TV Licence in the UK

I am always moaning about paying my TV licence I think it's about £175 now I own a Campervan and thought I'd be breaking the law by watching Tv in my Campervan in the UK only to search the internet to find to my surprise that I can indeed legally watch television in my Campervan, providing I have a home licence which isn't being simultaneously used, providing my Campervan isn't static/permanent.

I've always thought the BBC should show adverts and save everybody the problem of paying for a Tv licence, if other Television channels can make a profit why can't the BBC,.

I suppose there are many of you out there who will jump out of your chairs and say well the BBC provides iPlayer and Ceefax as well as on-line news, I accept some of that but isn't it too expensive £175.

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gol979 · 46-50, M

Its not mandatory or "law", just dont pay it and dont watch the bbc (or watch it if you are feeling rebellious).

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@gol979 Just check your facts. It is the law if you have a television set or receive live television by another means. Even if you don’t watch the BBC, but you watch one of the other live channels, the law says you must have a TV license. That is what parliament decreed when it’s set up the BBC and in its revisions of the charter since it was founded.

gol979 · 46-50, M

@FreddieUK no its not. They say its the "law" but it isnt. I dont pay, have a tv and had a knock on the door asking to enter my property, which i declined and also informed them i dont need a tv licence. They said ok and bye, and that was that, If it was against the "law" i would have had charges against me, no?

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@gol979 Something sounds wrong here. https://www.gov.uk/find-licences/tv-licence

From this site, which I won't quote in it's entirety, the last sentence is :

You can be fined up to £1,000 if you watch or record live TV without a TV Licence.

From the TV Licensing site:

The requirement to hold a TV Licence and to pay a fee for it is mandated by law under the Communications Act 2003 and the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004 (as amended). It is an offence under section 363 of the Communications Act 2003 to watch TV channels on any TV service, watch live TV on streaming services, or use BBC iPlayer, on any device, without a valid TV Licence.

(My emphasis)

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/about/foi-legal-framework-AB16

Only they know why your case was not proceeded with, but I'm afraid your statement 'it's not mandatory or "law" ' is not factually correct.

gol979 · 46-50, M

@FreddieUK it is correct. But its up to you if you want to keep paying for something that you dont need to.

They know its not a legal requirement to have a tv licence to watch tv (unless its the bbc as stipulated.in my first response), hence they walked away without charging me

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@gol979 Hiw can they 'know' that when I've just quoted you the law?

gol979 · 46-50, M

@FreddieUK it even says in what you have quoted.......its all to do with paying to watch the bbc. They know the law doesnt apply

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@gol979 🤷‍♂ Let's run through that one more time.

It is an offence under section 363 of the Communications Act 2003 to watch TV channels on any TV service, watch live TV on streaming services, or use BBC iPlayer, on any device, without a valid TV Licence.

I pay because a) I don't want to be a law breaker or a freeloader and b) I enjoy many things I watch and listen to on the BBC.

As with al laws, we have a choice to ignore them and see if we can get away with it (e.g. speeding) but there is the chance of a penalty if we are caught. I have no idea why you got away with, but lucky you. You ARE breaking the law if you watch any TV channels as stated in the Act. (Again, my emphasis above.)

gol979 · 46-50, M

@FreddieUK fair enough, you pay and watch the bbc. I dont watch the bbc and legally do not need to pay a tv licence.

Im not lucky, i just dont get tricked by weasel."legal" language