TV Licensing Wrongly Threatens Pensioner For Second Time

TV Licensing has continued to send threatening letters to a Powys pensioner, despite previously apologising for making the same mistake.

Kate Langdon-Mead, 81, from New Radnor, qualifies for a free over-75 licence, but for the second time in three years, has been subjected to TV Licensing's menacing correspondence.

Speaking to the Hereford Times, she said: "The letters were horrible. It's caused me a lot of worry and stress.

"What I'm really worried about is that people who are infirm are receiving these letters.

"It really makes you feel on edge. I know other people who wouldn't be able to cope with this."

TV Licensing sends out an average of 100,000 threatening reminder letters to unlicensed properties every working day, despite acknowledging that more than 80% of those are destined for properties with no legal requirement for a TV licence.

The letters, which are daubed in accusatory red print, threaten the recipient with a court appearance and £1,000 fine, despite the fact that TV Licensing has no evidence of wrongdoing.

Mrs Langdon-Mead was first subjected to TV Licensing harassment three years ago.

She continued: "The first time it happened, I received a bunch of flowers and an apology.

"But for it to have happened again, it's an outrage and something ought to be done about it.

"It's just unbelievable. I simply can't believe it's happened again."

TV Licensing has again apologised to Mrs Langdon-Mead for any inconvenience caused by the wrongly delivered letters.

Mrs Langdon-Mead branded TV Licensing incompetent and said she was consulting a solicitor with a view to taking legal action.

Referring to our story, which was also publicised in the national press, she said: "When I looked on the internet I found there have been a lot of cases like mine.

"TV Licensing have actually been fined over £100,000 over the last five years for cases of harassment."

Last month we reported the story of Ann Boseley, who had told TV Licensing SIX times that it was wrongly sending threatening reminder letters to her correctly licensed property.

Anyone who doesn't need a TV licence is under no legal obligation whatsoever to communicate or co-operate with TV Licensing.

Stories like this perfectly illustrate the reason why: TV Licensing's shambolic processing of information and utter incompetence.