License - Television
Did you know that you can be fined up to £1,000 if you
are caught watching TV without a
licence? More than 1,000 people in Peterborough were caught
trying to evade the licence fee in the first six months of
2008.
TV Licensing works hard to ensure that people in Peterborough
are aware of the circumstances under which they have a legal
responsibility to have a
TV Licence.
Simply put, you need to be covered by a
valid
TV Licence to receive or record television programmes as they
are being broadcast. This is the case whether you are receiving the
programmes via TV or any other device, such as a mobile phone or a
PC.
TV Licensing understands that some people find it hard to pay
the annual fee of £139.50 for a colour
TV Licence or £47 for a black and white licence in one
go. For this reason, there are a number of
different ways to pay for a
TV Licence, including a weekly cash scheme.
TV Licensing cash payment plans are designed to make buying a
TV Licence easier for those who struggle to pay in one lump sum
by allowing them to spread the cost into weekly, fortnightly or
monthly payments. At the end of 2007, over 1.2
million customers were registered on the cash payment plan.
- TV Licensing cash payment plans are open to everyone and are increasingly popular
- Payments are made by cash or a debit/credit card at any one of nearly 20,000 Paypoint outlets nationwide, or over the phone
- Initially payments are made on a weekly basis, enabling customers to pay for their first licence over six months. After this, customers can move to fortnightly payments towards their next licence
- Anyone wishing to find out more about signing up for a cash payment plan should give TV Licensing a call on 08457 289 289.
People wishing to pay or save for their
TV Licence in person can use PayPoint's growing network of
almost 20,000 outlets across the UK using cash or debit card
payments. PayPoint outlets can be found in
newsagents, convenience stores, supermarkets, petrol stations and
other retailers. To find their nearest PayPoint, people can visit
www.paypoint.co.uk/locator.htm
or call 0845 155 0404.
In addition to paying at a PayPoint outlet, there are many
other ways to pay. More people are choosing to
pay by Direct Debit, now used by over 12 million licence fee
payers, while others choose to pay via our website, by using a
debit or credit card over the phone or by putting a cheque in the
post.
The concessions available for the licence fee include a free
licence for people aged 75 or over and a short term licence for
people aged 74. Anyone who is registered blind
or severely sight impaired is entitled to 50% off the cost of the
licence fee.
For people who do not have English as a first language,
TV Licensing helps them to understand their legal obligation by
providing literature in 21 different languages and offering an
interpretation service over the phone in over 150 languages. To use
the translation service, please call 0844 800 6728.
TV Licensing would always prefer people to be properly licensed
rather than risk prosecution, which is why we make it as easy as
possible to pay and work hard to ensure people are aware of their
licensing requirements. Unfortunately some people still try to
avoid paying for a
TV Licence when they need one, and we will enforce the law on
behalf of the honest majority who pay.
TV Licensing has a comprehensive database of almost 30 million
UK addresses, which allows them to see unlicensed addresses at the
touch of a button.
If you would like more information, or want to buy a
TV Licence, please call 0844 800 6737 or visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk
.