Topic awaiting preservation: I've lost all faith... (Page 1 of 1)

...in my country - possibly even humanity in general.

Sorry - I know I haven't been around much, but I had to share this information on the TV licensing concession for the blind. It seems that being blind grants you a 50% discount on the fee, so you only pay half the greater price for a colour TV...

Is it just me, or is there something desperately and irredeemably wrong with the world? Keep in mind that failure to pay will result in harassment by mail and inspections, a fine of £1000 which will be enforced by bailiffs if necessary, and even possible imprisonment.

It's just me, isn't it?

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It's just me, isn't it?

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No. It isn't just you.

You really need a license to own a TV in the UK? That's crazy.

Then again, we probably pay for it as well, albeit through taxes and shit they tack onto our bills. *sigh*

Um...what on earth is a "TV license"?

it pays for the kickass BBC programming

Um, just how do the blind find out about this? Is there a brail version of this notice? Surely they could avoid the TV Licence fee altogether by not buying oneand listening to their radio? I believe there is also a radio licensing fee in Jolly Old, surely that is cheaper?

A fee to listen to the radio?!? Better bloody not be! You may be thinking of HAM radio licensing.

TV Licenses were originally introduced as a temporary measure, later justified as paying for the BBC (who do not broadcast adverts, unlike the channels people actually do watch and pay for), and like so many little extras and taxes that this government slips in as a permanent "temporary" measure, it became both persistent and enforced to the full extent of the law.

I suppose most blind people are perfectly happy to listen to the radio here, but there are some programs for the deaf and blind. Before anybody jumps on this - the deaf are subtitled and signed, and the blind are given a running commentary.

This still seems ludicrous, whether BBC programming could be described as "kickass" or not. How can it possibly be rational to charge a blind person £63 for a colour TV license? It just doesn't make sense to me.

I feel like the guy in HHGTTG - I think I am going to have to divorce the world.

No radio license? was it a telephone license then? I thought there was something like that which preceded the TV license scam?

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temporary measure

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Hahaha! what's that?

Radio is now free because the TV license pays for it, although you don't need to own a license if you only listen to the radio, A while ago people (read: students) tried not to pay the licence when asked because they never tuned in their BBC channels and only used the commercial ones. This of course always failed.

@Diogenese: I'm sure blind people enjoy listening to tv programs as well as radio programs, and tv licensing information is regularly broadcast on the BBC channels, not to mention I'm sure they read their mail from the TV lisence people the same way they read all their other mail, either in brail form or by a friend reading.

How does that look in the case of Internet TV on a computer?

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it pays for the kickass BBC programming.

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Now that's funny.

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Zynx said:

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it pays for the kickass BBC programming.

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You're not serious are you? I find that English TV is much better quality than anything else I know. Have a look at french TV and you'll see what I'm talking about.
I would love to work at the BBC.

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WebShaman said:

How does that look in the case of Internet TV on a computer?

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In taht case you're already paying for your internet access, so I think there's no problem

I hate to sound over patriotic but I believe Kimson is correct too, the British tv is some of the best, I been a couch potato in all four corners of the globe, We have teh least adverts, they're usually shorter and the quality of tv is better. Sure America has their blockbuster tv programs like Frasier, Lost, 24 etc... but for every good program there are hundreds of bad ones, we just don't have enough channels to fill with crap

The rest of Europe is pretty shoddy, and Australian tv is woefull

We've got the same thing over here. The TV license covers the cost of the two non-commercial tv-channels we've got as well as non-commercial radio. The TV stinks, but at least one of the radio channels are very good.

You need to pay this license if you own anything with a RF Reciever, so TV's, VCRs Videocameras with tuners and TV-cards for your computer. Pure radio is free though.

The fun thing is that there are people employed to visit people that has not payed the license and ask them if they do have a TV. They can't enter your home, so they count on you to confess if you own an illegitimate TV.

Even funnier (or scarier rather) is that there's a suggestion to tax (by using the TV-license fee) "broadband enabled computers" since you are (in theory) able to watch TV if you have enough bandwidth. The only flaw in that logic is that the public non-commercial channels do not broadcast anything over the internet...

