If you have arrears on your licence you should contact TV licensing to come to an arrangement to repay them in instalments.
You may be eligible for a new trial payment plan devised for people struggling with debts and arrears.
How do I buy a TV licence?
There are many ways to buy a TV licence. You can pay weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually and choose how you’d like to pay, whether that’s by cash, Direct Debit, debit/credit card or by post.
To find out more about how to buy a licence visit the TV Licensing website.
TV licence concessions
In some cases you can apply for a reduction on the cost of your licence. This applies if you, or someone you live with are:
- 75 years old or older - You’re eligible to apply for a free licence by calling 0300 790 6112 or visiting the TV licence website
- Blind (severely sight impaired) and can provide appropriate evidence – You can apply for a 50% blind concession on your licence. However if you’re partially sighted you won’t be eligible for any reduction
What do I do if I don’t need a licence?
If you don’t watch TV at all or your property is empty or unoccupied you still need to contact TV Licensing and let them know. This should stop any letters being sent to the address for up to two years.
TV Licensing has a policy of visiting some addresses reported as not needing a licence. If you’re found to be watching TV illegally you risk being prosecuted and fined up to £1,000.
Can I go to prison for not having a licence?
No, you can’t go to prison for not having a TV licence. The court can only give you a fine for this. But if you don’t pay, the court can take further action to collect the fine, including sending you to prison as a last resort.
This will usually only happen if you’re refusing to pay and other methods of recovering the fine, such as enforcement agents (bailiffs) or deductions from your wages or benefits have failed.
Struggling with TV licence arrears?
If you’re falling behind with your TV licence payments, or have a fine that you’re struggling to repay, then please call us. Our expert advisors can give you advice on dealing with arrears and getting your payments up to date.
You can also use our free online debt advice tool Debt Remedy or our 60-second debt test.
By answering a few simple questions we'll be able to tell you if you need debt advice. Answer the questions below and we'll help you understand how close you are to having a debt problem and suggest what your next steps could be.