Please Help! Advise please?! TV License

inspiremetosave

Hiya,
This may be in the wrong place, but I wasn't sure where to put it!
I brought my house in Jan this year off my parents, I brought a TV license at the same time. Since August I have received letters from the TV Licensing people that my licence has expired. Each time I have rang them, after about half an hour they realise that this is their error as because I brought the house of my parents and I have the same name, they see if as my parents' lisence at this address has ran out, blah blah blah and that they have updated their system. This has happened at least 3 times. Today I have come home from work to find a letter saying that someone has been round to check my license. I rang them again and the first person I spoke to kept repeating 'your licence ran out in August' I asked to speak to a supervisor and was told there was not one present, I asked to hold - he said that was not possible and if I continued to request to hold he would have to cut me off as there was calls waiting. I then asked for the address to complain to and then I was cut off. I called back and spoke to someone else he said he cannot help without my licence number and then cut me off. I have not got a licence number on my license and was so concerned about this that I went to the post office to see if I was just missing it! They advised that because this is the first license I have purchased that I won't have a license number. I am getting really stressed out about this and am sick of wasting my time and money(phonebill) trying to sort this out especially when I'm been treated like this. Anyone got any advise on where I should go from here?

Thanks

mossy

I think you need to put it in writing to them and send the letter recorded delivery. I would also include the stress that you've had and the cost of the telephone calls you've spent trying to sort this out.

I'm sure there must be a template around somewhere to help you. Someone who is more experienced on these boards will hopefully be along soon to help. Hope you get it sorted soon.

Mizz_Pink

What a nightmare !

I dont know if you can do anything else but persevere with it. Maybe look on their website and see if there is a contacts page ?

inspiremetosave

The thing is, if I have poor service with for example a shop, i could just stop going there, but i cant go without tv!!!

mossy

If you do try to phone them again make sure you take their name and any other call references (if you haven't already been doing so) that way you can document it all.

Your best bet is a letter IMO and send copies to other relevant complaint authorities/headoffice etc. If you've got the details of the original payment for the license that would be handy to have nearby and to quote in a letter.

kai666

I have the same problem, been renting my place for 7 months and had 5 letters from the tv licence people. The problem is they have the wrong postcode in their computer. Each time they say they will correct it. I have ignored the last 2 letters


Surely as long as you can wave the licence in their faces if they come back you should be ok?

RDA

If you've bought a license or you're paying into a budget plan for one, there's nothing to worry about.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid license for any television receiving equipment in use at your house. You have no responsibility whatsoever towards TV Licensing for their inability to keep accurate records.

Write them a simple letter explaining the situation, quoting any reference numbers you have and make sure you send it by recorded delivery.

If they continue to hound you, just sit back and wait for the summons. If it ever gets to court, you'll be in line for a tidy sum in compensation for your inconvenience and the mental torment brought about by being accused of a 'crime' you didn't commit.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

rog2

If you bought the house in January, is it possible that the previous owner's TV licence was due to expire in August and he forgot to tell them?
Is the correspondence addressed to you personally or to 'the occupier'?
Perhaps you could photocopy your licence and send them a copy with your letter.

immoral_angeluk

I would photocopy your license and send it to them with a covering letter asking to correct their details and stop hassling you.

SunderlandBlackCat

RDA wrote:

If you've bought a license or you're paying into a budget plan for one, there's nothing to worry about.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid license for any television receiving equipment in use at your house. You have no responsibility whatsoever towards TV Licensing for their inability to keep accurate records.

Write them a simple letter explaining the situation, quoting any reference numbers you have and make sure you send it by recorded delivery.

If they continue to hound you, just sit back and wait for the summons. If it ever gets to court, you'll be in line for a tidy sum in compensation for your inconvenience and the mental torment brought about by being accused of a 'crime' you didn't commit.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Hit the nail squarely on the head there.

pudding06

AS previous poster said - so long as you have your licence dont worry about it.

I had the same problem many years ago. THey came to my house because we'd just bought it and the othre peoples had run out. I just produced it and everything was fine..

so - - just ignore them---

pudds