TV Licence 0870 number

dave318

I just received a letter stating that I had purchased some TV epuipment and didn't have a licence for the property in my name.

1. The Address was wrong
2. Our licence is in my wifes name.

However, they publish a phone number to contact, it being an 0870 number.
So for no fault of my own TV Licensing demand that I phone at my expense, for their profit. NOT ON.
Luckily I use https://www.saynoto0870.co.uk and found a freephone number. But I couldn't believe the gall of these people, charging more for what should be a free service. The TV Licence is enough considering the pap we have to put up with on our televisions. So I sent off the following e-mail to them.


"I just received an automatic letter which stated that I had bought tv equipment in May this year, and that my the address given didn't have a licence in my name. Unfortunately, the address was wrong, with the wrong flat number.

However, my complaint is not about this. It is the insistance on companies like yourself making people like me phone an 0870 number to correct an error you have made.
As it happens, I use the website https://www.saynoto0870.co.uk and managed to find an 0800 number to contact you on. But for those not in the know, this is another cynical extortion of money from you. It is bad enough that we even have to pay so much for a TV licence let alone being fleeced for as much money as possible by you.
It took me at least 5 minutes to get through to you and another 4 on the phone.

I would like to think that you could publish the 0800 free phone number on your mail, rather than cynically charging people more money than they already pay, for no fault of theirs.

Thank You"

Perhaps Martin might take this up with them as he probably has more sway than me.

JohalaReewi

Sadly, this is not new. Not only that, TVL tend to ignore anything you tell them and insist that the 'computer' is right. Once the computer has got a name and address for which it has no record of a TV licence, it will send out letters etc. to try and get a 'sale'. Just ignore TVL, or maybe everyone should phone them on the 0800 number and cost them a few pennies

Turning_into_scrooge

The chances are TVL have not made a mistake at all. I had this happen to me on several occasions. When you buy a TV most places take the name and address down from the person buying it and send this info to TVL. Only more often than not the buyer uses your name or address, not their own

rick_x

Totally agree but, wasn't it a bit silly to inform them where you got the 0800 number from as they'll most likely go to the site, find the number and then change it screwing everybody?

hechizero

rick_x wrote:

Totally agree but, wasn't it a bit silly to inform them where you got the 0800 number from as they'll most likely go to the site, find the number and then change it screwing everybody?

Agreed, why would you help them track the source of a number you just used for free? Now the probability is no one else will be able to use it

JasonW_2

They don't have a different internet from the rest of us, and I'm sure the chances they have heard of the site are pretty high, so I don't see the problem here. If anything it is a nice reminder that people do use the site and will stick together and not be shafted if they can help it, and that there is a huge consumer annoyance with 0870 numbers in general.

D

CrazyChemist_2

if it's 0800 328 20 20 then it's just been on a BBC3 "advert" for TVL so I don't think they'll be scrapping it just yet

ckerrd

I kept getting letters from the Licencing people telling me that they had no notice of a licence at my address and I would be subject to a large fine if I didn't get one.
Like Dave 318 it is in my wife's name so I phoned and said" we have aTV licence" and the woman checked and said "Yes we know, don't know why you are getting letters"
The kept coming and eventually two blokes turned up at the door demanding to see my Licence. Well, one at the door the other at the foot of the stairs, ready for any trouble. They were mightily !!!!!! off when I showed them current up to date fully paid up licence. One guy intitialled it and they went on their way.
And then I got another letter......

CrazyChemist_2

ckerrd wrote:

I kept getting letters from the Licencing people telling me that they had no notice of a licence at my address and I would be subject to a large fine if I didn't get one.
Like Dave 318 it is in my wife's name so I phoned and said" we have aTV licence" and the woman checked and said "Yes we know, don't know why you are getting letters"
The kept coming and eventually two blokes turned up at the door demanding to see my Licence. Well, one at the door the other at the foot of the stairs, ready for any trouble. They were mightily !!!!!! off when I showed them current up to date fully paid up licence. One guy intitialled it and they went on their way.
And then I got another letter......

I'd have locked them in my dining room and then phoned TV Licensing to say they weren't getting their goons back till they agree to stop sending letters

Alas it's against the Geneva convention... darn

HomerStig

I've received a couple of letters off TVL after I bought a TV. We have a licence but not under my name. I don't know why they can't see that there's a licence at the address but I sent the reply back giving my Girlfriends licence no. It kept them quiet for a while until I got another one saying I'd just bought TV equipment (I hadn't). Also where is says on the letter where the equipment was bought it was just blank.

CrazyChemist_2

Did you know... if you phone an 0800 number from a BT Payphone, the recipient has to pay a surcharge of 15p per minute



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