Questions need to be asked - and this blog is asking - why the TV Licensing Authority sees fit to issue letters like the one below AFTER they have been told there is no TV on the premises.
In the absence of any proof that television signals are being viewed as they are broadcast , we'd like to know what the evidence is for sending letters like this one which was sent to a resident of Ennerdale House (the flat number has been redacted). We're also aware identical letters have been sent to other residents in the MERA area who do not have a television.
Who do these people think they are! A man with a badge came round three weeks ago and I told him "I do not have a telly"
The letter says precisely NOTHING about what the person sent the letter can do if the assumption behind the letter is incorrect.
This is what the TV Licensing authority says about its standards of customer service in Our commitment to you.
Our customer service
- We aim to deliver the highest standards of customer service.
- We’ll be courteous at all times.
- We’ll answer all calls, letters and emails quickly and politely.
- We aim to get it right first time.
- We’ll act fairly and consistently towards all customers within the terms of the law and policies governing the TV Licence. Visit Legislation and Policy for more information.
- We’ll help customers find the method of payment that suits them.
We'd like to suggest TV Licensing check up on the scope of their operations in the London E3 area - as the evidence suggests their performance falls way below this standard.
Let's now see if they can uphold the part of the customer service which states
When we need to check if households are correctly licensed, we’ll do so fairly and in the least intrusive way possible.[UPDATE: It turns out that residents of the MERA area are not along in being harassed by the TV Licensing people - read the stories and the scope for making complaints on another blog called TV Licensing]
We aim to process complaints quickly and make sure that all our investigations are thorough and fair.
Have you had a letter too?
If you too have been sent a similar letter - and do not have a TV licence and do not have a television or watch television as it is broadcast via a computer - do please tell MERA and we will add your name to our official complaint to TV Licensing.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you watch or record television as it is being broadcast via computer you need a TV licence. (See Check if you need a TV Licence) One licence covers all the different ways of accessing TV in one property.
You need to be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record TV as it's being broadcast. This includes the use of devices such as a computer, laptop, mobile phone or DVD/video recorder.This article in the Telegraph Online viewers prosecuted for not paying TV licence explains how viewers of live broadcasts online are now being prosecuted - but also highlights how licences are ONLY required for live broadcasts.
It costs £145.50 for colour and £49.00 for a black and white TV Licence.
See http://tv-licensing.blogspot.co.uk/ for more info.
ReplyDeleteThanks to the above poster for advertising our blog.
ReplyDeleteWe campaign against TV Licensing's harassment of legitimate non-TV users like your residents.
Can I reassure you that TV Licensing's letters are completely meaningless. They are written to scare people into payment and are baseless in law. Despite implications to the contrary they are not going to haul people to court, because they have no evidence at all.
The BBC, as statutory Licensing Authority, is responsible for all aspects of licence fee enforcement. It is them that authorises the wording in letters like that. TV Licensing is a BBC trademark.
The BBC is very well aware that their letters, which are riddled with legal lies, cause distress but they're not that bothered. All they want is payment of the fee, because it lines their pockets. They are not really bothered whether the person needs a licence or not, as long as they are coerced into payment.
Coersion is an apt description of what TV Licensing do. That letter is a "fishing trip" to try to scare the legally unaware into paying up. As I said earlier, it's completely baseless in law.
Please see our blog for further information. Start at the "About" page to see our objectives.