TV Licence article Discussion

esuhl

My mum died recently and I've been trying to buy a new TV licence for the property (since I still live here)... Every time I call I get the message "Sorry: all our agents are currently busy. Please call again later. (click!)"

I've always been annoyed with telephone queueing systems, but a phone system that just disconnects anyone who calls is insane! Why not just have a "normal" phone system that gives callers an engaged tone? At least they wouldn't be charged for the call!

derrick

esuhl wrote: »

My mum died recently and I've been trying to buy a new TV licence for the property (since I still live here)... Every time I call I get the message "Sorry: all our agents are currently busy. Please call again later. (click!)"

I've always been annoyed with telephone queueing systems, but a phone system that just disconnects anyone who calls is insane! Why not just have a "normal" phone system that gives callers an engaged tone? At least they wouldn't be charged for the call!

Can't you buy one online?

Pay for a new TV licence.


.

adouglasmhor

Gallovidian wrote: »

Okay, you got me on that one.

But in the English speaking world we are now uniquely subservient,
and not just in terms of the television license fee.

Ireland is in the English speaking world, wrong again.

esuhl

derrick wrote: »

Can't you buy one online?

Pay for a new TV licence.


.

I could have done, but I had the letter from them in one hand and a phone in the other. If they're going to suggest people call them, they ought to be prepared to take your call.

Still, it's been a few days now and the only time I wanted to watch a TV programme so far, I just waited for it to come onto iPlayer.

Maybe they've done me a favour - I've realised how little I miss TV and how expensive the licence is for the handful of programmes that I truly enjoy watching.

Probably a silly question, but can you buy a TV licence one day, then cancel it (getting a partial refund) the next so you just pay for one day's licensing? That way, if anything good is broadcast, it'll cost me 40p for a day's licence... :money:

harryhound

esuhl wrote: »

I've always been annoyed with telephone queueing systems, but a phone system that just disconnects anyone who calls is insane! Why not just have a "normal" phone system that gives callers an engaged tone? At least they wouldn't be charged for the call!

That other taxation authority called HMRC works in a similar way.

Took all day using "last number redial" to get through to someone who took my query and arranged for a return call to answer it. That took two more days to be received.

helenburford

Im not sure why but when you purchase a new tv licence. You have to pay £24.25 for the first 6 months then £12 for the next 6 months. which is a total of £193. The tv licence is £121.25 for 12 months.
You dont get the extra money back until you cancel the tv licence and then you have to fill and form out and prove you don't need it any more.
How can this be allowed. Surely you should only pay for what you need. not an extra 6 months.

jonty1970

I don't know if anyone has posted this before here

http://www.tvlicensing.biz/phpBB3/index.php

lots of people refuse to buy one, even if they have a TV.
There is nothing TVL can do to you, if you simply stop paying them and refuse to answer the door.

They can't make you open your door.
They can't batter your door down and break in.
You don't have to speak to them on the phone or on your doorstep.

Have a look on youtube. There are lots of videos showing people turn away TVL officers.

rich_jtg

helenburford wrote: »

Im not sure why but when you purchase a new tv licence. You have to pay £24.25 for the first 6 months then £12 for the next 6 months. which is a total of £193. The tv licence is £121.25 for 12 months.
You dont get the extra money back until you cancel the tv licence and then you have to fill and form out and prove you don't need it any more.
How can this be allowed. Surely you should only pay for what you need. not an extra 6 months.

If you pay via Direct Debit you'll always pay six months in advance. Previous post>>

GustyGardenGalaxy

A few weeks ago my mother (a pensioner) moved out of her old house and into a bungalow. Her old house is now empty and up for sale. Naturally she informed the TV licence people of her change of address.

At her old house a letter from TV Licensing has just been delivered that starts with:

"ignoring this letter could cost you a lot more than the licence fee ...... blah, blah. Maximum fine of £1000 - blah blah".

It's addressed to The Occupier.

No-one is in the house and no TV is being used there.

I'm thinking that she should just ignore this letter and leave it there for whoever buys the house. Or do I need to phone TV Licensing to query this?

victor2

GustyGardenGalaxy wrote: »

A few weeks ago my mother (a pensioner) moved out of her old house and into a bungalow. Her old house is now empty and up for sale. Naturally she informed the TV licence people of her change of address.

At her old house a letter from TV Licensing has just been delivered that starts with:

"ignoring this letter could cost you a lot more than the licence fee ...... blah, blah. Maximum fine of £1000 - blah blah".

It's addressed to The Occupier.

No-one is in the house and no TV is being used there.

I'm thinking that she should just ignore this letter and leave it there for whoever buys the house. Or do I need to phone TV Licensing to query this?

It's addressed to the occupier, which your mother no longer is and they clearly know that. I'd just leave it there for whoever becomes the new occupier - it'll be up to them to sort out a licence.