Jackie Weaver: BBC use comical tagline for Parish Council host

An investigation found that official BBC letters had been sent to the over-75s suggesting they may be “interviewed under caution” and could possibly receive a “criminal conviction” for non-payment. The letters ordering payment have been sent out as three-quarters of a million households refuse to pay the licence fee. The Daily Telegraph investigation found a 90-year-old grandmother, who lives in a nursing home, was sent a letter warning her to “expect a visit” from BBC enforcement officers.

This letter was sent out amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Due to the nature of the letter, the woman’s son-in-law accused the BBC of “corporate thuggery”.

Lord Botham, the former England cricket captain turned charity campaigner, has received more than 2,000 emails of support since he first raised concerns about the way the BBC was collecting the licence fee from the over-75s in two articles in The Telegraph over the past month.

Lord Botham said: “The truth of the matter is we should not be harassing people who are that age.

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“A lot of them will be scared and intimidated and feel threatened.

“Society needs to look after them, not put them under pressure.

“I don’t know what the BBC’s excuse is for it.

“I had no idea of the extent of the problem but the response from the emails says it all.”

Until August 1 all over-75s did not have to pay the licence fee.

Campaigners now fear the BBC will have to increase pressure on those who don’t pay to make up for a loss of income from licence fees throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph Rebecca Ryan, campaign director of Defund the BBC, said: “It’s frankly outrageous that the BBC is sending pensioners extremely threatening and deceptive letters during a pandemic when they are understandably fearful.

“We have seen many of these letters via our supporters and they have one purpose and that is to frighten and confuse the recipient into paying the BBC money, whether they need to or not.”

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She told how the BBC was “hounding them relentlessly at a time when they are isolated and living in constant fear”.

BBC TV licencing spokesperson said: “We have implemented these changes with the greatest care and have worked to make the process as fair and straightforward as possible.

“We have processed more than 3.5 million applications and the vast majority have been dealt with quickly and without an issue.

“We do recognise this is a tough time which is why we have ensured no one needs to leave home to apply,

“There is a dedicated phone line and online support if people have questions, we are giving people plenty of time to get set up and there are flexible payment plans to help spread the cost.”

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