TV Licence Refund: Claim Yours Today

Almost one million TV licences are cancelled every year in the UK.

Over the last decade that number has steadily risen in line with the increasing number of properties receiving TV programmes.

A TV licence is needed for any property where equipment is installed or used to receive TV programmes at the same time as they are broadcast to the wider public. Anyone who chooses not to receive TV programmes, for whatever reason, no longer requires a TV licence and may be entitled to a refund on any licence already held.

Despite offering a range of convenient payment options, and positively encouraging payment of the £145.50 fee at every turn, the BBC's militant revenue generation arm, TV Licensing, is often much less forthcoming when it comes to the issue of refunds.

There are six general situations where a refund may be claimed on the TV licence of a residential property. TV Licensing will normally request documentary evidence to support any retrospective TV licence refund claim (see refund evidence table), but proof is not normally required when claiming a refund on future periods of licence validity.

No evidence is required if the licence holder dies, or if the refund claim is made within the last full calendar quarter of licence validity.

Below we provide a brief description of the refund options available:

1. TV licence no longer needed

This is by far the most common situation. For whatever reason a licence is no longer needed for the property in question. We suggest anyone choosing to cancel their TV licence reads our previous article on the subject. Refunds in this situation may only be paid in respect of full unused calendar quarters of licence validity.

2.  Covered by another TV licence

This situation might arise when the licence holder moves into another property that is already covered by a valid TV licence. Refunds in this situation may only be paid in respect of full unused calendar quarters of licence validity.

3. TV licence purchased in error

This situation might arise when a second licence is mistakenly purchased for a property that is already covered by a valid TV licence. It could also be that the occupier purchased a black & white licence by mistake, but then purchased a colour licence for the same property. Refunds in this situation may only be paid in respect of full unused calendar months of licence validity.

4. Replacement TV licence purchased

This situation might arise when the licence holder chooses to upgrade their black & white licence to a colour licence, or downgrade their colour licence to a black & white licence. Refunds in this situation may only be paid in respect of full unused calendar months of licence validity.

5. Becomes eligible for a blind concessionary TV licence

This situation might arise when the licence holder becomes eligible for, or discovers they are eligible for, a blind concessionary licence. Refunds in this situation may only be paid in respect of full unused calendar months of licence validity, up to a maximum of six months.

6. Become eligible for an Over 75 TV licence

This situation might arise when the licence holder becomes eligible for, or discovers they are eligible for, an Over 75 licence. Refunds in this situation may only be paid in respect of full unused calendar months of licence validity, back until the first day of the month of the licence holder's 75th birthday.

Refunds are only issued by cheque, which is no doubt another TV Licensing ploy to deter people from the hassle of trying to claim one.

Anyone wishing to claim a TV licence refund can use the form on TV Licensing's website. Alternatively, they may wish to contact the TV Licensing customer services line (not that we recommend it).

You can read TV Licensing's full refund policy here and view the refund evidence table here.

If you've found this article useful please consider liking us on Facebook, adding us to Google+, following us on Twitter or downloading our free ebook.