[tompark]

Ok, so I've applied to JBP and I know its not a definite in any way etc; I need to find out some stuff:

1. I'm abit of a sucka for tech and wana get a decent TV for my student room, is it practial to fit a 32 inch LCD in a room? (i know that size is abit stupid but o well) and whats the likelihood of it being stolen?

2. Do you still need a TV liscence even if the TV is not tuned and only being used for console use?

3. Just how far can you customise your room? I mean, i know the basic limits (you cant obv treat it like a permanent home i.e paint) but can you even put stuff up? I only ask due to finding a facebook group concering UNITE's ****e treatment of tennants at the end of the year

Cheers

[TheWizard]

Okay I don't know about JBP so I can't answer question 1 but as for 2 and 3...

2 - As far as I'm aware you don't need a licence for a TV that's not tuned in i.e. it must not be capable of receiving a picture. However, there are people that say that any TV must be covered as it's capable of receiving channels with an aerial, but I don't follow this, if anyone came to your accommodation surely they have to have evidence that you've been watching channels on your TV, if you have not and have just been playing on your console then what can they do? If you TV produces only white noise when flicking through the channels then there's no evidence to suggest you are receiving a broadcast so can not be taken to court (assuming they manage to get into your accommodation in the first place, they have to ask permission first and if you decline to let them in anyway they can't do a thing, unless they've applied for a court warrant in which I think they need evidence anyway to get one - and assuming they wanted to check your room for evidence anyway, it's doubtful they have any evidence at all)

I would also like to warn you that you probably will get threatening letters from the TVL authorities, they seem to send these letters to everyone, even if you don't have a TV (Like myself). They threaten you with possible prosecution (The keyword being possible). I found the scare tactics quite humourous myself, if any of you are interested about what these letters say I'll gladly give you some quotes from them if you want

3. In my halls we're allowed to put posters etc. up but only on the noticeboards that we have in each of our bedrooms. I'm sure you'll have no problem putting something up with blu tac.

[Podge]

(Original post by tompark)
Ok, so I've applied to JBP and I know its not a definite in any way etc; I need to find out some stuff:

1. I'm abit of a sucka for tech and wana get a decent TV for my student room, is it practial to fit a 32 inch LCD in a room? (i know that size is abit stupid but o well) and whats the likelihood of it being stolen?

2. Do you still need a TV liscence even if the TV is not tuned and only being used for console use?

3. Just how far can you customise your room? I mean, i know the basic limits (you cant obv treat it like a permanent home i.e paint) but can you even put stuff up? I only ask due to finding a facebook group concering UNITE's ****e treatment of tennants at the end of the year

Cheers

i lived in James Baillie last year, so
1. you could fit it in, but it would be a bit of a squash(not really practical) it depends where you would put it. (could put it in the lounge?) some of the rooms varied in size, but if you were planning on a studio, then the studio i went in you would be able to fit it in. Instead, if you have a largish computer screen(if you have a computer) you could just get Freewire on your computer. some people did this and just bought a large TFT screen for their computer. it depends on where your room is for it being stolen; when i was there one flat in the 'basement' was broken into with some guys with a crowbar throwing a breeze block through the window and got away with a brand new apple laptop. but thats the only incident of i heard of about someone being robbed, but she got it got it replaced with her insurance.

2. there was a rumour (dont ask me if its true or not) but even if you had a tv/video combi and you only had it for watching videos, you still needed a licence. just look on the TV licence website. i never actually had a licence but someone in my flat did.

3. you can put posters up, you're not meant to really, but everyone does. they dont mind as long as you erase the evidence at the end of the year. James Baillie was pretty good for returning deposits. i got all mine back - and i had a hole in my wall and i just painted it over to try n blend it in , saying that the rent has gone up again to a ridiculous amount and so they may not be as lenient about giving deposits back

All in all, James Baillie was (and still is, my friend lives there this year) a mint place to live.

[aliclare]

Right...
I have a tv.. a tiny little portable one with a dvd.. and i personally don't think i could fit in a 32" tv (and working at comet i know all the dimensions etc) but you could always put it where most people put their laptops etc.. have a look at my pics on the wiki.
Tv license, I bought one, having known people being prosecuted. But most people have been threatened, as technically you need a TV license for anything CAPABLE of receiving a signal (also inc laptops if you install the IPTV) but tbh the likelihood of them coming round is slim. a girl left from her flat and they keep sending threatening letters to her but nothings been done.
They are getting more strict as Podge said rents have gone up. They were a bit mad on the easter inspection. I got charged £80 odd because apparently my room was very dirty.. and I don't have anything on the walls at all. i've just stuck to sticking things on the noticeboard and onto the wardrobe etc. My next door flat has been charged a lot of money as their kitchen is plastered in posters.
But overall, good choice.. I don't want to leave

[TheWizard]

The TV licence issue is just a major grey area, many people say that if you have equipment capable of receiving a live TV broadcast then you must pay it.

