Does anyone in the UK have a TV licence?

I don't have one because I don't need one. As a result, I receive a letter from TV licencing every few weeks threatening "enforcement visits" and "hearings in my local court" unless I buy a TV licence or explain why I don't need one. I just throw the letter in the bin.

One I received today stated that they carried out 10101 enforcement visits [b]every day[/b] last year. As they claim to visit at weekends as well as weekdays that makes a total of 3 686 865 enforcement visits. As there are approximately 28 million homes in the UK ( http://visual.ons.gov.uk/uk-perspectives-2016-housing-and-home-ownership-in-the-uk/ ) that means they visit approximately 1 in every 7.6 homes. I've never had such a visit so obviously they don't visit everyone who doesn't have a TV licence. I also presume they don't visit people who do have a TV licence.

The figures suggest hardly anyone has a TV licence - or are TV licencing's claims just more bullshit?

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

Benny5678 · 41-45, T

They sent me a letter every week for 4 years. They threatened to send someone and it's now been escalated to such a point that someone will be coming around. They're even talking about getting a search warrant 😎

I don't know how, as I won't be providing my name

Anyway... There is no TV in that property and I'm very rarely there myself. So good luck to them

suzie1960 · 61-69, F

@JKerouac: They've been threatening to send someone to mine for years. It goes in cycles starting with a relatively gentle "reminder" and escalating to a full blown search by "enforcement officiers" (With armed back-up? ;) ). Once they've reached the limit of their threats, the cycle starts again with a reminder.

Benny5678 · 41-45, T

@suzie1960: This letter was different to all the previous threats

I did have a visit once before, at a previous property

suzie1960 · 61-69, F

@JKerouac: I've had letters saying they can apply for a search warrant. I've also had one giving a date they "might" visit on - or "any other date". ;)

Benny5678 · 41-45, T

@suzie1960: I've had a few of those. But this gave specific details of enforcement officer etc

suzie1960 · 61-69, F

@JKerouac: Lucky you. They must think you're more important than I am. :(

I presume nothing came of it?

Benny5678 · 41-45, T

@suzie1960: I'm not there

This is after 4.5 years of me ignoring them

They also came to visit another property of mine. Again, I was out

suzie1960 · 61-69, F

@JKerouac: I've ignored them for a lot longer than that - more like 15 years. Thinking about it, they did visit once a few years ago when I was out. They just left a card saying they'd been, they never returned.

Benny5678 · 41-45, T

@suzie1960: I will continue to ignore them

suzie1960 · 61-69, F

@JKerouac: I will too. I'd advise all their victims to do the same.