BBC licence fee 'unenforceable', says culture secretary
24 points
12 days ago
| 3 comments
| bbc.co.uk
| HN
echelon_musk
12 days ago
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> Nandy said: "We recognise there are problems with the licence fee. Fewer and fewer people are paying it.

Reading between the lines; their problem is that they want the money that 20% of people are unwilling to pay.

> "It's unenforceable and, particularly, I've been very concerned about the way it's been enforced in the past, with women - particularly vulnerable women - targeted for enforcement action, and the BBC itself has accepted that."

What a bunch of claptrap. If it's unenforceable then what concern is there? All you have to do is put every letter addressed to "The legal occupier" directly into the bin. The letters are indiscriminate and have absolutely no targeting preference on sex. This just sounds like something to make the pill easier to swallow when they consider making it a mandatory tax.

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charlie-83
12 days ago
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The gender difference is due to the enforcement officers rather than the letters. They ask if they can come in to check if you have a TV. You can just say no but they can be intimidating and pressure you to let them in. I would bet that it's not just a gender gap; I would imagine that elderly and disabled people would also be more likely to let them in.

She is right when she says that it's unenforceable. Even if you let them in, they find a TV and turn it on to find lots of BBC iplayer watch history, you can just say that it was all watched by a friend who lives elsewhere. The only way they ever catch people is by surprising people and intimidating them.

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staticautomatic
12 days ago
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Information asymmetry is the problem: people don’t know it’s unenforceable and so they get taken advantage of.
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SnazzyUncle
12 days ago
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Fewer and fewer people are watching the traditional TV programming. Even with the hobbyist stuff that I used yo enjoy watching on TV that is now on YouTube. Anyone under 50 are using streaming services or watching YouTube \ Kick \ Twitch.

They are never going to increase revenue now as people don't use these services.

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isaacremuant
12 days ago
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The Lettera are bullshit that threaten like a shitty internet scam to all homes trying to get data from you.

I don't watch anything related to that propaganda machine nor have a TV. They already spend a huge amount of tax money and should just stop this disingenuous racket.

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SnazzyUncle
12 days ago
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I literally just go on their site and say "I don't need a license because I use my TV for gaming". Then you don't get the nuisance letters for 2 years.
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isaacremuant
11 days ago
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Good for you for giving them your personal details. I don't care to prove I'm innocent" in their racket.
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SnazzyUncle
10 days ago
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It is the easiest thing to do and the least hassle. I agree it is a racket, but I don't want randos from TV licensing knocking on my door.
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isaacremuant
8 days ago
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Never have I had a rando knocking on my door but if they did I'd send them packing.
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SnazzyUncle
12 days ago
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The TV license is a relic of the past that is no longer relevant to viewer's viewing habits. It should be abolished. I really don't know why they haven't.
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peakskill
12 days ago
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Hmm how else am I supposed to make fun of brits? :[[[
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