A funny TV story...(well a short pointless tale really)...

Oh jeez, this has happened to me too, the question "why"... hmmmpphhfff, the times this happened with me I swiftly asked back, "Why does it matter to you? I want to cancel. Period." I become very chilly. Yeah, and this seems to be shocking for the questioner that someone would react other than compliant.

And that playing you and your wife against each other is just ugly... how do they do this for a work shift, day after day, and sleep at night? I would feel like a jerk doing this... well actually, I just wouldn't have a job like this.

Wow! I was going to write here that USians would have a bloody fit if they were required to pay something towards a service they don't use, but the truth is there are so many added taxes and fees on services--phone, cable, electricity, gasoline--here in the US, and I don't think they are all applicable to the particular service being taxed and fee'd.

Marcus, you're not alone, I got one too.

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
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Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we might as well dance.
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If you spin around on your chair really fast, things around here will make a lot more sense.

Well, maybe not. According to 'The Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004' (http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2004/20040692.htm) a license is issued to "install and use television *receivers*" whreas a television receiver is defined as "any apparatus installed or used for the purpose of receiving...any television programme service, whether or not it is installed or used for any other purpose". That is to say, you have to pay the license fee if you're using a TV set for the purpose of receiving a TV programme service regardless of the fact that you might be using it for other purposes as well. Now, wouldn't this imply that if you have a TV set you don't use "for the purpose of receiving any television programme service" at all but instead as, say, a computer/VHS/DVD monitor you don't pay the fee?

After reading your post I initially wanted to say that the regulations are very same in Poland (that would make two stupid countries)--as it's commonly believed that everyone who owns are TV set has to pay the fee regardless of what he/she is using it for. Yet as I dug into the regulations I've found that "a television set which is not, either permanently or temporarily, connected to an installation allowing for reception of a television programme service or used as a monitor" is not considered to be a TV receiver.

Apparently common beliefs may be misleading, so it's always better to check at the source. Or maybe I've made some errors interpreting those regulations or haven't taken some provisions into account? If so, please correct me.

Thanks, that was a good one.  I understand that a lot of people who give up TV get that kind of reaction.

Wow it's that bad over there too?

The lady was probably visualizing you and your wife sitting at a table playing checkers with a clock ticking in the background.....

"What ever will they do with themselves? I must try and save these poor souls who no longer wish to worship the Cathode Ray Master!
For it is my duty."

Gadzukes what next? They gonna send someone over to give you both a pschiatric evaluation?

"We need to be sure you are of sound mind when making a life- changing decision such as this....."

Pferck is currently working on a revolutionary new medication for you shunners-of-TV. The pills look like a miniature remote control.......

                                                     J

I had a similar experience when I signed up for cable internet.  I spent 10 minutes convincing the sales rep that I only wanted internet, and no tv service whatsoever, she just couldn't believe it.  Finally she acquiesced, or so I thought, but when the cable guy showed up, she had signed me up for internet plus the most basic tv package.  I guess to her, 13 channels is "no tv."  It was just completely out of the realm of possibility that someone would actually mean "NO TV."

Well, though playing a couple off eachother seems to be going a bit far, I myself did a stint in a telemarketing center once.  It was definitely the worst job I ever had (2 hours there felt like 8 washing dishes in a crappy restaurant), imagine saying the same shtick every 15 seconds for 12 hours straight.  I really needed the money (ok wanted it, it was a summer job, and I had a full year of party supplies to earn) and didn't really have any options.  I am much more sympathetic to them now, because I know they most likely have a manager listening in on their calls, and if they don't continue to rebutt you and argue at least 4 times (thats the minimum, but they encouraged as high as 16 rebuttals) they get fired.  That is why they are such persistant a-holes.  The scary ones are the ones who like the job.  It was also the job that got me smoking cigarettes, cause believe me, on that 10 minute break, you'd better have a cig or two or your gonna go nuts (I thought a joint would be nice, but that makes it way harder to sit through the rest of the day)

LMAO haha