Boost II

iTrader: (1)

I begrudgingly pay these rip off bully boy b**tards the full whack each year at the post office.
On principle I refuse to set up direct debit as the don't offer any discount like all the other utility providers do. In fact they charge a premium to pay in installments. It would be cheaper for them if I had a direct debit as they would have to send me the large number of threatening scare tactic reminders each year offering to fine me several grand and lock me up at her majesty's pleasuer even though I have a valid bloody license at the address.

Anyway now I'm moving house and I don't need a license for the new address. They refuse to refund the 6 months remining on my existing license. What **** suckers they are.

All for what a load of crappy repeats on BBC and a few hit shows they make millions of profit on by selling the rights to all round the world. And then they insist on ramming adverts for all their spin off businesses such as Radio, BBC online and TV times down my throat between shows anyway. Why not just sell that advertising air time to somebodyelse and be done with the whole thing

davegtt

Good day?

Simon C

Welcome to a "state" run system

It pis5es me off that I have to pay 136 quid a year for 2 channels of mostly cr4p.

DavidBrown

There's BBC 3, BBC4, CBBC, CBeebies, BBC News 24, BBC Parliament, many local BBC stations..

Then there's Radio 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 live, World Service, 1 Xtra, 6 Music, BBC7, BBC Asia Network, BBC Five Live Sports arena.. AM/FM + DAB services.

and NO ADVERTS.

Which is pretty good compared to Sky.. which is £300-400 a year for even more crap + repeats.

EddScott

Guy I work with has no Sky, no TV, no daily newspapers (other than financial for work) only listens to the radio in the car. No microwave due to radiation poisoning, no digital cordless phone due to radiation and if he didn't need a mobile for work we wouldn't use that either.

Saves a bleeding fortune!!!!!

MikT

EddScott, it sounds like your mate as an "EddCase"!

I'll get me coat.............

Paul

stilover

Must admit, I don't mind paying the licence fee. We do get quite alot out of it. BBC1, & 2, all the freeview channels (which I don't watch cos I ain't got a freeview box) plus all the Radio stations etc.

And all this without adverts. Bloody brilliant. Adverts are the biggest pain in the ****.

fast bloke

Edd - your mate should have a licence if he listens to radio :ekk:

davegtt

Is it only me who thinks some of the adverts are better than the cr@p we actually pay to watch

Boost II

iTrader: (1)

But why can't I get a refund for the six months I've paid for but don't need. Any other system of taxation offer rebates if you over pay. It is the whole attitude of these guys than stinks as much as the principle of paying a license.

Dream Weaver

I'd rather have adverts than pay the license myself.

Dracoro

Great idea, all that money I'd save by doing that, I could go and buy a great TV, Sky, newspapers, stereos, microwaves etc.

midget1500

FB - but he only listens to the radio in the car so i presume you don't need a licence for that?

stilover

You get a longer programes on the BBC. Think about, say "The Office" it lasted about 28mins. If that was on ITV, or the BBC with adverts it would only be say 22-23mins long. On popular programes they tend to put more adverts on in the middle as they know more prople are watching, so reduce that down to 20mins.

I know which I would prefer.................. BBC as it is now.

De Warrenne

you don't need a TV license to listen to radio

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Why don't you need one at the new place??? It must be your name on the license I think.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

ER Channel 4 9.00pm Prog start 9.05 pm Adverts for 4 mins WTF is that all about. AMERICANS only have a 5 minute attention span and then need a break to eat like f**k.

License fee for me. It'll be car insurance next that people say "Why the **** should I pay etc......"

Boost II

iTrader: (1)

Got married. The wife has a place. I have a place. We both have TV licenses. Buying a single new place together - only need one TV license.

I can see why they don't like it because one of us is dropping of their database. They should still be fair though. For the way that they sign you up to something and you can't get your money back when you don't want it anymore - their way of doing business is more like the buggers selling crazy frog ring tone or a dodgy website

Stueyb

I used to agree with the OP, but i think as I get older i have mellowed a bit because I have come to realise even though the BBC is overstaffed and overpaid, they are independant. An example of this is when the BBC accused the government of wrong doing and stood by its convictions re: the Kelly/Iraq saga.

Can you imagine ITN or channel 4 standing up to bully boy blair and his cronies ?

In my mind they have a power no other broadcasting business has because they do not have to worry about advertisers not liking the politics/shaming them for wrong doing etc. They have the power and the cash to say to Tony B Liar and his less than useful people aka ruth kelly YOU ARE WRONG.

They have a more or less independant revenue system and the government cannot really mess with that as it would be obvious to everyone it was a grudge match. They can investigate where other broadcasters cannot because of "commercial interests".

However I do think it should be reduced or some of the overstaffed office culled of useless "Lesbian equality officers" or whatever, you know what I mean.

Leslie

Do you really think the BBC is truly independent after the Iraq saga?

Les

Stueyb

Maybe not Les, but they are a bit more ballsey than other news outlets., just IMHO

Boost II

iTrader: (1)

Look at this cutting edge, risk taking, government toppling schedule for today. I expect the telephone voting for Celebrity Christmas Strictly Come Dancing could have paid for the whole lot about a thousand times over. They must be making big enough profits to give me £60 back

am Breakfast
9:15 am To Buy or Not to Buy
10:00 am Living in the Sun
11:00 am Trading Up
11:30 am Bargain Hunt
12:15 pm Cash in the Attic
1:00 pm BBC News
1:28 pm BBC London News
1:40 pm Neighbours
2:05 pm Doctors
2:35 pm Murder, She Wrote
3:20 pm BBC News
3:25 pm Charlie and Lola
3:35 pm W.I.T.C.H.
4:00 pm The Stables
4:15 pm Tracy Beaker
4:30 pm Shoebox Zoo
5:00 pm Only in America
5:25 pm Newsround
5:35 pm Neighbours
6:00 pm BBC News
6:28 pm BBC London News

Simon C

I only have BBC News 24, and I don't watch that. I haven't listened to a BBC radio station since DLT and Steve Wright left Radio 1.

So why should I feel its 136 quid well spent.


Infact the most common watched/ listened to channels in my house are Discovery, The Box, MTV, Eurosport. None of which I need a TV licence for.

Shonen

They used to give refunds. Have you asked at the Post Office because you used to be able to pick up a form from them. Might have changed though.

lordlucan

Ill give you £30 for it, transfer it to my address, get them off my back ! he he

Rgds
J

speedking

But in the students section here it says Definitely worth a try.

skoobidude

It would be interesting if you could opt out of receiving any BBC channels at all, thus negating the need for a license.

Nick