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#11

News / Re: BBC looks at licence fee o...

Last post by jimspurn - August 05, 2025, 12:09:21 AM

I don't need any more time. He's had one year and has brought nothing but misery, lies, incompetence and utter contempt for British people, while blaming 'the previous government' for everything (which had some merit a year ago, but is wearing very thin now). I won't launch into a huge list of negatives, but can anyone think of one substantial good thing he's done? I can't.

Little wonder 67% of the popualtion hold an 'unfavourable' opinion of him (July 2025, YouGov) and he is the most unpopular PM in the last 40 years - and that was in December (Ipsos).

He's help split the Labour Party, His behaviour and demeanour has alienated many Labour supporters, to some that's a good thing, maybe he's a Tory plant.

Given most of the population didn't vote labour, it just goes to show how poor our voting system is.

oh well, bring on the next GE

#12

News / Widower 89 sent 53 threatening...

Last post by Sao Paulo - August 04, 2025, 10:10:20 PM

An 89-year-old widower has received 53 "threatening" letters for non-payment of the BBC TV licence despite the BBC operating an unofficial "amnesty" for elderly people it believes are evading the charge.

David, who lives in Sheffield, told The i Paper he felt "bombarded and harassed" by the mounting letters, which threaten action up to prosecution if he does not pay the £174.50 TV charge.

Having previously received a free licence until then Government ended the concession for over-75s in 2020, David says he will not pay the sum and is calling for the benefit to be restored. "I have no intention of giving in," he added.

BBC TV Licensing is continuing to send warning letters to pensioners such as David, despite the BBC apparently having no intention of following through on threats to prosecute for non-payment.

Ministry of Justice figures show that the BBC is yet to prosecute anyone over 75 found not to be paying the £174.50 annual charge, according to data obtained by The i Paper.

Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, a campaign group for pensioners, said: "No way in a month of Sundays would it ever be in the public interest to prosecute David for non-payment, so why waste licence payers' money in sending him so many letters?

"The increase in threatening letters sent to unlicensed properties shows the decrease in public consent for the flat-rate BBC licence fee."

BBC TV Licensing said it would not stop sending letters to pensioners, despite rising Royal Mail postage fees contributing to a 15 per cent increase in the cost of collecting BBC licence fees in 2024/25, from £145.4m to £165.6m.

The agency sent 41m warning letters to British households last year, a 13 per cent increase on the 2022/23 figure.

However, there is currently no plan for BBC TV Licensing to move to a "paperless" system, which could save millions of pounds, a spokesperson said.

BBC TV Licensing said: "Letters remain a cost-effective way of reminding unlicensed customers that they may need a BBC TV licence. Our mailing campaigns are tested to ensure they deliver a return on this investment and each is routinely reviewed."

Although more than three in five customers now receive their licence by email and the BBC tries to use electronic communications whenever possible, "there remains an ongoing need for physical mailings".

BBC TV Licensing rejected claims that it is sending "harassing" letters to the elderly. "We have a duty to collect the licence fee and enforce the law. As part of this, we send letters to unlicensed addresses to inform the occupants that they may need a TV licence," a spokesperson said.

The BBC has not confirmed there is an "amnesty" for over-75s who do not pay, but sources said it was unofficial policy.

The number of over-75s claiming a free licence increased by 50,000 to 825,000 in 2024/25, the latest BBC Annual Report disclosed.

It comes after older people scrambled to apply for pension credit following the Government's initial decision to means-test winter fuel payments. Pension credit gives claimants access to winter fuel and a free TV licence.

The concession is costing the BBC £185m a year but the figure is still lower than the £745m the corporation estimated that keeping universal free licences for over-75s would cost.

A BBC TV Licensing spokesperson, speaking on behalf of the BBC, said: "Achieving best value is central to our work, and we aim to keep our collection costs as low as possible."

"The majority of letters we send are to unlicensed households to remind them that they may need a TV licence, and we work to ensure all of our mailing campaigns are cost-effective."

When BBC TV Licensing contacts unlicensed addresses, either by letter on an in person visit, they often do not have the details of the individuals who live there.

