TV Licensing

Don't feel like a pumpkin this Halloween

TV Licence evaders were today warned that the surprise knock on the door this Halloween may not be from ‘trick or treaters’ – it could be from a TV Licensing enquiry officer.

TV Licensing staff will be out and about on the most ghostly night of the year and licence fee dodgers could be in for a shock of a different kind if caught watching TV illegally.

TV Licensing’s database of more than 30 million addresses can’t tell which properties are haunted, but it can pinpoint which ones are unlicensed. And with access to hi-tech handheld equipment, enquiry officers don’t need a sixth sense to know who’s watching TV illegally.

Anyone watching TV without a licence risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

Ian Fannon, TV Licensing spokesperson, said:

“TV Licensing enquiry officers don’t down tools just because there are ghosts and ghouls about – we’ll be knocking on doors as usual this Halloween and will continue to do so over the winter.

Obviously we always prefer people to buy a licence than risk prosecution, which is why we offer a range of ways to pay to make it as easy as possible. And if you’re too scared of witches and goblins to leave the house, you can even pay online at www.tvlicensing.co.uk/pay.

Don’t end up feeling like a pumpkin this Halloween - make sure you are properly licensed so that the only unexpected visit you need to worry about is from trick or treaters.”

For more information on ways to pay, visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk.

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For more information, please contact the TV Licensing press office on 020 7544 3144.

Who needs a TV Licence?

If you use or install television equipment to receive or record television programmes as they are being broadcast, you need to be covered by a valid TV Licence. Viewing television without a licence risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

Paying for a TV Licence:

A colour TV Licence currently costs £142.50. A black and white TV Licence currently costs £48.

TV Licensing aims to make it as easy as possible for people to buy a TV Licence, which is why there are many different ways to pay.

• Over-the-counter – people can now pay at any of almost 20,000 PayPoint outlets across the country
• Direct Debit - monthly, quarterly or annual Direct Debit payment schemes are available and can be set up online at www.tvlicensing.co.uk/directdebit
• To find out more about paying in weekly instalments over the counter, online, by text message or over the phone on the cash payment plan, call 08457 289 289
• Online – people are now able to pay online at www.tvlicensing.co.uk/pay by Direct Debit or with a debit or credit card
• Debit or credit card over the phone - this facility accepts payment from a range of debit cards including Maestro, Delta and Connect
• By post – send a cheque made payable to TV Licensing to: TV Licensing, Darlington, DL98 1TL.
• To find out more about paying in weekly instalments over the counter, online, by SMS or by phone on the cash payment plan, call 08457 289 289 or take a look at payment methods

For more information about any of our payment options and concessions, to set up Direct Debit payments or to pay by debit or credit card please visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk or call 0844 800 6732.