TV Licensing

Terms and conditions of your licence

Your TV Licence allows television receivers to be installed and used at the premises specified on the licence, and at the other places detailed on the licence, subject to the terms and conditions stated below.

Definitions

You means the person named on the licence.

TV equipment means television receiving equipment, such as a TV set, computer, mobile phone, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.

What is a TV Licence needed for?

• To use any TV equipment to watch or record TV programmes as they are being shown on television.
• This includes watching or recording streamed services and satellite TV broadcast from outside the UK. If you only watch on-demand services, then you don't need a licence.

What does your licence allow?

The licence allows installation and use of TV equipment:

• At the licensed place by anyone.
• In a vehicle, boat or caravan by:
  • You and anyone who normally lives with You at the licensed place (so long as TV equipment is not being used in a non-touring caravan and at the licensed place at the same time).
  • Anyone, who normally works at the licensed place (so long as the vehicle, boat or caravan is being used for a business purpose).

  Use of TV equipment powered by internal batteries anywhere:

  • By You and anyone who normally lives with You at the licensed place.

What does your licence not cover?

• Any parts of your premises with separate legal arrangements e.g. occupied by tenants or lodgers.
• Self contained or physically separate units on the premises.
• Any parts of your premises with separate administrative arrangements e.g. paying guests.

Black and white licences:

• If you use TV equipment to record television programmes, you need a colour licence even if you only have a black and white television as TV equipment records TV in colour. A black and white licence is valid only if the digital box is not designed to record television programmes.

Other conditions of your licence

• The licence fee must be paid when due.
• You may transfer the licence to a different address if the change of address is permanent.
• A licence may be cancelled or revoked or its conditions modified by a notice sent to You or by a general notice which will be published on the BBC's website and, if deemed appropriate by the BBC, in other national communications.
• Our officers may visit the licensed place to verify our records and inspect the TV equipment at any time, but you do not have to let them in.
• You must not cause undue interference to any other radio or television reception with your TV equipment.
• Your licence is issued on behalf of the BBC by TV Licensing.

For further information on whether you require a TV Licence contact www.tvlicensing.co.uk.

Please note: separate terms and conditions apply to the following types of TV Licence: hotel and mobile units TV Licence, ARC concessionary TV Licence and entertainment units TV Licence. If you have one of these, please refer to your licence for specific terms and conditions or contact us for information.

Who issues the TV Licence?

TV Licences are issued by TV Licensing of 100 Temple Street, Bristol BS1 6AB on behalf of the British Broadcasting Corporation in its capacity as the Licensing Authority.

How will I receive my TV Licence

On receipt of payment of the applicable licence fee (or in the case of customers who pay in instalments, the applicable issue fee), your TV Licence will be sent to the address stated on the TV Licence or, if you opt in to receive your TV Licence electronically, to your nominated email address.

Why am I required to enter an email address?

If you opt in to receive your TV Licence electronically and you wish to pay for your TV Licence in instalments, you are also opting in to receive your instalment payment plan by email. In addition, when your TV Licence expires, you will be sent an email to remind you to buy your next TV Licence (irrespective of whether you are paying in instalments or not). From time to time we may also send messages via email regarding your TV Licence.

How will I be issued with reminders?

You will not receive your TV Licence, instalment payment plan (if applicable) and your first reminder to obtain your next TV Licence by any other means of delivery including by postal service. However, if you do not obtain your next TV Licence after you have been sent your reminder by email, we will resume communications by postal service and we may continue to communicate with you by email for the purpose of administering the TV Licence system.

Do I require an email address to purchase my TV Licence online?

You must have a valid email address in order to purchase a TV Licence online even if you do not wish to receive your TV Licence electronically.

Why must I provide a valid email address?

If you opt-in to receive your TV Licence, instalment payment plan (if applicable) and your first reminder electronically, it is your responsibility to provide your valid email address and to notify TV Licensing if your email address changes. You can change your email address online at www.tvlicensing.co.uk/update-your-details/. If you do not inform TV Licensing of any changes and consequently do not receive an email reminder that your next TV Licence is due, you will remain fully responsible and liable to pay the licence fee and to ensure that you are properly licensed and may still be prosecuted if you are found to be using a TV receiver to receive television programmes without a TV Licence.