The letters initially set out the steps to take to get licensed and the help and support available. If these go unanswered, subsequent letters communicate the risks of evading.

The evasion rate for 2024/25 is estimated to be 12.52 per cent of those who require a licence, according to BBC documents. Around nine in 10 people in the UK are currently correctly licensed, the BBC claimed.

The newspaper has previously reported that one pensioner, Aileen Boor, from Stockport, was pursued with letters threatening action, up to her death at the age of 100. Her daughter said Mrs Boor had "picked out her outfit" she planned to wear in court.

#13

News / Re: BBC looks at licence fee o...

Last post by hunny1234 - August 04, 2025, 08:43:50 PM

Time will tell, if Starmer can actually do anything or will he be just another PM that failed us.

I don't need any more time. He's had one year and has brought nothing but misery, lies, incompetence and utter contempt for British people, while blaming 'the previous government' for everything (which had some merit a year ago, but is wearing very thin now). I won't launch into a huge list of negatives, but can anyone think of one substantial good thing he's done? I can't.

Little wonder 67% of the popualtion hold an 'unfavourable' opinion of him (July 2025, YouGov) and he is the most unpopular PM in the last 40 years - and that was in December (Ipsos).

#14

General Discussion / Re: Furnished Holiday Let

Last post by hunny1234 - August 04, 2025, 08:01:00 PM

One thing that happened to me the other day, I was given an 'interactive advert' on my phone for BBC iplayer, I looked at it an thought, I've never seen one of these before, then the thought came over me...... `I don't have a license so I can't interact with it`

Well, you can have minimal interaction (not that I'd want to). For example, it's perfectly legal to have a BBC account and access S4C on demand on iPlayer - it's one of the quirks of the system, even if only of any real use to Welsh speakers. You are also allowed to browse the programme guide - good to remind you of what you are NOT missing. I believe you also need an account now to listen to BBC Sounds, but not a licence.

Personally, I avoid all BBC content whether or not a licence is needed.

#15

News / Re: BBC looks at licence fee o...

Last post by jimspurn - August 04, 2025, 02:52:15 PM

I'm not a Tory voter, but the shocking ousting of Liz Truss by vested interests shows how much the establishment, Civil Service, et al, will undermine anything they don't like, contrary to peoples' wishes. They have undermined the Brexit vote and are now, under Starmer, slowly trying to take the UK back in piece by piece.
Any  attempts to change the LF system will be fiercely resisted. I don't think the public will stand for it. Bring it on, I say.

Politics is brutal and we the electorate get caught in the fall out.
I haven't voted Tory since Dodgy Dave.

Vested intrests of large shareholders and stock martkets coupled with
Tory party in fighting,
a very British power-hoarding constitution where a small number of people can make huge decisions with very little, if any, scrutiny.
Poor personal presentation in interviews.

But Lizz Truss is symptomatic of a far bigger problem, in UK Politics. Easy to blame her and the others she selected
All this exposed a huge vacuum in British politics about ambition, strong leadership, imagination, vision and understandings on how to fix things. There really wasn't any then nor is there any now.

Time will tell, if Starmer can actually do anything or will he be just another PM that failed us.

I think the Labour party will split with Corbyn and Starmer vying for Labour voters, Reform will be after any voters, Lib Dems keeping a few MP's and few others.

Hopefully a hung gov might make these people take notice and actually work as a team, but I doubt it.....

I may of voted for Brexit, but I certainly didn't vote for the complete bodged Feck up they made of it, deals could have been done, agreements put in place, long before we left. I know some will rightly blame the EU, but a lot should fall on the shoulders of the Tory party as well.

I certainly wouldn't vote to return to the EU, not with the current conditions they would imposed on this country
given the EU's desire for an ever closer (political) union.

So, one can only hope Starmer doesn't want to join and he simply wants better deals with the EU.

#16

Media Chat / Re: Doctor Who’s become all t...

Last post by jimspurn - August 04, 2025, 02:19:20 PM

Jim wrote:  "Still, it's nice to know some have a little faith in the BBC returning to a more Auntie status and that makes these forums interesting."

