ForumGarden

An open letter to TV Licensing Customer Services

Suzanne Avent

Customer Services

Tv Licensing

Bristol BS98 1TL

9th December 2006



Dear Suzanne,

Thank you for your recent letter in which you point out your organization's statutory powers. You ask me to respond by 19th December to avoid my details being passed on to your Enforcement Division for investigation.

Your database lists my address as unlicensed, and I confirm that this is the case. Actually I confirmed this already to your representative when he knocked on my door a few weeks ago, and it distresses me that you're still pressing for any license payment at all. An annual payment of £131.50 is a lot of money to be repeatedly asked for when it's not owed.

You ask me to call you on 0870 241 8209 and let you know. I have no desire to jump through your procedural hoops, press hash-keys into your computerized call centre, or make assertions to your operator which you've already told me won't be believed anyway. "We will arrange a visit to confirm the situation, following which we will update our records"? My word isn't good enough for you? I've already had a visit during which I declined to admit your representative in order that he could search all of my rooms as he asked to do. Any follow-up doorstepping will get the same response. You tell me in your letter that any failure on my part to call your rather expensive phoneline will result in my details being prepared for transfer to your Enforcement Division for investigation, and that "Regional Officers" will be scheduled to visit my address. That seems an expensive choice on your part, but if I can't stop you from wasting your license-payers' money it's no skin off my nose. I only face prosecution and risk the maximum penalty of a £1,000 fine if I have a TV set, a video or DVD recorder, a set-top box, a computer or a mobile phone to watch programmes as they're being shown on TV and, as I told your agent, I don't.

Please mark your records accordingly.

Yours sincerely,

Spot.



Attachment: payment demand.

TV LICENSING

www.tvlicensing.co.uk

Bristol BS98 1TL

4th December 2006

Important: Please respond to this letter by 19th December to avoid your details being passed on to our Enforcement Division for investigation.

Dear Owner/Occupier,

Our database lists this address as unlicensed. It is important you realise that it is now illegal to use television receiving equipment to watch or record TV programmes at this property, and this will remain the situation until it is adequately licensed.

Please respond by 19th December to avoid an investigation into your case by TV Licensing's Enforcement Division. The consequences of such an investigation can be serious.

Did you have a TV Licence at your previous address? If so, you need to transfer it to your new address immediately. You can arrange the transfer online in minutes at www.tvlicensing.co.uk Alternatively call 0870 241 8209 and we will arrange it on your behalf. Please note, if you are changing your details online, you will need your TV Licence number to hand.

Are you buying a TV Licence for the first time? You may not have needed a TV Licence before. However, as your new home is unlicensed, you must buy a TV Licence immediately if you are using TV equipment on the property:

• visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk or call 0870 241 8209 urgently.
  
  A colour licence costs £131.50, and a black and white £44.
  
  The easiest way to pay is by Direct Debit. It only takes a few minutes to set up, payments are made automatically from your bank account, and your licence is renewed on your behalf every year.
  
  Alternatively, you may pay by debit or credit card, cheque or cash (see options overleaf).What if you do not use TV equipment at this address? Please call us on 0870 241 8209 and let us know. We will arrange a visit to confirm the situation, following which we will update our records.
  
  What will the procedure be if you do not respond by the above date? Your details will be prepared for transfer to our Enforcement Division for investigation. Regional Officers will be scheduled to visit your address. If they find evidence that TV receiving equipment is being used on the property without a valid licence, they may caution you (in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984*) and take your statement. You may face prosecution and risk the maximum penalty of a £1,000 fine.
  
  In order to avoid first steps in the investigation stage, please ensure your home is properly licensed urgently.
  
  If you have recently bought a licence, please accept my apologies and ignore this letter.
  
  Yours faithfully,
  
  Suzanne Avent Customer Services
  
  P.S. Please note you can no longer pay for your TV Licence at the Post Office. This is not an excuse to delay payment. You must choose another way to pay. See overleaf.
  
  *In Scotland interviews & cautions are made in line with Scottish criminal law.
  
  Please do not write below this line. HME45601 456/182116 APR1 EUc

Pinky;480488 wrote: Wouldn't it be less hassle just to let them in to have a look?

I know that's not the point and defeats the principle, but at least you could clear it up faster.Why would I want to clear it up at all, Pinky? I'm not letting a stranger go from room to room checking the state of my cupboards, why should I. Their agent already received my word that I have no liability to pay. Getting the demand suggests that TV Licensing doubts my honesty.

Several friends of mine would have welcomed a copy of your letter, a year or two ago...they had terrible problems trying to get TV Licensing to believe them :-5

Yaaaayyy FREEDOM!!


I'm behind you foursquare on this one, Spot. Hang in there. Don't let them in your bedroom unless they have either vacuum cleaners or fuzzy handcuffs.

Great letter Spot stand your ground. We have the same problem here in the states.

How long have you lived at your present address??? Here they often get the new tennant mixed up with the one who lived there before and never paid their bill.:-5

CARLA;480583 wrote: Great letter Spot stand your ground. We have the same problem here in the states.

How long have you lived at your present address??? Here they often get the new tennant mixed up with the one who lived there before and never paid their bill.:-5Two months. All the utility companies switch seamlessly. The TV Licensing Authority is a different kettle of fish with powers reminiscent of the Stasi.

Out here they are called the CABLE POLICE luck for us they don't carry guns. :-3 Fight the good fight let us know if you win, not many people do..:-5

[QUOTE]The TV Licensing Authority [/QUOTE]

I hate these 'prove your innocence' situations. Can they bring some kind of court order legally forcing you to allow their search?

Accountable;480731 wrote: I hate these 'prove your innocence' situations. Can they bring some kind of court order legally forcing you to allow their search?No, which is a good thing. They have detector vans which they'll park out of sight up the street for a few hours a week hoping to prove TV reception, but since I have no such equipment they're out of luck entirely.

spot;481079 wrote: No, which is a good thing. They have detector vans which they'll park out of sight up the street for a few hours a week hoping to prove TV reception, but since I have no such equipment they're out of luck entirely.
Then let'em waste money. Maybe taking the van guys a biscuit would be a nice touch.

That't the problem Spot they can't believe someone in this day and age actually chooses not to watch TV. :wah: They think your must be kidding them. Let them sit out there for weeks. I say invite people over set up some chairs and watch them.

[QUOTE]but since I have no such equipment they're out of luck entirely.[/QUOTE]