TV LICENSING WILL HIT PEOPLE WITH £1,000 FINES IF THEY HAVE DEVICE ''PLUGGED IN'

UK households have been warned they face a £1,000 fine for breaching BBC TV Licence fees - if they plug their laptops in. England fans watching BBC and ITV during Euro 2024 have been reminded of the rules ahead of the tournament in Germany.

Students with parents or guardians who have a TV Licence can watch live TV and BBC iPlayer on a smartphone, tablet or laptop that is not plugged in or charging at the time, the rules stipulate. TV Licensing says: “If your device is not plugged in (ie you’re watching or recording live TV programmes on any channel, or downloading or watching BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer, using devices powered solely by internal batteries) you will be covered by your home TV Licence."

It adds: “If you plug your device into the mains, you’ll be covered if that property already has a TV Licence. Otherwise, you’ll need to buy a separate TV Licence for that property.” It warns: "You could be prosecuted if we find that you have been watching, recording or downloading programmes illegally.

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"The maximum penalty is a £1,000 fine plus any legal costs and/or compensation you may be ordered to pay." A TV Licence is not required providing your 'out-of-term address' - i.e. your parents' or guardians' address - is covered by a TV Licence, you only use TV-receiving equipment - such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop - that is powered solely by its own internal batteries or you're not watching TV on a device while it's connected it to an aerial or plugged into the mains.

Watching live TV or using BBC iPlayer on a desktop computer, games console or television will, however, need a licence regardless of whether a person’s out of term address is covered. Of course, students living in a halls of residence could be covered in communal areas but not their own room, making it important they check the conditions with their university.

2024-06-15T06:18:40Z dg43tfdfdgfd