TV license

I did read somewhere that if over 80s defaulted they would not be prosecuted or pursued. No idea how that works but would be very interested to hear if anyone else actually knows if that is true. Seems somewhat unfair to those who do pay up but, there again, lots of people can't afford to pay and I'd hate to think of them without something as bog standard as a telly if they enjoy having one.

Why are you tempted to ignore the renewal letter? It's a legal requirement.

I heard on the news two days ago that the BBC said that by the end of this July 'the gloves are off'. In other words they are going after people who do have a TV licence. Unfortunately I can not remember who the news reader spoke to that was supporting people over 8o that were refusing to buy one.

If you don’t watch live tv or BBC I player you don’t need a licence.

yes, that's right, but a lot of people don't understand the regulations, and thy have changed over time.
if you can live without any bbc tv at all, and also without live broadcast of any other tv, then you don't need a licence.

And remember, it's a radio and tv licence. That alone makes it worth it for me.

i have always paid my tv licence every 3 months for years, i stopped 2 years ago as i realised that i was not watching any tv for weeks on end and never watched any bbc channels, i still have my tv but i only use it to watch old vhs videos, i have about 400 at the moment. i did notify them that i do not ever watch live tv and if i really want to see something i can watch it on catch-up as long as it is not on bbc iplayer, but i still get endless letters saying officers will be coming to my door and i will be charged and fined. the bbc are worried because so many people watch netflix and amazon so do not need a tv licence.

nexus the tv licence is a licence is to own and watch tv, not just BBC. I think you would need to remove your tv aerial or otherwise be able to show the authorities that your tv cannot be used to watch any channel to be exempt from the requirement to buy a license.

I buy my license becasue I am an avid radio listener and, while you do not need a license for a radio I am happy to pay a tv license as a contribution to all the radio programmes I listen to.

i disagree with that. you do not need a licence to own a tv set.
nor do you need to disable it or prove that you do not watch it.
the onus is on the authorities to prove that you need a licence.
there is a tv set here, which has not been switched on for nearly 3 years.
i have declared that i do not watch tv, and have not been pursued re the licence.
i think they ask about it every few years. simply re-declare.
i enjoy radio, including bbc radio, which does not need a icence

I understand that, if the authorities do visit, it is not easy to convince them that the tv is never used, if it is still capable of use, because that is the excuse used by many people caught out by the authorities and that saying you never watch the BBC, only other channels is not acceptable either because, again that is a popular excuse and is completely impossible to prove.

I had more than enough trouble dealing with a property where there was no tv on the premises as it had been removed after the owner went into care. I would not want to deal with them if I had to prove a tv I did have was never used.

Regulations. Just read this hope it helps.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-51376255

I m not that well off but it would never enter my head to not pay my license

the issue is not really about tv sets.
many people now watch tv on other devices. they may not have a tv set. they probably still need a licence.
if you watch any tv at the time of broadcast, even non-bbc, then you need a licence.
if you watch any bbc tv, whether at the time of broadcast or later, then you need a licence.
from what you are saying, you would need to prove that you never watched licensable tv on any device, which is impossible.
sorry you had a hard time with them pursuing you.
i've studied the regulations, made the declaration, had it acknowledged, and had no trouble at all, re not having a licence.

Just stop paying it. If everyone did that they would have to look at it. It is ridiculous. How do they know you are even watching their programs? Boycott the whole lot.

Who do you think pays for the programmes you watch on your computers? TV is not free, unless you expect actors, producers, lighting technicians, make-up artists and countless others to work for nothing.

Personally, I think that expecting the government to contribute so that the over 80s can watch free is not too much to ask (I am 61 so not speaking from self- interest), and I don’t think that free licenses should be means-tested.

However they have decided to withdraw that subsidy, and punishing the BBC for a political act that is beyond their control will just mean that fewer high-quality programmes are made, and everyone will suffer.

I don't have a tv or watch anything online at home but i constantly get harassed with threatening letters of visits and impending fines. I have previously declared i don't have a tv but they don't leave you alone. I would love them to turn up as they threaten they are going to. They are wasting a lot of money threatening me and others.
You don't need a tv licence if you do not watch live tv or iplayer.
I used to support the BBC but i don't now after all the changes to Radio 2.
And their constant self promotion and banging on about bloody strictly!

If i ever comment on tv on here i have watched it with the person i look after at work he has a tv licence.

I have always paid for my tv licence, including for several years after I reached 75 and I will continue to do so.

It is just another of those bells and whistles the government uses to pay us less money in direct pension in order to keep pensioner incomes down.

If you know your rights they can't do a thing..
Sign nothing...say nothing except 'goodbye' as you close the door after they've identified as capita...
These idiots think they have the power to read you your rights...and caution you...
They do not...
Ignore all correspondence and stick to what I put above...

After reading these replies I'm even more tempted to ignore this new request. But we do use i-player and bbc radio. Definitely no tv set in the house.
it's more the principle than the money. As M0nica says
"it's just another of those bells and whistles the government uses to pay us less money in direct pension in order to keep pensioner incomes down."
But I expect I'll just toe the line and avoid potential trouble.

I’ve paid monthly now for years - currently £13.37 - to be honest, I probably spend as much having the odd coffee out. I know I’d be hard pushed to spend only £3.50 a week ‘entertaining myself 24 hours a day (if necessary).

I have always paid and think it’s wrong not to pay, you can’t just pick and choose what rules to break because of age or it doesn’t suit you. There are lots of very hard up younger people paying it and a lot of wealthy older people, of which I am not one, not. I object to paying for something that others refuse to. They probably pay more a week on papers or a coffee out, but don’t pay because they get away with it.