tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23905332457369618232012-01-29T10:27:14.755ZThe view from the bridgeWatchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.comBlogger321100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-26721819880070683382012-01-28T17:12:00.002Z2012-01-28T17:14:57.244Z

As Eric Morecambe used to say - "there's a novelty!" Watchkeeper has recently received an e-mail from Melissa Garcia which says I would like to promote ****** on your blog. It's screen capture software. In exchange for promotion you will receive a full copy of the product. You need to create a short post with a few sentences about ****** (like I wrote below) and include this back link: (etc etc).

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-59362477833365948002012-01-16T21:35:00.004Z2012-01-16T21:45:29.657Z

An interesting video has recently been published which features someone claiming to be from that fictitious body "TV Licensing". The problem Watchkeeper has with this claim is that the doorstepper does not follow the procedure laid down for such visits. If you didn't already know, the BBC was forced to make public the training manual containing this procedure under the Freedom of Information

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-76774116881686911752011-11-15T02:22:00.001Z2011-11-15T02:24:10.877Z

It's with mixed feelings that Watchkeeper welcomes new recruits to the ranks of the online bloggers who have suffered harassment at the hands of the BBC. In one sense it's good news that there is one more voice of reason against the insanity of the TV licensing system. In another sense it's bad news that the said new recruit has been driven to it by the slings and arrows of the outrageous BBC.

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-15674285583051665112011-08-22T20:22:00.008+01:002011-08-25T15:30:39.201+01:00

The latest press release from Fishburn Hedges (using the trademark TV Licensing™) offers advice to new students going up to university and perhaps needing a licence for the first time. It contains the following:A TV Licence is needed for watching or recording any programmes at the same time as they are shown on TV ... TV Licensing is reminding students - and their parents - about when a licence

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-87295524957315020432011-07-19T03:09:00.001+01:002011-07-19T03:10:44.087+01:00

Since Capita and its allies have stopped sending me letters (why I don't know), your humble scribe must look elsewhere for Log fodder. And so it is we turn once again to the TV Licensing™ Media Centre for the latest press handout. It's about the "millions of sports fans" who will allegedly be tuning in to a series of major sporting events.As usual, put some of the words (e.g. "figures reveal

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-5480731415240204462011-07-18T13:14:00.001+01:002011-07-18T13:19:38.415+01:00

It is not Watchkeeper's policy, Gentle Reader, to comment on the actual structure and function of that bloated dinosaur the British Broadcasting Corporation. Rather, these pages focus on the iniquities of the Poll Tax that funds the BBC and the tactics employed in its collection by a public limited company and its gang of salesmen masquerading as "officers", backed up by a raft of PR companies

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-15597001323768311492011-07-04T00:14:00.005+01:002011-07-04T14:26:37.308+01:00

A quick trawl around the Websites and Forums that mention TV licences shows that, despite the many PR agencies employed by the BBC, there is still a lot of confusion as to when a TV licence is required - or should that be "because of" rather than "despite"? Please allow your humble scribe to clarify the issue.The relevant legislation we need to consider is Part 4 of The Communications Act 2003.

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-49187901313332744312011-06-25T16:59:00.000+01:002011-06-25T16:59:01.110+01:00

You will recall, Gentle Reader, that the BBC is the Television Licensing Authority for the UK and responsible for making sure that every watcher of live TV programmes, whatever the source and however viewed, has paid the annual tax. This is an impossible task, as has been stated on many occasions in this log, because the activity the BBC wants to know about takes place in the privacy of people's

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-70975144133635342132011-06-25T00:58:00.001+01:002011-06-26T23:29:59.170+01:00

No, not that White House.The White House in question is the oldest building in the city of Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, and is situated on Belfast Lough. It dates from the 16th century, but lately had fallen into disrepair and so in the year 2000 the White House Preservation Trust was formed to preserve and restore the building. It is unoccupied.Of course, that did not stop the zealots at TV

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-20846920153570453802011-05-20T14:41:00.002+01:002011-05-20T15:06:41.221+01:00

A new Website has recently opened called Licence Free. In it, the author (known to Watchkeeper) has set out in a clear, structured way information about so-called TV Licensing™, its powers in law and some remedies against its harassment.You will recall that one of TV Licensing™'s threats is to resort to the Law. In particular, it threatens to haul you, the legally licence-free, off to the

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-66774092496735684482010-12-28T19:17:00.000Z2010-12-28T19:17:07.654Z

"But the plans were on display ..." "On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them." "That's the display department." "With a flashlight." "Ah, well the lights had probably gone." "So had the stairs." "But look, you found the notice didn't you?" "Yes," said Arthur, "yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-47315341524502706402010-12-12T23:50:00.001Z2010-12-14T03:19:21.226Z

