Data Protection and TV Licenses

[Gordy]

Right say for example you bought a tv from a well know high street chain and they passed on the details of that purchase to the TV licensing people including name address date of purchase . Would that not break the Data protection act or is there an exemption for this type of thing?

[floppybootstomp]

I dunno, but it happened to me. I don't have a TV, VCR (only VCR player) or TV tuner card, yet ever since I bought a VCR for my Mum at Comets, I've been constantly harrassed for the last eighteen months.

I've had two of these people have a look round my place, agree I don't have any TV tuners of any sort, yet still I get constant phone calls, letters and visits, all of which take a very harsh and accusatory tone.

I've started being quite rude to them now, and I refuse to let any more of these 'inspectors' in. The last fella who called said he was from the Post Office and doing a survey, could he come in? Damn liar, the TV licensing is handled by a private company now. Needless to say, I told him to, er, 'go away'.

I wonder if I could sue for harrassment?

[5lab]

floppy - if the vcr is *capable* of tuning into a tv signal and you have equimpment that can convirt it and display (ie a vivo card) then you legally are required to have a licence...

gordy - im not sure if maybe when a new tv is sold they are legally required to send your details to the licence place.. if not i dont see any reason why they would do it. i dont know if they do or not.

i had my 2nd red warning so brought a new licence the other day

[acidrainy]

floppy - if the vcr is *capable* of tuning into a tv signal and you have equimpment that can convirt it and display (ie a vivo card) then you legally are required to have a licence...

Think he ment he purchased one as a gift for someone else... Not that he had one himself...

[Stubzz]

floppy - if the vcr is *capable* of tuning into a tv signal and you have equimpment that can convirt it and display (ie a vivo card) then you legally are required to have a licence...

I'm sure that's not the case. I thought if you didn't have anything to recieve the signal, ie ariel, you didn't have to have one. Elsewise you'll need a TV license just so you can watch tapes/dvd's, use game consoles etc etc.

[Stoo]

Nope, not having an external aerial is not a valid excuse, because you can just have an internal aerial hidden away, if you have a tv or vcr etc you have to have a tv license unless it's been modified not to recieve a signal, and has a certificate to that effect.

One of the favourite tricks of the tv licensing monkeys is to sting student houses per room - they make some excuse about each room with a lock being a separate dwelling.

floppy: I think you might have a valid claim there, you might need to make a formal complaint of some sort to make them sit up and take notice.

[revol68]

one of the few bad things about the ceasefire over here is that the tv license scum arent as scared to come knockin on yer door anymore.

they used to post up flyers with pictures of the cars and vans with registration details and then when they drove into the area they were quickly stoned back out. did the same with dole touts as well he he

never have had and never will buy a tv license.

[nichomach]

Also bear in mind that the licensing people don't actually CARE about whether you've got any kit installed - they'll make the demands anyway. Last house we lived in, we moved in and then got a load of mail from the licensing monkeys, the last few of which were in red, demanding that we purchase a license. We already had one from our previous place, but the new house was just that - new. As in, when they started sending nastygrams it wasn't even a hole in the ground - the builders hadn't even broken ground on it yet. When the letters turned red, it still wasn't built, it was a construction site, yet the letters were full of stuff about how the "detector vans" had determined that there was a television receiver in use. Wazzocks.

Stoo, you're absolutely right on the aerial thing BTW; the license is for a receiver, whether the equipment's plugged in to an external aerial or not.

[floppybootstomp]

As I understand it, the only criteria for needing a TV licence is that you have a tuner capable of receiving television signals on the premises. This can take the form of a television, VCR or PC TV Tuner card. An aerial or means to convert the received signals into watchable pictures, is, I think, irrelevant. But I'm not absolutely sure.

As mentioned earlier, they only cottoned on to me when I bought a VCR (with tuner) at Comets for my Mum.

I do have a VCP (Video Cassette Player) but that does not have a tuner.

[5lab]

ahh i htought your vcp would have a tuner in it. you dont need an aerial cos you can stick your finger in the aerial socket and normally pick something up

student houses depend on how the house is rented - if its rented as a house then you need one licence per house.. if its rented as rooms (ie you each sign a different contract) then you need a licence for each room with a telly in, then one for communal rooms if there is a tv in there too

[5lab]

If you use or install television receiving equipment to receive or record television programme services you are required by law to have a valid TV Licence.

and also

How TV Licensing affects Dealers
The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967 (as amended) requires any dealer who sells or rents TV receiving equipment (whether the equipment is new or second-hand) to notify TV Licensing within 28 days of each transaction, giving full details of the buyer or renter.

Don't forget this also includes:


Computers fitted with electronic broadcast cards (TV Cards).


TV Cards themselves.


Set-top boxes.

[Allen]

That sucks. But it does say you only need a license if you are going to watch/record television broadcasts, so using a TV to watch vids, DVD's, play games and the like should be ok without a license then?

[G4Z]

lol, never bought a TV license myself and heres why.

they rely on you shooting yourself in the foot, "can I come in?" they are asking you and all you have to do is say no. they have to get a warrant to enter legally. when I was a student 2 years ago they came round, I was the only one in and had been playing CS all morning, there were no TV's on and I was the only one in. they guy knocked on the day and I told him he couldnt come in, I then asked him why he was knocking on my door because I have no TV (knowing there had been no signals that day) and if he had picked up signals from my place. he said he had picked up signals, so I asked him. "how do you know its from here and not next door?". he says to me "I dont thats why I need to come in"


so here we go, 3 main points here

1. they cant pick up signals, and if they could would it really be economical to chase people with thousands of pounds worth of equipment to get a £100 TV license?

2. they cant come in unless they get a (very rare) warrant.

3. they will hassle you weather you have a TV or not.


so there you go, like zammo says "JUST SAY NO!"

[Gordy]

and also

Thanks looks like its an exception to the data protection act Any1 got a link to the act so I can read through it ?

[Allen]

Have you ever thought that your attitude towards this is causing others to pay more? Same goes with piracy, insurance and many other things that people don't pay for/steal/whatever...

If everyone paid their licence's do you think it would be as expensive? If everyone paid their insurance do you think it would be as expensive? If everyone paid for DVD's/games/music do you think they would be as expensive?

Why don't you all pay it and watch TV legally?

[Gordy]

Exceptions covered by the act

Crime and taxation. 29. - (1) Personal data processed for any of the following purposes-

(a) the prevention or detection of crime,
(b) the apprehension or prosecution of offenders, or
(c) the assessment or collection of any tax or duty or of any imposition of a similar nature,