TV licence after a gap for someone over 75

silvercar

A relative was wrongly under the impression that they didn't need a licence as they are 81 and not receiving pension credit.

I want to buy a licence online for them but it is asking the date they started watching TV.

The actual question is "Has this person watched or recorded live TV on any channel, or watched or downloaded BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer, before today?"

Now they probably started watching TV in the 1960s to strictly answer the question. Assuming the meaning is how long have they watched without a licence it would be since they were 75. But some of that time it was free I understand, so how do I answer the question?

Rodders53

Strictly they should have had a TV Licence albeit a 'no cost' one for the address.  Regular renewal would have been needed even though it was free.  My late in-Laws had proper paper licences when they turned 75 (iirc once was for 3 years duration) albeit they were free.

Unless no Licence was ever held by this relative at the address.  In which case TV Licensing would have sent generic 'No Licence at this address, why not?" letters. Which were ignored?  If they had an over 75 Licence they should have been written to to advise of end of free licence and options for payment and ignored that?

TV Licensing can/will assume the same name at the same address taking out a (new) Licence and "short date the expiry" of it back to the expiry of an old one   they can't backdate Licences (but effectively charge for the earlier use with a minimum of 4 months in the future on a new Licence it appears).... See https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/backdating_of_tv_licences_policy 

NB That FOI exchange was almost 10 years ago and things may have changed a bit. Especially for those affected by the over 75's changes.

I can't answer your question, though. That will be for you to decide.

Cornucopia

I would select a reasonable point in the past after your relative became liable to pay the fee.   If you go too far back, it will simply confuse them.   

Or you could just go by that FOI, and make it 11 months, which is the maximum they would backdate a Licence to cover an unexplained gap in coverage.

Olinda99

pretty stupid question - doesn't say 'at the licenced premises' - you could have watched it in a shop.

And 'watched before today' well yes, I watched andy pandy 65 years ago....

Brie

You could try being honest and give the date when the free licenses stopped.  I expect a lot of people missed getting theirs sorted and capita (think they still run it) may have assumed a certain natural attrition of elderly customers.  

You could try ringing them to ask what's best.  

Or do what I would probably do and put today's date because the elderly may never have watched iPlayer.....Or was only using their ipad to view netflix.  Or something else vaguely possible and at the same time not confusing to someone in a call centre.

400ixl

1st August 2022, how do they prove otherwise.

Chino

silvercar said:

I want to buy a licence online for them but it is asking the date they started watching TV.

The actual question is "Has this person watched or recorded live TV on any channel, or watched or downloaded BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer, before today?"

Interesting, because when I went to the TV Licensing website and selected, New License and then the option to buy a TV licence for someone else, one the question was "Has the person needed a TV Licence before today?" followed by:

When did they need a licence from?
Please enter a date in the last 12 months.

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/cs/pay-for-your-tv-licence/index.app?wt.mc_id=CAP_homepage_copylink_summeroflive_buy

Ms_Chocaholic

I'd put 1 August or today's date otherwise you will end up having to pay for previous months/years