WHAT sort of society do we live in? The notion that it is a free one is certainly fraudulent when it comes to the BBC. Like TCW writer Mike Fahey, who refuses to stand for BBC licence fee harassment, I’ve experienced real anger about the letter I received from TV Licensing a few days ago. And this is but the first in their armoury of their threats – they haven’t yet got to stage with me that roused Mike to his fury.
Here is their bully-boy letter to me, saying in effect ‘We need to hear from you by 26/10 – or else’.
Last year I went through the laborious process of filling out their various forms to say I did not want or need a TV licence, and I’ll be damned if I have to redeclare this opt-out every year in order not to be investigated and treated as a potential criminal. My time is running out, they say. Oh, it is, is it?
As far as I am concerned, Ms Jackie Garswood, the Customer Services Manager who signed this aggressive missive, can take it as read that since I have not opted back in I clearly neither need or want their wretched licence! If this is her idea of providing customer service, she can forget it.
A letter from Ms Garswood telling me that the BBC is committing to reforming itself in the coming year, and that its news and comment will no longer be so grossly biased, might just encourage me to opt back in, if only to check out the veracity. Without doubt, it would be both better psychology and a far more effective way of winning back their thousands of lost licence fee-payers who as Michael says ‘gave up the licence for a good reason – the BBC’s bias, by omission or commission, their constant campaigning on climate change, diversity or Brexit, and their compliance with and promotion of anything remotely Woke’.
In my dreams.
The BBC delusion that they are the most trusted and entertaining broadcaster persists. Even if they were the nation’s perfect newscaster, the idea ‘that those who have given up this anachronistic licence must inform the Gestapo’ is, as Mike says, harassment, plain and simple.
I take total offence at it. They have invaded my space. They have triggered me. And if they want to trigger me more just bring on the next letter. I won’t answer that either. But I will complain, loudly, about intimidation.
