Post by john boylePost by Martin MilanAnd you find this conduct acceptable, do you?
I most certainly do not!!! I think its atrocious! What on earth gave
you that idea? Surely my sarcasm was noticeable?
To someone else perhaps - it passed me by completely...
Post by john boylePost by Martin MilanIt is very much the point. They should be pursuing people with
reasonable evidence that they HAVE broken the law, rather than a mild
suspicion that they MAY have broken it.
Wellllll,,,,,, I dont necessarily agree with that point. Its a bit
like speed cameras (which I detest as well before you fire another
salvo at me!)
S'alright - no salvos here...
Post by john boyleAs most (but admittedly not all) people watch TV it is not
unreasonable to assume that an address with no licence might just have
somebody there watching an unlicensed set.
The key word of course being "might" - as from your comment I can see
you would accept. But they shouldn't be pursuing people ust because
there is a possibility that they are breaking the law - they should wait
until they actually have some evidence to back that up... Of course, if
they actually work (which I still doubt), there is a role for detector
vans there...
I have a license, the reason I've gotten involved in all this is I have
a friend in Birmingham who does not - but he's fully compliant with the
law. His case all along has been that they shouldn't be sending him all
these threats without some evidence,and if that means that they have to
bring a TV detector van out and sit at the bottom of his garden (ie on
the public highway), then fine... But why start writing all this abuse
to someone who is just as likely to be innocent?
Post by john boyleThe success rate of the vans is remarkably
high (apparently).
If your source for that is the TVL themselves, I'd disregard it.
Post by john boyleBy complete chance there is the half yearly article
in my local paper tonight describing how many people were nicked last
time the vans were here and watch out. They seem to feed a story to
the newspapers a week or so before they are due to panic people into
buying licences.
They have a habit of doing that - it's being talked about on
www.tvlicensing.biz in the forum) at the moment. You'd think any editor
worth his salt would object to his publication being used as a
propaganda tool, wouldn't you?
Post by john boylePost by Martin MilanThey seem to take the view that they can write their offensive drivel
to anyone they like, and not worry about the considerable number of
innocent people they are harrassing with this drivel. I object to
such a letter to me, I would deliberately set out to have some fun and
make their lives as difficult as I possibly could.
I agree. My office occupies what was a shop on ground floor and a
residential flat upstairs. It is now converted into a single suite of
offices. The old address for the flat continues to get very strong
letters from the licensing people asking me to send a form back
confirming I Havent got a TV. I just throw them away.
That's one way of doing things. My unlicensed friend and I happen (in
addition to the day jobs) to be directors of a small software company.
We have a plan to turn up at TVL's offices and demand to inspect their
machines to see if they have any of our unlicensed software running
there. Of course, they won't have - and indeed they aren't going to
allow us to look at their machines - we already know that... The idea is
to see HOW they prevent us from doing that, and if it's not an option
open to people who don't have TVs, point out the discrepancy. Might be
satisfying to send out some nice abusive mail as well...
Post by john boylePost by Martin MilanPost by john boylePost by Martin MilanHow about background
radiation from this wonderful universe of ours?
Ahh, well that is uniform in a given area so is irrelevant.
Caught me with my pants down there - I wasn't thinking.
Thats ok, Ill turn my back whilst you put them on again.
A good idea.
Post by john boylePost by Martin MilanPost by john boyleWHAT!! NO PATRICK MOORE????????????????????
No.
This is a very sad statement for a lad of my tender years (30), but I
have found many of the programmes on Radio 4 and Classic FM better
suited to my tastes...
PIP PIP!
All the best!
Same to you!