BBC licence fee update

I have no problem at all with removing the free tv license from the over 75s providing those on pension credit still continue to receive a free license. I know one 75 year old lady who has savings of over half a million and she owns her detached three bedroom house. Why on earth should such a pensioner receive a free tv licence? I don’t object to paying for our license because we both have professional pensions as well as our state pensions and we do not need a free license, mind you we wouldn’t have been eligible for several years anyway!

The fact that the BBC is allowed to make a blanket charge to anyone who owns a television is another matter entirely. I seriously object to the inflated salaries paid to BBC staff and therefore I think it would be better if we bought into the BBC as we wanted to, just like Sky. Then only those who want to watch the BBC would need to pay.

Gary Lineker's salary a whopping £1.75 million could fund the TV licences of 11 thousand pensioners. Something to think about.

Yes, it is just for watching BBC. All the other channels are commercial and support themselves.

We badly need to reduce those families who have to rely on foodbanks----give them more money instead. It's criminal the way some have to live in this day and age.
Never mind about propping up the BBC !

It's the principle. As tax payers, for 30/40 (even 50 for some) years we have contributed to older people's 'perks'. But now it's time for other people to contribute to ours, it's too expensive. In 2015 George Osborne, delighted by the cost-cutting measure of concertina-ing the women's pension hike, off-loaded the cost of the free licence onto the BBC, which was its death knell.

Spot on AlisonKF

Why the £200 winter weather payment anyway ? This would go a long way in securing finance for young families who genuinely can't manage. I wouldn't mind !

I was baffled when the BBC agreed to take on the free licenses but have learned it was heavily leaned on by government to get an agreement for the overall license fee. This must have been Osborne's doing. Now the BBC does the government's dirty work. Tory ideology really demands that the BBC becomes privatised and finds itself with advertising and paid for series.

I've had six months free.

I’m happy to pay Tv licence fee. Think we get good value for money. Tv plus radio. Spend more on our mobile phones than what licence costs. As long as the benefits for pensioners in real need not stopped.
We were due to get our free licence this year. We’re not wealthy pensioners but we get by ok.

Allule
Can't you ?
Winter sees more OAP activity in A/E than at any other time .I do not know of any OAP not grateful for this boost of a winter payment.
Spreading payment is not the answer ?
What planet you on.

Coco - exactly! You've hit the nail on the head there.

What will the BBC lose in quality and variety of programs, that have global export value, if they continue to pay for an ever increasing ageing population........

Anyone know whether this is for pensioners who will turn 75 in 2020, or for those who are are already over 75? My parents are both in their mid 90s. Maybe they should simply refuse to pay up. I wonder what would happen? I'm sure that if it came to a custodial sentence, they would get better care in than in many other options available.

Let’s all apply for pension credit then.... all the forms they’ll receive may make them change there mind.

The BBC’s stance that the free licences ‘cost’ them is misleading - it is an income they don’t receive now that the Government has cut BBC funding. And all in the wake of Boris Johnson pledging to cut tax for the wealthy. Time for a revolution of the people by the people!

There was a thread on Mumsnet 're the amount of money spent on the new Eastenders set (I don't watch soaps, so idea if it is value for money).
The OP was concerned 're the amount spent, however another poster who had worked for the TV industry pointed out that the BBC would re-coup it's outlay and earn several millions on top from selling episodes to the foreign TV companies.
Big budget programmes are sold on to other countries
The licence fee is just a top up fee for the BBC.

If it not under government control, I don't see why the viewer should be held to ransom just because they have the 'capability'receive the BBC.

Many watch via Sky, Amazon Prime, Netflix, youtube, read news on -line etc.
Other channels and freeview that gets their revenue through adverts.
Not everyone listens BBC radio.
There are hundreds of radio channels to choose from.

My grandchildren have virtually no interest in TV, they watch films, documentaries via their pads..
They have an avid interest in dinosaurs, sharks and scary animals which the watch on their tablets.
Music is also via tablet and downloads.
I would be very surprised if as adults the will even own a TV.

Why do we pay a television license in this day and age? Surely it's time for a review. As for bus passes, I hope they don't stop these. For some elderly people it's the only way they can get out and about and meet others.

not everyone has pension credit but what really annoying that just read they have 148million to spend themselves on wages. About time they start having pay when you watch it.

I find it annoying, yet another drop in income for those of us on the borderline. We could just about afford it, but is it worth it?
We don't even have a tv. The only thing I watch online is BBC parliament, and husband watches a few programmes on his 'puter, mostly sport. We still need a license for those.

X-posts, Allule.

This 'charge' will be just a blip in the finances of the well off and famous OAP's who already have a 'no holds barred' lifestyle
That I was the age to get the BBC freebie ? allowed me to although still getting a winter allowance leave my heating on much longer on days when winter was at its worst.

We've just applied as DH is 75 at Christmas... Maybe we'll get it for a a month or two. Not sure how that will work, tbh. It's not a big issue for us, but of course is bound to be more of an issue for those just above the pension credit amount.

I heard on tv this morning that around 40% of those who could qualify for Pension Credit don't claim it. This might push some to do so.

Perhaps some of the people who are entitled to pension credit, but don't claim, will be spurred into applying? This could be a good campaign for charities to help with.
I suspect the savings from removing the Christmas bonus would be too small to justify the fuss it would cause.
I can't really see the point of the winter fuel allowance, as most people spread their payments over the year.
The answer surely is to remove the gimmicks, and add the money onto basic pensions, fairly taxed.

I agree with you BlueBelle, I too am an inbetweener. I live on £8,800 a year. With no savings (due to bringing up two children on my own) when these cuts are made it matters.