Looks like we have a new "TV Licensing(TM) spokesman for the North of England". Let's hear it for Tim Downs, Head of PR at the Leeds firm Brass (previously Brahm and swamp), mentioned in my previous post.You'll remember that the previous holder of the title, Phil Reed, famously admitted to lying in the interests of his client, and assured us all he would do so again. Now he's been replaced. Proof

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-58964294445716587362010-12-12T00:42:00.000Z2010-12-12T00:42:07.313Z

My local free newspaper, the News Post Leader, recently published a press release from Fishburn Hedges purporting to list some of the excuses given to the Capita salesman for not having a licence. Google provides very many instances of the same press release being used by newspapers throughout the country.I don't intend to discuss the article itself. Rather, I'd like to point out that many news

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-32330753811782077052010-09-23T00:57:00.003+01:002010-10-14T00:44:01.487+01:00

This whole business of needing a a licence (by definition "official permission") from the State to watch live television is fundamentally flawed and unworkable.Consider what's going on here. The State has made the watching of live television, or the installing of a TV set for that purpose, a criminal offence without the State's permission ("licence"). The State has also charged the BBC with the

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-83471646658120040502010-09-23T00:04:00.000+01:002010-09-23T00:04:23.391+01:00

I've had another letter from "Joanne Osborne", along similar lines to the previous one: Nothing remarkable here, except the request "Please get in touch by 1 September 2010". Well, that deadline has long gone. Since the letter purports to be from the non-existent TV Licensing™ I won't be getting in touch. I'm not a customer of Capita, the BBC or TV Licensing™. They have no business with me, and I

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-20027524566928786082010-09-04T02:59:00.007+01:002010-09-04T14:59:43.513+01:00

Even in these harsh and stringent times, with firms economising left, right and centre, good old Capita is on the lookout for more staff. Here's an advert for a job in Leicester. Let's see what we can make of it.First off, it's for an "Enforcement Officer", yet the accompanying supporting document is titled "Visiting Officer". Obviously, "Visiting Officer" isn't scary enough. Remember the

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-19774144629086045302010-08-30T00:09:00.002+01:002010-09-04T03:26:33.349+01:00

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 has been a very useful tool in bringing certain facts out into the open which organisations like the BBC would rather keep hidden. You can very easily ask public bodies for information via the WhatDoTheyKnow? Website, or you can search for answers to questions already asked. For example, questions asked of the BBC can be found on this page.The TV Licensing™

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-89086094129811816652010-08-24T03:06:00.010+01:002010-08-24T03:50:30.658+01:00

The BBC, remember, makes extensive use of bluster, intimidation and disinformation as far as the TV tax is concerned. This is nowhere better exemplified than in the matter of the "TV Detection Van". Everyone is familiar with the idea of the van, packed with sophisticated electronics, cruising the leafy byways of Britain and pin-pointing a TV in someone's house to within an inch or two as it

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-60662726231082958462010-08-21T02:56:00.001+01:002010-08-21T03:01:14.778+01:00

I sent my terms and conditions to Proximity London on Monday 16th August with a copy to Capita. Neither party has replied. I did get an automated response from TV Licensing™, aka Capita, though: Thank you for your email. We will respond to your email within 3 business days. If you are making a complaint we'll need time to fully investigate it and you will receive a response within 8 working days.

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-13196244349273016142010-08-18T18:26:00.001+01:002010-08-18T18:30:24.698+01:00

Whilst researching material for my next post I came across this page by soubriquet, who lists his occupation as "Teleportation Consultant". Nice!As someone without a TV and therefore living in "unlicensed premises", soubriquet (not his real name - probably) found himself on the receiving end of the usual bluster, intimidation and misinformation from TV Licensing™. To his great credit, soubriquet

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-28344840288711769172010-08-17T14:25:00.009+01:002010-08-17T14:47:25.860+01:00

"M Shakey" has published a remarkable series of videos showing what happened to him after he agreed to let a Capita salesman into his home to look for television receivers. In correspondence with the company it was stated that the visit would be "non-intrusive" and last for "a few minutes". There are over 20 minutes of footage, beginning with the salesman inside the property, and you can make up

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-15902443595505465982010-08-16T18:22:00.002+01:002010-08-17T01:02:38.603+01:00

I've now responded to Proximity London by e-mail and sent them a copy of my terms and conditions which you can see below. I've also sent a copy to Capita since it's their salesman who will eventually (I hope) be knocking on my door. All communications and other developments will, of course, be documented here. Terms and ConditionsThese terms and conditions apply to any person who is an employee

