TV licence, can they do this?

wtabby

"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"
Did this but they still back dated it. Obviously picked up on address and same surname as my wife who held the licence previously.
Thanks for all advice

Valli

Trouble with applying for the licence in a different name is it's the PERSON who has to have the licence APPARENTLY (despite all the fuss about addresses) - as I found out when I failed to remove my ex's name and relicence in mine...

Gloomendoom

Valli wrote: »

Trouble with applying for the licence in a different name is it's the PERSON who has to have the licence APPARENTLY (despite all the fuss about addresses) - as I found out when I failed to remove my ex's name and relicence in mine...

That is not my experience. When my ex departed she re-registered our TV licence at her new home. I then bought a new licence but put the house address in a slightly different format

There followed four years (yes, four years) of being pestered and threatened with prosecution by the TV licence people because 'according to their database' there was no longer a TV licence registered to my address.

As I had a licence every letter went straight in the bin. Unfortunately, nobody ever turned up at the door the interview me (under caution. of course), so I didn't get a chance to wave my valid TV licence in their face.

Valli

figures - in other words the licence holder is in the wrong! And different staff have different understanding of the system.

My assumption had been it was the address that had to have a licence 'attached' to it until I was told otherwise.

I do realise, however, that, had they been unable to find a licence for this address I would have been harrassed. As there WAS a licence here I got no hassle at all - in fact I now cannot recall under what circumstances it came to the notice of the bods in Bristol that I didn't have a 'valid' licence, though the house did!

wtabby

Eventually, after two letters I got my tv licence renewed for 12 months. Next time I go abroad for 6 months I will apply for a refund
Thanks for all advice

muckybutt

wtabby wrote: »

Eventually, after two letters I got my tv licence renewed for 12 months. Next time I go abroad for 6 months I will apply for a refund
Thanks for all advice

Thanks for updating the thread :T