Affairs, naughty children and sun allergies have all been offered as excuses for not paying a TV licence.
TV Licensing has also been told that a parakeet was the only one to watch TV in the house, and that wedding plans took priority over paying the licence.
The agency said it had caught more than 256,000 people watching TV without a licence so far in 2011.
A colour TV licence costs £145.50, and a fine of up to £1,000 is possible for non-payment.
The top 10 excuses as defined by TV Licensing were:
"Since I had a bit of a fling with the postman I haven't been receiving my mail so I didn't get my TV licence reminder."
"No-one watches TV apart from the parakeet. It calms him down and stops him ripping out his feathers."
"I went to the PayPoint to pay for my licence, but I had to leave before I could pay as my kids were stealing sweets and I had to get them out fast."
"My Payment Card fell in the toaster so I had to iron it and now the PayPoint machine won't accept it."
"I can't afford a TV licence now as the repayments on my brand new car are cleaning me out!"
"I never got the reminders because my two-year-old hides all my post in her toy box".
"I would have to sell my TV to pay for a licence so I can't do that."
"I don't need a TV licence, I already pay for my electricity bill."
"I'm getting married and am too busy picking flowers, colours and things to buy a TV licence."
"I cannot go out to buy a licence because I am allergic to the sun."
The excuses were given to TV Licensing's inquiry officers and call centres by people who should have a TV licence.
It is a legal requirement to have a licence if you watch or record TV at the same time as it is broadcast.
A TV Licensing spokesperson said: "Some evaders are very inventive with their excuses which can be quite entertaining. But the point is that watching or recording live TV without a licence is against the law.
"In fairness to the honest majority of people who pay the fee, we will prosecute those who try to avoid it."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14975564
Affairs, naughty children and sun allergies
Affairs, naughty children and sun allergies
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Affairs, naughty children and sun allergies
You have to pay for TV in the UK? There is no such thing as free broadcast channels?
Yikes.
Yikes.
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
Re: Affairs, naughty children and sun allergies
It does seem strange. But arguably their terrestrial transmissions are of a superior quality to at least the crud that is usually churned out over here with Free-to-Air tranmissions. (Though we do all pay taxes towards the funding of dear old ABC (Australian Broadcasting Netwok).
Bah!
Re: Affairs, naughty children and sun allergies
We pay taxes to fund PBS (Public Broadcasting System), though conservatives are forever threatening to yank that funding as PBS is considered uber-liberal (ha!).
My understanding is that the airwaves are considered public property and networks 'pay' to access them by conformity with various FCC regulations and payment of licensure fees. For obvious reasons the networks are responsible for costs of their transmittal equipment. Viewers pay for the pleasure of TV entertainment by enduring the brainwashing of consumer advertising.
Assuming other than BBC broadcast channels in the UK contain advertising, it seems the viewers are screwed by a license requirement. It's no wonder so many avoid paying it.
My understanding is that the airwaves are considered public property and networks 'pay' to access them by conformity with various FCC regulations and payment of licensure fees. For obvious reasons the networks are responsible for costs of their transmittal equipment. Viewers pay for the pleasure of TV entertainment by enduring the brainwashing of consumer advertising.
Assuming other than BBC broadcast channels in the UK contain advertising, it seems the viewers are screwed by a license requirement. It's no wonder so many avoid paying it.
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
Re: Affairs, naughty children and sun allergies
No UK based advertising on the BBC BSG, though it is allowed to advertise abroad.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Affairs, naughty children and sun allergies
Yes, but are there not other broadcast networks which are commercial? In the US we have CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox which are free and funded by advertising revenue.
I'm just boggled by the notion of a license fee for broadcast television. I assume that consumers in the UK must pay in addition to that fee if they wish to subscribe to pay/cable television? Or are they then not required to pay the government-mandated TV license fee?
I'm just boggled by the notion of a license fee for broadcast television. I assume that consumers in the UK must pay in addition to that fee if they wish to subscribe to pay/cable television? Or are they then not required to pay the government-mandated TV license fee?
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
Re: Affairs, naughty children and sun allergies
Here you go...
In the United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies, any household watching or recording live television transmissions must purchase a television licence, every year. As of 2010, this costs £145.50 for colour and £49.00 for black and white. The licence is required to receive any live television transmission, whether it is received via terrestrial, satellite, cable, or the Internet. A licence is not, and never has been, required simply to possess a TV set, for the purpose of watching pre-recorded content, or use as a monitor for video games or computers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television ... ed_Kingdom
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Affairs, naughty children and sun allergies
Futher evidence why our forefathers were so brilliant in their foresight to leave countries like this.
Do you have to pay for radio too?
Do you have to pay for radio too?
I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way. Mark Twain
Re: Affairs, naughty children and sun allergies
That must be the most dumb reply I've seen in while..
"Come Pilgrim fathers, let us hasten from these shores, before we get taxed for the use of the magic picture box which will be invented centuries hence!"
"Come Pilgrim fathers, let us hasten from these shores, before we get taxed for the use of the magic picture box which will be invented centuries hence!"
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Affairs, naughty children and sun allergies
Hey I said they had foresight, not a time machine.
As far as the comment, it's all interelated in the ruling class "must control the little people" mentality.
As far as the comment, it's all interelated in the ruling class "must control the little people" mentality.
I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way. Mark Twain