Matthew's Journal

I used to live in a student flat that had had several different names over the years...needless to say ALL of which got the red letters (although in fairness not with my name on). Binning these was the bet thing to do, after I'd *tried* to reason with them (nb. I *did* have a licence).

Funny thing was, once it expired on Fri and of course I wasn't organised enough to go down to the post office to get another one ahead of time - and come the very next Sunday (yes really) who should appear but 2 TV licensing men. Well, initially I thought "what have we here - JWs?" then realised it was the beginning of an academic year and they were making their annual "let's see how many we can catch out" patrol, needless to say I very quickly stopped tying my shoelaces in my open doorway, went in and locked it. As they walked past I heard them say "that one was quick". ;) (Nb. they didn't come back, although I did buy a new licence sharpish.

By the way, you don't have to let them in when they come by, and they very rarely come back with a warrant, unless they saw the thing/heard it blaring and can be bothered...and aren't they going to look silly if they DO come round with a warrant and you haven't got a TV? No, it's just scare tactics. Ignore. In fact, write them a letter spelling out the facts and saying that if they persist in harassing you, you will seek legal redress for that. (That sort of thing tends to work in my experience).