as part of their "all inclusive" monthly rental

[@gypsygem9395]

Halls don't usually have a licence for the entire building (unless something has changed recently) so that's quite unusual. However, rented housing (usually used by 2nd years upwards), usually do as part of their "all inclusive" rental package. I'd get it verified if I were you.

[@laratheplanespotter]

@@gypsygem9395 it’s a private company and I specifically asked them and they said yes, it’s the whole site. They specifically said I didn’t need to get one myself. I’m studying forensic science so I’m super cautious about unwittingly breaking the law !

[@Dewedin.]

The halls' licence will cover communal areas only.

[@laratheplanespotter]

@@Dewedin. no. I asked them specifically about needing a license. They said no, it was included in my rent agreement. So TV Licensing have been harassing students unnecessarily

[@johnbowkett80]

I'll have to start buying more toilet roll if they stop the letters .🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@annhaynes5955]

Hahahaha

[@susanboden1564]

😂🥴🥴

[@jwsuicides8095]

It is time to invest in toilet roll shares as sales are about to skyrocket.

[@countzero1136]

come on buddy you can't wipe your bum with those letters - you'll be putting more s--t on than you'll wipe off :)

[@TheMSS1977]

Stopped watching TV ten years ago. It was a complete waste of time. I do catch it at other people's homes, it makes me question which country I'm in.

[@krissymarklewis1793]

Surely there must be some legal mandate to stop them wording like this? I know its nonsense ubut I can imagine a lot of people not in the know feel scared and threatened.

[@greenwendal5056]

It always makes me laugh how the council don't ask, don't bill, no invoice......Council Tax Demand.

[@krissymarklewis1793]

@@greenwendal5056 Council tax are messing me about too. I had a bayliff ring me saying I owed 375 quid or something, then I rang them and they said they wanted £275, I went to their website which says I owe £67 so I'm just just gonna pay £100 and see what they say. The only reason I missed a payment because I was in hospital ha

[@WillCamx]

That's the whole point. Scare people into buying a licence even if they don't actually need one.

[@anonnemo2504]

I doubt there is. TV Licensing probably cover themselves by saying "proceed with the final stages [plural] of their investigation". Every investigation has a beginning, middle and end, often not clearly defined, and who could say when the opening stages become the middle stages and the middle stages become the final stages, or how long each lasts?

[@countzero1136]

@@anonnemo2504 Actually there is the Malicious Communications Act, which SHOULD cover this (but probably doesn't for...reasons). The fact is that once you've filled in the online form and sdigned the declaration, that should be the end of it - continually contacting you after that is nothing but harassment and that is illegal

[@davewalker7126]

When I split my garage from the house and it got its own land registry title, it started getting these TV license letters. It even received a census in 2021

[@angelmessenger8240]

They go through these motions every single time they decide you have a TV even if you haven't had one for a decade. So they'll say it's the final notice for THAT INSTANCE. The next instance the next time is a new offence in their eyes..

[@rebootweb]

Is the fact that the letters are blatantly lying some kind of fraud?

[@Number6_]

Yes, it is money with menaces.

[@robtheplod]

All sanctioned by the government... keep voting for it people!

[@anonnemo2504]

Any lie would first have to be established. TV Licensing probably cover themselves by saying "proceed with the final stages [plural] of their investigation". Every investigation has a beginning, middle and end, often not clearly defined, and who could say when the opening stages become the middle stages and the middle stages become the final stages, or how long each lasts?

[@Number6_]

@@anonnemo2504 it is already established. They are after money that is not contested. They are claiming bad things will happen to you if you don't pay. They do this repeatedly that is harassment. Money with menaces. They are above the law. As the law turn a blind eye to all of this! If it were not true BBB would have said so.

[@Thurgosh_OG]

@@anonnemo2504 However, if. after a period of time, you then get a new letter saying they have opened an investigation then the previous investigation must have been closed or they could not begin a new one, for the same 'alleged offence'.

[@tech10k14]

I keep looping from 'That's it! You're for it now!' letters, back to 'We think you might have a TV'. The cycle never ends.

[@bylescx]

"Will you be in on the 21st July? .... It may the the 21st of July or another day" 😂

[@catherineavara5604]

Their letters can be quite frightening, just because you don’t want their services and having to prove you don’t, wanting to enter your home ! is despicable.

