Unpaid TV licence...

[withoutlicence]

Hello,
I've been all around the houses and now I don't know where to turn.
Basically I collected my post from my old address and there was a court summons for an unpaid TV licence.

The house was my partners, the TV licence was in his name.
Someone called to say we don't have a licence and advised me he had to take my details by law as I answered the door.
He was very forceful and threatening towards me despite me telling him it wasn't my house and the TV licence was in my partners name.
I called the TV licence and they let me talk on behalf of my partner and they said THERE IS NO GAPS IN THE LICENCE, it's paid up to date and she even said she can't understand why I recieved a summons.
She advised me to ring the courts which I did and they told me they can't deal with it, and to ring the regional TV licence office.
I did and I got a very rude customer service guy who basically said as I lived there I was responsable for the licence.
I told him the TV set wasn't mine and I wasn't even watching it - the kids were!
I asked had I been living with my parents and they didn't have a licence would I have been liable to pay - he said yes.
I asked for his name and he refused eventually he gave me a very common first name and I said what is your full name and he refused so I asked for his last initial which he said was A.
I then called back and put a complaint in about the above.
The court date is friday so where do I go from here?
Thank you.
K

[Amethyst]

Re: Unpaid TV licence...

If the TV licence peeps have no issue that the licence hasnt been paid then there shouldnt be a problem. Take the current licence and evidence of payments to the hearing with you.

[withoutlicence]

Re: Unpaid TV licence...

There is no issue of non-payment but the licence is nothing to do with me anyway and everyone is just saying you need to speak to blah blah blah!
I was advised by the person at the call center to get it stopped before the date.
I just wondered what my rights are? can they take me to court for my partners licence?
(Nothing has happened to him???)

[Guest]

Re: Unpaid TV licence...

I am puzzled by your post, in fact by both of them.

Who's house were you in when you opened the door and gave your details?
Do you have a TV Licence where you live, in your name?
Why did you open post that was not addressed to you?
Do you have a summons (with a Court date of Friday) with your name on?

[withoutlicence]

Re: Unpaid TV licence...

I moved into my boyfriends house where he had a licence.
I answered his door and was told if I didn't oblige then legal proceedings would be commenced against me.
I told him my partner had a licence but he was adamant we he didn't.
He checked after the visit and he did in fact have a licence at that time.
We left it there.
Now 6 months later when we have moved and he transferred the licence to our address, I collected post from my partners old address and there was a letter addressed to me.
It was a court summons addressed to me for Friday.
I don't have a licence, I haven't had one since UNI!!!!
BUT I've always lived with someone who does have a licence eg. my mum, my partner etc..

Sorry I was not clearer I hope this makes sense.
------------------------------- merged -------------------------------
Just to add...
I used my clubcard in tesco when my partner bought a freeview box about 12 months ago.
About a month later I recieved a letter saying they knew i'd bought television receiving equipment and that I need a licence to use it.
I called them up and told them it was my partners freeview and he had a licence they took his licence number and said thats fine.
Do you think that is where it could have stemmed from?

[Guest]

Re: Unpaid TV licence...

Then let this be a lesson to you. You are not obliged to furnish total strangers with personal details on your doorstep and in future, anyone who turns up threatening legal action should be told to leave at once.

TV Licensing officers may enter your home only with your consent or under a warrant issued by a justice of the peace, or, in Scotland, a sheriff. Such a warrant may be issued only if there is reasonable ground for suspecting an offence related to the installation or use of a television receiver.

If you are living at an address that does have a valid TV licence and has always had a valid TV licence then you, personally, do not need one.

You therefore have a choice to make. Either deal with it before Friday, or attend Court. Personally I would write to the Court giving full details of your address and enclosing a copy of the licence in order to prove that the summons was issued in error. I would also write to TVLA and remind them of the extent of their powers and demand from them compensation for the distress and anguish this has caused, due in no small part to the harassment and bullying that you have suffered as a result of the zeal with which they pursue those who they believe are evading the law with regard to TV licensing.

Given the parlous state of our postal service at present, I would also be tempted to telephone the Magistrates' Court to tell them what you are going to send them. They may require you to attend, in which case you should claim any and all costs from TVLA.

[withoutlicence]

Re: Unpaid TV licence...

Thank you for the advice.