topic Re: Do I need a TV licence? in What's On

Do I need a TV licence?

Redfraggle — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 21:21:10 GMT

I don't currently have a TV licence so I logged into my BBC iPlayer account (once) at a different address on their TV as they have a Licence.

I have had contact from TVL saying I now need a licence as I have logged into BBC iPlayer.

I thought they would be able to tell which address I was physically at when I logged in?

Re: Do I need a TV licence?

Jporch316 — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 21:30:58 GMT

@Redfraggle wrote:
I don't currently have a TV licence so I logged into my BBC iPlayer account (once) at a different address on their TV as they have a Licence.
I have had contact from TVL saying I now need a licence as I have logged into BBC iPlayer.
I thought they would be able to tell which address I was physically at when I logged in?

Not sure this is the correct forum for tv license issues.

Re: Do I need a TV licence?

Mark39 — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 21:32:47 GMT

As I understand it, the requirement to have a TV License extends beyond your address. It extends to devices away from home.

Re: Do I need a TV licence?

peter-marlow+1966 — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 05:17:02 GMT

Yes you do need a licence as you can watch live programs on it

Re: Do I need a TV licence?

lettice — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 10:36:43 GMT

You do need a TV license.

To check if you need a TV license, read the information here or play the video it shows on the TV license webpage;

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one?utm_source=website&utm_medium=homepagelink&utm_content=check_button

Re: Do I need a TV licence?

Annie+UK — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 10:02:55 GMT

If you are watching iPlayer at an address that is covered by a license then you don't need one 🙂 Just change the postcode in the app to the address you are viewing at

If you want to watch iPlayer or any live broadcast channels/streams (programmes that are at that time being broadcast including +1 channels etc..) then you will need a license

Re: Do I need a TV licence?

Redfraggle — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 10:05:32 GMT

@Annie+UK Thank you. I'm not sure if I changed the postcode when I logged in on the TV at the other address.

I did however request my activity from the BBC and it shows the town, the make of TV and says set top box used and the date I logged in at the address with a licence.

So if TVL have that info why are they writing to me....

Re: Do I need a TV licence?

Annie+UK — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 10:10:50 GMT

TVL Write to many people who they should not, you have done nothing wrong so just ignore them 🙂

I don't understand how TVL are still allowed to operate in the way they do 😞

Re: Do I need a TV licence?

Redfraggle — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 11:27:59 GMT

@Annie+UK Thank you so much for the clarification. It feels like TVL are using this information as a reason to gain access to my property 😒

They wrote to me and sent me emails.

So I went onto their website and used the online chat service to explain it was used at a different address.

I was then asked by the chat bot to click the link to confirm that I still do not need a license, which I did.

They have since written to me one week later saying I haven't responded to their emails when the emails were sent from a donotreply address!

Their phone number was not supplied on the letter or emails....

Re: Do I need a TV licence?

Annie+UK — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 11:34:26 GMT

You do not have to talk to them or email them. You have no contract with them. You are following their rules, so any letters can just be binned

If they knock on your door you do not have to answer or just say "No thank you" and shut the door. TVL are just door to door salesmen/women with no powers 🙂

As I said above, ignore them 🙂

Re: Do I need a TV licence?

TimmyBGood — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 14:02:49 GMT

@Annie+UK wrote:

I don't understand how TVL are still allowed to operate in the way they do

Personally I don't object to funding the BBC but the way TVL increasingly fudge the issue of non-live (non-iPlayer) app and browser use to imply that's licenseable is really dodgy.