Tom Earnshaw
The BBC has u-turned after sending Brits letters 'threatening' to send TV Licence enforcement officers to people's homes on Christmas Day for not paying for the annual fee.
Roughly 24 million properties have a TV Licence in the United Kingdom, with the £169.50 per year fee needed if you want to watch live television as it airs in the country.
It is not a universal legal requirement to have the licence with it only needed if you watch live TV, watch the BBC iPlayer in any capacity, or record live TV to watch at a later date.
Despite this, the BBC - which is funded by the TV Licence - has this Christmas been sending letters to households across the UK saying it could turn up to the homes of people who do not pay the licence fee.
In the letter, there is no accusation of any wrongdoing in regards to watching content in a way that would require a TV Licence.
Advert
Headlined 'Will you be in on 25th December?', it says: "As there's no record of a TV Licence at your address, you should expect a visit from an enforcement officer."
It adds: "It may be on the 25th December or another day. You could be prosecuted if you are caught watching, recording or downloading TV programmes illegally. On live TV or BBC iPlayer.
"You may have to pay a fine of up to £1,000 plus any legal costs and / or compensation."
It later says you can stop a visit by starting to pay for the TV Licence, before saying 'you can expect a visit soon' if you don't.
Advert
LADbible spoke to one Brit who had this letter in the post. Describing it as a 'threat', they told us: "I think it’s an horrific tactic that’s used to scare older and more vulnerable people that don’t know any better."
Responding to the outrage, a TV Licensing spokesperson told LADbible: “These letters were sent in error and we apologise to anyone who received one.
"There will be no visits on Christmas Day.”
Dennis Reed, director of senior citizens' campaign group Silver Voices, said: "Such threatening behaviour is thuggish.
Advert
"It's an underhanded, desperate attempt to try to pressure older and vulnerable people into paying.
"To specify Christmas Day of all days is astonishing... clearly, they won't be calling on 25 December."
From April 2025, the TV Licence will increase by £5 per year.
As it stands, you can be fined £1,000 for not paying for a TV Licence when you need one. But going forward, this could change dramatically under the current Labour government.