TV Licensing

If you need extra help, we suggest you read this page with someone who can support you.

Buy a TV Licence

What happens during a visit

Our Officer will tell you why they’re visiting. They’ll be polite, considerate and fair. And they will follow our code of conduct.

If you allow them into your home, the visit is normally very quick. The Officer will:

• Check to see if any TV equipment is set up. Or being used
• Caution and interview you if they suspect TV equipment being used or set up. They’ll take notes of what’s been said and ask for your signature to confirm their notes are accurate. Find out more about the interview.
• Make sure you understand what may happen if you watch or record live TV, or watch BBC iPlayer, without a TV Licence

Officers wear a body camera to help keep them safe. And to deter any abuse towards them. Find out more about our use of body worn cameras.

When we can enter your address without your permission

If we receive a search warrant from a magistrate, Officers are able to enter your address without your permission. In Scotland, the warrant will be issued by the sheriff. We can ask for a search warrant when we have reason to believe the law is being broken. The Officer will be joined by the police when they visit.

Why we interview people

During the visit, if the Officer suspects that you’ve been watching live TV without a TV Licence, they will interview you under caution and record your information, as this is a criminal offence.

What was discussed at your interview

The Officer will caution you. They will explain that you don’t have to say anything, but if you do it could be used in court. If you agree, they will ask to inspect your TV receiver and then they will ask you some questions about the offence of watching TV without a licence.

They will record any important information and evidence. They will also ask you about any personal circumstances that might be relevant when deciding whether to prosecute you or not.

You’ll receive a copy of your interview by email or post if you ask for one. A further copy will be sent by post if you are prosecuted.

The Officer will also hand you a leaflet with information about what to do next. You can download our leaflets here:

TV Licensing Prosecution Code - England and Wales (PDF 141 Kb opens in a new window)

Côd Erlyn Trwyddedu Teledu – Cymru a Lloegr (PDF 137 kb yn agor mewn ffenest newydd)

TV Licensing Prosecution Code - Isle of Man (PDF 69 Kb opens in a new window)

TV Licensing Prosecution Code - Northern Ireland (PDF 127 Kb opens in a new window)

TV Licensing Prosecution Code - Scotland (PDF 127 Kb opens in a new window)

What you need to do after the visit

You need to buy a TV Licence, if you haven’t already since the Officer visited you. If you buy a licence straight away and keep up with your payments, you may be able to avoid prosecution or fines for not having a TV Licence. We’ll write to you if this is the case.

A TV Licence costs £169.50. To buy one, you can either:

Spread the cost.
If you’d prefer, you can pay with a monthly Direct Debit. You must keep up with your payments to remain correctly licensed. Find out more about spreading the cost.

Pay in one go.
You can pay £169.50 with a debit or credit card, yearly Direct Debit or by sending a cheque. You can also pay with cash at your nearest PayPoint store. Read more about our ways to pay.

Concessionary (discounted) licences are also available for customers who are blind, severely sight impaired, and customers aged 75 and over on Pension credit. Find out about different TV Licence types and costs.

If you need help with your TV Licence payments

Some customers can find it difficult paying for a TV Licence. If you’re struggling to make your payments, please call us on 0300 373 5453 and we’ll try to help.

There are many not-for-profit organisations that could help you. Their advice is free, confidential and independent.

Citizens Advice
Visit your local Citizens Advice. Or visit adviceguide.org.uk (England and Wales).

National Debtline
If you live in England or Wales, call 0808 808 4000. Or visit nationaldebtline.org for advice.

Money Helper
Call 0800 138 7777. Or visit moneyhelper.org.uk

Here are some other support organisations that could help.

The prosecution process

Prosecution is a last resort. We want to help you avoid this. That’s why you may be offered another option, like a payment plan. If we can do this, we’ll write to you.

This is called an out of court disposal. You may be able to avoid prosecution if you pay in full or sign up to payment plan and make sufficient payments towards your licence. If this is available, we’ll write to you and tell you how much you need to pay.

However, if you are offered an out of court disposal and you don’t buy a TV Licence or keep up with the payments, you could be prosecuted.

We may then take prosecution to the next stage if:

• You have not paid for a licence in full, or
• You have not set up a TV Licence payment scheme and made the minimum payments in time, or
• your licence is cancelled.

Your personal circumstances

Before we prosecute, we must be sure that the evidence against you is strong enough. We’ll also look at any personal circumstances you’ve told us about that may mean it would be unfair to prosecute you.

Examples include:

• Significant physical or mental health issues
• Severe financial problems
• Learning difficulties
• Domestic abuse

These need to be serious enough that they’ve stopped you from buying a TV Licence or managing your day-to-day affairs.

The example below shows just some of the circumstances we may consider. And the evidence you may need to provide. These are examples only.

Examples of your personal circumstances.

I was in hospital. Or I have a very serious illness. What can I do?
You can show a letter from a GP, a nurse or the hospital.

I have a serious mental illness. Or I recently lost a loved one. What can I do?
Your care support worker can help give us information on your needs.

I have a learning difficulty that makes it hard to buy a licence. What can I do?
Your carer can help give us info on your needs.

