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Saturday 10 October 2020

TV Licence Cancellations: Another Gutter Trick by TV Licensing

A rather interesting thread appeared on the TV Licence Resistance forums this weekend.

New forum member icatsai posted their experiences of trying to cancel their TV licence via the official TV Licensing website.

By chance icatsai's message did actually get through to TV Licensing, despite the organisation's apparent deafness when it comes to cancellation and refund requests.

After weeks of waiting for a response they finally received this email:

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Thank you for contacting us.

The Communications Act 2003 states that a television receiver must not be installed or used unless the installation and use of the receiver is authorised by a TV Licence.

This is irrespective of whether the channels received are BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, satellite or cable programmes. 

The TV Licence fee is payable regardless of the quality of the reception.

If you are using a television for any of the above reasons a TV Licence will be required.

Please be aware that the law has changed.

From 1 September 2016 need to be covered by a TV Licence to download or watch BBC programmes on demand, including catch up TV, on BBC iPlayer.  For more information, visit tvlicensing.co.uk/lawchange.

If you watch or record live TV programmes as they're being shown on TV or download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer live, catch up or on demand, you need to be covered by a TV Licence.

However, if you don’t do either of these, please let me know. I will then make sure our records are changed to show you do not need a licence.

One of our Visiting Officers may visit your home to check that you are not watching or recording live TV programmes as they're being shown on TV or downloading or watching BBC programmes on iPlayer live, catch up or on demand.

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We were angered to read this email, as it indicates that TV Licensing will not action icatsai's cancellation request unless they go out of their way to make contact for a second time.

They weren't obliged to contact TV Licensing in the first instance - they could have simply let their TV licence expire or cancelled their Direct Debit with the bank.

Instead icatsai wasted their time trying to assist TV Licensing, which has arrogantly responded in kind by saying "not good enough, because we don't think you fully understand what you are doing".

No doubt TV Licensing is hoping people don't make contact for a second time. Those that do will undoubtedly have weeks more to wait before their cancellation request is finally acknowledged by TV Licensing.

We consider this another deliberate TV Licensing gutter tactic designed to frustrate anyone trying to cancel their TV licence.

No-one who cancels their TV licence is legally obliged to inform TV Licensing of the reason why or jump through any of TV Licensing's pathetically pointless administrative hoops.

For advice on how to cancel your TV licence the correct way, please read our earlier guide.

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