英国逾40万人不交电视费 理由五花八门
2012年，有超过40万英国人被查到未交电视费，他们将面临1000英镑（约合人民币9581元）的罚款。根据法律规定，英国人收看电视节目需要交电视费，黑白电视机每年需交费49英镑，彩色电视机每年145.5英镑。据电视收费机构统计，到今年1月，英国仍有超过1.3万个家庭在使用黑白电视机。
在被收费机构查到未交电视费后，不少家庭都给出五花八门的理由。如：
“我这电视是偷来的，我为什么要交费？又没人知道我有电视。”
“我觉得我也就再活半年，所以不想交一年的钱。”
“我最近瘦了，得重新买衣服，所以没钱交电视费了。”
A homeowner said they did not think they had to pay their TV license fee because they claimed their pet was related to one of the Queen's dogs.
Other Excuses given to officials by evaders last year included watching a stolen TV set, TV Licensing said.
More than 400,000 people were caught watching TV without a license in 2012.
UK residents are legally required to have a license if they watch or record TV at the same time as it is broadcast or could face a fine of up to £1,000.
A color TV license costs £145.50 while a black-and-white license costs £49.
In January, TV Licensing revealed that more than 13,000 households across the UK were still using black-and-white television sets.
Excuses for non-payment given last year included:
"Apparently my dog, which is a corgi, was related to the Queen's dog so I didn't think I needed a TV license"
"Why would I need a TV license for a TV I stole? Nobody knows I've got it"
"Only my three-year-old son watches the TV. Can you take it out of the family allowance I receive for him? He watches it so he should pay"
"I had not paid as I received a lethal injection"
"I don't want to pay for a license for a full year. Knowing my luck I'll be dead in six months and won't get value for money"
"I have lost weight recently and had to buy new clothes. That's why I could not afford to buy a TV license"
TV Licensing spokesman Stephen Farmer said: "Some of the excuses are simply hilarious whilst others show a great deal of imagination and creativity but being caught without a valid TV license is a criminal offence and no laughing matter.
"Joking and wacky excuses apart, it's breaking the law to watch live television without a license so anybody doing this risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000."
