165 replies to this topic

[Wizard]

Chyros, on 15 October 2012 - 17:20, said:

Day three, UK: I only just got here and I've already received three SS-style threat letters from a "Regional Enforcement Manager" to pay the £150 license for a TV (which I don't have) saying "Enforcement Officers have been licensed to visit your property" and that I risk a £1000 fine xD .

I wouldn't worry about it mate. They do that a lot to students and there are a lot students in Southampton. IIRC if there is a TV in the house and/or a computer with an internet connection then you owe them. I'd just set up a direct debit from your new bank account sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Chyros, on 15 October 2012 - 17:20, said:

Viva la Southampton!

Give it time, that'll pass

[Chyros]

Wizard, on 15 October 2012 - 18:57, said:

Chyros, on 15 October 2012 - 17:20, said:

Day three, UK: I only just got here and I've already received three SS-style threat letters from a "Regional Enforcement Manager" to pay the £150 license for a TV (which I don't have) saying "Enforcement Officers have been licensed to visit your property" and that I risk a £1000 fine xD .

I wouldn't worry about it mate. They do that a lot to students and there are a lot students in Southampton. IIRC if there is a TV in the house and/or a computer with an internet connection then you owe them. I'd just set up a direct debit from your new bank account sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Fuck that shit, I'm not paying £150 for a TV programme I don't watch .

[Alias]

Beeb tax.

[Wizard]

Chyros, on 15 October 2012 - 19:55, said:

Wizard, on 15 October 2012 - 18:57, said:

Chyros, on 15 October 2012 - 17:20, said:

Day three, UK: I only just got here and I've already received three SS-style threat letters from a "Regional Enforcement Manager" to pay the £150 license for a TV (which I don't have) saying "Enforcement Officers have been licensed to visit your property" and that I risk a £1000 fine xD .

I wouldn't worry about it mate. They do that a lot to students and there are a lot students in Southampton. IIRC if there is a TV in the house and/or a computer with an internet connection then you owe them. I'd just set up a direct debit from your new bank account sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Fuck that shit, I'm not paying £150 for a TV programme I don't watch .

You don't have a choice I am afraid. Welcome to Auntie's world

[Ion Cannon!]

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"

Secondly the place you're living sounds horrible, I mean I know supposedly students live in horrible damp cramped places but all my accomodation, both university provided, 1st year and later renting places in 2nd/3rd/4th have all been rather nice.

[Chyros]

Ion Cannon!, on 15 October 2012 - 21:53, said:

Secondly the place you're living sounds horrible, I mean I know supposedly students live in horrible damp cramped places but all my accomodation, both university provided, 1st year and later renting places in 2nd/3rd/4th have all been rather nice.

Yeah, the place I had in the Netherlands was bigger, much better, and only cost two-thirds of what I'm paying now . And the internet here is crap >.> .

[TheDR]

Chyros, on 15 October 2012 - 21:56, said:

And the internet here is crap >.> .

Now you know how we all feel in comparison to your old mega-net. No more hosting for you

Edited by TheDR, 15 October 2012 - 22:34.

[Chyros]

TheDR, on 15 October 2012 - 21:59, said:

Chyros, on 15 October 2012 - 21:56, said:

And the internet here is crap >.> .

Now you know how feel all feel in comparison to your old mega-net. No more hosting for you

[Ion Cannon!]

Chyros, on 15 October 2012 - 21:56, said:

Ion Cannon!, on 15 October 2012 - 21:53, said:

Secondly the place you're living sounds horrible, I mean I know supposedly students live in horrible damp cramped places but all my accomodation, both university provided, 1st year and later renting places in 2nd/3rd/4th have all been rather nice.

Yeah, the place I had in the Netherlands was bigger, much better, and only cost two-thirds of what I'm paying now . And the internet here is crap >.> .

Internet isn't bad everywhere, how much are you paying for the place you're in? I pay £200 a month for this rather spacious modernish house, hot water ect.

[Chyros]

Ion Cannon!, on 15 October 2012 - 22:43, said:

Chyros, on 15 October 2012 - 21:56, said:

Ion Cannon!, on 15 October 2012 - 21:53, said:

Secondly the place you're living sounds horrible, I mean I know supposedly students live in horrible damp cramped places but all my accomodation, both university provided, 1st year and later renting places in 2nd/3rd/4th have all been rather nice.

Yeah, the place I had in the Netherlands was bigger, much better, and only cost two-thirds of what I'm paying now . And the internet here is crap >.> .

Internet isn't bad everywhere, how much are you paying for the place you're in? I pay £200 a month for this rather spacious modernish house, hot water ect.

£300 not including the extremely incredibly overpriced electricity or gas.

[Alias]

I pay $1200 a month.

;_;

[Wizard]

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.

[Libains]

You're forgetting one fundamental point of the law here Wiz, innocent until proven guilty. It's not a matter of Tom disproving that he has been watching TV, it's a matter of the TVLA proving that he has. You also have the right to refuse them access to your house should they come calling, they have no legal power to enter your property.

