Backdated TV licence refunds for over 75's

Cornucopia

It's about a third of over-75s who now qualify for a free TV Licence (though I'm not sure if that is individuals or households).  

One of the issues for BBC/TVL with this and the similar notion of an age-related amnesty from enforcement is that they don't know how old individual householders are, nor the ages of the people who live with them.   Being a non-government organisation, they don't have any access to databases that might conceivably give them that info.

Torson

The number who now qualify if your figures are reasonably correct theoreticallly runs into millions. A probable high percentage of those have had standing orders and DD's for years.

I would suggest not many go to the website every year to renew. So you now have a scenario where you receive your licence through post or email. Nowhere on the online email or licence you receive every year is a gentle reminder to be aware of pension credit concessions when you reach 74. Social media advertising does not have the same reach as personal reminders.

Not everyone in our generation is computer savvy. I am reading of pensioners overpaying for years with no apparent redress. 

An obvious simple no cost solution is a yearly reminder with your licence of potential concessions. There is a conflict of financial interest here as one statement put out by BBC/TVL in 2020 estimated a swallowed cost of about £250m, presumably yearly. I cannot see a pro-active motive for in your face reminders.

They do have access to databases on a case by case basis which give them that info. Their website states they will check for you if you're unsure of entitlement. I accept it's not in their remit to be plugged in automatically for age verification.

i have to wait for 10 days or so to get a reply, which will go up on here. Whether I am offered a refund or not, a Facebook action/protest group will be in the offing to spread awareness..

A website called orissaea.in/get-a-free-tv-licence-through-dwp/ states

3. Refunds for Previous Payments: TV Licensing states that individuals who were eligible but have continued to pay the licence fee may be able to claim a refund. (I couldn't find it).

iniltous

You were offered a refund for the current year , not the previous licence periods you consider should be refunded , so obviously refunds are available , so the statement stands , ‘may be able to claim a refund’  as you were already offered a refund , it’s the scope of the refund you have an issue with .
Do keep the thread alive with any further developments, be interesting if you are in any way successful 

Torson

I will, no worries there!

Torson

Just received this. I now have to find the gov regulations. Anybody know where?

Thank you for your recent contact, which has been recorded under your complaint reference TV..........X . Please use this number if you wish to contact us again.

I understand you are unhappy with our new refund policy as we no longer backdate a refund claim.
 
There is no legal obligation to give a refund for a licence. The legislation gives the Licensing Authority a discretionary power to give refunds as they see fit. Refunds may only be claimed in certain circumstances, subject to conditions.
 
One of these circumstances is that refunds can be given if the licence is not needed again before it expires.
 
I should advise the onus remains with the licence holder or the person dealing with their affairs on their behalf, to contact us to cancel their licence or advise they are in receipt of Pension Credit and over 75, from the date it is no longer required or to update any other details for the licence as you best know your situation.
 
Our policies are reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure that we continue to collect the TV Licence fee efficiently and fairly.
 
We provide clear information on our website for customers so that they can manage their licence if their situations change. We will refund future complete months remaining on current licences but will not backdate payments.
 
This change in policy enables us to treat all customers fairly and to run the operation efficiently.
 
I appreciate how annoying it can be not to be able to claim a backdated refund, in view of the limited use you gained from your licence. However, as I hope you can understand, we would be failing in our responsibilities if we did not keep to the terms laid down by the Licensing Authority.

We will keep a record of your complaint and any action taken. This information is closely monitored by TV Licensing and the BBC and is used to highlight potential areas of improvement
 
Thank you for your recent contact.

Cornucopia

Torson said:

Just received this. I now have to find the gov regulations. Anybody know where?

Not entirely sure what you mean by this.

Ploughing through their slightly opaque language might help...

"Us"/"Our" - TV Licensing, part of the BBC.
"Licensing Authority" - the BBC.

So, what they are saying is that the BBC is exercising their discretion to reduce the scope of their refund policy.   

This discretion is specified in S.365(3) of the Communications Act 2003.

iniltous

TBH , the outcome so far is exactly as predicted, no backdated refund , you presumably will now need to decide if you want to take this matter to the small claims court , if you do proceed , I’d suggest that will be as unsuccessful as your request directly to the licensing authority for a refund ….you simply don’t have a case , what you think they are responsible for (checking applications to see if they qualify for a concession ) isn’t a requirement, and as far as publicising the concession, that’s pretty subjective, you may say it’s not widely publicised, but that’s just your opinion.

Torson

Yes I understand where you're at. I've asked the respondant for a link to the legislation. I want to see the actual wording on refund conditions to clear it up one way or the other. I will also start a FB group to see if there's any response and possible scale of this issue. I can ask Which magazine to give an opinion I think, as a member. My initial thought is with the concession puiblication, of which they had a reasonable foolproof way of reaching everyone, and chose not to, or never thought of. Below is my email to them:

Thank you for your prompt reply.

The initial query is regarding overpayment at age 75, 76 and 77.

I have paid by Direct Debit for years.

Every year I receive my TV licence by email.

There has never been any inclusion in the emails of pre-notification to have exempt status if on Pension Credit at age 75.

I have since read on your website that existing free TV licence holders from 2000 were informed by post that the rules were changing.

As I was not a free TV licence holder at that time, I received no letter.

As I paid by Direct Debit, I would have had no reason to go to your website over the years, as any changes could have easily been conveyed through email..

I believe that as you are empowered for the vetting process, customers like myself have slipped through the net through accidental/inadvertent non-communication.

I believe I have overpaid by £487.50 plus £60 in DD charges. 

I am claiming a refund of £547.50.

I understand and respect we may have different opinions on the outcome.

If so, I would proceed to small claims to get a neutral judgement.

I would prefer this matter can be resolved amicably.

**I just want to see where this goes one way or the other.

JSmithy45AD

Torson said:

The number who now qualify if your figures are reasonably correct theoreticallly runs into millions. A probable high percentage of those have had standing orders and DD's for years.

I would suggest not many go to the website every year to renew. So you now have a scenario where you receive your licence through post or email. Nowhere on the online email or licence you receive every year is a gentle reminder to be aware of pension credit.concessions when you reach 74. Social media advertising does not have the same reach as personal reminders.

Not everyone in our generation is computer savvy. I am reading of pensioners overpaying for years with no apparent redress. 

An obvious simple no cost solution is a yearly reminder with your licence of potential concessions. There is a conflict of financial interest here as one statement put out by BBC/TVL in 2020 estimated a swallowed cost of about £250m, presumably yearly. I cannot see a pro-active motive for in your face reminders.

They do have access to databases on a case by case basis which give them that info. Their website states they will check for you if you're unsure of entitlement. I accept it's not in their remit to be plugged in automatically for age verification.

i have to wait for 10 days or so to get a reply, which will go up on here. Whether I am offered a refund or not, a Facebook action/protest group will be in the offing to spread awareness..

A website called orissaea.in/get-a-free-tv-licence-through-dwp/ states

3. Refunds for Previous Payments: TV Licensing states that individuals who were eligible but have continued to pay the licence fee may be able to claim a refund. (I couldn't find it).

I get my license & payment plan through the post and it 100% mentions the concession for 75s and over and on pension credit, the online website also puts it front & centre (for over 74s, not 75 and up oddly). The downloadable license (now I've registered online) doesn't mention it.

misterbarlow

Stumbled on this post from a google search as the same has just happened to my father (81),  we just found out that he's still been paying for his, we assumed he knew.
He's now applied and got it free from now but they have only refunded him about £25 for this years, and hes lost what he's over paid for the last 6 years..