Lord Ba'al
Supreme Deity
Posts: 6,260
Pledge level: Half a Partner
I like: Cats; single malt Scotch; Stargate; Amiga; fried potatoes; retro gaming; cheese; snickers; sticky tape.
I don't like: Dimples in the bottom of scotch bottles; Facebook games masquerading as godgames.
Steam: stonelesscutter
GOG: stonelesscutter
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Post by Lord Ba'al on Jun 3, 2015 23:52:14 GMT
I know there's a fair amount of visitors from the UK here so I ask you all this.
Why do I have to pay a double rate for the first 6 months of my tv license?
I can understand if they want me to pay an annual fee divided into 6 installments to be paid over the first 6 months, but now I just paid all that and I received a letter giving me a payment plan of 12 monthly installments starting immediately.
What the hell is up with that? What is a tv license anyway? I hardly ever even watch tv. Maybe about an hour every two months and that's only if I'm extremely bored and I don't even watch anything specifically. TV here sucks balls. I feel like I'm being majorly ripped off.
If I wouldn't have a service contract with a tv provider, would I still have to pay for a licence simply because I own a tv?
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Post by hardly on Jun 4, 2015 4:44:56 GMT
Ok not from the UK but I understand it pays for the BBC. Apparently they go around looking for aerials and such to check who is freeloading.
We used to have one here being a British colony but they rolled it into general taxation because it is easier to do that than deal with all the complaining about a separate few.
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stuhacking
Master
Posts: 170 
Pledge level: Partner
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Post by stuhacking on Jun 4, 2015 8:12:18 GMT
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Lord Ba'al
Supreme Deity
Posts: 6,260
Pledge level: Half a Partner
I like: Cats; single malt Scotch; Stargate; Amiga; fried potatoes; retro gaming; cheese; snickers; sticky tape.
I don't like: Dimples in the bottom of scotch bottles; Facebook games masquerading as godgames.
Steam: stonelesscutter
GOG: stonelesscutter
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Post by Lord Ba'al on Jun 4, 2015 9:35:38 GMT
It would make more sense to me to have it included in the subscription fee for the tv provider. They could still go around checking for freeloaders.
None of this explains why I have to pay a double fee for the first 6 months though.
As for the bbc's programming, I generally like the bbc but apparently I have no interest in their programming at the moment. I watched a few episodes of top gear but then there was the clarkson crisis and now I don't even know if it's still on the air.
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Post by 13thGeneral on Jun 4, 2015 14:11:37 GMT
Wait, am I understanding this conversation correctly; you have to register it if you own a TV in the UK... and then pay a fee if you want to actually use it? That's madness.
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Post by Spiderweb on Jun 4, 2015 14:25:01 GMT
Wait, am I understanding this conversation correctly; you have to register it if you own a TV in the UK... and then pay a fee if you want to actually use it? That's madness. Yes and yes, it part and parcel of the BBC, but it does mean no advertising on BBC channels (Whoop-dee-doo). |
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Post by Spiderweb on Jun 4, 2015 14:26:55 GMT
I know there's a fair amount of visitors from the UK here so I ask you all this. Why do I have to pay a double rate for the first 6 months of my tv license? I can understand if they want me to pay an annual fee divided into 6 installments to be paid over the first 6 months, but now I just paid all that and I received a letter giving me a payment plan of 12 monthly installments starting immediately. What the hell is up with that? What is a tv license anyway? I hardly ever even watch tv. Maybe about an hour every two months and that's only if I'm extremely bored and I don't even watch anything specifically. TV here sucks balls. I feel like I'm being majorly ripped off. If I wouldn't have a service contract with a tv provider, would I still have to pay for a licence simply because I own a tv? Doesn't sound right, been charged twice? I'd call and check, your in Northern Ireland though right? Maybe special there, best talking to whoever you paid. |
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Post by eddiemonsta on Jun 4, 2015 14:52:24 GMT
They make you pay 6 months in advance, then after the 6 months you will be forever charged the single monthly rate. I have no idea why they do this, or even if you could get your 6 months back should you cancel, or leave the country, for example, but it is standard practise.
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Lord Ba'al
Supreme Deity
Posts: 6,260
Pledge level: Half a Partner
I like: Cats; single malt Scotch; Stargate; Amiga; fried potatoes; retro gaming; cheese; snickers; sticky tape.
I don't like: Dimples in the bottom of scotch bottles; Facebook games masquerading as godgames.
Steam: stonelesscutter
GOG: stonelesscutter
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Post by Lord Ba'al on Jun 4, 2015 15:30:33 GMT
Well I sure hope they'll be giving me that money back when I leave seeing as I paid it in advance for whatever illogical reason it may be.
