TV license advice/rant

Lady_Fluff

Hi people,

My TV license is up for renewal, and as I want to save all I can, I cancelled my tri-monthly DD. I initially opted to go for the monthly DD but then changed my mind as I don't like the idea of them taking for it in advance. So I rang them on Saturday 22nd March to cancel DD and pay in full with my debit card. The gentleman I spoke to, Jerry, said that I couldn't pay then and there because the DD would need to be cancelled first, and advised me to ring back today. He said, I know the fee goes up on April 1st but I'll make a note on your account that you have requested to pay in full and as long as you ring up on the first you will be charged last year's fee. Well, I rang them just now, no record of this conversation on my notes, and they want me to pay this year's fee.
Well, as their payment system was down when I tried, I thought, no, I'm mad, I'm gonna ask for advice! Should I compain? Would they have records of the conversation? Is it worth pursuing? It's not much of an increase, but I begrudge the TV license anyway (can only get 3 and a half channels, don't want Sky, can't receive any of their digital gubbins and mainly use the TV for watching videos and DVDs on).

Help!

Voyager2002

If you want to go to a lot of trouble, explore their website and find the details of their complaints proceudre. If you go to the trouble of writing a letter explaining that you had an agreement, the chances are that they will honour that agreement.

However, if the "three and a half" channels that you receive are not that important to you, then disconnect the aerial and let them know that you are now only using the TV for videos and DVDs. You will then not be liable to pay for a TV license (unless some of your videos are recorded from TV). If you go down this road, be prepared to allow an inspector to see that your aerial is disconnected and accept that a certain amount of hassle will be involved.

nomoneytoday

It's a licence not a license in the UK lol

Lady_Fluff

Sorry bout spelling! I Used to spell brilliantly when I used a pen and then I started using a keyboard and it all went to pot, darn Americanisms!

Anyhoo, I spoke to the OH and she doesn't want to get rid of the telly until it blows up (which, as it's a good few years old, won't be too much longer...), so I rang TVL back and demanded to speak to a supervisor. Well, it was that simple, I complaina nd I get the cheaper fee, as originally agreed - I think I like this complaining thing, might have to do it more often!
Thanks for the tips though Voyager2002 - I'm definitely going to look into it - I assumed I would have to have no TV In the property, but it would be nice to hang on to something to view the vids on (though we're trying to replace them bit by bit...). I shall use the rest of my lunchbreak to look into it!

TTFN,

Helen x

Mikeyorks

Lady_Fluff wrote: »

... as I want to save all I can, I cancelled my tri-monthly DD. I initially opted to go for the monthly DD but then changed my mind as I don't like the idea of them taking for it in advance.

I can understand the cancellation of the quarterly DD ..... as you pay a premium.

But you do not pay a premium ..... nor do you 'pay in advance' .... for the monthly DD. What you do is pay for the licence due now, in 6 monthly instalments (so that is wholly in arrears). Then (in 12 instalments) you pay in advance (6 months) for the next licence .... they send you the next licence .... then you pay the final 6 instalments of that licence in arrears.

And that continues thereafter - 6 months in advance and 6 in arrears .... so it's interest neutral.

geordie_joe

Lady_Fluff wrote: »

Hi people,

My TV license is up for renewal, and as I want to save all I can, I cancelled my tri-monthly DD. I initially opted to go for the monthly DD but then changed my mind as I don't like the idea of them taking for it in advance.

Have I missed something here? I thought there was only two ways of paying for it, by DD in instalments or paying all at once.

If you don't pay by DD you have to buy the entire year at once, thus paying at least 11 months in advance.

Mikeyorks

geordie_joe wrote: »

Have I missed something here?

Yep.;) There are 3 separate DD schemes. Monthly / quarterly / annually. It's at least the middle one you've missed .... the one they do charge a premium for :-

Monthly Direct Debit

Over the first six months, you'll pay for your current TV Licence in monthly instalments of around £23. In the seventh month, you'll then start to pay in advance towards your next licence with twelve monthly instalments of around £11 (so you'll make six payments before your new licence is due and six payments after). You'll continue paying for future licences in this way.

Quarterly Direct Debit

You'll pay for your TV Licence in instalments of around £35 every three months. (Because most of your licence is paid for in arrears, quarterly Direct Debit incurs a small premium of £1.25 per quarter, which is included in your total payment.)

brightonman123

or get a cash payment card? ends up about the same each month, and you get FREE exercise, walking to the local paypoint.. sadly, no quidco link,,

JohalaReewi

Or pay by credit card if you have a cashback credit card.