I haven't got a tv licence, and being a broke student i dont plan on getting one. But is there a way they can detect you watching TV? Does some guy drive around random roads with some sort of device that detect tv signals? Whats the longest you've got away without paying one?
2006-10-24 01:05:59 · 32 answers · asked by londonboy 1 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Television
Do they only drive around in their van during the daytime? What if i the tv was on at 3am?
And if they catch you is it an immediate fine or do you get a warning first?
2006-10-24 01:20:44 · update #1
unfortunately i have been caught a couple of times but have managed to avoid court action or paying my fines. Now i have been getting away with it for 2 years without being caught. All you have to do is set up a direct debit then chance it with the bank, you will get hate mail from tv licencing people, just ignore this then re apply for a tv licence and keep doing this and you always have a licence without paying for it, hope this answer helps and that you dont work for the tv licencing people
2006-10-24 01:31:57 · answer #1 · answered by ALEX K 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The TV licence people have addresses that do not have a licence or only have a black and white set licence when they have a colour set.
The other person who said that the shop that sells you a new TV, notify the licence dep't is correct.
Once the authority has all the info, they go out in their vans and catch you, there is no getting away from it.
By the way, to the people who think the vans are a myth or covered up etc, well you are wrong, the vans are for real, and they stick out a mile. The reason they find out quicker is because, they don't need to check every address that has a licence as that is stupid and a waste of time and resorses, they have a list of the addresses who have no licence or the addresses who have black and white licence but have a colour TV. they can and will catch you no matter what you do. Don't forget, landlords who split up their houses into flats are legally obliged to notify the local council and guess where the licence dept check as well? you got it, they got you.
One other thing, they do give you a warning that they are either going to be in your area soon or they are in the area, the are fair enough to give you a chance to get a licence. Your local Tv and radio and newspapers tell you the vans are in the atrea, so you have no excuse now. If you still think the vans are a myth, don't buy a licence and you will see the van right outside your door.
2006-10-24 01:15:50 · answer #2 · answered by DIAMOND_GEEZER_56 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
1
2017-01-21 00:35:30 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes... they can detect your tv (and radio and wireless broadband).You need a TV Licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, set-top boxes, video or DVD recorders, computers or mobile phones to watch TV programmes as they are being broadcast. If you buy a tv you have to give your name and address. They have a database with every address with and without a licence. If the detector van pick up a signal at an address without a licence ie yours, then you get the fine simple as that. Licence is cheaper believe me. You say your a student, do you live in halls, or share a house? You are not covered by your Halls of Residence licence unless you only watch TV in a communal area. If you watch or record TV programmes in your room, you need your own TV Licence. If you are going to be sharing a house, a separate tenancy agreement would normally mean your room is classified a separately occupied place. In this case, if you have a TV in your room, you will need your own TV Licence. However, if there is only one TV in a communal area, then only one TV Licence is required. Similarly, if your house can be treated as one place shared by all, then only one TV Licence is required - a joint tenancy agreement would normally indicate that there is only one separately occupied place.
If you are going away for summer and you're not going to need your licence again before it expires, you can claim a refund for any completely unused quarter (three consecutive calendar months e.g. July, August, September).
You'll probably need to buy your TV Licence at the beginning of your first term in order to receive a refund, so the earlier you get it, the better chance you have of claiming some money back.
2006-10-24 01:40:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Every address in the country on the TV licencing database and those that don't register a TV licence has been issued for that address is how they catch you. And they then send someone round to check for a valid TV licence. If you don't have a TV licence they can take you to court and fine you up to £1000. Why not contact them and ask for the easy payment plan where you pay so much a week/month by payment card or by direct debit. It will save you any hassle in the long run.
2006-10-24 01:16:23 · answer #5 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is a myth that they send a van around to detect your TV's emissions. That would likely be an illegal covert surveillance and has never ever been used in court when someone is charged. All they do is get lists of addresses that aren't paying for a license and send guys around to knock and ask if you have a TV. Even then, you are not legally obliged to answer the question. However, if they see it over your shoulder or in a window, they will get a search warrant and you're nailed.
2006-10-24 01:18:53 · answer #6 · answered by jethroelfman 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
We (my husband & myself) got caught at evening time when Emmerdale was on. I went to open the door as someone knocked and it was the tv licence fella! He asked if we had a licence, I lied and said yes but then he wanted to see it. I then had to admit not having one and he came in the house to fill a form in.
He asked the reason as to why we didn't have a licence and we truly said it was because we couldn't afford it as my husband is on disability benefits.
We didn't get fined but were given a payment card that we can pay £5.oo every 2 weeks. I suggest that this is an option for yourself. Phone them up on the number 08457 289 289.
They will send you a card out and a payment schedule so you can keep an eye on your payments.
We got away 3 years not paying for a licence by the way! Good luck!
2006-10-24 01:16:36 · answer #7 · answered by bingolil 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't think there's any real way to detect it, unless they peek into your house or do a random inspection. Free-to-air signals are all around us. A TV antenna merely picks up the unencrypted signals.
But hey, I'm from the U.S.
I really know nothing about this inane law.
Edit: Just read about that van. Interesting. I wonder how it works, exactly. They say the technology is kept as an extremely tight secret. I say it's a load of crap.
2006-10-24 01:12:41 · answer #8 · answered by Jason C. 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Every Cathode Ray Tube puts stores and puts out a certain amount of Rads. A simple Geiger Counter with a directional antennae can detect these rays and that is how it is done. Even if a TV is in your dwelling and not being used, it is detected. The LCD/Plasma screens had the authorities in a bit of a squabble, but even those now emit a small amount of Rads.
One way around the goon squads is to use a Portable LCD Tuner/TV. It aint good for a beer and sandwiches football game, but that is what bars are for.
2006-10-24 01:20:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's a myth that they use detector vans with spying equipment.
The have a database of every residence in the UK and a if there is a TV license registered there.
If you live in a communal block or halls then everyone is supposed to have one, but they can't do anything if there's only 1.
They tried this on in Catterick when I was in the Army and they were told to ge get Funned. 1 address, 1 license, 450 TV sets.
2006-10-24 01:15:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