TV licence - are they kidding?

[Dixie68]

I've always had a TV licence and just changed the address whenever I moved. This time around though I stayed at my brothers house for a couple of months before moving into my house, so I cancelled my licence and applied for a new one when I moved in.
It arrived today and contains this stunning news: "You will pay for your first licence within six months of your licence start date. You'll pay for your next licence over 12 months. Six payments will be taken before your next licence is due and six more after it starts."
The first six months are at £28.50 and then it's £11.93 after that.
So I'm paying the whole cost for a TV licence in just six months, followed by starting to pay for the next one from month seven.
Since when does someone have to pay for their TV licence in advance? Is this normal? Or are the rip-off tts at the Beeb trying it on?

[RobDickinson]

In installments thats normal, remember doing the same, and thinking the same, seveal years ago.

[shirt]

yep. i can see the logic (chavvy buggers) and if you cancel for any reason they refund what you owe. they then still harass you for not having a license despite having filled & signed a form saying why you don't want one.

[Mojooo]

Ours is also paid far in advance, although i dunno if its a whole year.

[Merlot]

Dixie68 said:

I've always had a TV licence and just changed the address whenever I moved. This time around though I stayed at my brothers house for a couple of months before moving into my house, so I cancelled my licence and applied for a new one when I moved in.
It arrived today and contains this stunning news: "You will pay for your first licence within six months of your licence start date. You'll pay for your next licence over 12 months. Six payments will be taken before your next licence is due and six more after it starts."
The first six months are at £28.50 and then it's £11.93 after that.
So I'm paying the whole cost for a TV licence in just six months, followed by starting to pay for the next one from month seven.
Since when does someone have to pay for their TV licence in advance? Is this normal? Or are the rip-off tts at the Beeb trying it on?

It is normal for them to do this. They will refund you 6 months worth when you move out if you don't transfer it to another property. You could just pay the £142 up front to save this.

I've not got a licence (Don't watch TV) and I've informed them of this. I don't get any harrassment but they did say to expect either an inspector to visit (who would be more than welcome) or a call in 12 months to ask if my situation has changed.

[Mark34bn]

I've always thought it's funny how they act like the gestapo(sp) saying 'we know where you are' etc.
The BBC is just another company selling a product at the end of the day.

[eldar]

Mark34bn said:

I've always thought it's funny how they act like the gestapo(sp) saying 'we know where you are' etc.
The BBC is just another company selling a product at the end of the day.

Capita collect the TV licence fee, not the BBC.

[Simpo Two]

Cashflow. Ever noticed how your DDs move inexorably back to the first of the month? Yep, that's the new FD being clever and pulling a rabbit out of the hat.

Mark34bn said:

I've always thought it's funny how they act like the gestapo(sp) saying 'we know where you are' etc.

I think that kind of 'threatening' advert is utterly reprehensible - even more so as you and I are paying to be threatened.

eldar said:

Capita collect the TV licence fee, not the BBC.

So that's another load of directors and shareholders we have to pay for. Spiffing.

Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 27th February 22:24

[eldar]

Simpo Two said:

Cashflow. Ever noticed how your DDs move inexorably back to the first of the month? Yep, that's the new FD being clever and pulling a rabbit out of the hat.

Mark34bn said:

I've always thought it's funny how they act like the gestapo(sp) saying 'we know where you are' etc.

I think that kind of 'threatening' advert is utterly reprehensible - even more so as you and I are paying to be threatened.

eldar said:

Capita collect the TV licence fee, not the BBC.

So that's another load of directors and shareholders we have to pay for. Spiffing.

Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 27th February 22:24

Is it just coincidence Capita are large Labour party donors?

[Jasandjules]

eldar said:

Is it just coincidence Capita are large Labour party donors?

Of course.

And a co-incidence that no matter how many things Crapita f**k up they still get Govt contracts.

[Dixie68]

Ok I can understand them wanting payment up front, (sort of), but then surely that means that when I cancelled my licence for my previous house they should have refunded me six months worth of cash? I just paid monthly.

[whythem]

Merlot said:

Dixie68 said:

I've always had a TV licence and just changed the address whenever I moved. This time around though I stayed at my brothers house for a couple of months before moving into my house, so I cancelled my licence and applied for a new one when I moved in.
It arrived today and contains this stunning news: "You will pay for your first licence within six months of your licence start date. You'll pay for your next licence over 12 months. Six payments will be taken before your next licence is due and six more after it starts."
The first six months are at £28.50 and then it's £11.93 after that.
So I'm paying the whole cost for a TV licence in just six months, followed by starting to pay for the next one from month seven.
Since when does someone have to pay for their TV licence in advance? Is this normal? Or are the rip-off tts at the Beeb trying it on?

