Don't you just love it...

[Will4764]

Just received a letter off the TV Licensing people stating that I don't have a TV license, well that comes as no major surprise considering that I don't have a TV! Apparently I've got until the 19th of August to get a License or the "Enforcement Division" will be sent round to my address to inform me that I'll be receiving a £1000 fine!

Sounds to me like they're sort of trying to bully me into getting one of these things. For no reason, also there are all kinds of other costs and charges, like it'll only cost £139.50 for the License (for the TV I don't own) though it's a £12 charge for paying the fee! Plus to ring them to complain is an 0844 number so that'll cost me as well.

Just thought it'd be nice to hear your views on the matter, before the "Enforcement Division" gets here...

[Daremo]

That's one thing I've never understood about the UK....TV TAX? What a rip!!

So these bright boyos come about with their antenna's looking for spurious intermediate RF output from your TVs so they can charge you for looking at unencrypted transmissions? Is that about it? Seems like they might have latched onto your PC's RF emissions or perhaps your monitor. What do you have to do to convince them you have no TV? Let them search? Tell them to bugger off? Are you guilty until proven innocent?

Inquiring minds want to know. If this was attempted in the US we'd just lynch the buggers and then get another beer and watch the tube.

[Will4764]

Haha, nice.
Though I'm sure letting them into my place would just bring along more questions, such as, what the fuck. When they see the 22 node cluster server and monitor array on the desk next to it.

I hope by law I'm innocent until proven guilty haha, it's just the letter has certain tactics to make you think they want you to feel its the opposite. It's the principal more than anything, I don't want government inspectors poking around my home (Or as Rikku calls it, my Command Center) looking for a damned TV, this is my home...I may have to barricade it to keep them out!

Men with clip boards poking around in my bussiness doesn't sound too fun.

[Kitz E Kat]

You either pay up, or let em inspect your pad!
I don't think there is another option.

AFAIK, the inspector has the power to look around and see if you got a TV, if he don't he will be back with someone who does!

The sister moved house some years back, and never bought a TV, she got a call from the inspector, she explained that she did not have a TV, and invited him in to have a look around for himself. He did, he quickly had a look in the sittingroom, no TV, she invited him to have a look at the kitchen and upstairs if he wanted to, he declined and said the "floors looked nice" :-)
She said he seemed rather embarrassed !!

They did, many years ago have a "TV detector" van that drove around, not now, they assume everybody has a TV and work backwords!

You do get someting in return for your money, in the UK they have the rather fine BBC TV, which has lot's of channells, plus many radio stations. All advertising free, and pump out a lot of quality stuff.
It's a lot better than the SKY/ FOX type crap that is advertising paid and driven TV.
In Ireland the national station is funded by the fee, and the national radio station, although there is advertising, as the market is a lot smaller and the fee alone would not cover running costs.
Also there are several orchestras, and other artsy stuff that is funded by the fee.
I know a lot of people do have a problem with it, most of these people think nothing about paying SKY some $1,200 odd a year, for the privilage of watching a lot of crap! But turn to the national station for the news!!

Quality TV is expensive, impartial TV / radio is hard to comeby these days, the private sector is found wanting in these departments, something that is borderline independent, puts out expensive stuff that will not be watched by the masses, but is worthwhile TV has to be paid by someone.

SKY / FOX, will expose some shitty celeb on a beach with a low cut bra, proper TV will expose a dirty politician, most people would rather see the low cut bra :-(

You get what you pay for !

[GrowMoreWeed]

Mmmm, Bra Vs Politician....

Maybe we could try and expose some politicians wearing bras to find some kind of middle ground? :D

[Will4764]

GrowMoreWeed I've got a better option.

How about the 'TV Inspector' wears a low cut bra? Might feel a little better about letting 'em snoop around then.

I'll give them a ring, invite them round, let them have a snoop. Personally I'd rather have the TV detector van.

[SyntaxHeir]

So in the UK you have nothing that even resembles The Fourth Amendment?

The Fourth Amendment guards against unreasonable searches and seizures (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_and_seizure), and was designed as a response to the controversial writs of assistance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writs_of_assistance) (a type of general search warrant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_warrant)), which were a significant factor behind the American Revolution (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolution). Toward that end, the amendment specifies that judicially (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judiciary) sanctioned search and arrest (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrest) warrants (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrant_%28law%29) must be supported by probable cause (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probable_cause) and be limited in scope according to specific information supplied by a person (usually a law enforcement officer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_enforcement_officer)) who has sworn by it (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affidavit) and is therefore accountable to the issuing court (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perjury).

No wonder the colonies split off and dumped tea and such.

Now I may be of dissenting political view from the majority here however, I stand with Daremo on this one. Some gov't stoolie comes snooping around insisting to inspect my place for a TV? Without a warrant you get a gun barrel in the mouth, a smile and an invitation to leave.

[DISCLAIMER: That last bit about the gun barrel may bring an actual warrant carried by people with more and larger guns.]

[Will4764]

I like it!

Anyway, it's well over the date, they gave me till the 19th and I've heard nothing more about it (even though I blatently just fucked them off) so I guess they don't really care *that* much.

Gives me time to source a gun though, and I have to write an invitation to leave now...