A staggering four out of 10 people are clueless about what the TV Licence actually covers, suggesting that some may not even require one. The cost of a full TV Licence has now risen to £169.50, in line with inflation since April, adding a significant amount to annual expenses.
The licence is compulsory for anyone who streams live TV or uses BBC iPlayer, with non-payment leading to a substantial fine. However, a survey conducted earlier this year by FCA-regulated credit broker Viva Money revealed that an astonishing 43 per cent of UK adults don’t fully comprehend what the TV Licence entails.
Those who primarily watch platforms like Netflix, Disney+, or catch-up services (excluding BBC iPlayer) might discover they don’t need a licence at all. This could enable them to cancel their payment and potentially claim a refund.
All UK households will need a TV Licence if they watch or record TV programmes as they’re broadcast. This rule applies to all programmes on any channel, from soaps and documentaries to films.
Even if these programmes are broadcast live on a computer, laptop, tablet or phone, rather than a TV, a licence is required to watch them. Furthermore, households need a licence if they download or watch programmes broadcast on BBC iPlayer – whether live, catch up, or on demand, reports MyLondon.
The licence also covers online TV services such as ITV Hub, All 4, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV or Sky Go. However, unlike with BBC iPlayer, a licence is not needed if a person only ever watches catch-up programmes on these TV services.
If a household only watches catch-up TV (excluding BBC iPlayer), they won’t require a TV Licence, provided they’re not using the TV services to watch anything live. Households also don’t need a TV Licence to watch certain streaming services, like Netflix, YouTube or Disney+.
How to cancel a TV Licence
If a household is sure that they no longer need a TV Licence, they can inform TV Licensing by filling out the refund and cancellation request form. TV Licensing may then visit the address to verify if the decision is correct.
They state that these inspections find one in five households do end up needing one. If a licence is required, the household will have to pay the full licence fee and may risk prosecution and a fine.
Fines vary depending on location and can see people in UK mainland face a penalty charge of up to £1,000, while those in Guernsey and Jersey could face fines of up to £2,000 and £500 respectively.
How to request a TV Licence refund
People can request a TV Licence refund if they won’t need their licence again before it expires, and they have at least one complete month left on it.
According to the TV Licensing website, Britons can apply for a refund up to 14 days before they no longer need their TV Licence. If the licence has already expired, they may still be eligible for a refund, provided less than two years have passed since the expiry date.
The main circumstances in which refunds are typically considered include:.
To apply for a TV Licence refund, individuals need to fill out a brief form and may be asked to provide evidence that they no longer need the licence. TV Licensing will then review the application, determine eligibility, and calculate the refund amount, typically based on full unused months.
Refunds are issued either by cheque or direct deposit. To verify their licence expiry date, Britons can log into their online account.
In addition, some people might be eligible for a discount on their TV Licence, which could range from 50 per cent to even 100 per cent. More information about these discounts can be found here.
If you’re 75 or over
If you’re aged 75 or over, you can get a free TV Licence. This covers everyone living at your address.
You can apply when you’re 74 if you already receive Pension Credit. However, you’ll still need to pay for your licence until the end of the month before your 75th birthday.
After that, your free licence will cover you.
If you’re registered blind
If you’re registered blind, there are also provisions in place.
If you’re registered as blind or live with someone who is, you can avail a 50% discount on your TV licence. However, the licence must be in the name of the blind person.
If it’s not, a new application can be made to transfer it into their name. When applying, you’ll need to provide your existing TV Licence number.
You can apply for a licence if you’re registered blind on the TV Licensing website.