It is normal for them to do this. They will refund you 6 months worth when you move out if you don't transfer it to another property. You could just pay the £142 up front to save this.

I've not got a licence (Don't watch TV) and I've informed them of this. I don't get any harrassment but they did say to expect either an inspector to visit (who would be more than welcome) or a call in 12 months to ask if my situation has changed.

As you have a computer with internet access you are liable for TV licensing fee. Check out the site.

[Merlot]

whythem said:

Merlot said:

Dixie68 said:

I've always had a TV licence and just changed the address whenever I moved. This time around though I stayed at my brothers house for a couple of months before moving into my house, so I cancelled my licence and applied for a new one when I moved in.
It arrived today and contains this stunning news: "You will pay for your first licence within six months of your licence start date. You'll pay for your next licence over 12 months. Six payments will be taken before your next licence is due and six more after it starts."
The first six months are at £28.50 and then it's £11.93 after that.
So I'm paying the whole cost for a TV licence in just six months, followed by starting to pay for the next one from month seven.
Since when does someone have to pay for their TV licence in advance? Is this normal? Or are the rip-off tts at the Beeb trying it on?

It is normal for them to do this. They will refund you 6 months worth when you move out if you don't transfer it to another property. You could just pay the £142 up front to save this.

I've not got a licence (Don't watch TV) and I've informed them of this. I don't get any harrassment but they did say to expect either an inspector to visit (who would be more than welcome) or a call in 12 months to ask if my situation has changed.

As you have a computer with internet access you are liable for TV licensing fee. Check out the site.

Incorrect.

[Merlot]

PW said:

whythem said:

As you have a computer with internet access you are liable for TV licensing fee. Check out the site.

Only if you watch or record a live TV broadcast. Check out the site.

Exactly.

You can watch streaming TV provided it is not a live broadcast. I download from BBC iPlayer HD and get a very good streaming quality and can watch things when I want to watch them. I hardly ever watch TV though.

There are an awful lot of bks spouted on forum threads from people who clearly haven't looked into it at all. I have read all the rules & guidelines back to front and a TV inspector is more than welcome to drop by for a cup of tea.

[Frankeh]

I went to buy one online and couldn't figure out why they were trying to make me pay the whole lot in just 6 months.
I gave up trying to understand the logic.

They send me letters and letters, fk 'em. It's pretty much the only tax I can get away without paying so I don't think I will.

2nd floor flat, never in during the day, doorbell doesn't work. The odds of them ever getting in contact with me is slim.

[MudSkipper]

I've just had the same arguement as above with TV Licensing people, they want to charge £29.10 for the next 5 months, then £12 per month next year. Am not overly impressed with them having £80 of my money just sat in their bank account, but we have worked out a way around this...

Their account year runs Jan-Dec, so in Dec I'll cancel the TV licence, and let the other half take out a new one in his name. We'll get the £80 refunded which will have been paid by then, and then start the year paying month by month rather than being 8 months is credit.
Realistically most people will take out a Licence and never have the need to cancel it, so they could be sat on your hard earned cash for years to come!

[durbster]

Erm... you can transfer a licence to a new address. You don't have to cancel and get a new one.

Edit: Sorry, misread the first bit of the OP.

Edited by durbster on Saturday 7th August 12:32

[Flintstone]

Frankeh said:

....2nd floor flat, never in during the day, doorbell doesn't work. The odds of them ever getting in contact with me is slim.

Ah. But then the TV detector vans will be after you! Or will they? Phantom Vans

[ajprice]

I've just moved into my own flat, started a tv licence expecting to pay the £12 a month over DD. It's similar for me, I have to pay the years worth of licence between now and December, then from January it's £12 monthly. I didn't know they did that, I was expecting to start with the £12 monthly payments.

[MudSkipper]

ajprice said:

I've just moved into my own flat, started a tv licence expecting to pay the £12 a month over DD. It's similar for me, I have to pay the years worth of licence between now and December, then from January it's £12 monthly. I didn't know they did that, I was expecting to start with the £12 monthly payments.

You and me both...came as quite a shock whwn they said £30 a month...robbing sods