TV licence, can they do this?

wtabby

In Nov 2010 I went abroad for 5 months and left my house empty. My tv licence expired in December and as I was abroad and wouldn't be watching I didn't renew it.
Returned to UK on 6th April to a pile of threatening letters demanding that I get a licence. That same day I bought a licence from the local Co op.
Received a letter this morning saying that usually a licence lasts for 12 months from purchase, but in my case it will need renewing in January 2012. They are deducting the outstanding months whilst I was away without asking first was there a valid reason.
Wish I could run my business this way.
Really annoyed with them and will give them a piece of my mind on Monday when I ring them.

Valli

Why didn't you INFORM them instead of waiting for them to ASK you? Unless you inform them a licence isn't needed, and why, they assume a licence is needed.
WRITE to them stating that you needed a licence when you bought your new one and not from January. Keep a copy of the letter.

System

They tried that with me when I was away for 6 months.

I informed them that if they were aware that there was somebody in my house during the period that I was away, then I needed the details to inform the police of a break-in. If they did not want to tell the police then I would report them as accessory to a burglary as they were aware of somebody in the house.

Heard no more after that.

wtabby

"They tried that with me when I was away for 6 months."
They haven't tried it they have already done it. I have to contact them to explain why my licence was only renewed in April. Just hope I manage to stay calm. I have already thought about telling them I want refunding or the licence returning to its full 12 months else my next step would be a county court claim against them. Not really sure if I can process a CC claim against a government body??
I remember years ago laughing about things like this happening in Russia and East Germany

Valli

I strongly advise you to WRITE and KEEP A COPY

if you do phone them note the date, time and content of the call, to whom you spoke and then write confirming what was said. Tell them you bought a year's licence as soon as you returned to the UK.
If this happens again write to them before you go.

Whoever you speak to is doing a job, getting cross with them will not help you at all. If you lose your temper the person dealing with you will become less helpful - fact of life.

Tell (in your letter) them you can provide documentary evidence that you were out of the country (assuming you can).

DVardysShadow

Valli wrote: »

... Whoever you speak to is doing a job, getting cross with them will not help you at all. If you lose your temper the person dealing with you will become less helpful - fact of life.

Although this case does not depend upon the cooperation of the call centre droid on little bit.

The actual offence is watching a TV without a valid licence. So the current licence remains valid to the date stated on it. OP does not need to renew in Jan 2012 - they can just go down to the coop in April 2012 to buty another licence. The fact is that TV licensing missed their opportunity between December 2010 and April 2011 to come looking for a licence evader.

pimento

The TV Licencing people wouldn't be very high up on my list of people to contact if I was going abroad for several months, to be honest.

WhiteHorse

wtabby wrote: »

Received a letter this morning saying that usually a licence lasts for 12 months from purchase, but in my case it will need renewing in January 2012. They are deducting the outstanding months whilst I was away without asking first was there a valid reason.

No, they can't do that.

(1) They have no means of knowing whether or not there was a TV set on the premises during those times.

(2) Even if they had evidence that there was, they still cannot do that. They cannot simply backcharge.

If they think they have lost out, they have to (a) prosecute for licence evasion (which is actually more lucrative), or (b) sue for the missing money.

This is simply some nasty little jobsworth trying to invent law as they go along.

Don't forget either that TV Licensing is not the government. It's a private for-profit company.

iamcornholio

A tip .....

If you "forget" to renew your licence for a while (or go abroad), to prevent the new licence being backdated, then simply apply for the new one with a different name, and don't tick the renewal box on and application form

A couple of years ago our licence was held by our yukka tree (Mr Yukka Tree)

Mrs cornholio had to do some severe restraint with me as I was dead intent on not renewing, not replying to their demands and I really wanted their inspector to call and ask to speak to the yukka tree.

This year, the kids hamster holds the licence. I personally have nothing against the hamster, but I would love to see him being taken to court for not renewing the licence when the time comes

DCFC79

OP take on the advice thats been posted

rockin_plumber

pimento wrote: »

The TV Licencing people wouldn't be very high up on my list of people to contact if I was going abroad for several months, to be honest.

This^^^

The only time I ever think about it is when they send the reminder and I have to pay again...