I cancelled my tv licence

[Spent2much]

We haven't watched television for over a year now so we just decided what a waste of 11 quid a month .
I wrote an email to the tv licencing to tell them that we no longer need a licence , i haven't heard from them yet, but i noticed at the bottom of their last letter that it says if you don't need a licence we have the right to enter your home and check this , my husband told me to write at the bottom of the email that they are not entering our home .

Can they do that ?

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: I cancelled my tv licence

Hi S2M. Good question! The answer is no they cannot-without your permission.

According to a Freedom of Information Request made to the BBC:

2. Does a TV Licensing "Enforcement officer" have any right of access to a home without a warrant or
invitation?

The Communications Act 2003 imposes an obligation on the BBC to issue TV Licences and collect the
licence fee. The BBC must ensure that it fulfils its responsibility to the vast majority of households who pay
their licence fee, by enforcing the law in respect of those who intentionally evade paying it. TV Licensing
uses a range of activities to raise awareness about the requirement for a TV Licence, remind people to pay,
inform them of ways to pay, and to deter people from evading the licence fee.

Enquiry officers do not have any legal powers to enter your home without a search warrant granted by a
magistrate (or sheriff in Scotland). They (like other members of the public) rely on an implied right in
common law to call at a property as far as the door, while going about their lawful business and making
their presence known. Enquiry officers must explain to the occupier of the premises why they are visiting,
be polite, courteous and fair, and abide by a strict code of conduct.

You have no obligation to grant entry to an enquiry officer if you don’t wish to do so. If refused entry by
the occupier, the enquiry officer will leave the property. If enquiry officers are refused access or an
occupant withdraws the right to visit, then TV Licensing reserve the right to use other methods of
detection.

Enquiry officers may apply for authorisation to use detection equipment if they are refused entry on to
premises. TV Licensing may also apply to a magistrate (or sheriff in Scotland) for a search warrant.
However, this is only done as a last resort and when a senior manager and a legal adviser considers that
there is good reason to believe that an offence has been committed.

Link: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/reque...ponse.pdf.html

Elsa x

[Spent2much]

Re: I cancelled my tv licence

thank you elsa xx

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: I cancelled my tv licence

How can one not watch TV for a year

I watch TV when I go camping - no, seriously

[Spent2much]

Re: I cancelled my tv licence

How can one not watch TV for a year

I watch TV when I go camping - no, seriously

we just stopped watching and find the internet has taken over TV

[Pixie]

Re: I cancelled my tv licence

I watch very little TV and wouldn't dream of watching it if I was away camping (though I haven't been camping for a few years)

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: I cancelled my tv licence

When we go camping it's my excuse to think I'm Bear Grylls and at night I like sitting there with a cuppa looking at the stars with TV on laptop (it's only SkyGO)

[nanna58]

Re: I cancelled my tv licence

When we go camping it's my excuse to think I'm Bear Grylls and at night I like sitting there with a cuppa looking at the stars with TV on laptop (it's only SkyGO)

Naked after crossing a torrent wrestling a bear and eating bugs !!!!!

[Deepie]

Re: I cancelled my tv licence

Naked after crossing a torrent wrestling a bear and eating bugs !!!!!

More like this Nanna ........

[nanna58]

Re: I cancelled my tv licence

Silly me x

[Spent2much]

Re: I cancelled my tv licence

I would love a tent like that , luxury or what .

might go camping now need a break

[Spent2much]

Re: I cancelled my tv licence

received a letter from the TV licencing to apply for a refund

also received another telling me I'm in serious arrears of £17.00 : :

[nanna58]

Re: I cancelled my tv licence

Seriously ?

[Spent2much]

Re: I cancelled my tv licence

pathetic isn't it , and they would send me letters like this every month if i paid a few days late . Serious arrears of £6.00 .

I once received a phone call from them saying i needed to pay £21 that day over the phone by debit card . I said i only had enough in the bank to cover bills but was told if i didn't pay that day i would be taken to court . At that time i didn't know any better and was bullied into paying . If this had happened last week i would have just said No i don't have the money .