[@JohnnyX50]

Imagine my surprise when I received over 4000 letters from The Attorney General this morning telling me I was under investigation for not responding to whether or not I had broken any of the current enclosed UK Public General Acts.

[@tolyko9159]

Damn, used all my final warnings for roaches,all 2936 of them over the last 15 years:(

[@pollyh7137]

I've had so many over the years even though I cancelled and got a refund, and emails to prove I cancelled. I was particularly excited when I got a red enveloped one once. At least they're keeping the Royal Mail from bankruptcy.

[@EggPottsKnock]

After about 20 years of letters I finally had a visit confirmed I didn’t need a license received a letter confirming this two days after the letter started receiving threatening letters again still getting them.

[@countzero1136]

When i told them years ago that I didn't need a licence they sent me an email thanking me and telling me that they wouldn't be contacting me either by email or letter for two years. A week later the threatening letters started and I've gotten one every 4 weeks like clockwork ever since. Great for kindling the wood burner though

[@Thurgosh_OG]

@@countzero1136 Same for me. Told them during the lockdowns, that we didn't need one, got told we'd be registered that way for 2 years and about 2 weeks later the letters started and haven't stopped. I'm not registering again. waste of time.

[@EggPottsKnock]

@@countzero1136 exactly what we use them for problem is some are printed on glossy paper and they stink I was thinking of complaining and ask them to use plain paper.

[@ferrumignis]

​@@EggPottsKnockYou absolutely should, it would be hilarious 🤣

[@markleigh1405]

I'm 61 this year and I've lived in my house since I was 21 year's old and to this day I have never ever had a TV licence and never ever will , oh I nearly forgot to mention the dog eats all the junk mail 😂

[@ozzy8286]

How can it be "the final stage" when they haven't even got to the first stage since they haven't even identified who the legal occupier of the premises is? So who have they been investigating if they've come to the final stage of the investigation.

[@jackiehamilton2738]

It is just more of their mind games. They rely upon people's ignorance of the law and basic fear of getting into trouble to enforce compliance.

[@SuperKinlo]

I work for a large social housing provider. Every single void gets these letters and if it’s one that goes on for a while it gets multiple letters

[@Jimmy_Wilde]

I never open a letter that's not addressed to me by name. If it's not got my name on it, it's not for me. The first thing I learned when I was taught to write letters was that you must address it to the person it's intended for and it must be signed by the person it's from. if it's not, it's invalid and put straight in the bin.

[@malcolmstarkey1062]

I informed the BBC that I didn’t need a licence, they wrote back and said they will be in touch in 2 years to check if my circumstances have changed. Then the first letter came within 2 months, normally I throw them in the bin, in December we kept the letter and every month till today we get a letter usually the 10th day into the month. Presently we actually have 10 investigations against us and we have been promised a visit by an enforcement officer on a least 4 occasions.

[@remaincalm2]

In the last 8 weeks they sent me 4 letters. The last one warned that I have 10 days to contact them before they send round an enforcement officer. So I called them and they asked me if I watch live TV. I said no. They asked what do I watch. I said Netflix. They asked what do I watch on Netflix. As if it's their business to know that! They said my declaration will last 12 months and then I will have to reconfirm. So that means they'll start bombarding me with letters every 12 months for the rest of my life if I don't make a declaration each year. That's ridiculous and sounds like harassment.

[@ThePawsOfDeception]

It's been a few years since they started sending me those letters, all of which went straight into the recycling bin. But this video has made me realise that they haven't sent me one for months now. I'm almost inclined to get myself a tv and start watching it.

[@miketurpin2309]

The goons that come to your house are only tv license salesmen...just shut the door and say nothing

[@countzero1136]

Yep - 100% correct

[@latuafacilitanonsemplifica]

They talk about criminal prosecution in their letter. Isn't it an abuse?

[@Internal.Inferno]

Yes but they are in bed with govt. so they get away with it

[@davecooper3238]

All you need to do is answer to confirm that the property doesn’t need a licence. They then more more or less take your word for it. They check every couple of years because there may be a totally different occupier who does things that mean a property now needs a licence. Perhaps there should be an equivalent to to ANPR.

