a radio licence now being free
To be pedantic, the radio receiving license isn't free, it doesn't exist at all anymore. It was abolished in 1971.
Fact is, if you are on a Postal [Mail] Code Database and don’t have a licence, a computer will issue you a form demanding you state that you don’t own a television set.
Now that's something which is totally wrong about the system. The tone of the correspondence from TVL in Bristol isn't far removed from a what you'd expect of a bunch of hoods running a protection racket.
The thing I like the least about them is the way they try to imply things which simply are not in the law, like the "If you do not watch TV, you should call us on 0870 xxx-xxxx or write to tell us. We will contact you in due course."
I don't agree with the license fee, but the legal obligation is to buy a license if you receive broadcast TV. Nothing more.
There is no legal obligation to contact TVL if you don't need a license. If you did decide to call anyway, why should you have to pay extra to call an 0870 number?
The last part of the above says it all anyway -- Even if you
do tell them that you don't watch TV, they won't believe you and will still send threatening letters anyway.
Then there are the letters along the lines of "We have authorized an officer to visit your premises and interview you under caution in accordance with the police and criminal evidence act." It all sounds very official, as though you
must talk to these clowns just because you don't have a license.
Some of them really do try to give the impression of having more authority than they actually do. It's surprising how many people have been led to believe that they
must allow a TVL inspector into their home at any time to check for unlicensed reception.