UPDATE

21/08/2007 by Ted.

I dont possess a television set as some of you will already know, but every now and again I have a duel with the Television Licensing people who feel that everyone really does have one, and if they say they haven’t got one they are lying. So every two years or so I get letters from them, polite at first, but always accusing me of watching television without a license.  I usually ignore them and the their letters become more and more abusive, eventually arriving in envelopes bearing the large-lettered logo “IT IS AN OFFENCE TO WATCH TELEVISION WITHOUT A LICENSE!” presumably so that the local post service and any neighbours who see the letter arrive will assume that  their apparently respectable customer and neighbour is really a criminal.

One day a gentleman arrived at the door to physically check that I did not have a TV, filled in copious details and departed apparently satisfied.  I was therefore a bit piqued a few weeks later when the accusing letters started again.  But eventually they died away again for another couple of years.

Twelve months or so a new angle on this started.  Did you know that every time you buy anything remotely related to a TV the details are reported by the seller to the Television Licensing Authority? I found this out when I bought a video player for mum to use with her TV at St. Georges.  A few weeks later a letter arrived stating that on such and such a date I had purchased video equipment from Messrs Currys but there was no record of me having a TV license and it was an offence to watch TV without a license etc. etc. etc. I put a note on the bottom of their missive stating why I had bought it, sent it off and heard no more.

A month or so ago I used my credit card (I get cash-back on my credit card!!!!!) to pay for a new TV which Grace was buying and she gave me the cash in exchange. Yes, you’ve guessed it - a few weeks later I received a letter - “On xxxxxxxx you purchased television receiving equipment …….. “, so I put the details on the bottom of their missive and returned it in the envelope provided.  I thought that that would be it.

But …….. yesterday I received another missive - “On xxxxxxxx I wrote to you regarding television receiving equipment purchased ……….  I have not received a reply and must remind you that it is an offence etc etc ……. ”and enclosing a  form for me to fill in to purchase a Television License.  I duly filled in the details again and then thought “What the heck!” and shredded it.

I’ll bore you with details of developments as they occur.

Have a nice day,

Ted.

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