TV licensing
Nov. 23rd, 2004 08:57 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sobriqueI'm thinking of sending the following to the TV licensing authority. Following ongoing nastygrams from them. Does this look unreasonable?
Dear Ms. Smith.,
Thank you for your recent letter regarding a visit from your TV Licensing officer. I regret to inform you that I still do not have a TV licence, and have no intention of purchasing one in the near future. I accept the need for such a licence, and at the point at which I acquire a television, I will not hesitate to acquire an appropriate licence.
I fully support the current way the BBC is financed, and fully respect the services that they provide to the country. I do not appreciate the way the TVLA operates, especially frequently sending me threatening form letters.
I would be more than happy to see your agent, and indeed offer a guided tour of my house, however I am afraid that I will have to charge you for my time, at a rate of £175 per half day payable in advance.
I will also need for you to make an appointment two weeks in advance. Whilst I may be able to arrange something at shorter notice, I’m afraid that I cannot guarantee being able to do so, especially at this time of year.
Should you find that I do not have a need for a TV licence, I would also expect a written apology for the series of rather offensive letters that you have sent me so far. As I understand, there is no specific exemption to the malicious communications act 1988 for officers and agents of the TV licensing authority. Nor is there any obligation on me to inform you about the status of my television or television licence.
I recognise that you have a job to do, and so I make every effort to co-operate, however I would ask that offer the same courtesy.
Edit: And there's more interesting stuff here
Edit:New text in line with feedback.
Dear Ms. Smith.,
Thank you for your recent letter regarding a visit from your TV Licensing officer. I regret to inform you that I still do not have a TV licence, and have no intention of purchasing one in the near future. I accept the need for such a licence, and at the point at which I acquire a television, I will not hesitate to acquire an appropriate licence.
I fully support the current way the BBC is financed, and fully respect the services that they provide to the country. I do not appreciate the way the TVLA operates, especially frequently sending me threatening form letters.
I would be more than happy to see your agent, and indeed offer a guided tour of my house, however I am afraid that I will have to charge you for my time, at a rate of £175 per half day payable in advance.
I will also need for you to make an appointment two weeks in advance. Whilst I may be able to arrange something at shorter notice, I’m afraid that I cannot guarantee being able to do so, especially at this time of year.
Should you find that I do not have a need for a TV licence, I would also expect a written apology for the series of rather offensive letters that you have sent me so far. As I understand, there is no specific exemption to the malicious communications act 1988 for officers and agents of the TV licensing authority. Nor is there any obligation on me to inform you about the status of my television or television licence.
I recognise that you have a job to do, and so I make every effort to co-operate, however I would ask that offer the same courtesy.
Edit: And there's more interesting stuff here
Edit:New text in line with feedback.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-11-23 05:54 am (UTC)The idea of invoicing them seems quite appealing too.... must work out how much half of my day is worth.
would you be willing to share the name to whom send such a letter?
no subject
Date: 2004-11-23 06:17 am (UTC)The person signing this letter was Valerie Smith, although on investigation it seems that that's almost certainly 'on behalf of'.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-23 09:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-23 09:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-23 09:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-23 01:57 pm (UTC)In the house with Andrew, Huw, etc. We had a TV, but it wasn't attached to any arieal, just used for consols, DVD's, etc. TV guy came around, had a look at it, and declaired that it could be tuned in well enough to count without an aireal, so we'd still need a licence.
The "Tuned in well enough" was an immensley fuzzy picture without sound. I think the threshold is "Can make out a discernable picture".
Bastards. Go for it....
no subject
Date: 2004-11-23 02:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-24 08:45 am (UTC)Bastards.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-23 12:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-23 01:17 pm (UTC)Sheesh, I won't make comment in future.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-23 01:24 pm (UTC)