TV licence direct debit advice

swatterscars

Would just like to give some advice to readers here. I have had my tv licence paid by annual direct debit for several years, and each year had my new licence sent to my and notification as to when the money would be taken out of my bank account.

Not this year!!!!. My licence was due for renewal on 30th September, and by pure chance, I happened to check my bank account online yesterday, and found that £145.50 had been taken out of my bank account by the TV licencing authority. I had not received a new licence, so I looked at my previous years one, and it had advised that this was the last paper licence to be issued until 2016,as the price of the licence had been frozen. Because they are not issuing paper licences, people are not getting notification when payment will be taken out of their bank accounts.

Fortunately for me, I had enough money to cover this in my bank account, but there will be many people who will not have adequate funds, and will become overdrawn and charged as a result.

I am wanting to let as many people know about this, and to check when their licence expires, so they can place adequate funds in their bank BEFORE the TV licencing authorities take it.

I find it unacceptable that customers are not being notified of when money will be taken out of their bank accounts, and I have complained to them, and I hope readers here will if they have experienced the same thing.

Hope this is of some help to you.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Crapita, at the behest of the Bolshevik Broadcasting Commisariat, collect the TV Tax. they would like everyone to pay by direct debit and have an electronic copy of the TV Licence, though they still issue paper versions.

You can contact them through their website, thouugh letters addressed to the TV Tax Office, Bristol seem to get through.

If they did not give you notice of the intended DD and the ammount (14 days), I would recall the DD by informing you bank and they have broken the DD Guarantee.

Whether you wish to continue to pay for this service, is up to you.

TV Tax Free since 1st April 2013. You do not need aTV Licence to watch catchup services, netflicks, or Lovefilm.

wiogs

Even though there are no paper licences I would have expected a reminder of the DD. Have you been in touch to see what the TVL policy is on this?

You should be notified 10 working days (not 14) if there is a change to the DD. As there was no change in the amount I suspect that is why TVL (love the Bolshevik Broadcasting Commisariat bit on the other post - very 1980s) did not have to write to you.

Annoying, and certainly worth contacting them to see what they say.

swatterscars

Thanks for the replies. I have had a reply for what its worth!!!.
They say that on the last paper licences issued, it advised that they were the last paper ones till 2016 as the fee was frozen, and that to register for email confirmation of renewal of licence, and that as there is no change to the fee, they have not notified me. If I have any further comments etc. etc. usual b/s..t.

Other companies can notify when payment is going to be taken from the account, why cant they. The amount they are charging for the rubbish on tv is exorbitant to say the least, and out of that fee they cannot pay the price of a second class stamp to stop a customer going overdrawn at the bank, in my opinion stinks.

I thought it was part of the dd guarantee that I would be advised when a payment was going to be taken, irrespective of whether it stays the same, or changes. Obviously not, and I think the direct debit systems needs changing to include this.
Perhaps this is something that Martin can have a look at, and check out.

wiogs

It does seem that you were advised of the changes and that you didn't take much notice of them so hardly bullsh!it.

Perhaps as they notify you once they see it as a way of keeping costs down by not having to notify you when there is no requirement to do so.

Might be worth writing to those who administer the DD guarantee to see what their opinions are on the lack of notifications for DDs that stay the same.

If you think the TV is rubbish have you considered alternatives that would not require you to pay for a licence?

RichardD1970

I have about 20 DDs going out of my account every month, does that mean I need advising every time one is about to come out?

The problem seems to be that it only taken once a year and you had forgotten.

As above, if you don't like paying for the "rubbish" on TV there are legitimate ways around paying the TV licence.

swatterscars

Thanks for the replies. Yes I had been advised of the changes to the TV licence - in September 2012. Can anyone remember what they read in September 2012 - Unfortunately, I did not - whoops I am only human !!.

With regard to Richards comment where he has 20 odd direct debits going out every month - I would say that most people can remember what goes out every month, but I am on about paying Annually by direct debit, and I think it would be a fair suggestion that as emails actually cost nothing to send, why could they not set up an email reminder for people paying annually?

I would like to keep the tv licence, as I do watch a fair bit of tv, but all I was originally advising was that if there are other people out there - like me - who do not have a computer for a brain, and pay annually for the tv licence, they - like me - could fall foul of not being advised when the licence fee is due, and not have sufficient funds in the account, and could possibly go overdrawn.

I have written to them again, and am awaiting a response.

Torry_Quine

Mine was due on the same date but as it's always the same date this isn't a problem. Last year it told you that you would not get a reminder but could give them your e-mail for notification.

RichardD1970

swatterscars wrote: »

With regard to Richards comment where he has 20 odd direct debits going out every month - I would say that most people can remember what goes out every month, but I am on about paying Annually by direct debit, and I think it would be a fair suggestion that as emails actually cost nothing to send, why could they not set up an email reminder for people paying annually?

But a DD is a DD, they all follow the same rules regardless of frequency.

As for setting up reminders, why can't you do that yourself? Either electronically, or the old fashions way with a diary or calender? Take charge of YOUR money, it is no one else's responsibility.

Heinz

RichardD1970 wrote: »

As for setting up reminders, why can't you do that yourself? Either electronically, or the old fashions way with a diary or calender?

I use googlemail calendar to remind me of fortnightly recycling collection days, birthdays, anniversaries and whatever else I think needs an email to give me a bit of a nudge.

They's be ideal for this sort of reminder too.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

The main issue here, is that the TV Tax Service, provided by Crapita for the Bolshevik Broadcasting Commisariat, wants everyone to pay by Diect Debit and manage their tax online.

Not everyone wants this, yet they are being forced to do so when they pay, or pay by DD.