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Post by Qetesh on Jun 4, 2015 22:40:10 GMT
What shocks me is, we paid for our TV, we pay for Virgin so why do I have to pay to have the ability to pay? It is far from cheap too. 23 pounds for 6 months and then 12.50 pounds for six months so akin to about 212 pounds or 325 dollars a year.
All this with still paying virgin over 30 pounds a month/46 dollars. Ouch indeed., and btw we have no pay channels.
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Post by hardly on Jun 4, 2015 23:47:30 GMT
What shocks me is, we paid for our TV, we pay for Virgin so why do I have to pay to have the ability to pay? It is far from cheap too. 23 pounds for 6 months and then 12.50 pounds for six months so akin to about 212 pounds or 325 dollars a year. All this with still paying virgin over 30 pounds a month/46 dollars. Ouch indeed., and btw we have no pay channels. I'm not defending the situation but best to consider it a compulsory subscription for the BBC. They don't care if you want it or watch it they assume if you have a TV that you do watch it. It's not a cost of having a TV it's a presumption that by buying a TV you should contribute to the BBC. As I said in New Zealand they just rolled it into general taxation because the collection and justification is a massive pain in the ass with a lot of people avoiding paying and/or complaining about having to pay. It's confusing because they make it seem like user pays but you can't opt out. Another amusing point is since Top Gear made the BBC a shit ton of money, cancelling Top Gear means they either have to cancel programmes or raise the levy. |
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Post by Qetesh on Jun 5, 2015 2:30:23 GMT
What shocks me is, we paid for our TV, we pay for Virgin so why do I have to pay to have the ability to pay? It is far from cheap too. 23 pounds for 6 months and then 12.50 pounds for six months so akin to about 212 pounds or 325 dollars a year. All this with still paying virgin over 30 pounds a month/46 dollars. Ouch indeed., and btw we have no pay channels. I'm not defending the situation but best to consider it a compulsory subscription for the BBC. They don't care if you want it or watch it they assume if you have a TV that you do watch it. It's not a cost of having a TV it's a presumption that by buying a TV you should contribute to the BBC. As I said in New Zealand they just rolled it into general taxation because the collection and justification is a massive pain in the ass with a lot of people avoiding paying and/or complaining about having to pay. It's confusing because they make it seem like user pays but you can't opt out. Another amusing point is since Top Gear made the BBC a shit ton of money, cancelling Top Gear means they either have to cancel programmes or raise the levy. My opinion is then cable should be capped since BBC is several of the main basic channels, so Virgin or whoever should not be allowed to double dip for them. They do charge for BBC in America and basic package there is hella cheaper.... and btw 212 pounds a month per TV for BBC, wtf......they are not just being supported they are rolling in the dough and taking from people who can barely afford to even watch TV... and UK wonders why pirates are so bad there? I think BBC would be just fine with a third of that a month from EACH TV. PBS survives from public donations, not thriving but surviving, if each American gave them 300 plus dollars then where do you think that money would go? Makes you wonder where all of BBC's is going. The working poor was paying for JC's salary so I like him, but I don't care all that much if they find a cheaper replacement. Everybody is replaceable. I know I was. BBC should just find someone new. If they can kill off McDreamy and go, so can Top Gear. |
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Casinha
Master
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Post by Casinha on Jun 5, 2015 8:49:40 GMT
You don't need to declare that you have a tv and you don't pay for each tv in the house, a tv license covers the individuals in a property. Maybe it's different in N. Ireland, but I don't think it is. You don't need it for iPlayer (unless it's a live broadcast, in which case iPlayer ought to ask you if you have one). All you need a tv license for is live broadcasting (when I say live I mean from the station to your telly rather than it being recorded live), which means that even if it's not from the BBC and you're watching something live from the states, you still need to pay the tv license fee. Don't believe any bullshit about "you own a tv so you have to get a tv license" as it's completely false. People investigating tv license fraud are no more legally equipped than repo-men. Not allowed onto your property without permission. Can't say "I have seen your tv through the window so I must investigate," none of that crap. The best they can do is put a van outside your house and monitor for terrestrial tv signals, at which point if they have evidence they can use it against you in court. It's something I looked into a while ago as I wanted to watch NHL, but didn't have a tv license (I only play video games or watch Netflix). Was dismayed to learn I had to pay for one to watch it live, even though it wasn't British broadcasting  As for the 6 months thing, it's likely something to squeeze more money out of short-term renters or students or something. TV License fees suck, as do the people that enforce them. |
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Lord Ba'al
Supreme Deity
Posts: 6,260
Pledge level: Half a Partner
I like: Cats; single malt Scotch; Stargate; Amiga; fried potatoes; retro gaming; cheese; snickers; sticky tape.
I don't like: Dimples in the bottom of scotch bottles; Facebook games masquerading as godgames.
Steam: stonelesscutter
GOG: stonelesscutter
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Post by Lord Ba'al on Jun 5, 2015 12:09:01 GMT
So technically I could cancel the license at any time as long as I don't get any broadcasts.
