TV Licensing

TV LICENSING: How the Licence Fee increase affects your TV Licensing Direct Debit

Starting this week, some 12 million households will be contacted by TV Licensing for the first time in five years, ahead of an expected rise in the TV Licence Fee.

When the cost of the Licence Fee was fixed at £145.50 in 2011, TV Licensing wrote to the Direct Debit customers letting them know their licence would be automatically renewed and they would not receive any contact from TV Licensing as long as they kept up their payments.

The Government announced last year the Licence Fee would rise with inflation. Although the specific amount is yet to be confirmed, the cost will be communicated to Licence Fee payers ahead of the increase in April. The new amount will be reflected in payment plans sent to customers from April onwards^*.

Customers paying the TV Licence by Direct Debit won’t need to take any action, as long as their banking details have remained the same. Customers who pay the amount in full, or who pay in instalments by payment card or savings card will be informed of any changes to their payment plan as part of the normal mailings or emails they receive.

Jason Hill, spokesperson for TV Licensing, said:

We’ll be mailing the remainder of our Direct Debit customers throughout the year at the time of their licence renewal, but there’s no need for customers to get in touch.

He added:

Because TV Licensing has not mailed 12 million Direct Debit customers since 2011, there is a chance some customers may have moved house, or updated their Direct Debit details and forgotten to let us know. Keeping us updated of any change of details is easy and can be completed quickly and safely online.

Customers can check or update their personal details anytime on our website or by calling TV Licensing on 0300 790 6112. Customers should update their personal details if they move house, turn 75 or change their bank details or surname so as to remain properly licensed.

To continue reducing the number of paper licences issued, TV Licensing is urging customers to join the 6.5million people who receive their TV Licence by email. Customers can choose to receive their TV Licence by email, check their details at any time online, and remain fully covered without the need for a paper licence.