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2nd, October 2009

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: Monday, 8th September 2008

TV Licence Collection

Public Consultation 2008

News Articles (updated as and when)

Hey ho, The BBC Trust is this week launching its public consultation into how the licence fee is collected. The Trust is responsible for overseeing the licence fee collection arrangements, put in place by BBC management, and ensuring they are "efficient, appropriate and proportionate".

My view on the public consultation is this.... I feel that this is a consultation to shut up the moaners amongst us, call me cynical if you want. I reckon after this 12 week folly, things will carry on the same as before, "full steam ahead", said the captain.

paying lip service is a common term used.

The BBC themselves state "The BBC is to ask viewers and listeners for their opinions on how the licence fee is collected following complaints about "heavy-handed" tactics."

Nothing is mentioned about those people and families that don't have a Television and yet are still harassed and intimidated daily, who will be hearing their gripes? how will they even know about the consultation?

Perhaps TV Licensing will insert a notice into the threatening letters asking for opinions of the imminent investigations and court fine that they should expect.

The Question for the Public Consultation are:

I done the searches so you would'nt have to.
Date	Publication & Link	Excerpt
8th September 2008	The Times	Payment, enforcement and collection of the BBC TV licence will come under the microscope from today, when the Corporation's governing body invites members of the public to comment on how the £139.50 levy is administered.
8th September 2008	In the News	The BBC is to investigate the advertisement and collection of the television licence fee following complaints of "intimidating" methods. A consultation group has been established by the corporation's governing body the BBC Trust after viewers and MPs criticised 'heavy-handed' tactics used by TV Licensing. Conservative MP Gary Streeter tabled an early-day motion in parliament in 2007 which attacked the approach taken to ensuring that the one million Britons who do not own a TV prove their "non-use".
8th September 2008	Brand Republic	The BBC Trust has invited comments from the public on whether the tactics used in ad campaigns for the TV licence are "appropriate". The research is part of a 12-week public consultation, launched today, that will allow TV viewers and radio listeners to suggest alternative ways of marketing and collecting the £140-a-year fee
8th September 2008	The Press Association	The BBC wants viewers to comment on whether "heavy-handed" tactics are being used to collect the licence fee. Its public consultation follows complaints about the measures used to chase suspected evaders. The BBC's governing body, the BBC Trust, will examine the "tone of the marketing and advertising about the TV licence" and the "enforcement methods used... including letters, visits and detection".
8th September 2008	The Guardian	The BBC Trust will today launch a review of the way the licence fee is collected. Led by BBC chairman Sir Michael Lyons, it will attempt to reduce evasion of the £139.50 annual charge but will also examine complaints that its marketing and collection tactics are heavy-handed.
8th September 2008	The BBC	The BBC is to ask viewers and listeners for their opinions on how the licence fee is collected following complaints about "heavy-handed" tactics.
7th September 2008	This is Money	Menacing commercials showing TV licensing authorities tracking down evaders may become a thing of the past following a review of the licence fee by the BBC Trust.
7th September 2008	The Telegraph	Faced with accusations of harassment, the BBC Trust, the corporation's governing body, will investigate whether the methods employed to gather the £139.50 fee are "efficient, appropriate and proportionate". The public consultation follows complaints that people who do not even own a television set are receiving threatening letters from the organisation responsible for collection the fee.

The public consultation starts (Monday 8 September) and closes Friday 28 November.

The Question for the Public Consultation are:

Do you feel it is clear when a TV licence is needed? Is there anything more which could be done to help people understand?

No,

Mixed messages from all sources confuse the public into knowing what exactly is fact when it come to TV Licence requirements

Did you know about the different ways of paying for your TV licence?

Yes

Is the range of payment methods suitable for you? If not, how would you like to pay?

I'd like to pay for what I watch. Subscription TV

Is the direct communication you’ve received about your TV licence clear and concise, polite but firm? If not, please explain.

No

I was personally harassed on my own doorstep by TV licensing officials, when at the time I never had a Television set.

I found TV Licensing staff to act just like a sniffer dog, I never gave them access to my property yet they still scoured over my shoulder for clues and peeked their head into my open doorway searching for evidence.

Do you think the tone of the marketing and advertising about the TV licence is appropriate?

Definitely Not, it is totally unacceptable,

Sinister, Menacing and Intimidating. your marketing hits all sectors of the community, even those people that never need a TV Licence can be affected by your adverts and they have been getting worse recently

Do you think that the methods of enforcement, including letters, visits and detection, are reasonable and appropriate?

No, The BBC assume that those people without a TV licence must be evaders, also if two or more people live together TV Licensing want to know the living arrangements and relationship of the inhabitants so that you can double your money on one property

Do you think that the process for those who do not need a licence is appropriate?

You put the onus on the customer to update your computer, if you send a letter then you should expect a reply back in the same way with a tick box stating.

I Do have a TV

I Don't possess a TV

and you should include a stamped addressed envelope so that the customer don't have to pay for the postage back to you.

The customer reply so far as you are concerned should be final.

Based on your experiences of other collection agencies, such as local councils, utility companies and the DVLA, do you have any suggestions on alternative ways of collection?

You are all as bad as each other.

all payments should be through the official Income tax system, the more you earn the more you pay, that is the only fair democratic way to operate a country

Overall, do you think the right balance has been struck between encouraging payment and deterring evasion?

No, I don't agree with the idea of having to pay to watch TV.

Do you have any other comments about how the TV licence fee is collected?

I would like to see this dreaded unfair tax abolished, the collection methods do a lot of harm to innocent people who are just trying to get on with their lives, TV Licensing are intrusive to say the least.

I filled in the consultation questions on the internet the red are the questions, the green was my response.

Have your say NOW!! on the BBC Trust website

BBC Trust Press Release

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