TV Licensing loophole for students...

You don't even need to hide the TV, just unplug it


Most people who are caught are poor, poorly educated people who are not hardened criminals but normal working class folks, unaware of their rights and are absolutely terrified of authority figures which is why I think it's vital we raise awareness of just how little, these nasty little thugs can do.

Whats hard about not usings a TV to watch live television without a licence or take the risk? If you dont then nothing to worry about.

Reasonable suspicion they believe TV equipment is being used at the address. Normallt through observing or hearing such equipment.

Refusing entrty or not having a licence is insufficient. Nobody said you should feel obliged about letting someone without authority enteer your dwelling, thats just a point raised by you.

Yes they could just unplug or hide the TV, but people are caught and convicted just the same even free men of the land. Its about 200,000 a year.

If you were a licence inspector then as its your job, you wouldnt go to the hassle of getting a warrant or prosecuting unless you had the requisite level of evidence. Yes they might hide the TV on that visit, but they keep coming back if they are that interested. Am sure there are hundreds of thousands without a licence who do evade, but there are also plenty who are convicted and then fined accordingly.

All seems a lot of hassle, except of you get to call someone a fascist.

The licence is not for the reception of BBC programmes. Although that's where the money goes.
The alternative is to fund the BBC from general taxation- but that raises the claim of a state broadcaster and influence.
Another alternative is commercials

The licence is the operation of tv receiving equipment.
If you watch any live tv- sky , itv or BBC then you require a licence.
If ( as happened in the old days) you wanted to only watch tapes/DVD then the advice was to fill the ariel socket on the to with gunk to show that it couldn't receive

How would they "observe" or "hear" a TV? Stand outside and put their ears to the window? Even if you hear a TV that doesn't mean it's watching a programme let alone a BBC programme...

As for the "detection vans" myth - as of 2011, "TVL has not, to date, used detection evidence in Court" (source).

That's the point - what is sufficient that can be reasonably obtained? It's very difficult for them to obtain a warrant.


Or just deny you use the tv box to watch BBC programmes, simple - they can't prove otherwise.


I didn't call anyone a fascist.

Do I need a TV Licence if I don’t watch BBC programmes? A TV Licence is a legal permission to install or use television equipment to receive (i.e. watch or record) live TV programmes, regardless of which channel you're watching, which device you are using (TV, computer, laptop, tablet, mobile phone or any other), and how you receive them (terrestrial, satellite, cable, via the internet or any other way). The licence fee is not a subscription to watch BBC programmes but mandated by law. Under the Communications Act 2003, the BBC in its role as the licensing authority has a duty to issue TV Licences and collect the licence fee.

You give a great defence there denial.

what i always wondered about this 'loophole' is how the hell can they tell if you watch it whilst your laptop is plugged in or not?

even if you were plugged in and watch it for every day of your life without a licence, and they say oi m8 u watched it plugged in, can't i just say na wasn't plugged in prove it

the burden of proof is on them to prove that my laptop was plugged in whilst i watched, there's literally no conceivable way they could do that

And you have great evidence to justify a search warrant there - looking through a window.

366Powers to enforce TV licensing(1)If a justice of the peace, a sheriff in Scotland or a lay magistrate in Northern Ireland is satisfied by information on oath that there are reasonable grounds for believing—(a)that an offence under section 363 has been or is being committed,(b)that evidence of the commission of the offence is likely to be on premises specified in the information, or in a vehicle so specified, and(c)that one or more of the conditions set out in subsection (3) is satisfied,he may grant a warrant under this section.(2)A warrant under this section is a warrant authorising any one or more persons authorised for the purpose by the BBC or by OFCOM—(a)to enter the premises or vehicle at any time (either alone or in the company of one or more constables); and(b)to search the premises or vehicle and examine and test any television receiver found there.


(8)A person is guilty of an offence if he—(a)intentionally obstructs a person in the exercise of any power conferred on that person by virtue of a warrant under this section; or

So as long as my parents have a TV license and I only stream live things on my laptop when it's not on charge, I'm perfectly fine?

If I wanted to watch old shows on BBC iPlayer (say, a week old) - Do I still need a license?

I currently use my TV for Amazon Prime/YouTube. I don't have freeview channels, because I don't have an aerial. No license needed right? (Not like I've ever had one of these guys at my house, but still!)

So as long as my parents have a TV license and I only stream live things on my laptop when it's not on charge, I'm perfectly fine?