A very peculiar new type of TV Licensing threatogram is being distributed to unlicensed properties across the land.
This particular threatogram doesn't actually contain any threats. It has a bold red title, but that's as menacing as it gets.
There are a few recent factors that may have changed TV Licensing's attitude to customer relations, albeit on a temporary basis.
Firstly, the ongoing coronavirus outbreak is weighing very heavily on everyone's mind. Perhaps the powers that be have ordered a temporary watering down of TV Licensing correspondence to avoid accusations of threats and intimidation at a time of national crisis?
Secondly, the Department of Culture, Digital, Media and Sport is currently conducting a review on the proposed decriminalisation of TV licence evasion. TV Licensing's current enforcement regime will undoubtedly attract closer scrutiny as a result of that process, which might have triggered a dilution of the organisation's usual threats and innuendo?
Finally, the BBC is withdrawing the over-75 TV licence concession in the next couple of months, so might have tailored the letter to be more acceptable for an elderly audience?
The full text of the new version threatogram appears below:
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Please act now.
Dear Sir/Madam,
According to our database this address is still not covered by a TV Licence. This means it's against the law to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel, or to download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer at this address. This applies to any device you may use.
What to do if you need a TV Licence
Please do one of the following:
Buy a licence.
You can either pay £157.50 now, or spread the cost with a Direct Debit.
Go to tvlicensing.co.uk/pay
You can also move your licence from an old address to this one. Visit tvlicensing.co.uk/moving
Or call our 24/7 automated phone service on 0300 790 6097.
If a TV Licence isn't needed at this address, or if the property isn't currently occupied, please let us know and we'll update our records. Visit tvlicensing.co.uk/noTV
For more information and other ways to contact us, please turn over.
If you've recently bought or moved a licence, thank you. Our records will be updated.
Yours sincerely,
[Signature]
[Name]
Customer Service Manager
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Whatever the reason, it is refreshing to see TV Licensing adopting a more civilised tone in its usually caustic correspondence.
Hopefully it will be a permanent arrangement and not just a short term measure to curry favour with the general public.
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'Please'
ReplyDelete...Is a request. NOT an order.
Decline, politely or otherwise.
It is a bit toned down from previews letters. Hoover, it still operates under the false premise that everyone watches TV, therefore every household needs a TV licence.
ReplyDeleteGet rid of that premise and acknowledged that not everyone needs a TC Licence, then perhaps, just perhaps, people might not be so aggressive towards them.
I doubt it though. Collecting money with a minimum of authority must be a daunting task for anyone but a Capita Employee