Red reminder letters

sevenhills

My sister always used to wait for the red letter. I have liked to pay on time, but now things are online, is there any need to pay on-time?
My TV license was due on 31 Dec, last you I paid it in February, when my car tax is due, I may wait a few weeks.
Bills not being paid on time must cost Government lots of money. How long can I wait, to pay my TV license, without getting fined?

sevenhills

bumblebeany wrote: »

Does your current licence say on it valid until 31 dec 17? Or is it that your next payment date was then but your licence is still valid for a while?

If it was valid until 31/12 then the risk might not so much be a late payment fine but the risk a detector van/person will catch you out using a tv etc without a valid licence. I think the detector people are out a lot around xmas as they know tv's and tablets etc could have been received as xmas pressies.

I believe I paid for the full year, and did not want my card details saving. I think it unlikely that they will have everyones up to date details and call at their door after a week or so.
Car tax, people used to say that you had 14 days grace.

Slinky

sevenhills wrote: »

Car tax, people used to say that you had 14 days grace.

Those days are long gone. Our tightfisted neighbour used to buy (I think) 3 months road tax, drive for 14 more days, keep his car off the road for 2 weeks then buy another 3 months.

happy35

I pay my tv licence and car tax monthly by direct debit, find it much better than having to pay all in one go.

sevenhills

happy35 wrote: »

I pay my tv licence and car tax monthly by direct debit, find it much better than having to pay all in one go.

When I moved house I didn't have a TV for a month or two; they charge me for the full year, ever since then I don't pay on time.

Farway

sevenhills wrote: »

Car tax, people used to say that you had 14 days grace.

It was a bit of an urban myth, down to postal delays and or getting to a Post Office

However with all the data now on a central data base, plus number plate recognition in a lot of places a computer will no doubt send you the fine in the post;)

[Deleted User]

Indeed with car tax your number plate is picked up all the time when you are out on the road so I would definitely pay it on time I don't know about a TV licence as I pay mine monthly by d/debit.

I am one of those people that is a bit OCD about paying bills and it would stress me too much to know I owed money for anything.

If I use my c/card as a debit card when I am out I come home and immediately pay it by transferring the cash from my bank account straight away.
I would hate to owe anyone anything it really would keep me awake at night

JackieO xx

LameWolf

If everyone waited for final demands before paying what they owe, it would create an awful lot more work for Credit Control clerks (I know, I used to be one); also, due to the extra cost of admin (sending out final demands, paper, postage, clerks' time etc) the companies concerned will raise their prices. So everybody, even those who pay what is due when it is due, loses.:(

Sayschezza

The fine for no tv licence is huge £1000 I think. With everything computerised these days I wouldn’t chance it if I were you. Don’t rely on the vans coming or not coming round as they don’t and never did work just frightened people into getting their licence.

As for the car tax much the same I think although you have no defence by saying it was off the road because then they fine you for not having it SORNed.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

sevenhills wrote: »

My TV license was due on 31 Dec, last you I paid it in February, when my car tax is due, I may wait a few weeks.
Bills not being paid on time must cost Government lots of money. How long can I wait, to pay my TV license, without getting fined?

I am pleased that you do not pay the regressive TV Tax on time, but corrected the entry for you. The government does not get this tax!

trailingspouse

There never was much point in waiting for the red bill to arrive.

My grandma explained it to me years ago - she was a smart cookie, even though she left school at 12.

Say you have a bill that should be paid on the 1st, and you delay paying it until the last possible moment - say the 14th. You've paid 14 days late. In the short term there may be a cashflow advantage, but the next month the bill is due on the 1st again, only a couple of weeks after you just paid it, so you pay it late again, on the 14th. You're still paying the bill every month - on the 14th rather than on the 1st - but you're running the risk of being disconnected etc because you're paying late. If you always pay on the 1st then you have a bit of leeway should you forget to pay it. Whatever you do, the money is still being paid monthly. And besides, you owe the money - so why wouldn't you pay it on the day it's due? If it's for something you can't afford, then you shouldn't be buying it at all.

She didn't suffer fools gladly didn't Grandma.