TV License - query about renewal date

ricoeliso

So i purchased/moved into my flat at the end of January last year (January 28th to be exact) and like a good law abiding citizen, I immedietely paid for my 1 year TV license upfront (though i do not agree with it).

However, this week i have received a reminder saying that my TV license is now 2 weeks over due and they will be sending round investigators. On the document it claims that my TV license expired on the 31st December 2012. I rang up to explain that i had only moved into the property at the end of January 2012 so my full 365 day license was not yet expired (and i didn't actually have tv installed until February anyway) but the customer service representative said that it didn't matter, as their system back dates so buying a TV license at ANY time January will mean it will expire at the end of the previous month.

I was outraged, and i am particularly aggrieved at giving these money grabbing tax collectors any more of my hard earned cash for a free month. In the end i refused to pay and said i will just phone back on the 1st February and renew then, when my TV license ACTUALLY expires.

What rights do I have if an investigator does come round? I can easily prove that i was not in the property prior to the end of Jan/beginning of feb and that TV was not installed until February 2012.

thanks and look forward to your advice!

lazer

Unfortunatley - the TV licensing people have a licence to steal.

There is nothing you can do about this and when you go to renew it will actually back date - although you probably start the process rom scratch and just buy a new licence - not sure how this works.

Also be aware that if you ever don't need a TV licence and are requesting a refund on the unused part - they will only refund for full unused quarters - so make sure and select the date you end the licence accordingly.

In essence - they can backdate your licence by up to 30 days when you by it, and can refuse to refund for 90 days usage.

StuC75

Surely the TV License you received states when it expired?

generally they do include it being for the full month in which it was started in, bit like road tax really..

ricoeliso

To be honest i paid for it then left it at that. i don't think i even opened the letter which confirmed the license as I had other (bigger) matters to deal with having just move in to the flat.

My thoughts exactly - it should be inclusive of the month in which you pay, but apparently not! This is why i want to know what rights I have if someone does come round?

HappyMJ

ricoeliso wrote: »

To be honest i paid for it then left it at that. i don't think i even opened the letter which confirmed the license as I had other (bigger) matters to deal with having just move in to the flat.

My thoughts exactly - it should be inclusive of the month in which you pay, but apparently not! This is why i want to know what rights I have if someone does come round?

You can choose not to answer the door. If you do answer the door and it's them you can use your right to silence and not say anything then close the door. You can also refuse any further entry to your property. If they really want access they need a warrant which they can apply to the local court to get.

le_loup

ricoeliso wrote: »

I was outraged!

Doesn't take much, does it?
I would recommend you save your outrage for something outrageous, otherwise you won't live long enough to enjoy it.

Still, you can at least continue to shout at the television if you pay for a licence.

ricoeliso

le_loup wrote: »

Doesn't take much, does it?
I would recommend you save your outrage for something outrageous, otherwise you won't live long enough to enjoy it.

Still, you can at least continue to shout at the television if you pay for a licence.

Thanks - really helpful advice [not].

To be honest - 'slightly annoyed' doesn't really cut it.

agrinnall

ricoeliso wrote: »

My thoughts exactly - it should be inclusive of the month in which you pay, but apparently not! This is why i want to know what rights I have if someone does come round?

Why do you think it's not inclusive of the month in which you paid? I presume you would accept there are 12 months in a year, you paid in January and got that month plus the remaining 11 up to the end of December: 1 + 11 = 12 QED.

CLAPTON

There are very very very few bills (except from government of course) where you pay for the whole month even if you use only a day or so.

Indeed, in most fields of business I'm sure the OFT would deem it an unfair practice and ban it.

ricoeliso

agrinnall wrote: »

Why do you think it's not inclusive of the month in which you paid? I presume you would accept there are 12 months in a year, you paid in January and got that month plus the remaining 11 up to the end of December: 1 + 11 = 12 QED.

my point being that i paid on 29th Jan and would have expected my license to therefore run until midnight on the 28th. based your calculation i actually would have only had 11 months and 1 day. Furthermore, and as mentioned previously, i didn't actually have TV in the house until February as well!

agrinnall

ricoeliso wrote: »

my point being that i paid on 29th Jan and would have expected my license to therefore run until midnight on the 28th. based your calculation i actually would have only had 11 months and 1 day. Furthermore, and as mentioned previously, i didn't actually have TV in the house until February as well!

Well yes, as Clapton says, that's how we would like it to work, but like other government charges, such as VED, it doesn't. Had you delayed your purchase of the licence for a few days then you would have been able to get 12 full months, but you chose to buy before you needed to. If you're not happy with the system then lobby your MP, or start a petition http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/