Direct debit - tv licence

ovusa

Just closed a bank account where a direct debit was in place for my tv licence.   Received this email -

'The Direct Debit for your TV Licence number ********** from account ending **** has been cancelled. This means we won’t be able to take your next payment. To remain licensed, please set up a new Direct Debit. It’s quick and easy to do online. Please take care of this straight away or we may be forced to cancel your licence or pass your details to a debt collection agency.'

My licence is fully paid and valid up to 31st October 2020, puzzled why they say I HAVE to set up a new DD or be threatened with my licence being cancelled and possibly engaging a debt collection agency - why?             Surely I am not legally obliged to have a direct debit as a condition of having a licence, their email seems very threatening.     Any comments appreciated.

born_again

They are just reminding you to set up the payment with your new bank.

blue.peter

This is typical of TV Licensing. They have always adopted an aggressive tone. They're one of the most unpleasant organisations to deal with. I've had no end of trouble with them over the years. This included having one of their people turn up on my doorstep demanding that I buy a licence from him. I'd had a licence continuously for about 25 years at the time, and it wasn't due for renewal for about six months.

If you're licensed to the end of October, you don't need to take any action at all until about mid-October. And that action need not take the form of a Direct Debit. If you pay yearly, there's nothing to stop you from, for example, paying by bank transfer instead. (As it happens, that's what I do.) I'd expect that you'll get a renewal notice then.

My guess is that you've received a standard letter based on the (apparently incorrect, in your case) assumption that your DD is for payment by instalments.

Personally, I'd ignore this letter. You could, if you prefer, reply, telling them to get lost, and pointing out that you have a licence valid until October. If my eperience is anything to go by, they'll ignore such a letter. However, it does give you something to point at if they do escalate things.

Or you could just set up a new DD. Don't ignore the need to renew in October.

surreysaver

TV Licencing always send pseudo-threatening communications.  As long as you are fully licensed, don't worry about it.  And even if you aren't fully-licensed, you are under no legal obligation to give their thugs access to your property.

Shakin_Steve

That's just the way they work. Every communication I've ever had from them is terse.

inspectorperez

Like others have said, the Licensing Authority (administered by Capita) are one of the most unpleasant organisations imaginable.

Do not take any nonsense from them and pay by any of the optional means you choose at renewal time. I know I leave mine right up to the last minute just out of principle.

digalumps

Because of the way TV licensing direct debit works you pay half of your licence in advance and then continue paying for the other half and then the first half of the next year by direct debit is quite complicated

If you cancel your direct debit which you are perfectly at liberty to do so then just work out when your licence ends it is not straightforward but it should tell you

greyteam1959

You are probably going to get one of these emails every few days until you do as they ask.
Very rude & very threatening organisation.

digalumps

...unless you block them in your email spam filter.

jonesMUFCforever

OP Are you sure this e-mail is genuine or a scam?
How would they know your e-mail address from a bank account closure?

digalumps

Good point there are definitely some TV licensing scam emails around asking you to click on a button to amend your direct debit which of course just gives your details to The crooks