Tv licensing harrassment, fraud, trespass

[stealthtax]

Firstly, from 2006-2007 TVL made me have 2 licenses at my home, i was working away and knew nothing about it, my parter at the time (with which i did not communicate) also had a license at the address, TVL told me that people with different names at the same address all have to have an individual license, and they refuse to refund me. It was not a house of multiple occupancy, just a normal 3-bed semi. I consider this fraud.

Last year they were ringing me every day and sending lots of threatening letters chasing £3 arrears on my account, even though i was "paying ahead". In the end i told them to cancel it, because i was sick of the phone calls, but leave it running for what i had paid ahead. This gave me 3 months of license still to run, and i made the statement that i dont watch live tv (its all crap on telly, and i only had a license to keep them off my back). I also told them not to send any detectives round my house. A week later they sent a tv license man knocking on my door, asking if i watch live tv, and tried to force entry. I told him my license was paid up with 3 months to run, and closed the door. He then went knocking on other doors in my street.

I sent a formal instruction to cease and desist communications and withdrawal of access rights to TVL, and yet another statement that i dont watch live tv. I also said i would report them for fraud, harrassment & trespass if it continued.

Yesterday, a few weeks after my license had expired, another TVL tw@t knocked at my door asking if i watch live tv, i said no, and he was DETERMINED to get in my house but i refused, he threatened search warrants and give me loads of lies, i said "get off my property" and closed the door. I was watching a dvd when he called and he might have seen it through the window (he did not comment about this).

I am seriously ill and have no income, so my friend immediately paid for a new license for me online (even though i dont watch live tv).
Therefore TVL have trespassed on my land (the front door is not in reach from the public footpath, he had to trespass to knock on the door).

I want to report this to the police (and press charges) for fraud, trespass and harrassment, i'll give them copies of my prevoous letters to them. Is it worth it or will the police just laugh at it? Or will the police start treating me as the criminal? Remember i'm very ill so dont want more aggro, but i want to cause a load of grief to TVL / capita and permanently stop them sending me letters and home visits. My phone is now cut off permanent (thankyou BT, another story!) so the phone calls have stopped. I have no home internet either so they cant claim i watch iplayer either.

My main gripe is when they came knocking when i had 3 months license still to run, and why they give me endless hassle when in fact THEY OWE ME £300.

Also is there anything else i can do to get back at them, any other regulatory bodies to report them to etc?

[Kati]

Re: Tv licensing harrassment, fraud, trespass

Firstly, from 2006-2007 TVL made me have 2 licenses at my home, i was working away and knew nothing about it, my parter at the time (with which i did not communicate) also had a license at the address, TVL told me that people with different names at the same address all have to have an individual license, and they refuse to refund me. It was not a house of multiple occupancy, just a normal 3-bed semi. I consider this fraud.

it's definitely not right - http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ108

Do I need a TV Licence for every TV in my household?Typically, one TV Licence held by you will allow use of TV equipment at the property listed on the licence by you, your family or any person working at or visiting there.
However, your TV Licence will not cover any separate parts of your premises which are exclusively occupied by others such as tenants, lodgers and paying guests. Any such people who use TV equipment in these areas will need to buy their own TV Licence.

Last year they were ringing me every day and sending lots of threatening letters chasing £3 arrears on my account, even though i was "paying ahead". In the end i told them to cancel it, because i was sick of the phone calls, but leave it running for what i had paid ahead. This gave me 3 months of license still to run, and i made the statement that i dont watch live tv (its all crap on telly, and i only had a license to keep them off my back). I also told them not to send any detectives round my house. A week later they sent a tv license man knocking on my door, asking if i watch live tv, and tried to force entry. I told him my license was paid up with 3 months to run, and closed the door. He then went knocking on other doors in my street.

I sent a formal instruction to cease and desist communications and withdrawal of access rights to TVL, and yet another statement that i dont watch live tv. I also said i would report them for fraud, harrassment & trespass if it continued.

Have you filled in their online form? We do this once every two years and have not been hassled since- http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-i...d-a-tv-licence

Yesterday, a few weeks after my license had expired, another TVL tw@t knocked at my door asking if i watch live tv, i said no, and he was DETERMINED to get in my house but i refused, he threatened search warrants and give me loads of lies, i said "get off my property" and closed the door. I was watching a dvd when he called and he might have seen it through the window (he did not comment about this).

I am seriously ill and have no income, so my friend immediately paid for a new license for me online (even though i dont watch live tv).
Therefore TVL have trespassed on my land (the front door is not in reach from the public footpath, he had to trespass to knock on the door).

I want to report this to the police (and press charges) for fraud, trespass and harrassment, i'll give them copies of my prevoous letters to them. Is it worth it or will the police just laugh at it? Or will the police start treating me as the criminal? Remember i'm very ill so dont want more aggro, but i want to cause a load of grief to TVL / capita and permanently stop them sending me letters and home visits. My phone is now cut off permanent (thankyou BT, another story!) so the phone calls have stopped. I have no home internet either so they cant claim i watch iplayer either.

My main gripe is when they came knocking when i had 3 months license still to run, and why they give me endless hassle when in fact THEY OWE ME £300.

Also is there anything else i can do to get back at them, any other regulatory bodies to report them to etc?

Check out the FAQs ... there's info on how to complain and also how to get refunds on there - http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs

[stealthtax]

Re: Tv licensing harrassment, fraud, trespass

Thanks, i've tried the refund thing twice before but they always refuse, but i've tried again.
I didnt know about the online declaration thing, i darent use it now becuase they might cancel my new license and a give a refund (which i dont want them to do, and they do have a bad reputation for cancelling licenses and refunding when people are simply complaining). They normally do the opposite of what is requested of them which is another reason i want to report them to the police, but am worried in case the police subsequently give me loads of grief.

[stealthtax]

Re: Tv licensing harrassment, fraud, trespass

Well i've reported it to the police (in writing) so i'll have to see how it goes. The fact i now have a paid-for license, only a few weeks after the old one expired will hopefully show willing and avoid them trying to nick me instead, and i'm hoping the police might take issue with alot of the bully-boy tactics and lies that the tv detector men have used on these unwelcome/unlawful home visits! The police dont like other organisations acting like they are the police, despite having no warrants or documentation to back it up.
I think i'll report it to bbc watchdog (and all the other BBC run "rip-off" type programs aswell), that should be interesting... Wheres Lynn-Faulds-Wood when i need her!