paying to much for tv license?

21yrold

hi, i paid for my tv license in aug 09 and agreed to pay monthly...but it came out at 35.62 the 1st month...i thought ok not a problem get it out the way quicker lol

But this is how the payments have been coming out...up to this month:

3 aug
DD - Tv Licence Mbp 35.62
1st sep
DD - Tv Licence Mbp 35.62
1st oct
DD - Tv Licence Mbp 35.62
2nd nov
DD - Tv Licence Mbp 11.93
1dec
DD - Tv Licence Mbp 11.87
4th jan
DD - Tv Licence Mbp 11.87
1st feb
DD - Tv Licence Mbp 11.87
Total to date: £154.40

I take it this is overpayments with no sign of them stopping haha

Should it have been 11.87 for 12months and they have just messed up the 1st 3 payments?

Thanks in advance

21yrold

Blackpool_Saver

I have a feeling that is how they do it the first time you go on monthly payments, I am sure I remember thinking the same as you.
It's ages since I went on monthly and now it is the eleven and pence a month all the time, anyway no doubt someone else will be along to say if it's how they do it now.

davetrousers

Sounds about right. You always pay more at first when paying by DD for your Licence.

jb66

Its becuase your paying your licence in advance, i.e you dont watch a month then pay for it, you have to pay your licence to enable you to watch, so this way ytour always a quarter of a year ahead with your payments

williham

AFAIK you pay for your first year's license in the first six months, then you pay for your second year's license over 12 months.

molerat

As above, you pay for the first licence over six months in arrears (instead of all at once in advance) then the next licence comes in 12 payments, 6 ahead of the renewal and six after.

Dr.Shoe_2

It all depends.

Sometimes if you're behind they'll split the arrears in 3 or 6 parts then you start paying in advance.

21yrold

Thanks guys

Dont think it was behind etc (mom normally pays it but i just renewed it as i have spare money etc..._)

Aslong as im not overpaying etc then thats fine

Thanks again!

Godders

As it happens I had exactly that same query and asked TV licencing - this was their reply (basically confirms the above but with a little more padding):

Thank you for contacting us.

The Monthly Budget Plan can operate in two ways. In the first a customer normally holds a current licence before applying to join the scheme. On joining, they pay for their next licence over twelve months, six before the licence is due and six afterwards. In the second, for those customers who do not hold a current licence, the current year's licence needs to be paid for over the first six months of the lifetime of the first licence issued. This then enables the licensee to make payments towards future licences in line with other members of the scheme, that is, six payments in advance and six in arrears each year.

Before Direct Debit schemes were offered, the full licence fee was always payable in full before a licence could be issued. To suddenly move towards a system of complete payment in arrears would have a drastic effect on the revenue available for the BBC to spend on the creation and transmission of programmes. The BBC depend on this revenue, and I am in no doubt that licensees in general would find it unacceptable if the quality of programmes and services suffered as a result of such a shortfall. The Monthly Budget Plan achieves a kind of balance, allowing the BBC to maintain its projected income, whilst not affecting the licence fee.

I hope the information above is helpful.