TV Licensing

What happens if you miss a TV Licence Direct Debit payment?

If you’ve missed a TV Licence payment through Direct Debit we’ll always contact you to let you know what’s gone wrong and what you need to do next.

If Themis Recoveries has contacted you about your licence

Themis Recoveries work with TV Licensing as part of a trial. They send letters, emails and texts to people whose TV Licence has expired. Their messages help you buy a licence, spread the cost, or let us know you don’t need one.

You will always pay TV Licensing, not Themis Recoveries.

Here’s how to recognise a genuine message from them:

Texts will show ‘ThemisTVL’ as the sender and end with Themis Recoveries. These texts are one‑way, so you can’t reply.

Emails will come from mailing@themisglobal.co.uk.

If you want know more about who they are and why they might contact you, please read our Themis Recoveries FAQs.

What should you do if you miss a TV Licence payment?

If you realise you've missed a Direct Debit payment or your bank declined the payment you can do either of the following:

Let us take the missed payment again

We’ll try to collect the missed payment for your TV Licence the following month. Before we do this we’ll write to confirm the amount and payment date.

All you need to do is check the bank details we hold for you are still up-to-date and make sure there’s enough money in your account.

If you’re struggling to pay we’ll do all we can to help.

How do you pay a missed Direct Debit?

If you pay monthly you can avoid a higher payment the following month if you pay the missed the Direct Debit payment within a few days of receiving our letter.

Just sign in to see your licence and payment plan details and follow the on screen instructions to pay by debit or credit card. You’ll need:

If you paid the missed payment you’ll receive confirmation on screen and by email. Your payment plan will update to show any payments made, future payments and any new bank details entered.

If you need to speak to us, you can pay for your licence by phone.

• You'll need your TV Licence number. Don’t know your licence number?
• Along with the bank details we hold for you (sort code and account number).

If we can't collect the missed payment

We won’t be able to take your payment if:

• you closed your old bank account without moving the Direct Debit
• your Direct Debit agreement was cancelled by you or your bank
• you’ve missed two or more payments.

If you closed your old bank account without moving your Direct Debit you can update your bank details online.

If you or your bank cancelled your Direct Debit

You’ll need to re-instate your Direct Debit unless you wish to change how you pay or need to talk to us because you’re struggling to pay.

To reinstate your Direct Debit and make up any missed payments by debit or credit card sign in to see your licence and payment plan details and follow the on screen instructions.

• You'll need your TV Licence number. Don’t know your licence number?
• Along with the bank details we hold for you (sort code and account number).

Further information