11 month TV licence and Distance Selling Regulations

captain_skut

I just bought a new TV licence online (paid in full) not realizing that it's backdated to the beginning of the month and effectively I am only getting just over 11 months, instead of the full 12 months. From a quick scan of the forums and the internet it seems that the BBC/TV Licensing just don't care about ripping people off.

Given that I have yet to watch live TV what I intend to do is cancel and wait until 1st October before I re-buy my TV licence.

Are TV Licensing bound by the Distance Selling Regulations? I presume so, but for some reason (I can't think why) I am anticipating a lot of grief when I try to cancel...

Heinz

Welcome to the MSE forums.

Personally, I think DSR relate to physical goods and I can't see that it would apply to an abstract like a licence.

I'd be careful about proceeding further though because what you propose would, in effect (although you may protest you have not), mean you would be admitting to watching without a licence between the day you bought the licence and the end of the month. Capita are an unforgiving bunch and may jump at the chance.

System

It is no different to VED. These will be backdated to the beginning of the month.

Because the licence is issued from the first of the month only then it has to be backdated to cover you from point of purchase to the end of that month.

DSR will not apply as it is a fee mandated by an act of parliament

If you want to follow the DSR route then it is probably classed as a service that has begun so still not covered

Cornucopia

It's a tax, it gets backdated.

You can try asking for the licence to be revoked for a refund. They may or may give it to you.

Asking for a refund is not an admission of guilt to evasion.

It's not covered by DSR - it is a tax.

InsideInsurance

!!!!!! wrote: »

DSR will not apply as it is a fee mandated by an act of parliament

If you want to follow the DSR route then it is probably classed as a service that has begun so still not covered

The second part was going to be my comment that its a service and so is covered by the DSR but the right to cancel ceases as soon as the service starts and given the licenses starts immediately there effectively is no DSR cancellation rights.

Never heard of the DSR not covering anything mandated by an act of parliment

anotheruser

Heinz wrote: »

...mean you would be admitting to watching without a licence between the day you bought the licence and the end of the month. Capita are an unforgiving bunch and may jump at the chance.

Yeah but the guy can just refuse them entrance. Then by the time they get their bums into gear it'll be the next month so won't matter anyway.h.