Re: TV license inspector visit: Did I do the right thing?

bigbrian wrote:

On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 11:25:18 +0100, Palindr?me
<sb382638@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


Cynic wrote:

On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 01:58:25 +0100, bigbrian <harry8611@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:



If the system was installed 

Yep



(and remains installed)

Nope 


That may be the letter of the law, but the *practical* upshot is that
if you are discovered with an installed TV set or VCR, you will be
unlikely to be able to provide a plausible defence to the contention
that you are using it to receive broadcast TV transmissions.

So whilst it may well be technically correct that owning a TV that was
installed by someone else but which you never use to watch broadcasts
does not require a licence, *in practice* you would be prosecuted, so
the *practical* interpretation is that you must ensure that the TV is
*not* installed if you wish to avoid the licence fee.

Removing the aerial and de-tuning the set has in practice been deemed
sufficient in order to provide a defence against the contention that
you have been using the set to receive broadcast TV.


Thanks, Cynic, you put it better than I could. I do wonder why the law was written the way it was:

1) "Installing requires a licence"
Why put that in? The only reason I can think of is to cover cases where they catch people with an installed system but don't have evidence that they are using it. I can't imagine anyone ever being prosecuted just for the specific act of installing a system.

So why have "installing" and "using" rather than "having an installation"?

Can I thank you also for your support regarding revenuers calls? I can only think that the "cooperate" lobby have some rosy view of them coming in, entering the sitting room and immediately leaving - a bit like the visit from the vicar (but shorter and no need to make sandwiches). 


Presumably, just because you allow them to come in you don't have to
allow them to do what they like? I don't see any reason why it
wouldn't be possible to show the guy into the living room, confirm
that you don't have a TV there (or that the TV you do have there isn't
installed for a licensable purpose) and then show him the door again.
If he starts opening cupboards, or looks like he wants to start
exploring other rooms, you could immediately ask him to leave, and
would be within your rights to physically eject him if he refuses.

The problem is that won't be enough to satisfy them that you don't have a system that requires a licence - so you may as well not have let them in at all. They *ask* if they can open cupboards/go into other rooms to check if it contains a tv. They make it clear that you would only say "no" if you have something to hide...

You have to decide whether to let them look everywhere, or nowhere, unfortunately.

People do, apparently, have tvs in the strangest places, like bedrooms, kitchens, etc.

--
Sue



.

Relevant Pages

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