Fruit Machine Chat

Can you watch tv in your home without having to pay the license? Obviously its illegal but im just wondering how easy it is. Ive seen stuff on the net about how the TVlA send out intimidating computer generated letters but never follow it through.

This might sound a bit frugal, I mean at the end of the day, it´s only 142 quid

but still theoretically would it be possible to watch tv, then whenever the door bell went switch off the tv, hide it in a cupboard and then say hello to the licensing people??

any experiences/advice help much welcomed...

since they aren't allowed to enter your home (they are not police or bailiffs) - you can generally get away with it. But for the sake of 150 quid a year, why bother with the hassle ? Put aside 40p a day for it. Everyone can afford that.

I bedrudge paying the license fee simply because I don't watch any tripe that the license fee supposedly pays for. I use my TV for DVDs and hooking up to my computer. But I still pay it.

i know someone who used to work for the licencing place, and to the best of my knowledge:


if you have bought a new tv in the last few years ie a plasma or lcd or you have sky, or virgin, then pay it...

the detector van can actually see a crt tv through your walls (i think by heat detection)

i would personally advise you not to refuse to pay the licence fee, unless you intend to not pay it for at least 10 years, which at this point you are actually saving yourself money.

so, if you dont want a new tv for the next ten years, or sky, or cable then dont buy a licence,

also, if you have a mobile phone or computer that shows bbc-iplayer, or you listen to radio one or digital radio they will also be able to find out if you are breaking the law.

all of the above electrical items can be traced to your address, and if they are flagged to an address that doesnt have a licence, they might get a court order to enter the premises


most of the items can be traced by legal methods and public domain information, credit or debit card bills, internet provider stats and insurance/warranty information.. all of which the tv licencing people are allowed to look into if and because you click or tick boxes or sign forms without reading them.

just cough up like the rest of us

Do not let them in your home, avoid any communication with them whatsoever, even if they see the TV on, you can't be prosecuted without them entering your home and being interviewed, search the web for some useful info on this.