*sigh* If it's true, that we get the rulers and politicians we deserve, I'd hat to think about the atrocities we have to be guilty of...

I do not believe that internet TV is covered by the license unless you are able to receive the BBC via the internet. Of course, a TV tuner card, cable TV, satellite, and terrestrial digital all require a license.

When you buy a related product (freeview box, television, Sky subscription, whatever) the company that sells it to you must inform the authorities and give them your details. If you do not have a license, you receive a dramatic and threatening letter avery week. They demand to know what you did with the product and even demand the details of anybody you might have sent it to as a gift (so they can vet them for a license too).

If you fail to purchase a license, they send inspectors round to ask you if you have a television.

If the inspectors do not see a functioning television (they aren't allowed to enter your property without your consent) they cannot yet charge you with anything.

If they continue to suspect you,, they may eventually attempt to request a warrant, and will return with police.

The initial fine is £1000 (mandatory) but this can be raised as they feel appropriate. Failure to pay will result in repossession of your property up to the value of the fine, plus the cost of sending in the heavies to repossess your property in the first place. Your property is then sold for a fraction of its value at auction, and you are chased up for the difference, and at a further cost which is tagged onto the total.

This could go on ad-infinitum (regardless of whether you now own a license) but the ultimate step is to try you as a criminal and impose a prison sentence.


My point being that you still require one of these licenses if you are registered blind!!!

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kimson said:quote:Zynx said:quote:it pays for the kickass BBC programming.

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kimson said:Your not serious are you?

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WTF! Can you at least keep the quotes-to-poster correct?

It was a joke, and a joke that was quite apparant. If you need help in understanding "jokularity", then ASK, before you spout.

I feel for you White Hawk. I don't have faith in the world. I lost that when I was 12. Found it and am now in the process of having it stolen from me. (I know the proper term is that I am losing it, but that's not how it feels). It sounds insensitive but, what does a blind man need a t.v. for?

By the way, and it may just be the BBC shows that are shown here in Indy but I happen to like at least three or four of them shown.
Last of the Summer Wine,
Are You Being Served? (no longer shown. DAMN!)
One Foot in the Grave.
And one I can't remember the name to.

Hmm, Monty Python's skit is starting to make sense...

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Zynx DID say:

WTF! Can you at least keep the quotes-to-poster correct?

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Sorry mate, I was typing with my heels, for the sake of it. I'll make sure I use my fingers and my brain, next time.

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Zynx said:

It was a joke, and a joke that was quite apparant. If you need help in understanding "jokularity", then ASK, before you spout.

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Obviously not exactly the same sense of humour than me, I'm afraid. Appart from the tone of my post - which was, I admit, completely out of order, now that you mention it, thank you very much, and I shall make sure I don't talk through my bum in the future - I was also simply giving my humble opinion about the BBC. Isn't it funny though that Blaise seemed to understand it the same way than me? Then again, I might as well be completely wrong again, so I'll just shut it and move on.

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kimson said:Sorry mate, I was typing with my heels, for the sake of it. I'll make sure I use my fingers and my brain, next time.

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Kimson, I too am not sure either. Sometimes I see a person keep the name of who posted what, and sometimes they don't show the name. So I guess there's not a correct way of quoting others. So don't worry, it's probably my fault.

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kimson said:Obviously not exactly the same sense of humour than me, I'm afraid.
Appart from the tone of my post - which was, I admit, completely out of order, now that you mention it, thank you very much, and I shall make sure I don't talk through my bum in the future - I was also simply
giving my humble opinion about the BBC. Isn't it funny though that Blaise seemed to understand it the same way than me? Then again, I might as well be completely wrong again, so I'll just shut it and move on.

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First off, you should not worry about posting your opinion. Those who are "All mighty" here at Ozone, are nothing to lose your head over. Out of order? Never. All opinions are welcomed, right or wrong. I'd like to hear what a person says, even if a few here are closed-minded, and slam your post. Keep a stiff upper lip! And I did stay in England during the 96? World soccer tournament. So I did see BBC1, 2, 3, and what 4 channels? Yes it was a joke, because I saw the UK's TV, more about a selective viewing of things, that the US would never let that happen. So all is well! All is well!

Very good