TV Licence Refund

mrsdinozzo

Hi all, I cancelled my TV licence on 6th Sept - phoned TVL up and the chap I spoke to was very helpful and cancelled the licence there and then, stating there was nothing more for me to do except to fill out the Refund Form and send it in, he did tell me sending via email was absolutely fine.  So I did this and sent it the following day and recieved a confirmation from TVL that it was received and in hand.  A week and a half later, I called them up to see if there had been any progress with my claim and the lady told me it does take a few days to get *onto the system* but don't worry, give us a call next week*.  Called again today and spoke to a lovely chap who, unfortunately, was the bearer of bad news.  The system is showing my licence as live (payment card is cancelled), had I received a *Declaration* form? No, I hadn't.  *We need that form signed before we can begin the refund process* *Did you fill the form in online?* - yes, and sent it - got confirmation it was recieved.  *It'll be rejected and you'll have to fill in another one*.  Upshot now is, I have to wait 10 days for the Declaration Form and refund form when - if I'd been given ALL the correct information on 6th of Sept - or even during the second call to them - I would not be in this situation.  I am SO happy to be free of the BBC at last, but why oh why do they make everyone jump through so many hoops just to get what's owed them??? Has anyone else been through this?  Any suggestions as to where I might go from here to expedite matters?  Do the people at their call centre actually know what they are talking about or just blather through to get you off the phone asap!!  Seriously so angry right now!!  

Cornucopia

The cancellation process used to be much simpler than that.   When I cancelled in the wake of the Newsnight scandal, I simply phoned them, cited the scandal and my intention to be legally Licence-free, and that was that.  My refund arrived a few days later in the post.  

I hate to think that they have made the process more complicated to try to dissuade people from cancelling, and I am aware that they are having resourcing problems, so perhaps that is part of it, too.

I'd suggest complaining using the info from the complaints page of the TVL website.

Marvel1

I sent my refund form early August.

No refund, last weekend, email to query, not got application, so posting another.

Wish you could do it online.

Proof of postage will be taken this time.

ellie99

I'm sure they try to make it as difficult as possible.
I have POA for my mother , who moved into a care home this summer, leaving her house empty. Decided to do things correctly, and phone TV Licencing to tell them. Nice chap cancelled the licence and sent me a refund form. I filled it in and sent it off. Instead of the refund (it was only 2 months) I got another letter wanting more information. They wanted the number of her room in the home, but worse, they said they would not refund the 7 weeks she was in hospital before the home unless I sent them proof... letters from both the hospitals on headed notepaper confirming the dates she was there.

Well that's just not going to happen, I think the NHS might just be a bit busy at the moment, and no way am i asking for letters. So Licencing get to keep her money. 

And every few weeks I get another of their threatening red letters... what was the point of telling them if they are just going to ignore the info?

Cornucopia

I usually suggest the people cancelling their Licences state that the reason for cancellation is that they are no longer going to be watching TV broadcasts or iPlayer.   

This should head-off their desire for supporting evidence.

ellie99

Cornucopia said:

I usually suggest the people cancelling their Licences state that the reason for cancellation is that they are no longer going to be watching TV broadcasts or iPlayer.   

This should head-off their desire for supporting evidence.

I wish I'd thought of this earlier. Learn by experience, but it's a shame that telling them the truth just makes it more difficult. 

Cornucopia

ellie99 said:

... but it's a shame that telling them the truth just makes it more difficult. 

Yes, it is.   I don't think they understand that the Public's cooperation is variable, and if they mess us around too much we will find ways around what they want to do.