[@countzero1136]

@@davecooper3238 Technically it's the property, rather than the occupier that the licence covers.

[@Thurgosh_OG]

@@davecooper3238 However, there is no legal requirement to respond or confirm that a property doesn't require a bbc licence.

[@davecooper3238]

@@Thurgosh_OG For a start there is no such thing as a BBC licence. All money collected goes to the UK Government. Capital are on contract with UK Gov to insure that all properties are correctly licenced. If a property has a licence there is no need to check with the occupant. If it doesn’t they need ask the occupant if it’s correctly licenced. Which seems very sloppy. Especially when seeing posts on KZbin claiming there are about 1,000 people taken to court each month. Which implies there is a lot of dishonesty. The government doesn’t take my word that I have any vehicle paperwork in order.

[@timdickin8815]

Can confirm have had these letters for 15 years. And every single one immediately filed in the paper recycling bin.

[@Simon.0000]

Extortion is a crime too. .. BBC charge for channels they don't own I think all these channels should take BBC to court

[@Dr.Gunsmith]

Good point 🙏

[@anonnona8099]

@Simon.0000 > Extortion is a crime too. .. BBC charge for channels they don't own No they don't. > I think all these channels should take BBC to court I think you should learn about things you want to talk about,

[@anonnona8099]

@@Dr.Gunsmith > Good point No it's not - it's complete rubbish.

[@ferrumignis]

​@@anonnona8099Go on then, explain how you can legally watch live, non BBC channels in the UK without having to pay the BBC licence fee.

[@nakkadu]

I've had these letters for years now. I was going to fill in their form to tell them I don't use the service and stop the letters but they want personal information. I don't think I should have to give that to them....a simple "there's nobody watching live TV at this address" is all they need. If they think I'm lying it's up to them to prove it.

[@angryscottishidiot]

I will always go out of my way to avoid giving these a-holes a penny after they threatended my dead aunt for at least 6 months afeter being told of her passing.

[@headshot6959]

I have had several 'final stages' letters. Several. It is a mish-mash of 'Invenstigation opened in your area' , a reference number, 'Will you be in on ', 'your address has been scheduled for a visit'.. about 5-6 different letters and they send on a month.

[@SistorCarrera]

Huge thank you sir for your time and for the mention of Jon who is working so hard to out such bad eggs.

[@bvgb921]

I've had several final stages of investigation letters over a period of 10 years, they have never been to my house ever, they are full of crap.

[@Smartgran]

I watched Chilli John from a year ago when I decided to protest against the dumbing down of BBC tv by not buying their stupid license. I have a tv, laptop, and Fire Stick and never knowingly break their rules by watching live tv. I am autistic and therefore have my go to channels on YT like yours and such as Trent & Allie. I am 74, live in sheltered housing in Scotland and am not easily intimidated, in fact quite the opposite. I therefore did what Chilli John said once and tore every threatening letter up from licensing and binned them. Except the last one which is what you describe in this video! I was so annoyed I kept it and will send a pic to you. They began their campaign by writing to me by name. As I had never told them my name I crossly told them to erase my name from their records. Then the legal occupier started. I was waiting for the court summons to come so I could just stand there and honestly tell them the story above but perhaps it never will after all I might peg out before that! If you're thinking of doing a, what is it, class action? I want to join in. I'm actually a rebel working actively for my local YES group. Sorry this is long. Janice.

[@justanotherdave.]

I just go on the website every 2 years and tell them I don’t need a licence. I know it’s a pain, but you don’t get letters if you do that. Or just ignore the letters as the result is probably the same. But if the letters annoy you that much you can easily stop them 🤷‍♂️. I’ve never had a visit, but if I did I wouldn’t let them in. Not that I have anything to hide, but I wouldn’t trust the licence sales person to just lie if they need to make their quota that month.

[@sapereaude391]

I have 14 years worth of letters with all the usual warnings. Someone did come once but I live in a remote area with an ambiguous address (don't blame me, blame Royal Mail) and having wasted half an hour arguing the toss with me plus their travel time trying to find me, disappointingly, they have never been back.

[@jez7600]

They've been sending me those kind of letters for the last 8 years. Straight in the bin...

