Bilsdale transmitter down

Briskly

The fire at the Bilsdale transmitter has meant that about 1m people in the North East haven't been able to receive Freeview since yesterday afternoon. There doesn't seen any chance of a quick fix. I think it is disgraceful that TV licencing aren't offering refunds. I just called them and all the only option is to cancel the licence and apply for a refund. But the catch is that they don't refund part months so the whole of August's payment is already lost. I feel they should be pushed into action on this.

unforeseen

Why should they? They are just another user of that mast. Arqiva actually own it. The users may be able to get some compensation but TV Licensing under the guise of BBC are only one of about 20 users. Its not just a TV mast but covers other communication systems. 

Do you have an SLA that stipulates that they will provide a certain standard? 

Briskly

I lust think that the 1m or so Freeview users shouldn't have to paying for a TV licence when they can't receive TV, Even BT (after years of getting away with it) now have to refund you on a daily basis for loss of service.

southsidergs

Don't you just love the compensation culture that is taking over in this country. If the 44p per day is that important to you I'll send it to you

Briskly

I'm just enquiring on behalf of a friend who is affected. It could go on for months and build up to £30 or so per person - a total of £30 million in the affected area. TV licencing are quick to send someone to prison for not having a licence, yet have no proper mechanism for refunding - you always lose a month's money.

southsidergs

I seriously doubt it's going to go on for months, it's been a fire so yes they have to sort certain things out & make sure it's safe first so not exactly a quick fix but they'll want to resolve it asap

p3ncilsharpener

Briskly said:

I'm just enquiring on behalf of a friend who is affected. It could go on for months and build up to £30 or so per person - a total of £30 million in the affected area. TV licencing are quick to send someone to prison for not having a licence, yet have no proper mechanism for refunding - you always lose a month's money.

Your friend and the other million people still have what they paid for, a licence to watch broadcast television, so I don't see why they're due a refund.

NSG666

Get internet tv and you'll also gain access to some good free stuff on All4, bbc iplayer and ITV hub

Neil_Jones

Briskly said:

The fire at the Bilsdale transmitter has meant that about 1m people in the North East haven't been able to receive Freeview since yesterday afternoon. There doesn't seen any chance of a quick fix. I think it is disgraceful that TV licencing aren't offering refunds. I just called them and all the only option is to cancel the licence and apply for a refund. But the catch is that they don't refund part months so the whole of August's payment is already lost. I feel they should be pushed into action on this.

Refund?  For what exactly?  It's not a TV Licensing issue.

Anyway you can still get your services online or by satellite/cable.  The issue only affects those who use Freeview, this isn't the 1970s where its the transmitter or nothing at all.

Briskly

A refund for not being able to receive TV, in the same way as you would expect to get a refund from a broadband provider for days lost.  A large proportion of the people affected, particularly the elderly, only have Freeview.  Have read many reports that this is going to take ages to fix.

Neil_Jones

Briskly said:

A refund for not being able to receive TV, in the same way as you would expect to get a refund from a broadband provider for days lost.  A large proportion of the people affected, particularly the elderly, only have Freeview.  Have read many reports that this is going to take ages to fix.

But that's not the fault of the BBC.  If the BBC were not transmitting at all to anybody then you may have a point.  But they are and you don't.  And you can receive TV.  Just not from that transmitter (and its relays) as things stand.

Anyway TV transmitters have had issues and outages (deliberate or otherwise) over the years, for maintenance or whatever.  This is just an unscheduled outage.

Anyway services have now been largely restored:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-58181439