Ion Cannon!, on 15 October 2012 - 21:53, said:
That only applies if he watches live TV on his PC, other wise he is fine and need not pay a fee. I watched live TV at times in 1st/3rd year without a license on my PC sometimes, though not often.
Maybe they've changed the lettering of those letters but they used to say something like.
"This was sent as part of a TV licensing initiative, we have no way of knowing if you actually own a TV, but if you do please tell us so we can fine/tax you"
It isn't about whether you watch it or not. If you have TV ready/capable equipment in a
household you are legally obliged to pay the license fee.
Wiki info
Quote
When a TV licence is required
According to Act of Parliament, a TV licence must be obtained for any device that is "installed or used" for "receiving a television programme at the same time (or virtually the same time) as it is received by members of the public".
According to TV Licensing, "You need a TV Licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, digital box, DVD or video recorder, PC, laptop or mobile phone to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV". Portable televisions and similar equipment such as laptops and mobile phones powered by internal batteries are covered for use anywhere under a licence held for their owner's residence.
When a TV licence is not required
The BBC has stated that a licence is not needed simply because a television receiver is owned.
Digital box used with a hi-fi system or another device that can only be used to produce sounds
Television set installed and used solely for some purpose other than watching or recording live television programmes (e.g. closed-circuit TV monitor, DVD or video player, digital radio receiver or games console)
Watching BBC iPlayer when the programme is not live.
U.S. military personnel who own televisions that can only receive the US-specific signal (NTSC) for use with military base cable television service. Personnel with multi-system sets are required to obtain a licence.
A previously recorded TV programme is outside the scope of the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004, because it is not "received at the same time (or virtually the same time) as it is received by members of the public" (viewing such recordings however, if unauthorised, may infringe copyright).
According to Ofcom, TV transmissions over the Internet are a grey area which in future might make fees based on television ownership redundant. In 2005, a Green Paper by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport included suggestions of "either a compulsory levy on all households or even on ownership of PCs as well as TVs". However, TV Licensing have since stated that use of any device (including a computer or mobile phone) receiving transmissions at or about the same time as they appear on TV requires a licence.
It used to be the case that televisions receiving a transmission from outside the UK (e.g. in Germany, Italy, Greece, Turkey and the Netherlands via the Astra satellite, on which many channels are free-to-air) did not need a licence, but this was changed by the Communications Act 2003, so that the reception of television from any source requires a TV licence.
This bit is important for Tom
Quote
Number of licences required per address
A licence is required to watch live TV transmissions anywhere, including residential and business premises.
For residential premises, only one licence is required per household per address, regardless of the number of licensed devices or the number of members of the household.
A rented property in multiple occupation by a joint tenancy agreement is considered by TV Licensing as one household and requires only one licence, but a rented property with multiple, separate tenancy agreements is not considered a single household and each tenant may require a separate licence. For example, a house in multiple occupation may have private bedrooms and shared communal areas: if five occupants share such a property with individual tenancy agreements then they may require up to five television licences if each private room contains a television receiver, while a similar property housing five occupants under a joint tenancy agreement may require only one television licence.
My understanding is, if you have a TV or something that you
can watch live TV on, then you have to pay your license fee. Demonstrating that don't watch live TV whilst you have the capability to seems pretty difficult. Auntie isn't that understanding
Edited by Wizard, 16 October 2012 - 08:16.