[@my-king]

I've been getting these letters for over 10 years. They've been once (around 9 years ago) talked out my window for 2mins and they left. Never been here again. I've had hundreds of letters even with them saying they'd stop because I filled out a form online. It stresses me out. I just can't stop them from annoying me. My postman must think I'm awful.

[@robtheplod]

Show your mp the letters and as why they allow the bbc explicit rights to harass you... its fun watching them squirm!

[@TheSleightDoctor]

Haven't paid the TV license for years, and never will again. I don't even watch any terrestrial TV, let alone the BBC. I would absolutely love them to take me to court. The entire legacy media - print and broadcast - is obsolete so far as I'm concerned. It'd be a fine a test case. I wouldn't hire legal council, I'd argue it myself.

[@iggysfriend4431]

Imagine how absurd the situation would be if DVLA sent everyone letters saying you don't have a licence to drive an articulated lorry, therefore you need to get one. Then they follow up with, if you don't get a licence we will investigate you and take you to court. So far I have had 43 letters from the TV licencing. I get one every 4 weeks regular as clockwork.

[@Luton-Mick]

I'm collecting them, have about eleven white envelope one's and only one red so far. When the pile is thick enough I'm going RTS them back one a week....think I need a hobby.

[@jwsuicides8095]

Lol. They've recently changed how the envelopes look, in my experience.

[@golden1789]

Love that idea.

[@redjacc7581]

its the final stage within a 2 year period, then the process starts again until the end of time.

[@iangray2518]

Hi I stopped watching TV in the mid 80s. I found breakfast tv news was making me depressed before going to work. So I took the arial down and stopped the licence. I still kept the tv and my vhs recorder as i had a large collection of rare music videos. So 40 years on I have modern 50 inch tv, its used for my pc and cctv system. Now you can imagine how many letters have been posted through my letter box in 40 years. One was not a letter, it was a big blue and white card with the tv licencing logo on it. In smaller print under the logo was WE TOLD YOU WE WOULD CALL. Getting in from work to find this being displayed on my door all day for the whole street to see was so humilliating. The card was 10" x 4" in size. I did take action on this occasion and they said they would leave me alone for a few years. So the letters still keep comming. Including the the one with the date the officer is going to visit. Right lets take the day off work and and sort this out once and for all. No one came that day. £156 wages sitting in the house for 24 hours.😡

[@markfox1545]

The letters go round on a cycle - they start off saying it's a mistake you're not licenced then become sorrowful then get angry then get really threatening. The threats are hysterically funny - they threaten me with a visit from 'Stoke Enforcement Division'! Wtf?? Stoke Enforcement Division, how ridiculous. 😅😅😅

[@thedarkknight1971]

ChilliJohnCarne's LATEST video shows another letter he's received stating "Investigation Opened"... So.. As John says, 'Final stages' or 'Investigation opened' WHICH IS IT? Another step towards harassment???

[@KarrierBag]

Last letter I got, I got in touch with them and invited them to my property, it is just a work yard but has it's own address which I made up in 2001 and now it's become a real address, so they turned up at arranged time and date and when they arrived, they just took one look at all the old circus trucks / buses / motorhomes and said, naa it is ok, we believe you don't have a TV and left. Not had anything since and this was a couple or three years ago now, oh was just before covid so more like four years+ ..... yey result.

[@jwsuicides8095]

🤣My neighbour WORKED for the BBC for decades, had a licence (they were watching the BBC), and still got months and months of threat letters. The BBC are insane.

[@william_marshal]

I just return their harassing, threatening letters, they want to pressurise me into paying a TV licence fee but are spending ££££'s for nothing sending me all this junk mail, how stupid are they?

[@philipc4272]

Good point made by BBB here: TVL have been enjoying the fact that they are enforcing an actual criminal law for decades, but have never been held to the high standard one would expect from an organisation doing that job. They want all the power but none of the responsibilities, and this must now end.

[@meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee2]

Power without responsibility the prerogative of the prostitute through the ages.

[@susanalderson8267]

They're never going to let the tv license go without a huge fight, it's FREE MONEY!

