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Off Topic BBC TV licence...how to ditch it?

Discussion in 'Sunderland' started by cumbrianmackem, Apr 1, 2025.

  1. cumbrianmackem

    cumbrianmackem Well-Known Member

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    Gone up another fiver today, anybody know how to watch modern television and avoid the licence fee another than promising not to watch their channels and radio stations?I
    There's got to be a way surely.
     
    #1
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  2. Blond Bombshell

    Blond Bombshell Well-Known Member

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    Not possible. Sorry.
     
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  3. Teessidemackem

    Teessidemackem Well-Known Member

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    I cancelled my direct debit before Xmas. I then got a letter saying i owed money so i rang them up and told the receptionist i no longer want it because i dont watch tv anymore. Ive now been taken off their system.

    She did warn me that if i ever get caught watching BBC again id be fined. Theres no worry there though because its absolutely shyte. My lass has recently just rang up and cancelled hers aswell.
     
    #3
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2025
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  4. Smug in Boots

    Smug in Boots Well-Known Member

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    I stopped paying for a licence around 20 years ago, I think the whole corporation is corrupt.

    There's no chance I'm contributing to million pound salaries for virtually talentless 'presenters' like Lineker or Claudia Winkleman.

    I have endless threatening letters but have only ever once had a visit.

    I told him I wasn't prepared to talk to him and informed him I was 'withdrawing his implied right of access' through my gate, that's quite legal.

    I followed it up with a registered letter.

    After that there's nothing they can do.

    It all depends on whether or not you're happy with that situation, personally it never crossed my mind ...

    ... until someone posted a thread about it on a football forum <laugh>
     
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  5. Jarca

    Jarca Well-Known Member

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    This is what I sent to my daughter when she was thinking of getting rid of it.

    If you don't renew your TV licence, you could face a fine of up to £1,000, plus legal costs. You may also have to pay the TV licence on top of the fine. The fine will appear on your criminal record.
    What you can't do without a TV licence
    Watch or record live TV on any channel or service, including BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, Virgin Media, and EE TV
    Watch live on streaming services, including YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, NOW, ITVX, and Sky Go
    Use BBC iPlayer
    What you can watch without a TV licence
    Catch up programs on services other than BBC iPlayer, such as ITVX, All4, and My5
    On demand films or TV shows that you watch, rent, or buy online from providers like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Sky, EE TV, Apple TV+, Disney+, or Now
     
    #5
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  6. Snaggey

    Snaggey Well-Known Member

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    How would she get caught?
     
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  7. Snaggey

    Snaggey Well-Known Member

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    Phone them up and say you no longer need one. They'll ask you the normal ****e, but just tell them you don't watch live TV....you watch dvd's, Netflix and YouTube.
    If anyone comes to your door, just shut the door.
    They have as much right to come in your house as the postman or milkman does...zero.
    You could go one step further with them while you're on the phone...remove all "implied rights of access". They can't even come on your property then.
    Once you've instructed them, you should get a letter of confirmation which is valid for 2 years. They aren't allowed to send you further letters in them 2 years.
    They will say they have "other means of detection"...they don't. They rely on knocking on a door and being allowed in.
     
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  8. Smug in Boots

    Smug in Boots Well-Known Member

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    There's a few things to bear in mind.

    This isn't a law, it's an act and doesn't constitute a criminal offence..

    A warrant, not signed by a judge, has no legal right of entry.

    A judge would never sign a search warrant based on an assumption that someone is contravening an act.

    The police can only be there to prevent a breach of the peace, they're not acting for any agents and shouldn't take sides..

    The people who may arrive call themselves 'officers', working for the BBC, but they're not ... they are, in fact, debt collectors paid on commission.

    They have no legal right to ask you questions or step onto your property.

    I'd love them to come to my door, I'd absolutely wipe the floor with them ...

    ... verbally of course <laugh>
     
    #8
  9. Snaggey

    Snaggey Well-Known Member

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    Me too mate, i would love it.
    Best one in seen was the Capita bloke asked a house owner if he could come in and check the tv equipment.
    Bloke said "aye, no problem...but there's a fee".
    Capita bloke asked "how much"?
    Bloke said £500.

    Should have seen the looks on the blokes face, he just turned around and left
     
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  10. cumbrianmackem

    cumbrianmackem Well-Known Member

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    Thanks lads...Food for thought there.
     
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  11. Smug in Boots

    Smug in Boots Well-Known Member

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    <laugh>

    What I particularly object to are the threatening letters they send out to everyone including the elderly and vulnerable.

    They employ countless sex offenders, pay them a fortune and cover things up for grim death.

    Angela Rippon comes on smirking about Rip Off Britain' when her employers are as bad as anyone.

    I ain't giving them a penny.
     
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  12. rooch 3

    rooch 3 Well-Known Member

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    My daughter’s done the same, expect to get a letter though confirming it for you to sign. I think you can just print it off internet, she did.
    Just so they have proof you’ve jacked in.
     
    #12
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  13. Evil Jimmy Krankie

    Evil Jimmy Krankie Well-Known Member

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    I think the idea of a national state broadcaster is valid. The BBC for decades were the envy of the world. How that state broadcaster gets funding though is another thing entirely. Like many if not all on here, I don’t want to or even like to break the laws of the land but with the license fee I can understand why some would.
     
    #13
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  14. Smug in Boots

    Smug in Boots Well-Known Member

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    I wouldn’t want to break the law either …

    … this isn’t a law, they just hoodwink people into believing it is.

    The people at the top of the BBC have been raking off vast amounts of money for decades. If it was as good as they like to claim they’d make more than enough money by selling their products around the world.

    “Now back to our reporter in London who’s been standing outside a hospital for three days. In one of those rooms is ‘insert one of the Royal Family’ who’s been having a bunion removed’. Sometime today they’ll emerge, wave briefly and be whisked away by a waiting car.’

    Just f*ck off.
     
    #14
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  15. vic9

    vic9 Well-Known Member

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    <applause>
     
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  16. LBW

    LBW Well-Known Member

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    I have often thought about cancelling but the wife is scared of her own shadow, she would crumble if there was a knock at the door and she was in the house alone, dont want to put her in that position. I can honestly say though I do not watch any BBC at all and havent for a few years. The wife watches Eastenders on catch up so I guess rightfully we should pay it.
     
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  17. rowley

    rowley Well-Known Member

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    I just don't pay it. I ignore the letters and threats. It is an abomination in today's world.
     
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  18. rowley

    rowley Well-Known Member

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    Terrible, bloated organisation. At one Olympics, Beijing, they had twice the amount of peole there than there were athletes and coaches. Nice "work" if you can get it. Waste abounds because it can. There is a free money tap.
     
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  19. rowley

    rowley Well-Known Member

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    I don't even think the idea is sound. There might have been a case eighty years ago, but there is nothing that the BBC do that others cannot do as well or better.
     
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  20. Smug in Boots

    Smug in Boots Well-Known Member

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    So very true, good saying.

    If the salaries of the BBC governors were being threatened they'd sharp reduce costs.
     
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