TV licence: buy 1yr, get 6 months scam

jbez411

Hi All. I gave up my TV licence and have not had one for the past year. Today i decided to renew .. exhausted by the constant visits to my home and confusion around whether I need one or not. Whether I paid monthly or annually starting today my licence expires November 2020. I do not understand why My annual licence would only be valid for 6 months when I have paid for 1 year? Any thoughts? Tried to cancel.but can't as none answering emails due to Covid.

roddydogs

You pay 6 months in arrears, then 6 months in advance with their daft scheme.

unforeseen

That is how it has been for at least 20 years. Nothing new there. 
If you make a single payment you get a full year. 

roddydogs

Just that people cant see its a bit of a swizz!

unforeseen

As it is something that needs to be paid in advance, they could always make you pay the instalments and only issue the licence at the end of the 12 monthly payments. Then of course your next 12 months of payments would be for the next year.
No swizz just not the way people normally see instalment payments. Most peoples instalment payments involve the use of a finance company, albeit at times named the same as the company. The finance company pays the money up front for whatever you are buying and you pay the finance company back.
TV licencing doesn't use finance companies for the instalment side so you are beholden on the plan they set up. You don't pay any extra, it just starts oddly 

Maybe look at the explanation of how it works to understand it instead of calling it a swizz through ignorance

comeandgo

You say your tv licence, which you renewed today is only to November 2020.  When did your last one run out?  I'm usually a few months late renewing my licence but they always take the start date  one from when the previous one stopped.

zagubov

Does this mean someone arriving in the UK and wanting a license can wait six months until they buy one, as it's automatically in arrears?

unforeseen

zagubov said:

Does this mean someone arriving in the UK and wanting a license can wait six months until they buy one, as it's automatically in arrears?

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/about/foi-about-the-tv-licence-AB22

Marvel1

jbez411 said:

confusion around whether I need one or not.

What is your current situation in terms of TV viewing?

zagubov

Okay so someone coming to the uK for a year can pay cash all at once for the year or in cash instalments/direct debit for six months then cancel and their license will be good for the year.
That makes more sense now.

pphillips

I doubt they have constantly been visiting your home, they just send out frightening letters saying they will visit you on a specific date or another day - when in fact the visits rarely happen. 

Read the money saving expert guide to see if you actually need a TV licence or ask on here, don't just pay for one because you feel bullied or harassed.