BBC - Themis debt collectors

4justice2

Interesting Freedom of Information request reply from the BBC just been published:

It's a time limited trial

Themis may make contact by letter, text and email (no mention of phone calls), but won't be visiting

They won't disclose the cost to the licence payer of this scheme......

Cornucopia

For me, they fell at the first fence (in paragraph 2, to be exact).

"TV Licensing" is only a BBC brand name and is consequently not charged by Parliament with anything. If the BBC is charged with enforcement of the Licence, it would be useful to see the text of that authority as it could answer various questions about the balance of rights and obligations, and compatibility with HRA.

mta999

Good to see they will not be visiting addresses for the moment

Bzzzz

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82011783#Comment_82011783

Another reason NOT to give out ones phone number in the first place.

I only disclose my number on a strict need to know basis

forgotmyname

Who did they get to write that reply?

They claim: "It's a criminal offence to avoid paying for a TV Licence" WRONG!

They claim: "TV Licensing is trialling a new approach with Themis to see if they can help more people to get correctly licensed"
WRONG! TVL are hoping the new batch of letters from a debt recovery company scare people into buying something they may not legally require.

They claim: "Themis operates as a debt collection agency in other contexts, it is not being used in this capacity on behalf of TVL and will not visit addresses"
QUESTIONABLE! Why does the Themis letter state an Officer will visit? It does not say a TVL Officer will visit and not a Themis one. Just scare tactics.

What you need to do "YOU MUST". WRONG AGAIN.. There is no MUST in not legally needing a licence and not legally required to buy one.

How does sending me fake threatening letters from a debt collection company help me choose to buy a licence?
Prime send me offers and tell me what I am missing and I have almost subscribed again until I see yet another price increase looming and more adverts unless you pay even more.

Just scare tactics.