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-6061026168036982202010-08-09T16:49:00.003+01:002011-06-23T20:40:18.080+01:00

Good news, Gentle Reader! Let joy be unbounded! The letter for which I have been waiting has arrived - the Foe has communicated. Here is the missive: This is a kite-flying exercise, or a fishing expedition. The letter is computer-generated and untouched by human hand, and certainly not by "Joanne Osborne". The date clicks over in the Capita computer and out pops the letter. There's no point in

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-80840176886387068352010-07-24T17:21:00.012+01:002010-08-14T01:44:27.602+01:00

The standard operating procedure for Capita is to send increasingly-intimidating letters to an unlicensed premises and if that doesn't work to then send in The Boyz. They (or he or she) will "conduct an interview under caution in accordance with PACE" which has as much legal standing as salesman from the Toiletry and Bathroom Goods Division of Marks & Spencer asking you, under caution, about your

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-14439098117947365372010-07-24T14:33:00.002+01:002010-07-24T18:24:07.098+01:00

Please forgive the long silence. A few years ago I e-mailed Capita in Darwen, Lancashire, and withdrew the implied right of access to Watchkeeper's Houseboat from any BBC employee and any employee of the BBC's agents. This, of course, includes Capita's little army of TV licence salesmen referenced elsewhere on this blog as "The Boyz". Note that I didn't go to the non-existent "TV Licensing" but

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-61538744382915343472009-11-01T15:08:00.008Z2010-08-11T04:23:49.254+01:00

Every so often throughout the year the BBC seizes on a current event to mount an advertising campaign for its "licence". Last month it was students going up to university, and with October 31st just gone (All Hallows Eve or "Halloween") there was a spate of items in local newspapers. Here are some examples:Ian Fannon, TV Licensing spokesman for the South East, said: "TV Licensing enquiry officers

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-17722999552178710692009-07-30T20:54:00.016+01:002009-07-31T15:41:11.729+01:00

To better appreciate the TV licensing fiasco, it might help to offer a couple of analogies.In many if not most locations in the country a free newspaper is delivered to your door. In Watchkeeper's case it is "The News Post Leader". The cost of the paper is borne by the advertisers, and it arrives on Watchkeeper's Houseboat every Wednesday. Now imagine the Government stepping in (as it seems to

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-44584402790834814662009-07-26T17:57:00.013+01:002010-08-14T11:57:56.141+01:00

"You ARE the Brute Squad" - Miracle MaxTo (almost) quote from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: "Reason notwithstanding, the BBC continues unabated". You'll remember that here in the UK the watching of television is such a hazardous and dangerous undertaking that the Government has deemed it a criminal offence (yes, a criminal offence) to engage in TV watching without being covered by an

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-43303292381525082712009-07-21T18:51:00.009+01:002010-08-14T11:55:23.612+01:00

The Postman ComethAs remarked earlier, Watchkeeper's Houseboat is not "licensed premises" as far as the Communications Act 2003 is concerned. This causes problems at Capita because they work on the theory that EVERYBODY watches television, therefore ALL PREMISES in the country must be licensed. As a consequence, any domicile not covered by a valid licence must be occupied by a licence evader.To

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-50803350146787779862009-06-26T03:40:00.004+01:002009-06-27T22:39:59.091+01:00

You'll remember that Capita plc runs the TV licence fee collection service for the BBC. There is in fact a TV Licensing Website which provides information and can collect your money. Who do you think owns it?All Web addresses (URIs) that end in .co.uk are granted by an organisation called Nominet. If you click the previous link and visit their site you'll see a search box labelled "Whois" towards

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-47171511705074169212009-06-26T01:40:00.010+01:002009-07-31T15:25:14.645+01:00

A Question of IdentityThe BBC has brainwashed and deceived the public and, it would appear, significant parts of the media into believing that TV Licensing and the TV Licensing Authority are state-governed bodies similar to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). They would like you to think that TLVA and DVLA are executive agencies of the Government, and TV Licensing is just another name

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390533245736961823.post-64416130221895435102009-06-10T14:33:00.002+01:002009-06-22T21:11:37.162+01:00

To most people in this world, watching TV is a simple matter of buying a set, taking it home, connecting it up, switching it on, tuning it in then sitting down to watch the programmes. Not so here in the UK. Go to any store and buy a TV set or video recorder and the assistant will ask you for your name and address. Once you provide those details, they are sent by the store to a company trading

Watchkeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09786493472889248912noreply@blogger.com0