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Post by 13thGeneral on Jun 5, 2015 13:31:49 GMT
In the US we pay tax on the purchase of the TV, and any accompanying equipment, but once you have it there's no regulations or fees attributed owning one. If you get an service provider, you'll pay taxes and fees (usually a fee per TV for splitting the signal) that way. But if you just stream to it, you'll only be paying whatever you ISP costs. Or, if you us an OTA antenna, you get free network stations - the number and quality only limited to your equipment and signal availability.
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Post by eddiemonsta on Jun 5, 2015 15:34:14 GMT
So technically I could cancel the license at any time as long as I don't get any broadcasts. Overview You must have a TV Licence if you watch or record programmes on a TV, computer or other device as they’re broadcast. A TV Licence costs £145.50 (£49 for black and white TV sets) for both homes and businesses. What’s covered A single TV Licence covers all of the following in a single property: TV sets computers laptops tablets mobile phones any other device that can receive a TV signal You don’t need a TV Licence to use online catch-up services, watch videos or DVDs, watch clips on websites like YouTube, or use TV equipment for closed circuit television (CCTV). Information taken from here: TV Licence Information |
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Post by hardly on Jun 5, 2015 21:51:12 GMT
So technically I could cancel the license at any time as long as I don't get any broadcasts. Overview You must have a TV Licence if you watch or record programmes on a TV, computer or other device as they’re broadcast. A TV Licence costs £145.50 (£49 for black and white TV sets) for both homes and businesses. What’s covered A single TV Licence covers all of the following in a single property: TV sets computers laptops tablets mobile phones any other device that can receive a TV signal You don’t need a TV Licence to use online catch-up services, watch videos or DVDs, watch clips on websites like YouTube, or use TV equipment for closed circuit television (CCTV). Information taken from here: TV Licence InformationLol "£49 for black and white TV sets". Seriously? |
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Post by hardly on Jun 5, 2015 21:56:04 GMT
I'm not defending the situation but best to consider it a compulsory subscription for the BBC. They don't care if you want it or watch it they assume if you have a TV that you do watch it. It's not a cost of having a TV it's a presumption that by buying a TV you should contribute to the BBC. As I said in New Zealand they just rolled it into general taxation because the collection and justification is a massive pain in the ass with a lot of people avoiding paying and/or complaining about having to pay. It's confusing because they make it seem like user pays but you can't opt out. Another amusing point is since Top Gear made the BBC a shit ton of money, cancelling Top Gear means they either have to cancel programmes or raise the levy. My opinion is then cable should be capped since BBC is several of the main basic channels, so Virgin or whoever should not be allowed to double dip for them. They do charge for BBC in America and basic package there is hella cheaper.... and btw 212 pounds a month per TV for BBC, wtf......they are not just being supported they are rolling in the dough and taking from people who can barely afford to even watch TV... and UK wonders why pirates are so bad there? I think BBC would be just fine with a third of that a month from EACH TV. PBS survives from public donations, not thriving but surviving, if each American gave them 300 plus dollars then where do you think that money would go? Makes you wonder where all of BBC's is going. The working poor was paying for JC's salary so I like him, but I don't care all that much if they find a cheaper replacement. Everybody is replaceable. I know I was. BBC should just find someone new. If they can kill off McDreamy and go, so can Top Gear. Clarkson's salary was paid by overseas revenues from Top Gear (selling Top Gear to networks in other countries). Top Gear was a net earner for the BBC (www.mirror.co.uk/news/ampp3d/jeremy-clarkson-watch-how-much-5317799) meaning that now Top Gear is gone the BBC will have to raise more money from TV licenses or cut their costs by cancelling shows.
As for McDreamy my wife was devastated at his death and may cease watching the show in protest.
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Post by Qetesh on Jun 6, 2015 1:51:09 GMT
I am pretty sure we are cutting our "tv" ties after year. So, I will no longer care what BBC does. I would rather live off youtube and whatever I find online.
I am right there with your wife. Frak Shondra Rhimes and goodbye GA.
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Post by 13thGeneral on Jun 6, 2015 2:52:15 GMT
Overview You must have a TV Licence if you watch or record programmes on a TV, computer or other device as they’re broadcast. A TV Licence costs £145.50 (£49 for black and white TV sets) for both homes and businesses. What’s covered A single TV Licence covers all of the following in a single property: TV sets computers laptops tablets mobile phones any other device that can receive a TV signal You don’t need a TV Licence to use online catch-up services, watch videos or DVDs, watch clips on websites like YouTube, or use TV equipment for closed circuit television (CCTV). Information taken from here: TV Licence InformationLol "£49 for black and white TV sets". Seriously? How do they regulate this; how do they know if you're using your devices for the former or the later? |
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