TV licence - cancelling monthly DD

Bonky

If I pay my TV licence by monthly direct debit, can I cancel it at any time or am I committed to pay for the whole year until the licence expires? I just got a new licence and am worried I may have to pay for the next 11 months. If not, How do they calculate the charging period – in advance, or just for what I’ve watched up to the date I decide to cancel?

I mainly watch DVDs or surf the web, as TV is crap these days. Plus my TV is analogue and is no longer capable of receiving any broadcasts, so it would be hard for them to accuse me of licence evasion.

I've scoured the web and this forum but cannot find the answer I'm looking for, so apologies if it’s here somewhere, but I would appreciate some advice from someone who has gone through the process of cancelling a TVL direct debit.


Thanks :hello:

karatedragon

I got so sick of the televisual excrement I got rid of the telly.

I just turned the Direct Debit off and about 8 weeks later a cheque came for the amount I had paid upfront.

Life is so much better being Telly Free!

Bonky

karatedragon wrote: »

I got so sick of the televisual excrement I got rid of the telly.

I just turned the Direct Debit off and about 8 weeks later a cheque came for the amount I had paid upfront.

Life is so much better being Telly Free!

Hello KD, presumably you had to tell them you were cancelling first? Did you do that online?

Thanks :wave:

karatedragon

No. I just stopped the DD at my building society. The cheque came later. I never contacted the TVL people

mjm3346

Bonky wrote: »

Plus my TV is analogue and is no longer capable of receiving any broadcasts, so it would be hard for them to accuse me of licence evasion.
:hello:

Having an analogue TV makes no difference to being accused or not (you could simply have a freeview box)

Former_MSE_Alana

Hi,

We have received this response from TV Licensing:

"Hi Bonky,

Saw your post and thought this might be helpful.

If you’ve stopped watching TV, you should be able to claim a refund on any unused quarters remaining on your licence, irrespective of whether you pay annually or monthly by Direct Debit. Please see here for more details: http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/tv-licence-refunds-top7/.

You mention in your question that you mainly watch DVDs or surf the web. You’re right in saying that you don’t need a licence to watch DVDs if your TV does not receive any broadcasts, but it is worth noting that you do require a licence to watch programmes on the web as they are shown on TV. For full details on when you need a TV Licence, please visit our website here: http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one.

If you’d like us to look into whether or not you’d qualify for a refund, then feel free to email us your details on support@tvlicensing.info at any time and we will get someone to contact you.

Hope this helps.

TV Licensing Support
support@tvlicensing.info"