TV LICENSING TARGETS DERBY EVADERS WITH NEW CAMPAIGN

Extra local visiting and awareness campaign gets underway

A crackdown on TV licence evaders in Derby is taking place during March with increased visiting by enquiry officers in and around the city.

TV Licensing is clamping down on evaders in the Derby area through more home visits, as well as launching a new education campaign aimed at ensuring that local residents know their legal obligations and the range of payment options available to them, including over-the-counter at local PayPoint outlets.

Over the coming weeks, TV Licensing will be distributing around 10,000 leaflets ordered by community, voluntary and housing organisations, highlighting the number of easy ways to pay for a licence.

Explaining the local initiative, Mark Whitehouse, TV Licensing spokesperson for the East Midlands, said: “This new campaign combines an educational programme with extra visiting, and we want to encourage as many people in Derby as possible to get a TV licence before they get a knock on the door. There are many ways to pay for your licence including over-the-counter at local PayPoint outlets, so there really is no excuse for not paying.”

TV Licensing is working with several organisations in the area, including Derby Homes, Action Housing & Support and Derby City Council.

Leader of the Council Councillor Chris Williamson said: I am delighted to lend the Council's support to this campaign. People need to be aware that, though it is compulsory to have a TV licence, there are concessions available and a variety of flexible ways to pay. Derby has many diverse communities. We at the Council can help the TV Licensing organisation get this information across to as many people as possible through our networks."

Phil Davies, Chief Executive of Derby Homes said: “We are happy to support the TV Licensing awareness campaign and would remind all our tenants to apply for a TV Licence if they have not done so already.”

TV Licensing enquiry officers caught more than 1,200 people in Derby watching TV without a valid licence during the first nine months of 2006 (January to September 2006), and TV Licensing will be keeping up the pressure on licence evaders to obtain a valid TV licence or face the consequences of being caught.

All those who need a licence and are caught watching TV without one risk prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000, plus court costs - and they still have to buy a licence if they need one.

To find out more about TV Licensing please visit the website at www.tvlicensing.co.uk or call 0870 240 1294.

Everyone who installs or uses a device to watch or record television programmes as they are being shown on TV is legally required to be covered by a valid TV licence.

A colour TV licence currently costs £131.50. A black and white TV licence currently costs £44.

Ways to pay

There are several ways to pay:

Direct Debit: Direct Debit is now the most popular and hassle-free way to pay for your licence – over 12 million licence fee payers now pay this way. Phone 0870 241 5590 or visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk/dd to set up a monthly, quarterly or annual Direct Debit.

Credit/Debit Card: Simply call 0870 241 5590 and pay by credit or debit card. This facility accepts payment from a range of cards including Visa, Mastercard, Maestro/ Switch, Solo and Delta. You can also pay online using your credit or debit card at www.tvlicensing.co.uk

Cash Easy Entry: Those who receive income support or any other income-related state benefit, and who need to spread the cost of the TV licence, can start making weekly payments of as little as £5.50 at any PayPoint outlet. Please telephone 08457 289 289 for more information, or to join the scheme.

Over the Counter: To carry out any TV Licensing transaction in person (for example, buying a new licence, or making a cash or debit card payment towards a licence), visit one of over 16,000 local PayPoint outlets. Go to www.paypoint.co.uk/locator to find your nearest outlet or call 0870 850 7846.

TV Licensing savings card (which has replaced TV Licence savings stamps):
TV Licensing has replaced TV Licence savings stamps with a more secure TV Licensing savings card, which can be used at more than 16,000 PayPoint outlets across the country. You can no longer buy TV Licence savings stamps at the Post Office®, nor use stamps to pay for a licence at the Post Office®. However, stamps still retain their value and can be transferred onto a new savings card or used to pay towards the cost of a licence by contacting TV Licensing. Requests for refunds can also be made by contacting TV Licensing directly, taking up to 30 days to process.

By Post: Simply send a cheque made payable to TV Licensing to the following address: Customer Services, TV Licensing, Bristol, BS98 1TL.
Please write your name, address and reference number on the back.

If you move, to remain correctly licensed, your licence must be transferred to your new address. Please let us know by calling 0870 242 3349 or visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk/moving