what happens if you consistently don't answer the door to TV licensing people?

Question

if they have a warrant, are they allowed to break in?

Answer 1

If they have a warrant they CAN come in, however it is unlikely a judge will issue a warrent for TV licence crimes. However, if the guys want to serve you a summons all they have to do is wait until you come out of your house, follow you where you work, identify you and serve you. If you have a tv in your house you have to pay the tv licence. There is no pleading ignorance. Thats like saying "I didn't know it was against the law to rape a 6 year old" My advice is just pay it, or get rid of your TV if the licence is too expensive for you.

Answer 2

No under no circumstances can they break in. If you dont answer the door they cant do anything as they have to by law caution you at the time of catching you watching the tv. A while back I didnt have a licence and was amazed when a court summons came through the post. When I read the details it was full of lies claiming that my husband had answered the door, admitted to watching tv blah blah. The make of set was wrong, the phone number was a made up one, other details were wrong and they claimed my husband had read the info and agreed but refused to sign - yeah right. I contested it and won the case - dont be bullied by these people - they are jumped up little upstarts on a par with private bailiffs - they have uniform and THINK they have power. The guys that call are not from TV licensing but a private company. All I would say though is when you can, get a licence - I dont agree with the cost but its the only way to get peace of mind and the parasites away from your door xxx

Answer 3

Where are you that they have TV police? A warrant has to specifically allow entry to a specific residence for a specific purpose. This must be backed by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime is being conducted. No judge since the "Hanging Judge" would in his right mind authorize a high risk warrant serve on a residence or business that was suspected of pirating a television signal. This is of course of you are int he US, now overseas, in many countries, you are fair game to a beating, bribing or anything else that could be invented by local law enforcement.

Answer 4

Normally what will happen is they send you lots of letters. Then send the detector people round. If they measure that you are using a television without a licence and you don't answer to give a statement, they will start court procedings against you. If you don't turn up at court then a warrant will be issued for your arrest and you will be taken to court by the Police - who have the power to break into your home to get you. Then the punishment will be delivered.

Answer 5

They're legally allowed to come into your house, with a search warrant!! And it's more likely they'll prosecute you then break in! TV companies often pretend they have technology to track people down, but they don't really! However I have heard of people that go to peoples houses with fake warrants and rob em!!! So watch out!!

Answer 6

Nothing. They will keep harassing you by post, occasionally send a snooper round (you dont have to let them in, speak to them or even answer the door to them) They may even phone you at home and try and trick you into answering a few questions. Always ask who it is on the other end of the line if you dont recognise them. NEVER admit ANYTHING. If you dont have a TV, ignore them. Its up to THEM to prove you need a licence. NEVER answer any of their letters, if you find someone snooping around your property confront them and report them to the police. They wont go to the expense of serving a warrant, it costs too much money. The snoopers are employed by a private firm,Capita, who are in it for profit. They rely on people being intimidated and "confessing" signing their stupid little letters. They only pick on the poor, old people, single mothers, and students. Check out this website http://www.tvlicensing.biz/ TV License snoopers, like council officials, benefit fraud investigators and street parking attendants are nothing but a bunch of jumped up little Hitlers. Dont let them intimidate you.

Answer 7

In America, if the police have a warrant, they don't even have to ANNOUNCE that they're coming in or even knock anymore. The law has changed. If you're stealing cable, I suggest ya quit while you're ahead. They have increasingly more advanced techniques for finding cable leaks. 10 years ago, they used to have to drive around in a van with a uhf scanner until they got a signal leak, but now it's even easier. And, yes, they will break your door down to get in.

Answer 8

Wow.
TV police. Learn something new every day!
Even with a warrant for your arrest here in the US, the cops won't come pounding in unless it's something serious. And even then I think they have to have a search warrant for your house.

Answer 9

No wonder people do buy their tv licences with the HORROR stories Ive just read in your answers.
In my worldly knowledge yes they keep calling and knocking but if they don't catch you ~they don't catch you, they would have to know you had a TV and if they haven't been in your house how do they know, would be different story if you did let them in! then they would o the summons thing ect... but they don't shoot you are out like that.

Answer 10

Communications Act 2003

366 Powers to enforce TV licensing

(1) If a justice of the peace, a sheriff in Scotland or a lay magistrate in Northern Ireland is satisfied by information on oath that there are reasonable grounds for believing-

(a) that an offence under section 363 has been or is being committed, (i.e. no licence)
(b) that evidence of the commission of the offence is likely to be on premises specified in the information, or in a vehicle so specified, and
(c) that one or more of the conditions set out in subsection (3) is satisfied,
he may grant a warrant under this section.

(2) A warrant under this section is a warrant authorising any one or more persons authorised for the purpose by the BBC or by OFCOM-

(a) to enter the premises or vehicle at any time (either alone or in the company of one or more constables); and
(b) to search the premises or vehicle and examine and test any television receiver found there.
(3) Those conditions are-

(a) that there is no person entitled to grant entry to the premises or vehicle with whom it is practicable to communicate;
(b) that there is no person entitled to grant access to the evidence with whom it is practicable to communicate;
(c) that entry to the premises or vehicle will not be granted unless a warrant is produced;
(d) that the purpose of the search may be frustrated or seriously prejudiced unless the search is carried out by a person who secures entry immediately upon arriving at the premises or vehicle.
(4) A person is not to enter premises or a vehicle in pursuance of a warrant under this section at any time more than one month after the day on which the warrant was granted.

(5) The powers conferred by a warrant under this section on a person authorised by OFCOM are exercisable in relation only to a contravention or suspected contravention of a condition of a TV licence relating to interference with wireless telegraphy.

(6) A person authorised by the BBC, or by OFCOM, to exercise a power conferred by a warrant under this section may (if necessary) use such force as may be reasonable in the exercise of that power.

(7) Where a person has the power by virtue of a warrant under this section to examine or test any television receiver found on any premises, or in any vehicle, it shall be the duty-

(a) of a person who is on the premises or in the vehicle, and
(b) in the case of a vehicle, of a person who has charge of it or is present when it is searched,
to give the person carrying out the examination or test all such assistance as that person may reasonably require for carrying it out.

(8) A person is guilty of an offence if he-

(a) intentionally obstructs a person in the exercise of any power conferred on that person by virtue of a warrant under this section; or
(b) without reasonable excuse, fails to give any assistance that he is under a duty to give by virtue of subsection (7).
(9) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (8) shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.


In effect this means that if you don't co-operate you commit an offence and that the person with the warrant can use reasonable force to enter and search for a TV receiver.

If you've nothing to hide (my partner does not have a television and gets the odd letter from the Licensing Authority who don't seem to understand that not everyone wants to have a TV) or if you don't want to commit a further offence of obstruction, then you should co-operate with them.

If you haven't got a licence and you have a TV - go out and buy one like the rest of us!