However... my laptop in theory is capable, but, I don't have to buy a licence because I own a laptop (As it's virtually impossible to know if someone's watching IPTV) hence why I think that you don't necessarily need a licence just because you own a TV

As Aliclare said the chances of the authorities finding out that you're watching TV when you have no licence is virtually slim if you know the rights you have when (Or should I say if )they come knocking at the door, so don't worry about the issue

[fake plastic love]

I haven't had a TV license for my tv all year. I've received many threatening letters, but I've literally just ignored them and nothing has happened.

[tompark]

thanks everyone for the replies.

ye on the TV liscense front i've already checked the website, and its ridiculous cos the whole explanitory part of it is just a huge grey area. im sure lots of people must ask them this question but they neglect to put it on the FAQ's on the website. but they do answer the query that must be top of the nations worries; 'I'm an A star student. They're not going to prosecute me.'. Do they seriously get people saying thats a reason? I dont see how thats w reasonable query but an untuned television is not.

anyway, i asked my mum (whos a magistrate and deals with these kind of cases) and she says that people try that line (i.e. 'i dont use it for TV') all the time in court and it doesnt stand up in any way, which only increases my worry.

so is it worth buying an xbox in the first place, if i have to pay through the nose just to be able to use it?

thanks again peeps

[aliclare]

it costs about £90 for the year for the tv license so I just bought it.. i'm not loaded or anything but it comes out at £135 for the year, but you can claim the 3 months back you aren't in uni for, so you're only technically paying for 9 months worth. I think its worth it, equivalent to 3 big nights out for me and to be honest i've spent more time watching the tv (while pretending to do work lol). You're right about the 'i don't use it for tv' line not standing up in court, thats what my neighbour at home said and he ended up prosecuted.
And the IPTV can be easily found on the computers.. they just have to check who's downloaded the software and since each computer plugged into the uni network is monitored (tried to open limewire yet? lol) i'm pretty sure the uni would quite happily divulge this information to tv licensing lol.

[TheWizard]

I agree that it's a bit of a farce that there's so many grey areas that the TV license authorities KNOW about but they refuse to discuss on their website (Probably because they try and get people to get a licence even if they don't officially need one)

Take these two paragraphs for example taken from their website:

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.

If you use a digital box with a hi-fi system or another device that can only be used to produce sounds and can't display TV programmes, and you don't install or use any other TV receiving equipment, you don't need a TV Licence.

Now the first paragraph lists things you need a licence for. Both laptop and TV set are in the same list which immediately confuses people because you don't need a licence just for owning a laptop, so surely you don't need a licence just for owning a TV (As they have listed them in the same group), if this isn't the case then there's misleading statements all over their website regarding the issue.

Then there's the second paragraph which takes the whole issue into a darker shade of grey

"another device that can only be used to produce sounds and can't display TV programmes"

Surely if you have a TV that you only use for gaming and has no receiving equipment attached then it cannot receive a television signal which according to the second paragraph would mean you don't need a licence. I personallyt believe they like to confuse people into scaring them to buy a licence when in some cases it may not be needed, dirty tactics indeed

And just to make things more interesting here's an email that someone received supposedly from the TVLA

"A television licence is legal permission to install and use television equipment to receive or record television broadcast signals. Under the Broadcasting Act 1990, you need a television licence to receive or record television programmes."

Now again this means that if you are not using your TV to receive or record television broadcast signals, you do not need a licence.

And lastly according to the Government website on the 2004 TV licencing regulations act

Meaning of "television receiver"
9. - (1) In Part 4 of the Act (licensing of TV reception), "television receiver" means any apparatus installed or used for the purpose of receiving (whether by means of wireless telegraphy or otherwise) any television programme service

So again if your television is not installed or used to receive and television programme service then it is not classed as a receiver, so I assume you do not need a licence.

And to top it off the Governments citizen advice bureau website specifically states that

This means that you would not need a licence if, for example, you only:


use the television set as a computer monitor
use the television set to play electronic games (Being the key one in your case Tom)
watch pre-recorded videos or DVDs, whether or not these have been bought or recorded by someone else.

Anyway sorry for the long post, I remember when I came to University I was extremely confused about if I could use a TV for gaming myself. When you actually look into detail about the law regarding the TV licence (which involves trawling through pages of official government regulations *yawn* ) you'll find that the TVLA website is highly misleading (In fact I have some offical emails from the BBC and TVLA authorites where people have requested information about their practices through the freedom of information act, they make for highly amusing reading as they admit that their tactics are misleading - If anyone wants the links pm or ask on here, it will reassure you about what situations require you to own a TV licence and what you can do if they turn up at your door )

So basically the law states that as long as your TV does not receive broadcasts of channels you do not need a licence to play a console, which is somewhat different to the way the TVLA website words things... So get that X box if you want it

[tompark]

wizard you are a genius . thanks for the effort and the worry release