Getting a TV licence refund - another scam!

Cornucopia

Maybe they haven't trained their call centre people properly, because they seem to always ask for evidence, and the vast majority of refunds will obviously be in real time, rather than retrospective.

Once again, they have no legal entitlement to demand evidence. There is no requirement to be continuously licensed. There is only one offence, watching/recording without a Licence, and that requires them to prove it for it to be charged.

TBH, TVL have a huge amount of history on things like this. The idea of working with their legal powers seems to be anathema to them.

paters

I can sympathise with GingerBob.

Three weeks ago I thought I cancelled my TV licence. As I get bad TV reception (communal aerial), I just use Netflix and catch-up these days so I thought the money would be better spent on an additional streaming subscription and/or beer

After going round in circles on the TV licensing website I eventually found the link to get to the online form to declare that I no longer needed a licence. I got two emails and a follow-up letter confirming that I made a "no licence declaration". Now you'd think that as you have to give your TV licence reference number on the form that they would take this as notice to cancel your direct debit, think again!

Thankfully I had the forethought to delete the direct debit from my bank payee list, because today I got an email from them telling me they had attempted to take my quarterly direct debit... I rang them up only to have go through about 5 minutes of options before getting to speak someone. But, instead of a simple apology and a promise to update their records, they tell me they had no record of me contacting them and that I'm the one in the wrong as it's not possible to cancel online!

GingerBob_3

paters wrote: »

I can sympathise with GingerBob.

Three weeks ago I thought I cancelled my TV licence. As I get bad TV reception (communal aerial), I just use Netflix and catch-up these days so I thought the money would be better spent on an additional streaming subscription and/or beer

After going round in circles on the TV licensing website I eventually found the link to get to the online form to declare that I no longer needed a licence. I got two emails and a follow-up letter confirming that I made a "no licence declaration". Now you'd think that as you have to give your TV licence reference number on the form that they would take this as notice to cancel your direct debit, think again!

Thankfully I had the forethought to delete the direct debit from my bank payee list, because today I got an email from them telling me they had attempted to take my quarterly direct debit... I rang them up only to have go through about 5 minutes of options before getting to speak someone. But, instead of a simple apology and a promise to update their records, they tell me they had no record of me contacting them and that I'm the one in the wrong as it's not possible to cancel online!

Quite. Their systems are deliberately designed to confuse you, in the hope that you'll give up. It's nothing short of scandalous!


For the record, yesterday I finally received my cheque from the blighters - after three phone calls and three emails chasing them up!

curly1975

I put my house on the market to sell and moved in with my partner. I was not living at the property and therefore not watching TV. So I cancelled the licence but could not get refund for the remainder of the licence as I could not prove that I was not living there. :mad:

Cornucopia

curly1975 wrote: »

I put my house on the market to sell and moved in with my partner. I was not living at the property and therefore not watching TV. So I cancelled the licence but could not get refund for the remainder of the licence as I could not prove that I was not living there. :mad:

If you'd have told them that you were ceasing to watch TV broadcasts and iPlayer, but not why, they would have given you the refund (for each unused 3 month period) and would not have been able to ask/demand any proof.

It's not clear what the legal basis for their demands for proof is - it isn't specified in legislation.

silverwhistle

So they're calling you a liar. I'd repeat the request and add Conucopia's point. You could also suggest that if they have any concerns they should pay a visit.

I get a letter every month to somebody called The Occupier but they've only ever visited once to my knowledge, they left a note on the front door step... My last letter was in posh white and not recycled brown, so perhaps I really, really, really am due a visit soon..

curly1975

Cornucopia wrote: »

If you'd have told them that you were ceasing to watch TV broadcasts and iPlayer, but not why, they would have given you the refund (for each unused 3 month period) and would not have been able to ask/demand any proof.

It's not clear what the legal basis for their demands for proof is - it isn't specified in legislation.

It doesn't matter what you tell them, they send a form out to fill in for a refund and it says on there they require proof.

Cornucopia

curly1975 wrote: »

It doesn't matter what you tell them, they send a form out to fill in for a refund and it says on there they require proof.

What proof could there be if you have simply stopped watching TV broadcasts? A photo of you and your family reading books and playing videogames?

Unfortunately, it is a recurring theme with TVL that they do not understand the difference between their whims and the Law, and they are inclined to blur the distinction in their communications with the Public.

silverwhistle

curly1975 wrote: »

It doesn't matter what you tell them, they send a form out to fill in for a refund and it says on there they require proof.

Eh? Can't you see how absurd and contrary to law that is in assuming the guilt of everyone? How do you prove a negative? Do they indicate in any way what proof is required? A receipt from the local dump? The name of the person you freecycled the telly to?

leon_panda

So, I applied for a refund 2 weeks ago.
Got a letter on the post asking for the signature, and again, evidence. I'm leaving the UK, I paid the TV License in Full back in September, so as evidence I attached my Flight back Chile, also the stamp in my passport (Expiring on feb 24th), TV License copy, and the reference number.
Got an email today saying:

Unfortunately, the evidence you have provided is insufficient to support your claim.

Please let me know if you have difficulty in providing evidence and the reason for the difficulty so that I can advise you. Examples of the kind of evidence we are looking for could be photocopies of:

A final water or council tax bill, end of a tenancy or rent agreement for your previous property; or
Proof that you have sold your previous property
any other documentary evidence which would confirm the date the licence was last needed.

So, what more evidence do they want? I'm claiming 6 months of TV License, because I'm not living the property anymore.

Do they need the picture of me next to the plane to believe that I'm actually leaving the UK?