TVLA do have the capability to detect if you're watching TV, but the letters are nothing more than scaremongering; buying a TV license when you do not watch TV is pointless. If you own a TV it is far harder for you to prove that you weren't watching TV, but if you don't have a TV and just have a computer, you don't need to worry. Trust me, I've fought them for four years about buying a TV license - it's not required, just ring them and say you're not watching TV, they're likely to leave you alone. If they don't leave you alone, ignore them and refuse them entry. As long as you're not watching TV there isn't a thing that they can do about it.

[ΓΛPTΘΓ]

Food in London can be great.

Edited by ΓΛPTΘΓ, 16 October 2012 - 15:57.

[Wizard]

Food in London is great. It's just everywhere else in the country where it is just battered shit.

Edited by Wizard, 16 October 2012 - 17:57.

[Ion Cannon!]

There is good food all around the UK, not just London. Plus there is nothing wrong with fish and chips now and again.

Also what you're showing there raptor, I wouldn't consider food, it's to damn small.

[Chyros]

The salmon looks fucking awesome, but London is REALLY expensive D: . Fish and chips is decent as long as it's not eaten with vinegar, in which case it's not really exclusively British anyway .

[Wizard]

Chyros, on 16 October 2012 - 21:20, said:

The salmon looks fucking awesome, but London is REALLY expensive D:

That depends on your budget. If you have one, it's too expensive

Don't worry, will find us somewhere decent to eat on the 27th

[Chyros]

Wizard, on 16 October 2012 - 21:30, said:

Chyros, on 16 October 2012 - 21:20, said:

The salmon looks fucking awesome, but London is REALLY expensive D:

That depends on your budget. If you have one, it's too expensive

Don't worry, will find us somewhere decent to eat on the 27th

Please do, I am poorer than a church rat at the moment .

[CJ]

Chyros, on 16 October 2012 - 21:31, said:

Wizard, on 16 October 2012 - 21:30, said:

Chyros, on 16 October 2012 - 21:20, said:

The salmon looks fucking awesome, but London is REALLY expensive D:

That depends on your budget. If you have one, it's too expensive

Don't worry, will find us somewhere decent to eat on the 27th

Please do, I am poorer than a church rat at the moment .

Surely Wizard, our resident multimillionaire, can spare a few coins for the poor?

[Alias]

CJ, on 16 October 2012 - 21:34, said:

Chyros, on 16 October 2012 - 21:31, said:

Wizard, on 16 October 2012 - 21:30, said:

Chyros, on 16 October 2012 - 21:20, said:

The salmon looks fucking awesome, but London is REALLY expensive D:

That depends on your budget. If you have one, it's too expensive

Don't worry, will find us somewhere decent to eat on the 27th

Please do, I am poorer than a church rat at the moment .

Surely Wizard, our resident multimillionaire, can spare a few coins for the poor?

I don't think so. Wiz needs that money to maintain his luxury yacht.

[Wizard]

Alias, on 16 October 2012 - 21:53, said:

CJ, on 16 October 2012 - 21:34, said:

Chyros, on 16 October 2012 - 21:31, said:

Wizard, on 16 October 2012 - 21:30, said:

Chyros, on 16 October 2012 - 21:20, said:

The salmon looks fucking awesome, but London is REALLY expensive D:

That depends on your budget. If you have one, it's too expensive

Don't worry, will find us somewhere decent to eat on the 27th

Please do, I am poorer than a church rat at the moment .

Surely Wizard, our resident multimillionaire, can spare a few coins for the poor?

I don't think so. Wiz needs that money to maintain his luxury yacht.

Think it's a little bit much to consider me that rich. I do ok. But I am hardly dirty banker rich

[CJ]

Wizard, on 16 October 2012 - 22:01, said:

Alias, on 16 October 2012 - 21:53, said:

CJ, on 16 October 2012 - 21:34, said:

Chyros, on 16 October 2012 - 21:31, said:

Wizard, on 16 October 2012 - 21:30, said:

Chyros, on 16 October 2012 - 21:20, said:

The salmon looks fucking awesome, but London is REALLY expensive D:

That depends on your budget. If you have one, it's too expensive

Don't worry, will find us somewhere decent to eat on the 27th

Please do, I am poorer than a church rat at the moment .

Surely Wizard, our resident multimillionaire, can spare a few coins for the poor?

I don't think so. Wiz needs that money to maintain his luxury yacht.

Think it's a little bit much to consider me that rich. I do ok. But I am hardly dirty banker rich

Nah, you're just insurance thug rich D:

[ΓΛPTΘΓ]

As much as they spared no expenses on that meal, it is still freaking expensive as hell. Nearly £50 for the whole set.


Although, I must admit that was one of the most delicious meal I have ever had.

Edited by ΓΛPTΘΓ, 18 October 2012 - 17:18.

[Nid]

Wizard, on 16 October 2012 - 17:56, said:

Food in London is great. It's just everywhere else in the country where it is just battered shit.

I'd like to resent that, but fuck me it's true.