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The TV licence is, well, a licence to use a telly. It applies throughout the UK and the money from it generally goes to fund the BBC. There are legal conditions attached to it.

Contents 1 How much is a TV Licence 2 So do I need it??? 2.1 Exceptions 2.2 Ways to cut the cost 3 Mate in the Pub says 4 Dealing with TVL 5 Prosecution 6 Should I get a TV? 7 Will a Digibox (Freeview) work? 8 Ways to Pay your TV Licence 8.1 Annual Payment 8.2 Instalments 8.2.1 Paying by direct debit 8.2.2 Weekly/fortnightly instalments - Cash Easy Entry 8.2.3 The TV licence savings card 8.2.4 Paying for your TV licence at a PayPoint outlet 9 Links

How much is a TV Licence

There are set fees for colour and black and white television licences. These are increased annually. The increase is effective from midnight on the day of announcement. The current fees are:-

• Black and white television

£45.50 (From 1 April 2007)
£47.00 (From 1 April 2008)

• Colour television and/or video recorder

£135.50 (From 1 April 2007)
£139.00 (From 1 April 2008)

So do I need it???

You need a TV Licence to use any television-receiving equipment to watch or record TV programmes as they are being shown on TV. These include programmes on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, cable and satellite television. Television-receiving equipment includes:

TV sets set-top boxes DVD recorders video recorders.

You don't need a television licence if a TV set cannot receive TV programmes and is used only:

for close circuit monitoring for watching pre-recorded videos or DVDs as a computer monitor – see under heading You don't use your television set or other device to watch or record broadcast programmes.

This is required under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949.

Exceptions

• If you have a telly in a communal area, then only one TV license is needed. I would expect that in a university Halls of residence, someone will have already picked the tab up (though this isn't always the case - check!).

• You don't need one if you don't have a telly (yeah, honest). You'll still get harassed by the TVL people, though.

• If you have a television that is not used for receiving broadcast programmes (e.g. using to watch DVDs or videos, or play games only) then it does not require a licence. TVL asks you to inform them of this, but it is obviously not a legal requirement to do so and they will still ask to inspect it. In these cases, it is best to have no aerial installed and to ensure that the TV is completely de-tuned, that is that no picture can be seen to any degree on any channel, so that you can confirm this status if asked.

• You do need a licence to watch TV on a mobile phone or other battery-operated device. If the device is installed (plugged in) at any time it cannot be used to receive television programs without a licence.

• A television licence allows the person named on it and any member of his or her household to use one or more television sets or video recorders.

• If you only have a black and white television, you only require a black and white television licence. If you have a colour television, a DVD recorder or video recorder, you will require a colour television licence. This will apply even if the DVD or video recorder is used with a black and white television set.

Ways to cut the cost

At £135.50, the TV license is probably best described as mild extortion (the tuition fee is just blackmail). An easy way to cut costs, is to claim a refund for the unused quarter you will not be using it for (summer). Most unis do not start until the beginning of October (freshers week will remove any requirement for telly anyway, even Hollyoaks).

By delaying the TV License until October, you can then claim back July, August and September the next year from the cheeky sods.

Don't get your TV license until the beginning of October. Then you can claim back for the quarter of the year that you're not at university (July/August/September). When you get your TV licence it automatically backdates it to the beginning of the month - so if you buy it on the 30th September it starts from the 1st September!!

Click this line for details on claiming money back from the evil TV licensing People

Mate in the Pub says

The TV licensing vans are a bit of a joke, they can't access your room unless you let them, etc

They don't need vans or detection devices, a database of addresses is all they need. If you are in a rented house, the owner can happily let the evil people in to your house/room and search it for a telly. Usually when you buy something with live TV the shops before they sell it to you the trader is under a legal obligation to notify TV Licensing. This also applies if you change a rented black and white television for a colour television. This one of the ways they are able to collect a database.

They do have various tricks to getting you as well. The people at TV licensing patrol mainly in the evenings and like picking on students (mainly because you are bankrupt already/mummy and daddy can pay). Some unis collaborate (ranging from windswept polys to the hallowed halls of Oxbridge), by giving them your keys and free range of their halls of residences. Some refuse them entry absolutely. Try asking your halls authorities if you do not know.

Advice from a solicitor on what to do if a TV licence inspector knocks on your door

You could also choose to use a black and white television. This costs a lot less than a licence for a colour television.

Dealing with TVL

The TV Licensing Organisation (TVL), which is outsourced by the BBC to a company called Capita, monitor TV licence evasion. They have numerous investigation officers and send a good number of threatening letters even if they have no evidence to suggest that a television is owned. A few things should be noted when dealing with them:

• They don't have any more rights than any other saleman. They cannot come into your home without a warrant or your (or any other owner/occupier's permission)

• All enquiry officers carry identification cards which they should show. The enquiry officer must state the purpose of the visit.

• You don't have to have any dealings with them whatsoever. You have every right not to inform them if you don't need a licence, you can shut the door in their faces, you do not have to give your name to them or sign any documents they present you with.

• If you do allow an enquiry officer to come in, they will carry out a brief inspection of the main living areas. If they are satisfied there is no TV set, they can authorise a 'stop on contact' for four years. This means that no one will contact you about your TV Licence for four years.

• If you do not let the enquiry officer in, they may apply to a magistrates' court (sheriff court in Scotland) for a search warrant. They can do this only if there is good reason to suspect an offence has been committed. Refusal to allow entry to an enquiry officer is not, in itself, enough to justify anyone applying for a search warrant.

• The moment a TVL man suspects you of breaking the law (instead of just making 'general inquiries') then he must only interview you under caution in the same way a police officer does. Otherwise any confession you make will be inadmissible in court.

• Their employees are not given criminal records checks. In a few documented occasions, they have assaulted people going about their lawful business. As with any door-to-door callers, be very wary of them. Consider not answering the door to them if you are in alone. This will also help should you not need a licence and they try to pin something on you - they are given commission for every successful prosecution made.

• You live in Britain, not some bloody fascist dictatorship, despite what many people will try to tell you. You are innocent until proven guilty and don't have to answer for anything. Most of what TVL get up to is smoke and mirrors anyway... don't be scared of their 'final demand', 'notice of investigation' or 'notice of impending prosecution' letters. If they had any evidence to prosecute you, they wouldn't be sending you letters about it, you'd be getting a court summons.

• If you have just moved in, or for whatever other reason don't have a licence, even for a short amount of time or due to an oversight - DO NOT TELL THEM and assume you will not be prosecuted. TV licence evasion is an absolute statutory offence, you do not need to prove any sort of mental element (mens rea) to the offence, or even prove that you intended to do it. They might let you off, but then again there's a fair chance that they won't.

Prosecution

• TV licence evasion is a criminal offence. If found guilty, the maximum fine is £1000. A more realistic figure for most evaders is £200, but will probably be less for students. You will also have court costs of around £70 to cover.

• You can be prosecuted for having or using a television set or video recorder and not having a licence for it. You can be prosecuted even if you are not the owner or hirer of the set, for example, in a case where the set belonged to a husband but was switched on and watched by the wife, the wife was prosecuted.

• The court however cannot confiscate the television set or order you to pay the television licence fee arrears.

You will receive a criminal record if convicted of TV Licence evasion.

Should I get a TV?

It depends on what you are like. Some people are happy to watch what everyone else watches in the communal room, and many people do admit that tellys do damage their social life.

But many don't want to watch what everyone else watches, so it's probably a good idea to take one and just test the water.

Will a Digibox (Freeview) work?

This is a tough one to answer, with it depending on so many variables including the location of the transmitter, its strength, the quality of the aerial, the quality of the lead up to the aerial.

Finally the location of metal objects including cars and planes also has an effect on the signal.

You will probably find that you have more success in an urban area than a rural area

If it doesnt work through the receiver provided by the uni, its just going to have to be a case of wafting your aerial around the room

With the Governments intention to shut the analogue sytems down, universities will be forced to upgrade their systems over the next few years or face losing students over what is a trivial matter.

Ways to Pay your TV Licence

You can pay for your television licence in one annual payment or by instalments (colour televisions only).

Annual Payment

If you make an annual payment for your TV licence, you can pay by:

• Cash, at a PayPoint outlet
• Cheque, by post to TV Licensing
• Debit card (switch or delta). This can be arranged by contacting TV Licensing
• Direct debit from your bank account or credit card account. Contact TV Licensing to arrange this or sign up online using the TV Licensing. Direct debits will be made from your account annually, at the current licence fee rate, unless you cancel the agreement.

Instalments

There are several ways you can pay for your TV licence in instalments:

Paying by direct debit

• Monthly. If you're buying a new licence, you'll pay the whole cost over the first six months. After the first six months, you can start paying towards the next year's licence in 12 monthly instalments. You can get more details from TV Licensing
• Quarterly. You have to pay an extra £5 (£1.25 per quarter). If you want to use this scheme, get a form from TV Licensing.

Weekly/fortnightly instalments - Cash Easy Entry

If you get benefits, for example, Income Support, are on a low income (which would be true for students) or don't have a bank account, you may be able to pay in weekly or fortnightly instalments. You can get more details from TV Licensing

The TV licence savings card

The TV licence savings card has replaced TV licence savings stamps. You can pay for your TV licence in instalments with the savings card using cash or a debit card. You can use the savings card at a PayPoint outlet

Paying for your TV licence at a PayPoint outlet

You can use a PayPoint outlet to pay for, or save for, your TV licence.

PayPoint outlets can be found in newsagents, local shops, supermarkets and petrol stations. You can get details of your local PayPoint outlets on the TV Licensing website

If you are renewing your licence, take the renewal form to a PayPoint outlet. You can pay by cash or credit or debit card. You will be given a receipt by the PayPoint outlet which you must attach to your licence so that it is valid. You do not need to send the receipt to TV Licensing for your licence to be valid.

Links

Link to TV Licensing