[@rafezetter8003]

I've been in the "FINAL stage of investigation" for about 2 years. I'm refusing to pay for the BBC licence (which is the only company it funds) on the grounds they are promoting and supporting anti white, anti UK, anti biology, anti science (you can see what I mean) etc etc. I REFUSE to fund a company doing such political and ideological propaganda. If JSO are allowed to get away with crimes on the grounds of "protest" - I'd REALLY like them to take me to court and I'll state my case of protest. I wrote to them and told them this. 2 years. No court. I wonder why. I think they don't want the legal precedent made. Just to clarify I'm also not watchign any BBC crap, live or on Ketchup, I've even moved from Radio 2 to "Greatest hits" - was getting sick of Vine anyway.

[@anonnona8099]

@rafezetter8003 > I'm refusing to pay for the BBC licence (which is the only company > it funds) on the grounds they are promoting and supporting anti white, > anti UK, anti biology, anti science (you can see what I mean) etc etc. We can see that you are a racist, bigoted, ignorant, swivel-eyed nutjob.

[@_5_675]

I refuse to watch or fund them because they are too right wing. I think the issue is they can't provide a neutral service for a post Brexit Britain that is so utterly divided. There is no way they can serve you and me, yet they expect us to watch the same stuff and pay them for annoying us.

[@anonnona8099]

@@_5_675 > I refuse to watch or fund them because they are too right wing. And for every person who thinks like you there will be one who thinks they are too left-wing. They get about the same numbers of complaints of left-wing bias as right-wing, which must mean they're getting it about right.

[@justlooking3572]

I tell you what would make a cracking series of videos that have never been done before BBB, give up your tv licence (for a while, although once you give it up you wont find a reason to renew it imo) by just not renewing, as is your right and experience the letters and visits without them knowing you are a barrister and knowing the law inside out. Your subs would sky rocket at such a unique perspective I would imagine, and would give you a taste and level of harassment the poorest and most vulnerable people of our society have to endure at the hands of these private institutions.

[@jwsuicides8095]

BBB hasn't had a TV licence for quite a while as he didn't need one.

[@Calvi36]

It would still be a nice game to play with Capita.

[@justlooking3572]

@@jwsuicides8095 He'd only have to wait for the letters to come in then once he needs to "renew" his lack of licence online and ignores it, as you have to confirm every two years but the door knockers still show up to check up on you uninvited regardless and if you don't physically show them you dont need a licence you're straight back on the non payer list.

[@notmodeling8070]

I get one every three months from Nottingham or Darlington day in the same thing and for the past 17 years I throw them in the bin

[@dennisspears7177]

Surely it’s harassment if they continue to send letters?

[@shabanatasleem3532]

I was sent threatening letters by HMRC stating I owed money!?! I receive threatening letters from my child’s school stating persistent lateness can result in imprisonment! WTH?!?! Perhaps, the Government (certain leaders) need to be imprisoned for breaking and dismantling a Muslim family?!?!

[@harryrammer]

Aah, but what if they don’t know your name and the addressee is simply “the occupier”. I believe it then becomes meaningless junk mail!

[@madhavoc1]

ANY other crime organisation would be shut down immediately .. Yet these thugs and criminals avoid jail time and get to remain open ??? HOW ?

[@GeoffreyLedger]

it should be considered harassment when you tell them you don't need one for them to come back 2 years later and ask you the same question, there should be a never need it again until i say i need one option.

[@philedwards5970]

With the BBC demanding we all have a licence why isn't it compulsory everyone over the age of 17 has a 'driving licence' even if they don't drive or intend to? Also is it feasible to take a 'court order' out to stop the BBC harassing people? My three grown up children and their kids NEVER watch terrestrial TV in any shape or form time to get rid of the Licence Fee & any attempt to make us pay for it through Council tax, or through routers etc.

[@Elfin4]

What if you were living in Australia or America or internationally would you still need a TV License to watch live BBC TV broadcasts? My humble opinion is the License is outdated and unwanted by the majority of UK citizens. What if you only watch one live program a week, why should you have to pay for other live programs you don't watch? Also, why should those over 65 have to pay, it should be free for older citizens as it is sometimes the only comfort they have on evenings if they live by themselves.

[@QuentinRichardson-supersnail]

I haven't had a TV since November 1990. When I do watch "live" TV it is NOT BRITISH. I watch Spanish news and Indian News. So why should the BBC gain financially from that? I believe it is COPYRIGHT THEFT on behalf of the BBC.

