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Do you have to respond to TV Licensing letters?
If you tell us your property is empty, we’ll stop sending letters to your address for up to six months. If you have just told us you don’t need a licence and then receive a letter from us a day or so after, this is usually because our records are being updated. You don’t need to respond.
Can I refuse to let TV Licensing into my house?
Can TV licence inspectors visit your house? You can refuse to let an inspector in, but this might lead to them getting a court order – which means they would be allowed to enter by law without your permission.
What power do TV Licensing have?
If a TV Licensing officer calls to your house, you do not have to let them inside. They do have the power to go to the police and get a search warrant to get inside but without a warrant you do not have to allow entry.
Are TV Licensing letters real?
Unfortunately, criminals often contact people claiming to be from TV Licencing asking them to send money. So, how do you know if it’s a scam? TV Licensing are sending letters to anyone aged 75+ asking them to either pay for their TV licence or apply for a free one.
Is not paying TV license a criminal Offence?
A public consultation launched by the government in February 2020 asked whether non-payment of the licence fee should continue to be a criminal offence. Currently, anyone who watches or records live TV or uses iPlayer without a TV licence is guilty of a criminal offence and could go to prison.
Can a TV inspector enter your house?
Be surprised they can enter without permission. The Guards need permission to enter without a warrant,doubt they’d give An Post staff greater powers. The TV licence inspector has to prove that live broadcasts are being watched. And when the warrant is obtained, they must be accompanied by a member of An Garda Siochána.
Can I sue TV Licensing for harassment?
The legal threat doesn’t have to be real, and BBC/TVL have honoured such orders in the past. They will undoubtedly refuse the notice, but once you have sent it, and they have responded with a further threatening letter, you can sue them in the Small Claims Process/Money Claim Online.
How can I avoid paying TV Licence UK?
You don’t need a TV licence to watch programmes on catch-up TV services, with the exception of the BBC’s iPlayer. You can watch anything stored on services such as ITV Hub, All 4 and My5, as long as you don’t watch live TV. These services are, after all, paid for by advertising.
Can you get fined for not paying TV licence?
If you don’t have a licence or fail to repay your arrears, you could receive a court fine. It’s a criminal offence to watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer unless you have a valid TV licence.
What is the law on TV licensing?
The law says you need to be covered by a TV Licence to: watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel. watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.) download or watch any BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer.