Scrap the TV Licence Protests

[moonwitch]

So, pardon my ignorance, but how much is your TV license fee? We don't have any in Canada, but our taxes are horrendous! According to the last study made, approximately 66% of our income to taxes. And part of that goes to our equivalent to the BBC, the CBC. The CBC is just like any other station except there is a mandated % of Canadian content that the CBC must broadcast. I don't watch CBC, it sucks.

I just got sent my bill...I pay £12.01 each month for my licence

[craig7501]

Over 75 = £0.00 for licence
Blind or partiatly sighted = £71.25
Unemployed £142.50

[astral276]

The TV licence is only for the BBC channels,....sorry this is wrong.....if you have a tv that can receive a picture.....you need a licence....

Sorry. That is wrong also.

You need a licence to receive television transmissions on any equipment - not just a TV. So if you have a tuner card or freeview dongle on your computer you need a licence. If you have a VCR + Monitor then you need a licence. If you have a DVR you need a licence. If you view TV on a mobile phone you need a licence.

The name of what you buy (TV Licence) is misleading as it has nothing to do with the actual TV but with the receiving and display of television transmissions in any form.

[papagran40]

that is fine Mel , well I still say get rid of it.......the sooner the better.....better say this is my honest opinion.....papa.

[Teddyrose54]

Wasn't there a coirt case, where the person claimed they only watched DVD's on their telly.

And they won.

[damian_steele]

I think what annoys a lot of people is the licensing agencies bullying and nasty attitude in their assumption that absolutely everyone has a TV and watches it. There are quite a few people who don't, yet they still get treated like criminals and threatened with all sorts until they prove it. Ask yourself this: how can you prove that you don't do something? Surely there can only be evidence of actually doing it (the TV, aerial etc.) but when you don't . . .?

[astral276]

Wasn't there a coirt case, where the person claimed they only watched DVD's on their telly.

And they won.

Possibly. In this land where you are (laughably) deemed to be innocent until proven guilty the burden of proof would still be on the accused.

If you owned equipment capable of receiving transmissions then you would have to prove that you never did. Very hard to do.

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/excuses.jsp

http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=45184

[MagnetsAndHangers]

Possibly. In this land where you are (laughably) deemed to be innocent until proven guilty the burden of proof would still be on the accused.

If you owned equipment capable of receiving transmissions then you would have to prove that you never did. Very hard to do.

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/excuses.jsp

http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=45184

Proving one never did something is basically impossible.

I own knives, but could I prove I have never stabbed anyone?

Same if the cops stop you in the street if they basically suspect you of a crime.
They will slap the cuffs on you, until they have sufficient proof that you didnt commit the crime in question.
Innocent until proven guilty doesnt stand in this country anymore unforunately,

[MagnetsAndHangers]

It is all very well having these protests..............

but it is everyone that has to pay for them.

The cost of policing comes down to the taxpayer.
Traffic is disrupted - After paying the congestion charge to drive into London!
Tidying up afterwards.

Wouldnt mind guessing that many of the protestors will pay upto 50% of the cost of the license fee to get to London (or whereever) to protest.

Am off to arrange a protest.......gonna protest that there are too many protests going on.

[islandbuckman]

A no concession 12 month licence for a colour receiver is 142.50 GBP (250.67 CAD).



Aren't everybody's? Accounting would be simpler if the government just took all your money and gave you an allowance each month.

They are forever coming up with new ways to squeeze a little more out of you.

The best one here (I don't know if it is still true) was Car Tax. Car Tax was added to the price of a new car and then Value Added Tax was applied to the sum amount. So you were paying tax on the tax.

We have that here now. We purchase a $100.00 item then 5% Gst tax(Same as your VAT) Federal tax is added = $105.00 then 10% PST provincial sales tax is added to the $105.00 = $115.50. We are paying $0.50 tax on tax.