TV Licence Refund... Grrrr

SP4

Hi All

I have just moved from a flat of 3 where I was the bills payer, to a flat with my gf where they are included in the rent. I am currently going through the joys of cancelling utilities... and cottoned on to what can only be described as "The TV Licencing Scam"!

In brief: At the start of the policy, I pay 6 months at double rate (£72 ish), when cancelling, I am refunded for unused quarters: £36 ish. My (first) question - surely we are always in a quarter, so it is impossible to get a full refund?

In response to my letter of complaint, the lovely lady in Customer Services explained:

"When you contacted us to cancel your TV Licence you had paid 7 monthly instalments towards your February 2013 expiry licence. These 7 payments would have covered March 2012 until the end of September 2012"... (So kind of her to let me know what "could have happened")...

If I had known this (yes - my fault for not reading the small print), I would have offered to continue paying off the following 3 months and have my old flat mates pay me back accordingly ... instead, I have rather generously donated £36 to the BBC with a new (equally extortionate) licence setup to cover the flat…

“To ensure consistency we always cancel licences in line with a customer's instructions. We never recommend continuing to pay for a licence which is no longer needed, whether or not a refund is due.” (So good to know they have my best interests at heart…)

So my second question: Has anyone ever received a full refund in similar circumstances? Or am I destined to hate the BBC forever?

Cheers for reading!

The_Safordian

Ah another person who finds out the hard way what the BBC are really like, a nasty bunch of Socialists.

The answer to your question is yes. If you no longer require a BBC TV Licence tell them and say you'd like a refund. They will ask you further questions but are not required to answer them because its non of their business.

Also I hope you have not given them your new address because they will continue to harass,intimidate and threaten you until payments to the BBC start again whether you need a TV Licence or not like so:


Direct Link


If you want advice on dealing with these people this is the place to be

http://www.tvlicenceresistance.info/forum/

Buzby

You are always in a quarter, but counting towards the next one, so all it takes is to note which of the 4 month ends you need to give notice of cancellation.

The payment scheme is fair and reasonable, but it is slanted to the broadcaster so that it is getting funds that are due. Paying up incurs a cost, so if you paid it annually there would be no complication it getting a refund of any unused element. This is explained in the T&C's but is not intuitive - but this is the way it was deigned. I save and pay up front when due, and avoid this nonsense - the same goes for most other outfits that require an annual payment. You are always better managing your own finances then letting someone else do it for you - it will always work out more expensive when you do.