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TV Licence demand

(42 Posts)
EllanVannin Sun 23-Aug-20 10:43:51

Squirrel away some money and leave yourself with the allotted amount which falls into the free licence arena.

I did read a thinly-veiled hint that would see the end of the £200 winter payment. Be prepared.

TheReadingRoom Sun 23-Aug-20 10:31:38

Another trick is to send them 12 post-dated cheques!

Franbern Sun 23-Aug-20 09:54:01

This should NEVER have been the responsibility the BBC. It was the government that withdrew the over-75's free licence. Then the BBC kindly and generously took this over for the intermim. But with more funding cuts and increased costs just cannot keep it going.
So, do not blame the BBC -blame the government.
In fact, if pensioners in this country received state pensions in line with that of most other countries in Europe, then all these little 'handouts' (£1- Xma grant!!!, £200 winter warmer money, 25p per week to over-80's, etc._could cease.

Fennel Fri 21-Aug-20 18:50:59

We expect to have to pay even though we have no tv but watch on line on BBCiplayer. And both well over 75.
Very tempted to refuse and see what happens but at my age couldn't face the hassle.

boheminan Fri 21-Aug-20 17:50:13

My annual fee's due on 31st August, but I'm not renewing it as I don't have a TV and watch nothing on Iplayer (the 1.5hrs a week of TV I used to watch and pay a licence for on IPlayer has now gone because of covid). So to me it's not worth the fee.

I get Pension Credit, but as I am not 75yrs, still have to pay for the licence. I find c£160 is too much to pay for what has now become a luxury.

SueDonim Fri 21-Aug-20 17:36:08

I could be wrong but I think I read that they’re sending letters out over a period of some weeks so it could be a while until everyone’s arrives.

We only had three months of a free licence. We did Consider paying weekly but that turned out to be too much hassle. The letter I received said it cost the same whether you paid monthly or annually.

BlueBelle Fri 21-Aug-20 17:03:39

No letter yet, but yes I ll pay it, this was to be my first free year bad luck eh

BBbevan Fri 21-Aug-20 16:26:17

No letter yet. I expect we will pay, but will be in no hurry. Perhaps wait for a reminder

phoenix Fri 21-Aug-20 14:51:47

BTW, as Mr P and I are in our sixties, we have never had the free licence, but have always paid it by monthly direct debit.

Yes, I believe it does cost slightly more than a one off payment, but we find it easier than a sudden largish amount going out that you may have forgotten about.

phoenix Fri 21-Aug-20 14:48:39

When my boss died it took me months to sort out the TV licence for the business, the email correspondence ran to 13 pages!

I know, because I printed it out and posted it to them along with a strongly worded letter!

Jane43 Fri 21-Aug-20 14:43:56

We will pay, we had it for two years. Anybody on pension credit will still get it free. We will pay by direct debit as before but haven’t had a letter from them to arrange payment. We cancelled our previous direct debit but haven't had a letter yet.

Jabberwok Fri 21-Aug-20 14:17:11

annsixty, I do sympathise.thh I think you're doing the right thing, the ball's in their court so let them sort it out!
As for us, our plan of action is to wait until we're on the verge of being taken to court and then pay in full maybe with a wrongly filled in cheque which will have to be sent back for correction!! We shall then have a repeat performance next year, hopefully always being in arrears ! Prior to our free licence we always paid fully on the nail for 50 years, but we feel strongly about anyone having to pay for a licence in this day and age not only the over 75's, so they will as they say, have to whistle for a while!

SueDonim Fri 21-Aug-20 12:18:50

We received a letter about paying this week. I’ve elected to pay monthly by direct debit, just so they don’t have all my money at once!

annsixty Fri 21-Aug-20 12:05:04

If only I could buy one.
I have been trying to sort my license out for weeks.
When my H died his licence was rescinded but nobody told me!!

I have been watching and listening illegally for a year.Trying to sort that out has been and is continuing to be a nightmare.
Yesterday I managed to get through to them, after two long conversations in the last six weeks , only to be put on hold to be transferred to the right department, after42 minutes of The Four Seasons I rang off.

They have sent me forms to apply for a free licence , I do not qualify for a free licence as I am tired of telling them, I cannot do it on line as I keep getting told a licence for this address already exists, no It doesn’t.

Head against a brick wall syndrome.
I am now waiting for a knock on the door when I will tell them to listen to all the phone calls I have made as I am told every time that the call is being recorded.

Charleygirl5 Fri 21-Aug-20 11:27:40

I will pay but not a year in advance. If I peg it I doubt if any money would be refunded to my account.

I am also going to attempt to say I cannot afford it so I will be paying monthly. They will be denied of a large lump sum if many of us go down that route.

At least I have had one free year!

Blossoming Fri 21-Aug-20 11:16:06

I haven’t had a TV licence for years, we got rid of the TV. They still keep hounding us though ...

Nanof3 Fri 21-Aug-20 11:12:20

What do other over 75's think of having to pay the TV licence now. Do you intend to pay or would you refuse on principal?
We can afford to pay but I think we ought to refuse in support of those who cannot, after all what can they do if millions of us refuse and it would make the BBC be more transparent and accountable.