Over 75s from August 1 must pay £157.50 TV BBC Tax

[arista]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8506049/Free-TV-licence-75s-means-tested-August-1-BBC-confirms.html


Some Older Folk
are refusing to pay it.


[For those who now need to pay, they have a
range of options and
can choose to pay weekly,
fortnightly, or monthly,
if they don't want to pay
the licence fee all in one go.
Specialist telephone contact centres
have been set up and people can
also go online to complete the process.]

[Nicky91]

can choose to pay weekly,
fortnightly, or monthly

this seems fair, not to set one particular limit of time but that they can choose when to pay

[Swan]

Hopefully not a single over 75 pays.

[Tom4784]

Ridiculous and cruel.

[Crimson Dynamo]

My mum says "sod that"

[Niamh.]

what are they going to do put a load of old aged pensioners in prison?

[joeysteele]

Ridiculous and mean in my view.
Then again don't start me off on the atrocious robbery of the TV licence.

They could save funds by having one presenter In a morning for starters.
Do they really need a presenter and 2 pundits on Match of the Day.
When Wimbledon is on.
Do they really need the ever growing number of retired players as commentators along with others.

The BBC wastes absolutely loads of funds.

Then again, the government should never have handed this decision over to the BBC in the first place.

The TV licence and TV Licensing organisation should be scrapped, in my view.

[smudgie]

It should be means tested, at any age.
Plenty of pensioners are better off than low earning families and unemployed.

[Oliver_W]

Aren't they simulatenously thinking of decriminalising not paying it? Hopefully no-one over the age of 75 will bother with it.

[joeysteele]

It should be means tested, at any age.
Plenty of pensioners are better off than low earning families and unemployed.

I guess this is what is going to be done for the over 75s.
Only those on pension credit will be able to get the free licence now.

I think over my years on here, I'm likely well known for hating this licence law.
Decades ago with only 4 to 5 channels maybe.
Not now in this so called modern age.
I myself begrudge paying this every year, every single pence of it.

[Kazanne]

Don't quote me but I'm sure I saw that it was to be means tested, i don't think ANYONE should have to pay it tbh,as lots of people don't even watch it, the only thing I really watch on there is EE and their morning news sometimes.

[bots]

the government asked them not to do it, made it very clear to the BBC what their position is. So, I think this is the death knell of the BBC. To go against the government and to see the the petitions asking them to reconsider and ignore them is killing the support that they had. By decriminalising non payment of the licence fee, no-one will end up paying it, they will get zero fees and they will either need to change their business model or shut down. They really are quite stupid

[Greg!]

As they should

[Greg!]

If the government wants them to have it for free they should bloody pay for them themselves instead of passing the buck to the BBC. I don’t want BBC2, BBC3, the news channel etc axed just so the OAPs can watch bargain hunt for free

[joeysteele]

The government should never have given the power of this decision to the BBC.

It was taxpayer funded before and the government should have ensured any future decision on funding still had to be free licences for the over 75s.

Yes, it makes sense for it to be means tested and in my view, pension credit is one barometer to use but not the only measure of who should qualify.

Of course for me, I'd scrap the whole licence fee and force the BBC to join the 21st century.

I guess if it's decriminalised, then people don't pay it.
The BBC will find ways of funding debt collectors to go and bang on the elderly's doors.
Acting like loan sharks.

[joeysteele]

The thing that would bother me too is.
Since only those on pension credit will qualify for the free licence when over 75.

This means their details will need to be made known to the BBC to exempt them.
Will people want their income details housed with the BBC.
They're going to have to prove they are on pension credit.

That's why the universal free licence to all over 75s was the better way.

[Vanessa]

I pay weekly.
For me it's the best option, because I get paid every week.

[arista]

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/5DA3/production/_113317932_express.jpg

[Kate!]

Bastards

[arista]

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/CFA1/production/_113335135_express.png

[Denver]

We all have to

[Kizzy]

Absolute basts... Shameful they have chosen to do this, no stations are under threat the BBC are in profit so there's no need whatsoever.

[joeysteele]

Absolute basts... Shameful they have chosen to do this, no stations are under threat the BBC are in profit so there's no need whatsoever.

None at all.
The BBC has many other ways of acquiring income than when it first began.

It's a really mean act.

However you know, I'd have this daft licence fee scrapped full stop for everyone.
It's like a dark ages tax, constantly rising too.