I lost my job. Or I can’t pay for basic things like food or heating. What can I do?
You can show proof your benefits have stopped. Or a letter from a charity saying what happened.

We know that some customers find paying for a licence difficult. We try to do everything we can to help. See what help is available if you are struggling to pay.

I am experiencing domestic abuse. What can I do?
Please find a safe place to call us. We can help. If a charity is helping you, ask them to call us.

We consider every case individually. And look at all the evidence before making a decision. Please call us on 0300 373 5453 for advice on how this could apply to you if you have been visited. We won’t share your information with anyone else, unless it’s required or permitted to do so by law.

When you could still be prosecuted

Even if you buy a TV Licence, there’s a chance you could still be prosecuted if:

• You've been caught using a TV without a licence in the past
• You previously told us you don’t need a TV Licence when you do
• You previously told us you will not buy a TV Licence even when you were told you need one
• We needed to use detection equipment and/or obtain a search warrant to gather evidence
• You’ve been offered an out of court disposal but you either didn’t pay for a TV Licence in full or make the payments you need to

If we prosecute, you’ll either be sent:

• A Single Justice Procedure (SJP) Notice (England and Wales only)
• A summons (Northern Ireland and Isle of Man)

In Scotland and the Channel Islands where we can’t prosecute, we report cases to the local law enforcement. And they make the decision.

Prosecution in England and Wales

What happens if you plead guilty

You can provide information to support your plea. For example, any circumstances or issues that were outside of your control. You will need to give the court details of the money you receive (from work or benefits) and your outgoings. This will be taken into account when the court decides what sentence to give you.

You won’t need to appear before the court. And your written statement and the evidence given by us will be used to make a decision. This will then be sent to you in the post.

What happens if you plead not guilty

You’ll need to provide reasons for your plea to the court. And details for any witnesses you want to give evidence on your behalf.

You’ll then get a letter with the date and time of your hearing.

What happens if you don’t respond

Your case will still go ahead. And you will lose your chance to make a plea and chance to reduce the amount of the fine. Or provide any extra information. You’ll be found guilty or not guilty, based on the evidence.

TV Licensing Prosecution Code - England and Wales (PDF 141 Kb opens in a new window)

Côd Erlyn Trwyddedu Teledu – Cymru a Lloegr (PDF 137 kb yn agor mewn ffenest newydd)

Prosecution in Northern Ireland and Isle of Man

If the decision to prosecute has been made and you have either not been offered an alternative option or have not made the payments required, you will be served with a summons.

The summons will be served in person. It will provide the date and time of the court hearing. It will explain the charge and the evidence the prosecution has and will use. As well as any previous convictions that the court will take into consideration if you are found guilty.

You may write to the court before the hearing. Or attend court on the day and submit your plea and any information you would like the court to take into consideration.

For more information please see our leaflets:

TV Licensing Prosecution Code - Northern Ireland (PDF 127 Kb opens in a new window)

TV Licensing Prosecution Code - Isle of Man (PDF 69 Kb opens in a new window)

Prosecution in Scotland

In Scotland, we report cases to the Procurator Fiscal Service who will decide what action to take, what charges to bring and which court the prosecution should take place. The following options are available to the Fiscal:

• Take no action (when there is insufficient evidence or it is not in the public interest to prosecute).
• Offer an alternative to prosecution (a warning letter or Fiscal fine between £50 and £300 and/or a compensation order).
• Prosecute in court. The ‘summary procedure’ is used for TV Licensing offences. This begins when a ‘complaint’ is served and may lead to a trial before a Sheriff or Justice of the Peace Court. The complaint will set out the charge and the evidence that the prosecution has and will use. As well as any previous convictions that the court will take into consideration if you are found guilty.

For more information please see this leaflet:

TV Licensing Prosecution Code - Scotland (PDF 127 Kb opens in a new window)

Paying any fines

If the courts find you guilty, the magistrates will decide the level of fine. You may have to pay:

• A maximum fine of up to £1,000 (up to £2,000 if you live in Guernsey)
• A victim surcharge of 40% of the fine if you live in England or Wales. In Scotland, Channel Isles or Isle of Man there is no equivalent, but a court can award compensation. In Northern Ireland, the surcharge is called the offender levy and is £15 – and the court often award compensation
• Prosecution costs of around £120 if you live in England, Wales or Isle of Man. In Scotland and the Channel Isles there are no costs, and in Northern Ireland we request loss of revenue costs.

You’ll also still need to buy a TV Licence if you need one.

Providing evidence of your circumstances

The evidence you give us must show how your circumstances prevent you from buying a TV Licence. It may also explain the difficulties you have managing your day-to-day affairs and how prosecution could impact you.

Any evidence provided will be carefully considered before a decision is made to prosecute. Please send us information by email. Or in the post.

Note: please provide evidence of your circumstances on the evidence form the visiting Officer gave you.

visit@tvlicensing.co.uk

TV Licensing Customer Service Centre, PO Box 88, Darwen BB3 1WZ

All information needs to be in writing. And will be treated in confidence. If you’re sending documents in the post, please only send copies. Not originals, as we can’t return them.

If you need any help or guidance, please call us on 0300 373 5453.