:shy: Phil I will confess and give you an apoligy you are correct regards not having an aerial plugged in but also no programmes should be tuned in either on your T/V or VIDEO so that guy in North Wales must have had his tuned in I will point to the part where it states this :shy: :shy:
Communications
England Communications Television licences
Television licences
This information applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
• Who needs a television licence
• How much is a television licence
• How to buy a television licence
• When can you get a refund for a television licence
• What happens if you do not have a television licence
• Students
• Using a television set or video recorder away from home
• Television sets or video recorders in rented accommodation (including guest houses and bed and breakfast)
• Television sets or video recorders in holiday accommodation (including caravans)
• Television sets or video recorders in hotels
• You do not use your television set or video recorder to watch or record authorised broadcast programmes
• TV Licensing
Who needs a television licence
Everyone who uses (or installs with the intention to use) a television set, video recorder or computer which is capable of receiving authorised broadcast programmes (that is, the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, cable or satellite television), needs a television licence.
A television licence allows the person named on it and any member of his or her household to use one or more television sets or video recorders.
If you only have a black and white television you only require a black and white television licence. If you have a colour television and/or a video recorder you will require a colour television licence. This will apply even if the video recorder is used with a black and white television set.
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How much is a television licence
There are set fees for colour and black and white television licences. These are increased annually. The increase is effective from midnight on the day of announcement. The current fees are:-
From 1.4.03 From 1.4.04
Black and white television £38.50 £40.50
Colour television and/or video recorder £116.00 £121.00
People who are aged 75
Free television licences are available for anyone who is 75 years old or over.
The TV licence reminder includes details of how to apply along with an application form for the free over 75 licence. There is a special helpline to answer queries on 0845 603 6999.
If you are 74 you can apply for a special short term licence that lasts until you are 75. For details of the cost of this licence contact your local post office or TV Licensing (for the address of TV Licensing see under heading TV Licensing).
People who are registered blind
If you are registered blind by the local authority you will get a reduction in the cost of your television licence if you produce the local authority certificate or doctor's certification form when you buy the licence. The reduction is 50% of the cost of a colour or black and white television licence. If you are registered as partially sighted you cannot get a reduction. The reduction is:-
Type of licence From 1.4.03 From 1.4.04
Black & White television £19.25 £20.25
Colour television and/or video recorder £58.00 £60.50
A TV licence is not necessary in order to install or use a television sound-only receiver. These are made for blind people and are manufactured on behalf of the Royal National Institute for the Blind. Television sound-only receivers are available on loan from the British Wireless for the Blind, which can be contacted at:-
British Wireless for the Blind
Gabriel House
34 New House
Chatham
Kent ME4 4QR
Tel: 01634 832 501
People living in care homes or sheltered accommodation
If you live in one of the following you may be entitled to a reduction in the cost of a television licence:
• a registered care home
• sheltered accommodation provided by the local authority or a housing association
If you live in one of the above types of accommodation you must also meet the following conditions to be eligible for a reduction in the cost of a television licence. You must:-
• be fully retired and aged 60 or over. For people aged 75 years or over - see under heading How much is a television licence; or
• have a physical or learning disability, or a mental illness
This type of licence is called a licence for Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC). It is a group licence and must be applied for by the providers of the accommodation. It can only be obtained from TV Licensing (see under heading TV Licensing). The provider of the accommodation is responsible for collecting the licence fee from each person covered by the ARC.
The black and white or colour licence fee for someone who qualifies for an ARC is:-
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How to buy a television licence
As soon as you get a television set or video recorder for which you need a licence you are responsible for buying the licence. You can do this by completing a form and paying the fee at any post office, or by writing to TV Licensing asking for a form to complete. You will not be covered until the licence is issued, even if you have sent a completed application form and payment to TV Licensing. You can get a licence issued immediately if you go to a post office. A licence issued for the first time will last for one year from the first day of the month of issue.
You can renew a current licence at any post office or by post to TV Licensing (see under heading TV Licensing). You can apply to renew a licence up to a month in advance. The new licence will last for one year from the original date of expiry, not from the date the licence is renewed.
If you make an application to renew a licence more than a month before the current licence expires, for example, to avoid an expected price rise, the new licence will last for one year from the first day of the month of issue, and no refund will be payable on the old licence.
It is the policy of TV Licensing to send reminders to renew licences, but they are under no legal obligation to do so and it is the responsibility of the licence holder to renew the licence. The absence of a reminder is not regarded as a valid excuse for not having a current licence. It is also the licence-holder’s responsibility to tell TV Licensing if they move.
If you rent or buy a television set or video recorder, the trader is under a legal obligation to notify TV Licensing. This also applies if you change a rented black and white television for a colour television.
Ways of paying for a television licence
You can pay for your television licence in one annual payment or by instalments (colour televisions only). If you make an annual payment you can pay by:-
• cash, at a post office only; or
• cheque, at a post office or by post to TV Licensing; or
• debit card (switch or delta). This can be arranged by contacting TV Licensing; or
• direct debit from your bank account or credit card account. Contact TV Licensing to arrange this or sign up online using the TV Licensing website
www.tvlicensing.co.uk/dd. Direct debits will be made from your account annually, at the current licence fee rate, unless you cancel the agreement.
Alternatively, you can pay for your television licence using a budget scheme or licence stamps. If you receive an income-related benefit, for example, income support, you may be able to use the Cash Easy Entry scheme (see below).