How can I receive correspondence through the post?

You may opt-out of receiving your TV Licence, instalment plan (if applicable) and first reminder electronically at any time however in order to give us sufficient time to process your request we must receive your request at least 4 weeks prior to the expiry of your current TV Licence. To opt-out, please visit, www.tvlicensing.co.uk/update-your-details/ and select paper as your licence format. It is your responsibility to ensure that the TV Licence that is delivered to you, records your correct name and the correct address where you wish use a TV receiver. You will not be licensed to use a TV receiver if your TV Licence does not correctly record your details. Please contact TV Licensing if your details are incorrect or if your details subsequently change (e.g. you move house). You can tell us your new details online at, www.tvlicensing.co.uk/update-your-details/.

Do I need a physical copy of my TV Licence?

It is a condition of every TV Licence that you must be able to produce your TV Licence for inspection by a TV Licensing officer. You must therefore ensure that you are able to print your TV Licence if you opt in to receive it by email.

Online guarantees

We cannot guarantee that the electronic delivery of your TV Licence, instalment payment plan (if applicable) and your first reminder will be uninterrupted or error free, or that the server that makes them available are free of viruses or bugs.

Is there a charge for the delivery of electronic documents?

While we will not charge you a fee for delivering any documents to you electronically, you may be required to pay access fees and/or call charges necessary to access your emails to whoever provides such access to you. Your liability to pay any such charges is separate from and shall have no impact on your obligation to pay the licence fee and to ensure that you are properly licensed.

Your responsibilities

You agree that you will act responsibly when purchasing your TV Licence online and receiving your TV Licence, instalment payment plan (if applicable) and your first reminder electronically. You also agree that you will not act for any fraudulent or other illegal purpose nor will you interrupt or damage our services or try to make them less efficient. Any fraudulent or illegal activity may be reported to an appropriate authority such as the police.

Breach of conditions

If you breach any of these terms and conditions, you may be prohibited with immediate effect and without notice from receiving your TV Licence, instalment payment plan (if applicable) and your first reminder electronically. If you are so prohibited, you will remain fully responsible and liable to pay the licence fee by another means and to ensure that you are properly licensed and may still be prosecuted if you are found to be using a TV receiver to receive television programmes without a TV Licence.

TV Licensing copyright

All materials (including without limitation, all designs, text, graphics and their selection and arrangement) relating to the delivery of your TV Licence, instalment payment plan (if applicable) and your first reminder electronically including your TV Licence, instalment payment plan (if applicable) and your first reminder themselves are subject to copyright, design rights and trademarks of the BBC and/or third parties. Nothing contained in these terms shall be construed as conferring by implication, estoppel or otherwise any licence or right to use any trademark, patent, design right or copyright of the BBC or any other third party.

Terms and conditions

We expressly reserve the right to alter these terms and conditions from time to time by posting new terms and conditions on the TV Licensing website, www.tvlicensing.co.uk.

TV Licensing liability

Under no circumstances will we be liable for any of the following losses or damage (whether such losses were foreseen, foreseeable, known or otherwise):

• (a) loss of data;
• (b) loss of revenue or anticipated profits;
• (c) loss of business;
• (d) loss of opportunity;
• (e) loss of goodwill or injury to reputation;
• (f) losses suffered by third parties; or
• (g) any indirect, consequential, special or exemplary damages arising from your purchase of your TV Licence online and the delivery and receipt of your TV Licence, instalment payment plan (if applicable) and your first reminder electronically regardless of the form of action.

 

Terms and conditions amendments

If any of these terms are determined to be illegal, invalid or otherwise unenforceable by reason of the laws of any state or country in which these terms are intended to be effective, then to the extent and within the jurisdiction in which that term is illegal, invalid or unenforceable, it shall be severed and deleted from these terms and the remaining terms shall survive, remain in full force and effect and continue to be binding and enforceable.

Privacy policy

Please refer to the TV Licensing Privacy Policy, for further information as to how we will use any data which you provide to us.

Who governs the TV Licensing terms and conditions

These terms shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

What if TV Licensing are unable to send me an electronic copy?

If for any reason it is not possible to send your licence, reminder and/or payment schedule (if applicable) to you by email, we will post it to you instead.