"TV Licensing" is a trade mark of the BBC and is used under licence by companies contracted by the BBC to administer the collection of television licence fees and enforcement of the television licensing system. The majority of administration is contracted to Capita Business Services Ltd, with cash related payment schemes contracted to Revenues Management Services Ltd. Over-the-counter services are contracted to PayPoint Plc. Marketing and public relations activities are contracted to the AMV Consortium. This consortium is made up of the following four companies: Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO Ltd, Fishburn Hedges Boys Williams Ltd, PHD Media Ltd and Proximity London Ltd. The BBC is a public authority in respect of its television licensing functions and retains overall responsibility.
TV Licensing informs people of the need to buy a TV Licence. We send licence renewal notices and we process queries, applications and payments. We also maintain a database of licensed and unlicensed addresses in the UK and use this technology to identify and visit people we believe may be using a TV receiver without a valid licence. There are around 25 million TV Licences in force, which include 3.9 million free over 75 TV Licences and around 40,000 licences for customers receiving a 50% blind concession.
TV Licensing's database of more than 28 million addresses is a critical part of enforcing the TV Licence. Typically, we'll send a number of letters to an unlicensed address, reminding occupants of the importance of being properly licensed and giving information on the many ways they can pay. We may also contact occupants by phone, asking whether a TV Licence is needed at the property. If there is no response, the address will be selected for a visit from an Enforcement Officer. Visits like this can provide TV Licensing with information on whether an address is unoccupied or derelict and whether there is a TV receiver on the premises. Visits can also result in evaders being caught. On average around 1,000 evaders are caught daily.
We will only use detection equipment to identify evaders when other, more cost effective, routes have been exhausted. TV Licensing aims to maximise licence fee revenue by collecting the fee in the most cost efficient way.
While we prefer people to correctly license their properties, TV Licensing will prosecute evaders.
* ‘PayPoint’ is not available in the Channel Islands or on the Isle of Man. If you live in the Channel Islands or on the Isle of Man, you can pay at any Post Office® branch instead.
