TV Licensing: Pay monthly direct debit same amount as pay yearly?

alandaniel132

I am very confused with the payment monthly direct debit.

Pay monthly direct debit same amount as pay yearly?
For monthly direct debit, it pay £26.25 for first 5 months, and then £13.12 for the rest. Which end up total more than £157.50

flashg67

from the TV licensing website:-

Pay monthly

Colour licences

You’ll usually pay for your first licence over six months, at around £26.25 a month. If we have to spread the cost across less than six months, each payment may be slightly higher. After this, you pay for your next licence in 12 monthly instalments of around £13.12 – six payments before your licence is due to be renewed, and six after.

alandaniel132

Yes, I saw this. But could not understand the meaning. So after 6 months, I pay in advanced? 

TadleyBaggie

Well in the good days you used to pay for the whole thing 12 months in advance.

jbuchanangb

After 6 months you have paid in full for your 12 months license. They then start collecting money in advance of the start of your next 12 months license. When you reach the renewal date you will have already paid 50% of the cost of the next license, and then in the next following 6 months you finish paying for that renewal. The cycle then repeats with you paying in advance for the next renewal.
It is still perfectly OK to pay in full at the start of every 12 month period. That is what I do, by sending them a paper cheque in the post.