Overcharged on my TV license?

1565,004,126

I'm living in rented accommodation for a total of 4 months with 2 other housemates and we needed a TV license. My friend payed the bills online and said he paid £24.25 and it's a monthly debit (making the yearly total when paid monthly for months till the end of the year).

Has he messed up in some big way? This is taking into consideration of the previous 5 months we have not lived here, and the months after which we will not be.

Is there not a simple way just to pay a monthly debit and not be locked into yearly shenanigans? Our bill ought to be 48.18 right for the 4 months?

finbow

No he hasn't it sounds right, you pay more for the first 6 months of taking the TV license if paying by DD. The following is taken from the TV licensing website

"Monthly Direct Debit is our most popular option, giving you the control of smaller monthly instalments with the convenience of automatic payment and renewal. You’ll usually pay for your first year’s TV Licence within the first six months, at around £24 a month. You’ll then pay for your next licence in twelve monthly instalments of just over £12."

You should be able to reclaim some money at the end of the 4 months.

davemurgatroyd

The TV license is an annual fee only - it can be paid in four ways - total payment up front, monthly direct debeits (as explained in post above), weekly payments and quarterly payments. Any unused months paid for by any of these means can be reclaimed when you move out and surrender the license.

Swipe

They only refund for each remaining quarter, not month

steve-L

This is ridiculous....
I have had no TV since April (digital changeover) but my license continued to June so I couldn't claim back a quarter. I don't watch much TV anyway so I wasn't that bothered to go on the roof and change to a new arial.
I'm moving in September so I expect we will get a house with a arial that can get digital.

So I thought I'd prepare and get a license for when I move as I have been receiving the usual threats. They are welcome to come round and see if they can get a picture!

So they now charge me back to June despite me still having no TV....

This is a total ripoff.

dresdendave

steve-L wrote: »

This is ridiculous....
I have had no TV since April (digital changeover) but my license continued to June so I couldn't claim back a quarter. I don't watch much TV anyway so I wasn't that bothered to go on the roof and change to a new arial.
I'm moving in September so I expect we will get a house with a arial that can get digital.

So I thought I'd prepare and get a license for when I move as I have been receiving the usual threats. They are welcome to come round and see if they can get a picture!

So they now charge me back to June despite me still having no TV....

This is a total ripoff.

Why do you need a new ariel?

Surely you need a Freeview box to receive digital TV? Changing the ariel is meaningless.

As regards to the "ripoff". The date of the digital swithover was known years in advance. If you had no intention of being able to receve digital TV, why didn't you cancel at the end of the first quarter, rather than waiting till April.

[Deleted User]

dresdendave wrote: »

Surely you need a Freeview box to receive digital TV? Changing the ariel is meaningless.

No it isn't
A Freeview box (or TV with built-in Freeview) will only receive channels if it's connected to a suitable aerial. If the aerial is old or damaged (or both) it may not receive digital channels.

societys_child

I think the point dresdendave was making was that if you had a decent analogue picture, you'd very likely have no problem receiving digital.

You don't normally need a new "digital" aerial (actually, there's no such thing)

MothballsWallet

I had to get a new aerial a few years ago because there was no outside one - just two indoor aerials in the loft, so I bought a new aerial that gave me a better picture on analogue and still on digital.

windyng

I agree with dresdendave - the digital switchover was sanctioned a long time ago - so you could have ended the TV license earlier.

steve-L

dresdendave wrote: »

Why do you need a new ariel?

Surely you need a Freeview box to receive digital TV? Changing the ariel is meaningless.

My old one used to receive a snowy picture which considering my use was good enough. My TV has a built in Digital Tuner but I didn't get enough signal. I had (now moved) no access to the roof where the arial is....

As regards to the "ripoff". The date of the digital swithover was known years in advance. If you had no intention of being able to receve digital TV, why didn't you cancel at the end of the first quarter, rather than waiting till April.

Its a rip-off because I was Ok about paying to the end of the quarter but I paid for 12 MONTHS not 11 MONTHS....

I had no need to renew the license for the overlap period as I had no TV but since they kept sending me threatening letters I figured I would renew in the last month before I moved so it was one less hassle.

The rip off is they then only gave me 10 MONTHS