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Please do not write below the line

bbctvlicence.com

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Re: Please do not write below the line

#41

Post by echoangle »

kleiba wrote: post #25
cooper_ganglia wrote: post #13

A "TV License" is one of those things I alway assumed people were making up to satirize the claims of over-regulation & bureaucracy in the UK. Finding out it was real was a mixture of hilarious and sobering.

In Germany, you cannot even legally listen to the radio without such a license (GEZ). It's also slightly more expensive than the UK TV License, coming in just under Netflix' premium plan (while offering mostly shite in return).

To clarify: currently, it doesn’t matter what you actually do (listen to radio, own a radio, own a TV…), everyone has to pay, unless they are exempt (due to low income, other social security, or being deaf and blind at the same time). So it doesn’t matter if you listen to radio or not. You (or the household you live in to be exact) has to pay.

Re: Please do not write below the line

#42

Post by stronglikedan »

authorfly wrote: post #9

"Please do not park next to our nondescript White Van" would suite just as much.

They don't use non-descript vans. They want you to know who they are. Now, whether the vans can actually detect anything is a different matter. Some believe they are just a visual deterrent, and don't actually do anything beyond looking scary.

Re: Please do not write below the line

#43

Post by madeofpalk »

cooper_ganglia wrote: post #28
TillE wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's basically a whole parallel tax collection system, which is truly nuts. Like the administrative overhead alone surely outweighs any abstract concerns about independence from government, which doesn't really exist in the UK anyway.

The lines that really got me in this post were: > A Licensing officer may call at your property not to collect the letters but to check that you are not watching a TV. and >...Cas Scott has said that the letters are not sought by TVL/BBC agents who make street visits. Like, they show up at your home and ask to physically view your TV to make sure you aren't watching TV! It's so incredibly bonkers to me, I'm laughing…

It’s weird. They don’t have any actual authority, so if they turn up you can just say “No”.

In my seven years of living in the UK, I’ve paid the TV licence for two years, and had one visit (who I shut the door on).

Re: Please do not write below the line

#44

Post by StayTrue »

cooper_ganglia wrote: post #13

A "TV License" is one of those things I alway assumed people were making up to satirize the claims of over-regulation & bureaucracy in the UK. Finding out it was real was a mixture of hilarious and sobering.

I learned about it when they knocked on my door (UK). Said I didn’t have a TV to which they replied they’d like to look around inside to confirm. LOL no.

Re: Please do not write below the line

#45

Post by ajb »

The explanation is that this contracted out to Capita, which is the go to outsourcing company for UK government for tasks where a capacity for self reflection would be a disadvantage.

Re: Please do not write below the line

#46

Post by dcminter »

redundantly wrote: post #12

I love silly, pedantic, obstinate stuff like this. This was a very funny read!

I used to be a TV-free non-license-holding resident and found the constant accusations of criminality from "TV Licensing" (the BBC) infuriating. So I'm pre-disposed to be sympathetic to his crusade. Nice to see others enjoy it too.

Re: Please do not write below the line

#48

Post by moritzruth »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #17
efitz wrote: post #7

Please do not write below this line. ———————————————

——————————————— Please have not written above this line. Remember, temporal paradoxes are not covered by your insurer.

This sounds like something the Announcer voice from Portal 2 would say.

Re: Please do not write below the line

#50

Post by NotYourLawyer »

warkdarrior wrote: post #47
ElevenLathe wrote: post #3

The best thing to do with these is to write "OK" below the line and move on with your life.

But then the government has a copy of your handwriting and may be able to use it in the future to incriminate you in some other setting.

Write it with your non dominant hand. Or your foot.
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