Television licence stamps
TV Licence stamps costing £2 each are available from the Post Office. TV Licence stamps can be used as full or part payment for a TV Licence at a Post Office or by post to TV Licensing. However, until the full licence fee has been paid, you have not been licensed.
If the licence fees increase, the licence stamps remain valid although the new television licence fee will be payable.
If you have a partly filled stamp card and no longer have a television or you want to change your payment method, for example, to the quarterly budget scheme, you can get a refund. To get a refund, send the stamp card by registered post to the Refund Centre of TV Licensing (see under heading TV Licensing). TV Licensing will send you a cheque for the number of stamps you have on the card (there is no administrative charge). It is not possible to cash the stamps at a post office or use them in part-payment under the ten month or quarterly budget schemes.
Ten month budget scheme
No new applications can be made to use this scheme but existing users can continue to pay in this way. This scheme allows an existing user to pay for the next licence by direct debit from a bank account. The whole of the licence fee has to be paid in ten monthly instalments before the existing licence runs out.
Quarterly budget scheme
You can buy a new colour television licence, or renew an existing licence, by paying for it in quarterly instalments. The payments must be made by direct debit from a bank account. An extra £5 is charged (£1.25 per quarter) on top of the colour licence fee. If the licence fee increases after you have made the first payment you will make the remaining payments for that year at the old rate. If you want to use this scheme, get a form from TV Licensing (see under heading TV Licensing). This scheme cannot be used to pay for a black and white licence.
Monthly budget plan
This allows you to pay for a colour TV licence in monthly instalments. If you are buying a new licence, you pay for the whole cost of the licence over the first half year. From then on, you make six monthly payments before the licence runs out and six after. Payments must be made by direct debit. Further details of the scheme can be obtained from TV Licensing (see under heading TV Licensing).
Weekly/fortnightly instalments - Cash Easy Entry
If you receive an income-related benefit, for example, income support, you may be able to pay in weekly or fortnightly instalments.
If you want more information about the Cash Easy Entry scheme you could contact a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.
When can you get a refund for a television licence
You can only get a refund for a television licence in limited circumstances. These are where:-
• you are exchanging a black and white licence for a colour licence. You can get a refund at a post office or by post from TV Licensing Refund Centre (see under heading TV Licensing); or
• two licences have been bought by mistake and only one is needed. You can only get a refund by post from TV Licensing Refund Centre (see under heading TV Licensing); or
• the licence is no longer needed, for example, because you are moving abroad or after a death. A refund will be made provided the licence is valid for at least another three months.
• you are aged 74 or over and have applied for a short term licence – see under heading People who are aged 75.
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What happens if you do not have a television licence
If you have a television set or video recorder which is not licensed, TV Licensing may find out:-
• because any trader who sells or rents televisions or video recorders must give TV Licensing the customers’ names and addresses, and these will be checked against the record of who already has a television licence; or
• by sending a routine enquiry letter. The letters are sent to addresses where there is no record of a television licence being held; or
• because a television licence is not renewed; or
• because a detector van or other detecting equipment picks up a television signal to an address which is not on TV Licensing’s records as having a television licence. Detector vans can tell whether someone is using a black and white or colour television set.
You may be visited by a TV Licensing enquiry officer if TV Licensing suspect you do not have a television licence or if you have not responded to an enquiry letter or licence reminder. All enquiry officers carry identification cards which they should show. The enquiry officer must state the purpose of the visit. You do not have to let the enquiry officer into your home. However, if you do not let the enquiry officer in, they may apply to a magistrate for a search warrant.
If the enquiry officer is satisfied that you do not have a television licence and that you should have one, a statement will be taken under caution. The enquiry officer should not suggest that if you buy a licence within a certain period, no action will be taken.
You can be prosecuted for having or using a television set or video recorder and not having a licence for it. You can be prosecuted even if you are not the owner or hirer of the set, for example, in a case where the set belonged to a husband but was switched on and watched by the wife, the wife was prosecuted. However, if you are prosecuted, producing a valid licence in court can be used in mitigation. A copy of the licence should therefore be sent to the court.
If TV Licensing decide to prosecute, the case will be heard in the magistrates court (District court in Scotland). If you are found guilty the maximum fine which can be imposed is £1,000. The court cannot confiscate the television set or order you to pay the television licence fee arrears
Students
If you are a full-time student living away from home, you will usually need a television licence if you have a TV or anything else used to receive or record TV programmes (such as video recorders, set top boxes or PCs with TV cards).
If you are living in a hall of residence and use a TV in your room you will need a separate TV licence. You will also need your own licence if you share a house with others but have a TV in your own room for which you have a separate tenancy agreement. If you have a separate tenancy agreement but there is only one TV being used in a communal area, only one licence is needed. If you share a house with others and have a joint tenancy agreement, you will only need one TV licence regardless of where the TV is located in the house.
You do not use your television set or video recorder to watch or record authorised broadcast programmes
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read this it explains from here down PHIL
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If you do not use your television set or video recorder to watch or record authorised broadcast programmes (that is, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, cable television or satellite television) you will not need a licence. This means that you would not need a licence if, for example, you only:-
• use the television set as a computer monitor
• use the television set to play electronic games
• watch pre-recorded videos, whether or not these have been bought, or recorded by someone else on a licensed video recorder.
However, the television set and/or video recorder must be incapable of receiving all authorised broadcast programmes. This could be done, for example, by making sure that neither the television set nor the video recorder are tuned into any channels and ensuring that they are not connected to an aerial.
