Tv licence question

burtons

My girlfriend pays £5.60 a week on a tv licence payment card and about 6 months ago she didn't pay for a couple of weeks due to money problems, she then had someone from the tv licence come to the door and they cancelled the payment card she was using and they gave her a new one to use. She has now caught up with missed payment but due to her being on maternity leave and didn't get any money from her works and was waiting for the jobcentre to sort out her money she missed a tv licence payment and this caused someone from the tv licence to come out and find out why she missed a payment. She has now had a summons letter for the missed week and it says that the costs will be no less than £60 but what i would like to no when it goes to court how much fine will she get.

Thrifty_Pixie

I'm sorry I can't help you with the fine amount, but why does she use a payment card exactly? You can pay for your TV licence by monthly direct debit anyway and you only pay around £12 per month as opposed to the £22.40 she's paying every 4 weeks now...

Triggles

She missed one week and they're taking her to court? You haven't said, but can I guess that she missed these payments due to not having the money, but didn't bother to call them and work out a different arrangement instead? Has she called them since she got the summons to speak to them and see if it can be worked out? That would be my first approach, as they may make arrangements with her to pay it back. On something like tv license (or anything having to do with council, government, and the like), it's best to be upfront with them if having difficulty, and generally they will work with you to sort it. They get a bit ratty when people just don't pay it and don't keep the lines of communication open. I'd recommend she call them ...

clang_uk

I've had one of these payment cards before and they are very helpful when you call. But there are lots of notices on their website saying that if you don't pay you're watching tele without a licence which = £1k fine?! She should call them and explain that she is preggers and couldn't make it to the paypoint/post office, internet was broken, and hope they take a lenient view. Paying by direct debit is the easiest method.