I can second all you say.
At present I've lived here 16 years, and had a visit (pre-arranged) from the TV people shortly after I moved in. (An off-duty copper: he didn't know me, but I'd seen him around court.) He was very pleasant, agreed I had no need of a licence, and left - saying I'd probably get a 'request' for a follow up visit every two years.
And sho' nuff two years later there's a little man at my door asking to see my licence 'as our records show you as not having one'.
'Well' says I 'If your records show I haven't got a licence, why have you come to see it?'
'Do you have a licence?' he asks. 'No' says I. And he just went away - haven't heard a word since.

Radio 4 - best free show in town.
( Larry Vest One day at a time, sweet Jesus, FFS., Thu 17 Jun 2010, 20:31, 2 replies)

Thirded
Despite two letters from me I get one of these fucking letters every fortnight, if not more often. You don't have a license! they exclaim. 'Therefore you must be actually watching television and STEALING IT', they continue.
No, Mr TV license man, I own a television and use it to watch dvds on when I haven't got anything more interesting to do. And on another note, calling on me to check I'm not illicitly watching television WHEN I'M AT WORK because I'm not a workshy dolescrounging cunt is hardly going to be effective, is it? Now kindly fuck off.

clicked, by the way
(berk, Thu 17 Jun 2010, 21:57, closed)

They will have you since you own
"a device capable of receiving television transmissions". Either get a telly without a tuner or pc and monitor it. Watching iplayer live too is illegal without a license. :/
( drunkenoaf, Thu 17 Jun 2010, 22:38, closed)

Not always true
The iplayer bit is obviously true but they wont necessarily do you for having a TV even if it is capable of recieving signal. I had a bloke come round and he just asked me to flick through all the channels to prove I wasn't recieving signal on any of them. Apparently strictness varies depending on where you live.
(Abercadabra looks more like Gerry Adams every day, Fri 18 Jun 2010, 4:39, closed)

You have a TV and no license.
They can have you. The license is for the TV. Not for watching it.
( The Awful Puppy Bakery is still bored, Fri 18 Jun 2010, 6:13, closed)

Oh, for crying out loud...
No. No, it isn't. It never has been. Go to the TV licensing website and read it.
(ThomsonsPier consumes, Fri 18 Jun 2010, 12:48, closed)

You are stealing my Radio 4
I pay the TV licence, which funds Radio 4. You didn't.

Give me back my Radio 4, you thief!
( shinyshinyscalp less a man, more a way of life, Fri 18 Jun 2010, 16:49, closed)