I’m not renewing my TV licence - any pitfalls?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

For some years now, I've been paying for my TV license by monthly direct debit.
Alerted by this thread, I realised that it was time to tell the BBC that I would turn 75 in May this year, so that the payments could be stopped at the proper time.
Imagine my surprise on getting a letter this week telling me that I am entitled to a refund of £36.16.
How can this be?

I can only assume that they've calculated (correctly) that the monthly amount you've already paid is around three months above the annual TV Licence fee (3 x £12.12-ish) - ie, if you started to pay the Licence fee three months before your birthday?

From the Official TV Licence website:

Once you or someone you live with are over 74 you are eligible to apply for the over 75 free licence for your household.

If you're aged 74:

We'll process your application within 28 days, taking into account any money you have already paid towards a licence, and we'll calculate how much you need to pay up to your 75th birthday.

The cost may vary according to how many months the licence needs to cover you before you turn 75. However you pay, you will receive a receipt which shows you are covered until your 75th birthday. Please keep this safe.

You will then automatically receive your free over 75 TV Licence in the month of your 75th birthday.

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ53

[Dave2002]

I can almost accept the funding to come from tax, but I don't understand why it should be based on income. I would resent paying more to watch telly than someone else, just because I earn more money than them; just as I wouldn't want to pay less than a rich person pays.

Per person charges seem, on the face of it, to be fairer - but remember the Community Charge and the problems that threw up - plus the rather large number of people who were not indifferent to ways of avoiding it - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poll...Great_Britain)

[Dave2002]

If one has recorded programmes on a PVR with a licence, and then moves house can one then view the previously recorded programmes without having to have a licence? The rules have changed a few times since PVRs became common. Similarly can one leave the PVR in the old house and watch there, while, for example renovations are carried out, having moved the licence to a new address?

[Sir Velo]

If one has recorded programmes on a PVR with a licence, and then moves house can one then view the previously recorded programmes without having to have a licence? The rules have changed a few times since PVRs became common. Similarly can one leave the PVR in the old house and watch there, while, for example renovations are carried out, having moved the licence to a new address?

Absolutely not.

[french frank]

If one has recorded programmes on a PVR with a licence, and then moves house can one then view the previously recorded programmes without having to have a licence? The rules have changed a few times since PVRs became common. Similarly can one leave the PVR in the old house and watch there, while, for example renovations are carried out, having moved the licence to a new address?

I'm not sure that [old] programmes recorded on a video recorder come under the same legislation as the iPlayer programmes. I had the URL of a Channel 4 Time Team archived programme bookmarked, and when I accessed it again more recently it only occurred to me later that I shouldn't be watching it at all without a licence (though it had been perfectly legal when I first viewed it as it was on Catch-Up). But that wasn't my personal recording.

[teamsaint]

So, the World cup....
With no TV licence ......

I can imagine FF will be ok with that....

[french frank]

So, the World cup....
With no TV licence ......

I can imagine FF will be ok with that....

Plenty of pubs round here advertise the sporting events they'll be showing on their televisions. But I'll be away on holiday from next week - back just in time for the quarter finals, apparently.

[LMcD]

Plenty of pubs round here advertise the sporting events they'll be showing on their televisions. But I'll be away on holiday from next week - back just in time for the quarter finals, apparently.

You won't be seeing England, then....

[french frank]

You won't be seeing England, then....

I won't be seeing any of them!

[James Wonnacott]

Plenty of pubs round here advertise the sporting events they'll be showing on their televisions. But I'll be away on holiday from next week - back just in time for the quarter finals, apparently.

Several of those around here too, fortunately though there is one with NO television, No "music", NO pool table, NO food (except pasties, pork pies, crisps and nuts) and a ban on using mobile phones. Just a choice of excellent ales and CONVERSATION!!!!!!!!

[teamsaint]

Several of those around here too, fortunately though there is one with NO television, No "music", NO pool table, NO food (except pasties, pork pies, crisps and nuts) and a ban on using mobile phones. Just a choice of excellent ales and CONVERSATION!!!!!!!!

From " Roots" by Show of Hands.....

We need roots

.....................


And a minister said his vision of hell
Is three folk singers in a pub near Wells
Well, I've got a vision of urban sprawl
It's pubs where no-one ever sings at all

And everyone stares at a great big screen
Overpaid soccer stars, prancing teens
Australian soap, American rap
Estuary English, baseball caps

And we learn be ashamed before we walk
Of the way we look, at the way we talk
Without our stories or our songs......