[@colinm7374]

What I have never understood is why the commercial channels have put up with this for so long and not brought pressure on the BBC to stop hassling their viewers and allow them to watch their channels without the govt approved licence.

[@michaelturner4728]

dishonesty and fear is the name of the game !!!

[@roberthardy2013]

NO ! Dishonesty, Fear and surprise !

[@n1760h]

I don't have a licence because I don't watch tv. I told the bbc but I still keep getting those threatening letters. I will not pay for a service I don't want or use 😠

[@colingoddard7540]

Under a Freedom Of Information request it would be interesting to find out how much the BBC spends on sending out threatening letters and equate this to the number of licenses this represents. How much in total do they spend on harassment? Does anyone know the figures?

[@maunsell24]

No, because you're by no means the first person to tread that road. You will be wasting your time as they will claim a Section 31 exemption (law enforcement).

[@simplestuff3895]

I write on the envelopes: ‘“Legal Occupier” not known at this address - Return to sender’. Then pop them in the local post box.

[@meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee2]

Don't forget to add a sarcastic note such as for... Official Notice: investigation opened. ......"More than you can say for this envelope."

[@djmattblack]

I always love how they are in the final stages of an investigation yet most of these letters are addressed to the "Legal occupier" surely if they'd done a proper investigation they'd know the name of the person who actually lives there!

[@sid35gb]

Stopped watching tv 10 years ago notified tv licensing at the same, had the tv ariel removed at the same time while my roof was being repaired and there’s no television in the house. I still receive letters using all kinds of spam style threats, I’m beginning to wonder if this falls into the realm of harassment.

[@susansweeney1069]

That made me laugh 😃 😀 😄

[@Mad_as_a_box_of_frogs]

I get one every month and have done for 15yrs.

[@Jack-fs2im]

As the comics say “got a final warning today,thank heaven thats over and no more letters” hahaha ha

[@markchandler6417]

If an inspector is granted a warrant to enter a hous,e how can a person prove that they do not watch live TV. For instance (if a warrant is issued to gain access to a laptop for instance) live tv can be accessed on a laptop so how does a person prove they don't use it to access live tv? Conversely without any internet history how does an inspector prove that a person has been watching live tv?

[@MCFC-d2x]

Obviously by admitting to it.

[@derekgoodwin4021]

How many letters can you get before its clased as harassment

[@gd3lectron]

1000 According to the BBC

[@GBPaddling]

Send 'em all you want Capita, visit all you want, couldn't care less, the response will always be the same i.e. nothing.

[@sarabalcombe896]

I stopped paying my TV Licence about 6 hrs ago, sent them an email explaining that I don't need one, they gave me a refund for about five months of a yearly payment. Anyway, ever since then I have had threatening letters sent to me ever since!! Ludicrous

[@philipdphil1052]

BBB I sent a message to Chilli a while ago saying you both should do some joint content. You would do some great videos together working towards putting this madness to an end. Since no longer possessing / needing a licencè (notified) Ive had letters for several years stating they were at the final stages of their investigation yet even now they still dont know the name of the occupier - impressive investigation skills - not. These kind of letters which are misleading and most likely fall into harrassment for many need to be stopped once and for all. If the TV licence cant be scrapped ( I hope it does) TV licensing at least needs to be made to communicate transparently, fairly and ethically. Perhaps if they had to pay compensation for every harrassing letter they would stop conducting themselves like this.

[@pitlane-news]

Been told that THE investigation is now open... 😝

[@robhingston]

If I see Dear sir or Madam on a any letter, it going in the bin

[@thenbenagcz3931]

I trow those letters to bin i should charge them recycling fee

[@catpainblackudder9118]

So I should keep them as evidence rather than use them as kindling for the log burner

[@alice86142]

Why don't they just blank out their channels on the telly so you can't watch them?

[@daffyduk77]

Their lawyers are better-funded than those of private individuals

[@mick_2me]

I'm gonna miss them!

[@wristopia4101]

If your neighbours get your letter by mistake its slander and harassment!!

[@planetzogg1]

I wrote to them treatening to tke the guy whos signature is on the letters to court for harassment. I got a written response basically saying it was fake person. Never had a letter since.