I have just received a similar message on my phone. I apparently have an unpaid TV license. I cancelled (to the best of my knowledge) this 8 years ago. I am wondering how long does it take to discover some one is defaulting on a license. And considering I thought I had cancelled it and no longer live in the same province.

I was a student 8 years ago living in a flat in Newlands with a delightful flatmate. She decided to purchase a TV and I only thought it fair that I get the license considering I would be benefiting from it. But due a health scare she moved back into residence taking her TV with her. As I could not at that time afford a TV myself I sought to cancel the now useless license. have no evidence that will back this up. And my only witness to this is no longer on my mailing list so to speak. I have no idea where she is and as she is Zimbabwean she could be in Zimbabwe for all I know. I also remember a weird

This all happened in about 2004. But during my short time as a license holder I defaulted once on a payment. I was a month late in paying it. About a week later I received a letter and then a phone call reminding me to pay up (which I dutifully did). And that was the last time I defaulted.

Then my roomie moved out and I sought to cancel and thought I had. Which is another reason I'm wondering why now after 8 years are they taking action over non-payment when on the first default I got a warning letter. It's not like the owners of the flat could not find me. My current address is with the realtors. So again why take so long?

I also distinctly remember sending an to the head of the TV Licensing department at the SABC about the unpleasantness of the whole process of cancelling a TV license. And received no reply (surprise, surprise). But as that email account has long since been deactivated. I cannot prove that I did so.

I have now been working as a teacher for 3 years (and for the government no less). I asked the lady I spoke to on the phone from V V M Inc and was informed that it had them only a short while to find me. I am also a little disturbed by the fact that I am facing legal action through the stupidity of the SABC. As far as I was concerned my account was cancelled.

The licensing dept of the SABC should take note here. It is VERY difficult to cancel a TV license as you need an affidavit from the police saying that you no longer own a TV. I have not owned a TV for 8 years now. So why must I pay penalties for a service I am not getting a use out of.

I was informed by V V M that they cannot comment on the processes of the SABC or offer any opinions to that end. I want to know: Why has it taken almost a decade for them to find out I have been defaulting? And if they wish to prosecute then I want the to come and investigate i.e. PROVE that I have been receiving a service I have not paid for.

I would also like to note for the record, after reading most of these complaints posted here I have come to a rather unpopular conclusion: Are all the people targeted by V V M white? If you are not I am truly sorry I have made that assumption. But it does beggar a question if it is proved correct. Why us?