New TV Licensing campaign

News | Community

Did you know you can be fined up to £1,000 if you are caught watching TV without a licence?

Well, if you don’t have one, there’s no better time to get one, because TV Licensing enquiry officers are about to step up their visits in Peterborough.

More than 1,500 people in Peterborough have been caught trying to evade the licence fee so far this year.

Hot on the heels of the launch of new online and text payment services for Payment Card members in late 2008, TV Licensing is working in partnership with a range of organisations in Peterborough to ensure that people are aware of when they legally need a TV Licence. This coincides with additional visiting and an information and awareness campaign taking place in the area during December.

Put simply, you need to be covered by a valid TV Licence to receive or record television programmes as they are being broadcast. And that is the case whether you are receiving the programmes via TV or any other device, such as a mobile phone or a PC.

TV Licensing understands that some people find it hard to pay the annual fee of £142.50 for a colour TV Licence or £48 for a black and white licence in one go. For this reason there are a number of different ways to pay for a TV Licence.

The TV Licensing Payment Card is designed to help anyone who would prefer to make regular small cash payments either weekly or fortnightly. Those using the Payment Card can pay over-the-counter at any of over 22,000 PayPoint outlets across the UK, or over the phone. Those using a Payment Card have also been able to pay and check their account status online or via text message using a credit or debit card.

Similarly, people can save towards the yearly licence fee in small, manageable amounts by using a TV Licensing Savings Card, making payments via credit or debit card, at a PayPoint outlet or over the phone.

People wanting to pay or save for their TV Licence in person can do so at any PayPoint outlet using cash or debit card payments. To find their nearest PayPoint, people can visit www.paypoint.co.uk/locator.htm or call 0845 155 0404. More people are choosing to pay by Direct Debit, now used by over 12 million licence fee payers, while others choose to pay via TV Licensing’s website or by putting a cheque in the post.

A free licence is available for people aged 75 or over and a short term licence for people aged 74. Anyone who is registered blind or severely sight impaired is entitled to 50% off the cost of the licence fee.

For people who do not have English as a first language, TV Licensing provides literature in 18 different languages and offers an interpretation service over the phone in over 170 languages. To use the translation service, call 0844 800 6728.

TV Licensing would always prefer people to be properly licensed rather than risk prosecution, which is why we make it as easy as possible to pay and work hard to ensure people are aware of their licensing requirements. Unfortunately some people still try to avoid paying for a TV Licence when they need one, and we will enforce the law on behalf of the honest majority who pay.

If you would like more information, or want to buy a TV Licence, please call 0844 800 6737 or visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk/info

December 2009 - Peterborough UK Community Website