When I moved back to the UK from Australia 5 years ago I stayed with a friend who had Sky. During the 2 months it took for me to buy a place and move out from there I found I only ever watched about 2 channels so didn't bother with a tv.
And haven't bothered with one since. Every time I stay in a hotel and watch UK tv the more Im convinced Im a lot happier without one. I have my books, my study, my internet and my bike. So, I started getting the letters from TV licensing and duly phoned them up each time I received one to tell them I didn't have a tv. After 2 years, they finally showed up. I let them in just to be rid of them and they went away.
Until today. Apparently I can't exist for so long since they checked without a tv and the fact that I haven't told them I have a tv and bought a licence obviously means to them that I'm lying rather than simply do not want, do not need and will not get a licence. I don't stream anything on my laptop so I definitely don't need a licence that way.
So I guess here we go again. Another 2 years of phone calls and "but everyone has a tv" comments. *Sigh*
Isn't it nice to know your £142.50 is being spent on people like me with multiple threatening letters, all the staff that will take the call, record it, then a system that ignores it and sends out its "enforcement" officers?
Tell me tv watchers, is it really worth the cost of a tv set, the £142.50 licence and the cost of satellite if you have it? I'm not convinced!