TV licence

A very pleasant man visited us in Devon.
The previous homeowners had had a licence and we didn’t so he had come to check on us.
I invited him in and told him that if he could find a television we’d be happy to pay. He declined and said goodbye.
We couldn’t afford either.

I`ve just rung the licensing people, and my new amount TV license will be winging it`s way to me shortly.

I can remember n the mid 60s that we had a letter saying that the TV license cost was going up, just before ours was due. It was due on the Monday, as was the increase, so I went into the post office on Saturday to pay it, hoping to get it at the present rate, but was told they weren`t allowed to take early payment, so had to go back on the Monday and pay the new, higher rate. I`m 74, will be 75 in June, our license is due at the end of this month, so I`ll have to see what I need to do to get it reduced, as the next one will be free.

I remember my neighbour yrs ago comeing into my house in floods of tears after a man had knocked at her door,he said sorry to disturb you madam where you watching "Corrie" yes she said and he produced a form reporting her for no licence she was also a single mum she had been widowed a yr or so before,some of the inspectors where heartless some where very understanding.

I still remember to this day the horror and guilt my mother felt when this man knocked on our door and said he was from the licence board.
I was a child in the early 1950s mum was a single mum of two, dad left her when she was pregnant with me.
Someone had given her this old radio and she hadn't a license for it couldn't afford it.
The man told her someone had phoned them and reported my dear mother for having the radio.
Mother wasn't taken to court the man could see the situation she was in and just said go out and buy one asap.
We lived on boiled eggs for a week to pay for the license.

Thanks and yes I know I should really get myself down to my local citizens advice bureau as struggling at the moment.

I don’t think you ll get punished Louise you have held your hand up and set up payments so I too don’t think you ll get taken to court
I m sorry you’re having money problems have you been to Citizens Advice they can help considerable with debts
Good luck you re not a bad person just got into a muddle ?

Hopefully so though I do understand it can lead to a fine of up to £1000 also.

I think it will just be a paper to sign, rather than actually having to go to court. I suddenly seem to think I'm judge Rinder. Sorry! Its all just what I think, but I stand to be corrected.

I will pay it given the time and accept any punishment or how much it is as is stupid.

Just hope I dont get taken to court.

It doesn't matter. You haven't paid as yet, but you will do. Its merely an administration error. You've not 'got away without paying'.

Really dont know though I do admit to have watched it on a daily basis over this period of time.

Noone in my household is over the age of 75, maybe it wouldnt be kept on a criminal record and maybe I worry too much.

I'm not sure it would be kept on a criminal record, would it?

If any in household is over 75 yrs TV licence is free.

I know I should never have got myself into this situation and should have thought about this beforehand.

I did move house around 6 months ago and had been intending to get one though have a lot of issues with Debt at the minute.

I did phone a number half an hour ago and I have now set up a direct debit so it will come off fortnightly though there is still a chance I could be taken to court to pay back what I owe.

Surely they gave you the option to pay for the licence there and then? When we moved house I forgot to change the address on the licence. There was a detector van in the area within days but when they called and I explained, they were really nice and sorted it out straight away.

You can pay in instalments so you don't have to find the whole lot at once. I don't know what the position is if you haven't had a licence for some years. I expect they will want a back payment. The BBC want the money in their account to pay for the service, rather than criminalising people, so I am sure you will have the opportunity to pay and to sort it out without having to go to court.

You don't say why you didn't have a licence. Be honest about the position with the investigators. If you have been watching TV without a licence, you have committed an offence. There are some circumstances where you don't need a licence, but they are rather specialised, so work on the basis you will have to pay up and see what they say. Don't ignore any letters they send, whatever you do!