Thousands of people could be in line for a refund on their TV licence fee if they meet certain criteria. This includes those over a specific age, residents in care homes, and individuals who have moved to a property that already has a TV licence.
In the UK, it’s compulsory to have a licence to watch or record live TV, or to view any content – whether it’s live or catch-up – on BBC iPlayer.
The rule also applies to laptops, computers, tablets, and mobile phones. In April, the BBC TV licence fee saw an increase of £5, bringing it to £174.50, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate.
You don’t need a TV licence if you only watch programmes on catch-up using streaming services other than BBC iPlayer, according to the Manchester Evening News, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, ITVX, Disney Plus, YouTube, All4 and My5.
If you decide to watch any live shows through these services, though, you would need a TV licence, reports Lancs Live.
In June, a dad won a court case after he cancelled his licence because he only wanted to watch streaming services.
Lee Stuart was taken to court for not paying his TV licence – despite having previously explained to a TV Licensing inspector that he didn’t need one.
If you no longer need your licence before it expires, you could be entitled to a refund provided you have at least one month left on it.
You can also apply for a refund if you are eligible for an over 75 or blind concession.
Here’s the full list of circumstances where you could be entitled to a refund:.
Certain groups of individuals are eligible for a free or discounted TV licence.
Check if you belong to one of these categories:
You no longer need your licence and you have one month left before it expires
You no longer watch live on all TV channels, watch live TV on streaming services, or use BBC iPlayer
You’re moving to an address that already has a TV Licence
You have two licences for the same address
The licence holder has died
You’re living with someone aged 75 or over who is eligible for a free TV Licence
You’re moving into a care home
You’re moving abroad
If you’re caught watching television shows that require a TV licence, you could be penalised up to £1,000.
If you don’t need a TV licence, you must declare it on the TV Licensing website. The TV licence can be paid monthly, quarterly, or annually.
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