TV Licence and proof of purchase

IainCC

I am the TV license holder for my flat. Recently, an enforcement agent came round while I was out, but my flatmate was in. My flatmate told him we had a license, but since I was the one with the details he signed a bit of paper saying he deferred buying one and passed the problem on to me the next day.

I searched my emails. I have one dated 25th Sep, 2013, in which it says:

Thank you for buying your TV Licence. This email is to confirm your payment of GBP145.50 has been processed and that you are licensed.

I have a second email dated 30th Sep, 2013:

Thank you for choosing to receive your TV Licence by email.

You can now view your licence at any time at
tvlicensing.co.uk/yourlicence.

All you’ll need to log in is your TV Licence number (**********),
surname and postcode.

You can also:

• Print or download your licence
• Update your name or address details

And that’s it – all taken care of for another year.

I expected this to mean that I was licensed until September 2014. However, logging into the online licence checking system, it does indeed state that my license has expired.

My question: do these emails constitute proof of purchase? Is the responsibility on TV Licencing to prove that I have not paid?

I did phone them and was told that their system will sometimes send out confirmation, even if payment was not taken (which seems absolutely absurd to me). In the interest of openness, I cannot find a record of the payment in my online banking, but I will be going into the bank to make 100% sure.

Thanks in advance for responses.

Iain

unholyangel

First things first....do/did you actually need a tv license? If you were watching/recording tv as it was being broadcast then yes you do. If you only watch iplayer, netflix, play xbox with your tv then you don't require a license.

Valli

Have you downloaded or printed the Licence?

agrinnall

Well, if online banking doesn't show the payment then they haven't taken it, going into the bank won't show anything different. While you will have to pay the £145.50 I'd say you have enough evidence to show that you were led to believe that the licence had been purchased and could avoid any penalty should they try to apply one.

molerat

IainCC wrote: »

he signed a bit of paper

Oh dear .... never never ever sign anything their doorsteppers give you. I bet he signed the form admitting viewing without a licence, court summons in the post next.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4486119

lovetosavelolly

the tv licence people had system problems and did not take payments. this happened to me also. i paid online in november and recieved a confirmation of payment email. i then received my paper licence 2 wks later stating payment in full. then late january got a letter saying no payment taken to call and pay immediately. i ignored this letter and got another the next week threatening court. then a lady came to door. i told her l had a licence and advised they do not harass me for money as i have copies of payment confirmation and paper licence. money was not taken from my account. their fault not mine.

unholyangel

lovetosavelolly wrote: »

the tv licence people had system problems and did not take payments. this happened to me also. i paid online in november and recieved a confirmation of payment email. i then received my paper licence 2 wks later stating payment in full. then late january got a letter saying no payment taken to call and pay immediately. i ignored this letter and got another the next week threatening court. then a lady came to door. i told her l had a licence and advised they do not harass me for money as i have copies of payment confirmation and paper licence. money was not taken from my account. their fault not mine.

While I'm all for not paying for a license you dont need.....you may want to pay them unless you can show from your bank statement where the payment was taken.

After all, if my car insurance company fail to collect their fee from me, that doesnt change the fact the money is owed regardless of who's fault it is they didnt take payment. And refusal to pay once they became aware of it would see my policy cancelled.

shaun_from_Africa

lovetosavelolly wrote: »

the tv licence people had system problems and did not take payments. this happened to me also. i paid online in november and recieved a confirmation of payment email. i then received my paper licence 2 wks later stating payment in full.

Having a piece of paper that states it is a TV licence and actually having a valid TV licence are two entirely different things.

I could go into a post office to renew my car tax and pay with a cheque which later bounces.
I would still have the tax disc and a receipt from the PO, but the disc would not be valid.

fozzeh

lovetosavelolly wrote: »

the tv licence people had system problems and did not take payments. this happened to me also. i paid online in november and recieved a confirmation of payment email. i then received my paper licence 2 wks later stating payment in full. then late january got a letter saying no payment taken to call and pay immediately. i ignored this letter and got another the next week threatening court. then a lady came to door. i told her l had a licence and advised they do not harass me for money as i have copies of payment confirmation and paper licence. money was not taken from my account. their fault not mine.

Fault, yes. Your problem still, yes.

You've got another 5 and a half years for them to keep asking you before court.

bod1467

fozzeh wrote: »

You've got another 5 and a half years for them to keep asking you before court.

I know what you're driving at, but the wording is ambiguous.

TVL have another 5 1/2 years in which to bring a court claim regarding this. (Statute of limitations is 6 years in England and Wales). So this won't be guaranteed done and dusted for another 5 1/2 years, unless you accept you owe the money and pay.

IainCC

Thanks for your replies everyone.

My next step is going to be to be to a formal complaint in writing. I'll post back with any interesting results.

Cheers,

Iain