Martin Lewis explains who needs a TV license

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Calvin Robinson, a British political commentator who regularly features on Dan Wootton’s Superstar Panel on GB News, shared images of the unsolicited letter he received on social media this week. He described the letter he received after moving into a new flat in Oxford, as “rather official looking” and “very threatening”.

The letter in question states it is an “official warning” about an investigation being carried out for the address as there is no record of a TV licence at the property.

It outlines how, according to the law, it is a criminal offence to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel or to download and watch BBC programmes on iPlayer without a licence.

It also outlines means in which to “stop the investigation” and avoid further action, to which Mr Robinson called the BBC “bullies”.

Alongside posting the letter on social media, Mr Robinson said: “Luckily, I know I owe the BBC nothing” and while he wasn’t particularly affected by receiving the letter, he mentioned how this may not be the case for others.

He added: “Imagine how a student or vulnerable person might feel receiving this letter. Bullies”.

One user responded to the letter saying: “Shocking! BBC should be ashamed of such threats!”

Emily Hewertson, a political commentator, responded to the tweet saying she received something similar when she moved into student halls for her first year of university.

She described the experience as “horrible”, stating that it was “genuinely scary to receive such a threatening letter” especially in the first few days of living away from home.

She said the letter referred to the risk of prosecution if no action was taken, and recalled calling her mum panicking.

She wrote: “I thought I’d done something seriously wrong!”

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The discussion comes following the recent backlash facing the BBC after the recent major clampdown on TV licences came into force. 

Free TV licences were scrapped for the older generation last August, with only those receiving pension credit being exempt from paying. 

The BBC introduced a temporary payment amnesty amid the pandemic. 

However, they confirmed at the end of June that 3.6 million of the 3.9 million people aged over 75 who needed to pay £159 for an annual TV licence had done so.

Those left outstanding would receive letters to remind them and provide support.

Morgan Vine, head of policy and influencing at the charity Independent Age, said the extra financial outlay means Britain’s eldest risk “losing access to what is often their lifeline to the outside world”.

She added: “The decision to link free TV licences for the over 75s to Pension Credit will not do enough to protect low income older people’s access to television.”

Maintaining the free service for the over-75s would have cost the BBC £745million, at a time when it faces competition from streaming platforms. 

The BBC has been contacted by Express.co.uk for comment.

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