[UK] TV License Needed?

[saxondale.]

I'm off to University soon and we're not planning on buying a tv for the house, so we won't be getting a tv license for the house. I do have one of these for my mac: http://www.miglia.com/tvminiexpress/index.php

Do i require a license to use this?

[Coldgunner]

If its capable of receiving a signal then yes.

[Daniel.]

Yeah you definitely would need one for that.

[Syntax_Error]

I'm off to University soon and we're not planning on buying a tv for the house, so we won't be getting a tv license for the house. I do have one of these for my mac: http://www.miglia.com/tvminiexpress/index.php

Do i require a license to use this?

They include computer equipment as well that can pick up TV signals, so yes you need a license.

[Mike]

if you're using it on a laptop, you *may* get away with it under the powered by batteries clause, if its on a desktop-style mac then you'll need a license

[.KICK]

if you're using it on a laptop, you *may* get away with it under the powered by batteries clause, if its on a desktop-style mac then you'll need a license

No you still need one for laptops

You would need one unfortunately, better safe than sorry.

Its either ?125 or over a grand fine;))

[Richard Hammond]

Or just dont answer the door or let them in the house.

[Rob Veteran]

You do need a TV License in this case. Yes, you could just ignore the warnings (they'll send you about 10 letters!) but they do eventually turn up. And besides, it's the right thing to do.

[thefonz]

Why is it the right thing to do??

[saxondale.]

No one in my house wants a license hmmm i guess i might have to fork out the full cost on my own.

edit: im not too sure how many channels i can get, even so, i would still pay because i don't want to be breaking the law.

[nmesisca]

it would be the right thing to do if we lived in the US and could get more then 10 channels.

here in ireland I pay 160euro per year to see basically 10 channels. 1 of them is in Gaelic so no chance of unerstanding that one.

I would definitely not pay a licence for a laptop or similar. just chuck it under the bed if you really feel compulsed to open the door and let the inspectors in.

[JamesCherrill]

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/noexcuse/index.jsp

You've got no choice.

[Mike]

No you still need one for laptops

You would need one unfortunately, better safe than sorry.

Its either ?125 or over a grand fine;))

why would you need one for a laptop? it has the capability to be self powered which means it can be included under your parents existing license

You do need a TV License in this case. Yes, you could just ignore the warnings (they'll send you about 10 letters!) but they do eventually turn up. And besides, it's the right thing to do.

in the 3 years i was at uni i dont know anyone who got a visit from them

[kernatch]

Are you going to use it? Definitely don't bother if you're not. I know that if you have a TV you use only for console or video use, then you don't need a licence.

If you are, I still wouldn't bother. First, they get people because when you buy TV receiving equipment the people you buy it from have to pass your address to TV licensing. If you didn't buy it at your uni house then you won't be on their record. Second, in my experience they write to you first. I've had 2 or 3 letters in the past saying 'our database says a TV was bought at this address, please buy a licence' before I actually got one, so my advice would be to wait until they come to you - it would be VERY unlikely if the first they sent to you was a fine. IF they come knocking, AND you accidentally let them in AND they inspect your laptop, I've even heard they let you buy licences on the spot.

[Lee G. Veteran]

Why is it the right thing to do??

Because it's legal.

According to some information I received, it's ?139.50. Unless you really want it, I'd forget about watching TV, and not take the card to university.

[Rob Veteran]

If you are, I still wouldn't bother. First, they get people because when you buy TV receiving equipment the people you buy it from have to pass your address to TV licensing. If you didn't buy it at your uni house then you won't be on their record.

This just isn't true. They're not joking when they say they have a database of every property in the UK without a license. It's nothing to do with purchasing the equipment. Hence why reminder letters are initially addressed to 'The Occupier' instead of by name.

It's your call whether you buy it or not, based on your own decisions regarding the hassle of inspections (yes, I had one come round at uni) frequent reminder letters, and ethics of the legality of it etc. But don't make stuff up about how it works.

[kernatch]

This just isn't true. They're not joking when they say they have a database of every property in the UK without a license. It's nothing to do with purchasing the equipment.

It's your call whether you buy it or not, but don't make stuff up regarding how it works.

The critical method of detecting evaders is through the use of a database system known as LASSY[39], which contains 29.5 million[37] addresses in the UK. This database is routinely updated with licence details and with details submitted by dealers in television receiving equipment, all of whom are required by law to provide TV Licensing with identifying information about everyone who buys or rents such equipment[42]. TV Licensing maintains permanent contact with every address in the database that is recorded as not having a TV licence[43].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_li..._United_Kingdom

[+InsaneNutter MVC]

Is it actually a house your staying in or student halls? At the student halls for the uni I go to the TV licensing people are never let on campus by security.

Its probably best to get a licence if you don?t want to risk getting fined, I ordered a TV tuner from ebuyer and got a letter a few weeks later from the TV licensing people saying I didn?t have a licence. (we have one for our house just not in my name)

[Coldgunner]

Law of Sod dictates that you will get inspected if you don't, and won't have any bother if you do.

[Rob Veteran]

The critical method of detecting evaders is through the use of a database system known as LASSY[39], which contains 29.5 million[37] addresses in the UK. This database is routinely updated with licence details and with details submitted by dealers in television receiving equipment, all of whom are required by law to provide TV Licensing with identifying information about everyone who buys or rents such equipment[42]. TV Licensing maintains permanent contact with every address in the database that is recorded as not having a TV licence[43].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_li..._United_Kingdom

It seems you're right about part of their system containing details of vendors (I wasn't led to believe this was the case, apologies here) - however I know primarily when it comes to university halls and private houses it's usually 'The Occupier' who is addressed, based on the property simply being listed as not being licensed as opposed to purchasers of digital equipment being contacted directly.

Ultimately if you don't get a license, you're breaking the law. That's about as simple as it is. I simply would rather not deal with the hassle of breaking the law. On the plus side though, watching on-demand services such as BBC iPlayer does not require a TV License.

[saxondale.]

Argh, 6 of us are living in the house and the other 5 don't want it! it could of worked out pretty cheap between us :(

[Brian M. Veteran]

The only way I think you can get away with not having a TV license at uni is if, for example, you have a Slingbox at a home address, and then stream it over the internet to your laptop ast uni (since technically you are not receiving a broadcast at your university address, and the tuner is at your home address (which I assume already has a TV License).

If you have any sort of tuner at your university address, however, you do need one. It's your choice whether to pay it or not, however, I know I'd rather pay the cost of the license, rather than having to cough up for a ?1000 fine if I did get caught (which, especially when at uni, would hurt).

[Mike]

Law of Sod dictates that you will get inspected if you don't, and won't have any bother if you do.

that's nothing to do with sods law :p if you get a license, you'll be on the database as having one so there is no need to check up

[saxondale.]

Also, not sure if this is true but someone told me that if you have locks on your room, you'd have to buy another license for that room...surely that's not true, is it?

[Coldgunner]

Also, not sure if this is true but someone told me that if you have locks on your room, you'd have to buy another license for that room...surely that's not true, is it?

Thats what I heard too, can anyone confirm?