That would have been my fervent wish at one tome, but it's too late for that to happen now. I did go licence -free because of the BBC and not TV licensing, after all, I had no experience of their "enforcement" system.
Getting my first threatograms was a shock and after my first goon visit, I was determined to stay licence free. I found the old TVLR.biz site and when that folded, I came here.

I have never experienced their "enforcement" system first hand either, but after reading enough postings on this forum and sitting in one public viewing of the courts Sauage Machine dealing with victims of TVL, this and the BBC stars bad and mostly criminal behaviour, coupled with poor quality content dished out by the BBC led me to conclude that me paying for the BBC wasn't an option.

But, if some still want a BBC, maybe to return to the values it once had and some slimmed down to one Radio and IPTV channel for News and education only that is universally funded then I may rethink my current stance.

Until a change comes along, then being Legally Licence Free is my choice.

TVLR.biz those where the days.....

#17

News / Re: BBC looks at licence fee o...

Last post by Roy Stirred-Oyster - August 04, 2025, 12:39:32 PM

That is the reality of the situation. Labour will not change anything, as the BBC is very socialist & sympathetic to them & anti Jew as well.
I expect the BBC fear most, REFORM getting elected - as Nigel, won't mess about, & will just close the corrupt corporation down.
So you will see must more "Rubbishing" of reform before the next election from the BBC's "Unbiased" news dept. 
I suspect Nigel's answer to the rubber boat people, is as fast as they arrive - put them on a ship & take them back to where they came from.
Problem solved 

I'm not a Tory voter, but the shocking ousting of Liz Truss by vested interests shows how much the establishment, Civil Service, et al, will undermine anything they don't like, contrary to peoples' wishes. They have undermined the Brexit vote and are now, under Starmer, slowly trying to take the UK back in piece by piece.
Any  attempts to change the LF system will be fiercely resisted. I don't think the public will stand for it. Bring it on, I say.

#18

Media Chat / Re: Doctor Who’s become all t...

Last post by Roy Stirred-Oyster - August 04, 2025, 12:24:42 PM

Jim wrote:  "Still, it's nice to know some have a little faith in the BBC returning to a more Auntie status and that makes these forums interesting."

That would have been my fervent wish at one tome, but it's too late for that to happen now. I did go licence -free because of the BBC and not TV licensing, after all, I had no experience of their "enforcement" system.
Getting my first threatograms was a shock and after my first goon visit, I was determined to stay licence free. I found the old TVLR.biz site and when that folded, I came here.

#19

News / Re: BBC looks at licence fee o...

Last post by Huttonwhitewash - August 04, 2025, 12:22:36 PM

The BBC is well aware of the perfect funding method which  is some kind of subscription but lacks the courage or willingness to change as their gravy train would come to a shuddering halt. I can only hope the amount of licence payers continues to dwindle as more people find other and better ways to find entertainment.

That is the reality of the situation. Labour will not change anything, as the BBC is very socialist & sympathetic to them & anti Jew as well.
I expect the BBC fear most, REFORM getting elected - as Nigel, won't mess about, & will just close the corrupt corporation down.
So you will see must more "Rubbishing" of reform before the next election from the BBC's "Unbiased" news dept. 
I suspect Nigel's answer to the rubber boat people, is as fast as they arrive - put them on a ship & take them back to where they came from.
Problem solved 

#20

General Discussion / Re: Furnished Holiday Let

Last post by Cornucopia - August 04, 2025, 11:02:02 AM

The house I rent is for Airbnb so I have a TV for people. It has no ariel and hasn't for years, I've gone as far now to remove ALL ariel points in the house, not just putting a face plate over them, but plastering over them! They are never being used again 

I don't have any BBC apps installed on the TV/Roku and I've never had one person complain about not having live TV in the house...

In which case, I would definitely do as Bob suggests, and put up a sign indicating that there is no TV Licence, and how the TV can legally be used.

It is more complicated than just no BBC/no aerial.   It may be that the reason why there are no complaints about no live TV is because people are accessing it via Roku.  But then they will be accessing it using their own accounts, so not much of an issue for you.