The TV Licensing Gestapo

Almost everyone has a story about their dealings with the TV Licensing Gestapo Authority.

Big Brother Watch this week received a message from a refusnik member of the public who, having bought a new television at an electronics retailer was then asked to provide his name and address. He did do, believing that it was related to the warranty for the product. What followed, was a selection of letters from the TV Licensing Gestapo Authority threatening him with prosecution for not having purchased a licence.

It is utterly unacceptable that a High Street retailer should be sharing this kind of information, yet it appears from initial investigations that they have a legal obligation to do this if the customer opts to give them their address.  Remember, next time you buy a TV, don't hand over your address.

Turning to the TV Licensing Gestapo Authority itself, the utterly hilarious BBCTVLicence.com does a great job exposing the mixture of unsubstantiated threats, computer-generated huff-and-puff and misinformation campaigns the organisation runs in order to hoodwink members of the public into handing over their cash. 

In reality, they are a fairly powerless body.  Indeed, a Freedom of Information Act request by BBCTVLicence.com proves that individuals are under "no obligation" to inform the BBC if they do not own a television, do not require a licence if they own a television which is not installed and need not buy a permit if all they do is watch DVDs.

Here's the killer, however: the BBC admit that "householders are not legally obliged to respond to enquiries from" the TV Licensing authority.

Your right to personal privacy includes a right to ignore the threats and intimidation tactics of the TV Licensing Gestapo Authority.

Comments

[Andrew Taylor]

I think it is now about time people started selling TVs without the television control apperatus. This would be a lot cheaper in proce and could still sit in the lounge for us with DVDs and Wiis and all the other extras.

Trouble is, my darling wife wouldn't let me go for that option but I take the same view as Governments do. It keeps her happy, and off the streets where she may be organising problems for Parliament!

[Haggis]

I was going to purchase a TV in argos a couple of years ago and I too provided address details believing them to be for the warranty. At the last minute the Scottish frugality got the better of me and I changed my mind, didn't buy the TV. A couple of weeks later I recieved the usual threats from TV licensing. I emailed Argos, and they confirmed they had passed on my details despite the fact I hadn't purchased anything. They saw nothing wrong with this.

[ohno]

When I bought a TV a few years ago I was asked for my name and address and I asked what the information was for and they said they don't share it with anyone else. So I ask to see the form she was filling in and it clearly said the information was to be sent to the TV Licensing Authority - I was told that I had to give the information by law (clearly not from this post) but I insisted on writing on the form that the information was solely provided to comply with the law and was not to be used for any other purpose. The TV we bought recently was purchased online and so I am not aware if our details were sent to the TV Lic Authority without our knowledge or consent.

[Mike]

"Almost everyone has a story about their dealings with the TV Licensing Gestapo Authority."

I get fed up with this blog comparing NGOs to organisations like the Gestapo - a group that assisted in the Holocaust, culminating in the attempted extermination of the Jews and other minorites.

State intrusion into our lives is an important issue and we need organisations like BBW to throw light on areas the Government would rather keep hidden. Throwing around this inflammatory language does BBW no credit and only provides a basis for others to discredit it.

[Chris]

Also no licence is required for using BBC iPlayer - for details, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2008/01/iplayer_does_not_require_a_tv_1.html

[John Galt]

Don't forget Alex that there is no such thing as the TV Licensing Authority.

This is nothing more than a trading name used by the BBC to disguise it's revenue collection activities related to the TV license. For an extra layer of disguise these activities are outsourced to Capita Business Services.

The reason that the BBC hides behind this facade is that they don't want the nice fluffy BBC Auntie image to be tarnished by the threats, intimidation and harrassment regularly posted under the trading name of the TV Licensing Authority.

[mrmovie]

I have to agree with Mike's post.

[Purlieu]

Just say you are buying it as a present for someone. If they ask for their name etc just say you can't divulge due to data protection legislation.

[John Cole]

In reply tomr movie. A lot of the bigger stores these days just take your detials from credit card, store cards or loyatly cards. It's always best to check before buying ;)

http://www.tvlicenceresistance.info

[Old age Terrorist]

I worked as a postman for many years and it amazed me that the licensing gestapo sent letters to houses that had been demolished. i signed them up with the statement "house demolished" which resulted in more letters being sent. They even sent goons round to check and then sent more letters out demanding payment. Scum

[Richard Craven]

Some years ago, I was attempting to buy a tv from a branch of Dixons. The staff there refused to sell me a tv, unless I gave them my name and address for them to pass on to the BBC. I gave them a false name and address, which I was entitled to do, since they are not the police. As soon as I had taken possession of the tv, I told the Dixons staff what I had done. They said "well done, you've bucked the system".

[Richard Craven]

I don't have a tv licence, because I simply will not pay for Chris Moyles, or anything on BBC3.

I continue to receive quite a few letters from the BBC's licence enforcement branch. Whenever they threaten to visit my home, I inform them that they have no right of implied access, and that trespassers will get hurt.

[Slacker]

I always give the address of the University hall of residence I lived in 20 years ago when buying televisual equipment. Saves my time arguing with the shop assistant and wastes TVL's into the bargain - two for the price of one :)

[Enid Coleslaw]

"I don't have a tv licence, because I simply will not pay for Chris Moyles, or anything on BBC3."

Brilliant. So you get all the BBC stuff you like for free. Good for you. Well done. When the BBC eventually goes down the drain, and all we've got is ITV1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9 and Rupert Murdoch rules the world, it will be "refuseniks" like you we will have to thank. Good work.

[Richard Craven]

@Enid

Actually, you have slightly hit a nerve. I really would like to pay for Melvin Bragg, Attenborough, and all the other good things the BBC does. It's just that, in so doing, I would have to pay for Chris Moyles, BBC3, and all the other means by which the BBC violates its charter to inform, educate and entertain. Since the BBC is nowadays dominated by the likes of Moyles at the expense of the likes of Bragg, I don't really see what the difference is between the BBC, ITV and Sky. Hence I don't really see why the BBC should, and ITV & Sky should not, be subsidised by the licence fee. But I admit that it is a pity that things have come to this.

[Merrick]

So, your post is about how the TV Licensing Authority doesn't have any real power, not even to get your address or make you reply to a form. And yet you think this compares in some way with the Gestapo.

Top tip: if you fall foul of Godwin's Law in the opening sentence of a post that's not even a reply to anything, it's time to shut the fuck up for a while and ensure next time you actually think before you say anything.

[barsacq]

Good God, BBW is slow off the mark. retailers have been under this obligation for a decade or longer. Too busy navel-gazing, this head up your own arse outfit.

[Alex Deane]

Charmage!

[Cole]

Gestapo? Are you nuts? Stop using this inflammatory & ridiculous language.

[Alpie]

Why don't you lot grow up. There's far more important things to worry about in life