BBC licence fee update

I think is a fait accompli - they have decided and it will happen. BBC state those over 75 in receipt of pension credit will still have a free licence.

My question is how will this be achieved? Will the Pension Service be handing confidential information to the BBC? Even if it is just a list of names and addresses isn't that a breach of confidentiality? If so, what reassurances do we have that the BBC will keep this information safe?

Alternatively will it be administered by the Pension Service - if so, will the BBC be covering the cost of that administration?

Jane, I take your point absolutely about there being far more older people to support than previously, it is absolutely correct, and as I said, I think pensioners who can afford to buy their own license should do so, and will do so from next year. It is also absolutely morally right that poorer pensioners will still receive a free license.
Our point of disagreement is about the younger people supporting the older ones, which they will continue to do with the poorer pensioners, and for all pensioners who receive any benefits ie state pensions, health care, free medicines etc.
I simply believe that it was always, and will be always the case that younger people will support older people through their taxes, but as you and I have already mentioned, many of us older people are also tax payers and therefore continue to support our services through our taxes.

there is such a thing as plain old entitlement. And why shouldn't there be?

Yes gonegirl there is. (See what I did there)
We are all entitled to our State Pension, and to have enough money to be reasonably well fed and warm in winter (and summer).
But the free TV Licence was an electoral bribe.

Agree again Jane, the free licence was an electoral bribe, but I’m pleased poorer pensioners will still receive a free one.

I too am pleased that poorer pensioners will continue to receive a free TV licence but I do agree that taking this away from better off pensioners was the right thing to do. There are plenty young people here in the NE (and elsewhere) who live on the breadline and rely on foodbanks, why do they not get a free TV licence? I think they should consider removing the WFA from better off pensioners too and giving it to poorer households with children instead.

Husband says he thinks any electronic device that's capable of receiving BBC signals needs a tv license. Even smartphones.
Does anyone know if this is correct?

The answer is yes according to this link

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/watching-online-and-on-mobile-devices-TOP14

I have to say that I agree with you Gonegirl. As I recall buying our first house in the mid ‘70’s was a huge struggle and we really did have to cut our cloth. To be frank it remained a struggle all the years my children were growing up and holidays, nights out and breaks away were a very rare occurrence for any of us.

Then to add insult to injury I was one of those who have ended having to wait until 65 before being able to claim my state pension which is not even a full amount because I stayed at home to care for my four children when they were small!

I will be 67 and 4 months when (or if) I get a state pension Breda. I have worked from being 16 year old and only took a few months off when I had each of my 2 children.

Surely the struggles we had when our children were small, what we went without etc. are completely irrelevant to our situations today and our entitlement to a free TV licence ?

This might sound harsh but surely having 4 children was a choice with financial consequences?

GabriellaG54. I congratulate you on one of the longest threads I've read for a while on GNet! I sincerely hope my one rude word reply when I joined in was taken exactly as I meant it - my reaction to learning that, as I am nearly 70, one of the little perks won't be open to me! I am just on the cusp of being eligible for income support. It is really hard to make ends meet especially as I have to run a vehicle, because I am disabled, and the maintenance of that and the house are way beyond my budget. I simply have kind of given up and am waiting to die. I only eat the cheapest possible food. I try not to use the heating, going to bed after 6 p.m. to keep warm except in the Summer.
Also I am so glad you have followed up the very snide and personal attacks made on you by one person always ready to make "clever" (and usually irrelevant) snipes at us. I used to get them from the same source but the moment I point them out the individual runs to the Gnet staff and says "they're being nasty to me and I'm a poor widow living alone". We too, many of us, are poor widows living alone but this seems irrelevant when she is unkind to us.
Now, back to the topic - I simply do not think the content of BBC TV is of a standard high enough to warrant this very high fee. The standard has dropped so much in the last ten years. E.g: Increase in "reality" shows, increase in repeats - some I could parrot by heart were I to watch them that often! Many adverts about themselves, a huge bias towards the Conservative Party, paying women staff a lower fee than men for the same job, even the standard of "Line of Duty" was way below that of its previous series!!
I have considered not paying the licence and just watching the other channels.

Seem to me they cater more and more for the younger folk. Why are putting that BBC3 rubbish on after the 10 o'clock news? I thought that had been assigned to the website only.

Let the younger ones pay for it.

If I see that young bloke slaying "Oh my days once more, my tv is going to be in danger.

And yes I know I can turn it off. and I do. Sharpish.

saying

Are those screenshots Gabriella? how d'you do that?

Never seen that on here before.

MawBroonsback

You owe GabbyG an apology, she was right in spelling the word with an 's' thus:

Licensing

I notice how you like to jump in and denigrate a person as quickly as possible. If you are setting yourself up as the spelling and grammar Police on GNet, kindly pass your exams before taking up office.

Gonegirl I'm one! Thanks! "just above" the level to get pension credit that is.
I can't make my strike out or line going through words work! How do you do it? It looks so funny! I've got a MacBook.
I'll see if it works here -doesit work?- yes? -No!-
Let's see.....

See? my strike out doesn't work! Boo hoo.

AAAHHH!. Stupid woman person waiting eye operation!

[thumbs up emoji]

Tillybelle It’s you who owes maw an apology.
Gabriella spelled ‘licensing’ with a c and maw pointed out it should be spelled with an s.

As for whether maw should have corrected gabriella, there is nothing the latter likes more than correcting others, so she must take it on the chin when others correct her own spelling or grammar.

gillybob. To you and all those, many of whom are my friends, who have to work beyond the expected 65 retirement age I say how sorry I am for you! It is a terrible situation! It is so easy for the government to plead not enough money but they had years in which to plan for this! It is dreadful! France practically had a revolution when they raised the age from 60to 62. They also give many generous benefits, especially to families.
So to those of you caught in this horrible situation where you are still working after you hoped to retire, I send deep commiserations and sincerely hope you have an easy last few years in work. I hope you can enjoy a wonderful and well pensioned retirement when it so-deservedly arrives!

I do think it is a shame.
There are those now in later life who have enjoyed a good life, worked and earned a good wage and spent every penny on this good life who now qualify for pension credit (or whatever its called) and all the other benefits that brings.
There are those who have managed to stay on benefits just about all of what could have been their working lives who have put little into the community pot but take a good amount out (not talking about disabled).
Then there are those who have worked all their lives, been fairly frugal and put a bit aside, enough to bury them and a bit for the kids, these being the ones who also paid into the community pot, and these are the ones who pay for everything.
Not everyone is a millionaire or a final salary pensioner. Many many have nothing more than basic state pension and savings probably just over the benefit threshold.
Maybe todays spend now, worry later generation have it right. I often think those who saved are the losers in this society.

tilly I’m not including myself in this discussion but would just point out that it was maw who said licensing should be spelt with ‘s’ when commenting on another post where it was spelt with a c. I think you are confirming what maw posted was a correct spelling.

Sorry janeainsworth I hadn’t seen your post when I wrote mine. Crossed posts.