Yahoo Finance TV Licence Dodgers' Excuses In Video Campaign
Officials have exposed some of the excuses people give for not having a television licence.
One thought he was exempt because his pet corgi was said to be related to one of the Queen's dogs.
Another household claimed they merely used the glow from the set as a lamp to help them read.
More than 400,000 people were caught last year watching TV without valid paperwork, which is more than 1,000 a day.
The annual levy - £145 for a colour licence and £49 for a black and white - is used to help fund the BBC's domestic television, radio and internet services.
TV Licensing has launched a drive to encourage more people to pay up and has teamed with a Bafta-winning animator to bring some of the excuses to life in a short-film, published on YouTube.
One person is said to have told officials they did not bother to buy a licence because they had stolen the TV set.
"Joking and wacky excuses apart, it's breaking the law to watch live television without a licence, so anybody doing this risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000," said spokesman Stephen Farmer.
"Some of the excuses are simply hilarious whilst others show a great deal of imagination and creativity, but being caught without a valid TV licence is a criminal offence and no laughing matter."
The revenue-raising authority provides reduced rates for certain people.
Those certified as either blind or severely sight-impaired are entitled to a 50% reduction in the fee.
Care home residents may qualify for a discounted fee of £7.50, but are warned that residents, staff and residents' families all need a separate licence for their own living area.
Senior citizens are entitled to a free licence when they reach the age of 75.
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