The impoverished BBC, which can barely afford a pot to piss in (if you believe its claims), has hired 800 additional TV Licensing enforcers to keep tabs on over-75s claiming the new version of the concessionary TV licence.
Dennis Reed, Director of the Silver Voices campaign group, has urged its followers of all ages to cancel their TV licences in support of over-75s disadvantaged by new rules introduced on 1st August 2020.
Mr Reed said: "Silver Voices is calling for all over-60s to take action to support the over-75s.
"From 1st August all over 60s in the UK will be asked to withdraw from Direct Debits and standing orders and advise TV Licensing that they will only settle their licence fees by cheque/cash and post in future.
"Guidelines will also be issued on 'creative but legal' ways to complicate payments further.
"The intention will be to increase the costs of collection and enforcement to such a level that the Government and BBC will be forced to rethink this cruel policy."
Jan Shortt, of the National Pensioner's Convention, said her members were prepared to face a day in court for the cause.
"We cannot condone people breaking the law", she said.
"But, individually, each member will take their own choice. There will be people who refuse to pay."
Four and a half million pensioners will be sent a 16-page letter and application form when then their current TV licence expires.
Those wishing to claim a "free" over-75 TV licence in the future will need to provide photocopies of DWP documents confirming their entitlement to Pension Credit. Given TV Licensing's previous incompetence in the realm of data security, many pensioners are understandably concerned about providing it with confidential personal information.
Back in 2015 the BBC and Government hammered out a deal that would see the national broadcaster "accept full liability" for funding the over-75 TV licence from the financial year 2020/21.
The BBC was very happy with the deal at the time, because the Government offered it a number of sweeteners - most notably lifting the six year cap on the TV licence fee and closing the so-called iPlayer loophole.
Despite the terms of its agreement with the Government being plain for all to see, the BBC shamelessly denies it has backtracked on its commitment to the over-75s.
A BBC spokeswoman told The Sun: "It was the Government that ended funding for over-75s TV licences" and that the "BBC has made the fairest decision possible to support the poorest, oldest pensioners".
She added: "Critically, it isn't the BBC making judgments about poverty - the Government sets and controls pension credit.
"The decision to start the new scheme in August has not been easy but delaying the introduction has cost the BBC over £70 million and we cannot afford to delay any further.
"Continuing with the Government scheme would have cost £745 million a year and rising and would have meant the closures of BBC Two, BBC Four, the BBC News Channel, the BBC Scotland channel, Radio 5 Live, and a number of local radio stations.
"These closures would profoundly damage the BBC for everyone, especially older people who use the BBC the most."
A Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport statement said: "We are bitterly disappointed by the BBC's decision not to extend the over-75 TV licence fee concession beyond August.
"The BBC remains responsible for the concession and for setting out what those affected will now need to do. It must now look urgently at how it can use its substantial licence fee income to deliver for audiences of all ages, including by making efficiencies."
The statement reiterated the BBC's approval of the deal it struck with the Government back in 2015.
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