TV licence query

A question about : TV licence query

hi
i do not have a TV.
I got a letter saying someone will come around to inspect my property.

can someone come inside by law? into my house?
if i DO let them in, what are they permitted to do?

I have 2 computers.
Will this person ask to check my web browsing history?

I dont watch any programmes online, only BBC iplayer.

I MAYBE will get a TV and VHS player and DVD player, JUST to watch pre recorded videos and DVDs of mine. Would this mean i need a tv licence?? I read the wesbite, and i think i do not need a tv licence for this.

thanks.

Best answers:

• The chances are that no one will turn up.
  If they do, they have the same rights as the guy delivering your free newspapers !
  You do not have to speak to them, or answer any questions.
  They have NO right of access
  Tell them to "go away" - as politely (or otherwise) as you wish.
  You need a Licence to watch or record TV as it is being broadcast, that is all.
  You do not need one for gaming, watching recordings or as a plant pot stand.
  If you do a "search" on this site you will find a huge amount on this subject.
• I get the keys to my new flat on wednesday, however I will only be there until sunday and won't properly move in full-time until the end of august.
  I just wondered how long the time gap is officially between when you move in and when you have to have your licence? (i.e. do they allow a week before they start pursuing you)
  I know at the end of the day I will HAVE to buy a licence and I will do this, but with money being tight at the moment do you get a certain number of written warnings or whatever beforehand...(giving me a bit of leeway) or do you literally get whacked with the Ј1000 even if you only just moved in?
  Thanks
  Lydia
• You need a TV licence before you watch live broadcast TV, if money is tight then you cannot watch live TV, remember you can pay in installments.
• Just don't use the TV until you move in properly.
  Listen to the radio, use a catch up service on the internet, watch DVDs.
  No need for a licence then.
  And buy it in September so you get a full months. (Don't buy at the end of August)
• You don't need one until you:-
  Quote:
• If you pay at the end of August surely you are covered for the month of August?
  I'll hopefully have my own place right at the end of August - last couple of days - I planned on getting one then.
• The problem would be that in the random event that TV Licensing did pay you a visit while you watched a live broadcast programme then saying that you were going to buy a TV licence that would cover you for August wouldn't be accepted. It makes more sense just to buy one at the start of September and do without live TV for a couple of days. I easily managed 6 months without a licence when I moved this year only bothering when the Sky Bestbuy offer came up. All radio broadcasts are licence free and so is Iplayer/4OD if not a simultaneous broadcast on TV so there isn't that much to miss that I found among the constant soaps and variety talent shows.
• Are you able to watch things like bbc iplayer without a TV licence? *sorry if this is a stupid question*
  EDIT - It was a stupid question as I was able to find the answer on google just after I posted. It was kind of assumed by the above post...
  You CAN watch Iplayer as it is not live broadcast!
• Hi
  My mums house is up for sale and she is currently living with her sister. She only pops home to collect the post, cut the grass etc. It is still furnished but she doesnt watch TV there anymore.
  Can she cancel her TV lisence? She currently pays quarterley for it.
  If so how does she do this and would she have to remove her TV's from the property or disconnect the airial?
  Thanks for the advice
• Thank you for the help.
  How does she remove the airial or block its signal easily without causing too much damage or hassle for anyone moving in when the place is sold?
• Also, expect to be harassed mercilessly by Television Licencing, who will refuse to accept the simple fact that your mum does not watch television at that address.
  They will almost certainly send a very nasty letter each month - threatening "interviews under caution", visits from their "enforcement officers" and court summons - these can all be safely ignored, and you are under no obligation to contact them to tell them a licence is not required - and usually they won't believe you anyway.
  They may send someone round - the best response here is to simply tell them to go away, as politely or otherwise as you see fit. Under no circumstances let them into the house or get into conversation with them. They have been known to fabricate "evidence" (as some posts on this forum have proven).
  The TV Licencing employees are simply employees of a private company contracted to the BBC - they have the same legal powers as the milkman. They have no right of entry into the house (a warrant from the court is required), and certainly cannot interview anyone under PACE.
• hi there,
  i have to say i only get letters from them perhaps ever 12- 18 months asking if circumstances have changed at the address. I am one of the minorities that don't own a TV/ watch it! Much prefer going to the gym/ eating out! I filled in an online declaration form and they send you an email to confirm you have declared what you said.
  Seems pretty hassle free to me.
  Saying that, do they really have snazzy equipment like they claim to for detecting TV transmission, or is it a case of looking at every single postal address in the UK and finding the gaps?
• If your mum phones (TV Licencing) up, they will remove your mums name from the letters they send meaning they'll come as a generic "the legal owner" type ones.
  TV Licencing also print there name on the outside of the letters maning they can just be ripped up straight away.
• Hi all,
  I'm trying to find out for sure if I really need a TV License because I only ever watch television online, BBCi Player/4OD/ITV Player etc and I think that Ј150 a year just to watch television is absolutely ridiculous, especially when I very seldom watch it and there's only one or two programmes that I'm actually interested in. I recently tried to contact the TV Licensing team to ask them if I needed a license and I just got a message saying their lines were busy and I was immediately cut off, this happened a few times before I simply gave up. Do you think I need this license? as I say I do not watch television in the traditional sense I.E broadcast on TV live and my TV is only ever on if I'm playing on the X-Box 360 and even that's a rarity. I do not have my TV setup to receive a signal as I do not pay for digital TV and I do not have freeview activated on my TV either as this needs you to plug an aerial in for it to be active. I probably come across as a meanie with money in this post but believe me I'm not like that at all, just want to be sure that I'm not paying for something I don't really enjoy anyway. Thanks for your help.