TV Licence, confused over monthly payments.

gemm.stone

Hi,

My son has just moved in a new flat, having lived with his mother.

So he went on-line and triad to get the licence that way.

This is what it says...


The Direct Debit payments for your TV Licence are:
TV Licence fee: £145.50

Date of payment Amount 22/11/2011 £24.25 22/12/2011 £24.25 23/01/2012 £24.25 22/02/2012 £24.25 22/03/2012 £24.25 23/04/2012 £24.25 Payments are taken on or within 3 working days of these dates.
Your next TV Licence will be automatically renewed and your Direct Debit payments are:

Some of the following payments may be provisional and therefore could be subject to change.

Date of payment Amount 22/05/2012 £12.18 22/06/2012 £12.12 23/07/2012 £12.12 22/08/2012 £12.12 24/09/2012 £12.12 22/10/2012 £12.12 22/11/2012 £12.12 24/12/2012 £12.12 22/01/2013 £12.12 22/02/2013 £12.12 22/03/2013 £12.12 22/04/2013 £12.12
Why is he getting charged for a full years licence?

Should he not have to pay £12.12 a month.

Am I just being completely dense! What am I missing? It looks to me like he is having to pay for six months he hasn't live there?

(£24.25 * 6 months = £145)

(12.25*12 month = £145)

Help please.

*Mods,if this in the wrong place then could you move it to the right place please. Thank you.

VestanPance

They charge double for the first six months (ie pay in full). They've been doing that for a few years now.

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/pay-for-your-tv-licence/payment-methods/direct-debit-pay1/

gemm.stone

Really, how is that fair and legal.

Why can a hard up student take the government to court over course fees but nobody can change the TV payments system.

Really, is this true :eek:

Dare I ask why?

jennifernil

The TV licence is payable in full in advance, so if you are starting out on DDs, they take the whole first year in 6 months.

Then you pay for the next year 6 months ahead and 6 months in arrears.

It is a weird system, but if you do not have the full amount available at the start then it is a way out.

It's a bit like Road Fund Tax, that too is payable in full in advance.

keystone

gemm.stone wrote: »

Really, how is that fair and legal.

Because a TV licence is for a year. It doesn't matter that you only use your TV for one day in that year or for 365 days you still have to pay for a year.

Its just like a yearly rail season ticket or a golf club subscription or a footie club season ticket or a years gym membership or or or or or. If it was PAYG it would be a lot more expensive. I'm not sure how you can logically suggest its either illegal or unfair TBH.

Cheers

DVardysShadow

gemm.stone wrote: »

Am I just being completely dense! What am I missing? It looks to me like he is having to pay for six months he hasn't live there?

If he starts today, he will get a year's licence running from 02/11/2011 to 01/11/2012 and he will have paid for it in full by 02/05/2011. That is what you are missing. Maybe not dense, but certainly heavier than air.

It ain't something to get upset about, because if you buy a licence outright today, you pay for it in full today.