The BBC has spent more than £6 million sending threatograms to unlicensed properties in the last year.
The letters, which are typically daubed in accusatory red print and riddled with half-truths and innuendo, threaten the recipient with a criminal record and fine of up to £1,000 unless they buy a TV licence immediately. Every unlicensed property receives the same noxious correspondence, despite the BBC acknowledging that more than 80% do not legally need a TV licence.
The BBC is the Licensing Authority, responsible for all aspects of collecting the TV licence fee and administering the TV licence system. The BBC undertakes this statutory function under the guise of TV Licensing, but make no mistake that the BBC and TV Licensing are one and the same. The deceptive and intimidating wording of every TV Licensing letter receives final approval from the BBC.
According to an article in today's The Sun, in 2016 the BBC's TV Licensing contractors distributed 28.6 million letters at a cost of 22 pence each. That number represents an increase of 2.7 million letters since 2014, despite TV Licensing's promises to reduce paper.
Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen, an outspoken opponent of the BBC and TV Licensing, said the letters were "taxpayers' money chasing taxpayers' money".
Chloe Westley, of campaign group the TaxPayers' Alliance, added: "It's a ridiculous waste.
"The fact magistrates dismiss so many cases shows people are being taken to court without thorough checks being put in place."
TV Licensing, for its part, said that the costs of collecting the TV licence fee had fallen by a quarter since 2010/11.
It added: "Letters are a cost effective way to get people to buy a licence."
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Threatograms ex the BBC used to come in brown paper envelopes but now arrive with me in white paper envelopes that I speculate cost more to purchase. All are treated the same (binned on sight unopened) so perhaps as a cost-cutting measure to benefit the taxpayer the BBC might revert to using brown paper?
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