[arista]

1281927189886316553

[arista]

https://pbs.twimg.com/ad_img/1283821804470054913/OdxV1qGc?format=jpg&name=small

[Cherie]

Horrendous decision, while they pay some of their presenters millions

[bots]

the bbc needs the goodwill of the british people to survive and they have ignored them increasingly over time. It's a draconian system that has no place in the modern day. If they don't change their ways they will be gone when their charter is up for renewal

[arista]

the bbc needs the goodwill of the british people to survive and they have ignored them increasingly over time. It's a draconian system that has no place in the modern day. If they don't change their ways they will be gone when their charter is up for renewal



Yes valid points.

[joeysteele]

the bbc needs the goodwill of the british people to survive and they have ignored them increasingly over time. It's a draconian system that has no place in the modern day. If they don't change their ways they will be gone when their charter is up for renewal

Totally agree with you here bitontheslide.

[arista]

1286962944551591938

[Nicky91]

good then, if no more BBC i am done with british tv :idc:

[joeysteele]

good then, if no more BBC i am done with british tv :idc:

I rarely watch the BBC.
It has little to interest me.

I even prefer Sky news now to any on the BBC.
I cannot bear it's morning programming.
Having been at home with my Mum these last 15+ weeks.
The BBC programming has been chronic.
Also just an endless run of repeats too.

Other than perhaps football, Wimbledon and Strictly.
The BBC is rarely on otherwise.

Adverts don't bother me in the slightest either do the other channels is, if I have the TV on.
Where I've found the better entertainment or programming.

I'm sure sport and football/Wimbledon particularly would be snapped up by other channels.
Strictly too.

I honestly wouldn't miss the BBC.
I think it a shocking move by both government and the BBC to take this 'gift ' away from people who are over 75.
For goodness sake, the over 75s.
How petty and pathetic is that of the BBC or the government for allowing the BBC to dictate who gets what.

We don't elect the BBC, we can't.
Either the government should take this back from the BBC, if it's as they said, an expected condition of the transfer that the BBC would retain the licence.

Or the government should bring a bill to scrap the licence altogether, IF the BBC takes away the free licence.

[Livia]

The BBC doesn't cater for elderly people. And yet, they have a couple of separate channels especially for children. Maybe charge people with kids? The poor ones will get a bye if they claim particular benefits... just like the plan for elderly people. Only pension credit is one of the most under-claimed benefit in the country.

[Nicky91]

The BBC doesn't cater for elderly people. And yet, they have a couple of separate channels especially for children. Maybe charge people with kids? The poor ones will get a bye if they claim particular benefits... just like the plan for elderly people. Only pension credit is one of the most under-claimed benefit in the country.

or BBC should charge the more well off/rich people these taxes

or seek new investors to put money into BBC on monthly basis, with more money means more budget for its content


however if i can't watch BBC anymore, also no disaster since i am getting into German tv now too, umm i can say ad breaks aren't that much of a problem if BBC should go for that any point, germany's RTL, Sat1 are both FreeToAir no taxes and they have ad breaks to get their money instead

[Livia]

or BBC should charge the more well off/rich people these taxes

or seek new investors to put money into BBC on monthly basis, with more money means more budget for its content


however if i can't watch BBC anymore, also no disaster since i am getting into German tv now too, umm i can say ad breaks aren't that much of a problem if BBC should go for that any point, germany's RTL, Sat1 are both FreeToAir no taxes and they have ad breaks to get their money instead

I don't have a problem paying my TV licence. Compared to the monthly cost of Sky I think it's quite cheap. I do have a problem with the intention to charge pensioners especially as they seem to spend the bulk of their money on mainstream programmes and programmes for kids.

[joeysteele]

The BBC doesn't cater for elderly people. And yet, they have a couple of separate channels especially for children. Maybe charge people with kids? The poor ones will get a bye if they claim particular benefits... just like the plan for elderly people. Only pension credit is one of the most under-claimed benefit in the country.

Very strong points all through, I agree.

Well, really you know well enough my own view of this licence.

That aside however, I just think this gesture to those over 75, I mean when you think of it, the over 75s, having a free licence after all their years of life.

To take it away now for me is really petty and rather spiteful.

Furthermore, during this lockdown, where the elderly have been confined to their homes for going on 16 weeks.
As I've looked at the TV myself a bit more.
I think, (as you have pointed out more overall), the BBC has been one of the worst channels for providing real entertainment for the elderly, during this lockdown period.

[Marsh.]

I don't have a problem paying my TV licence. Compared to the monthly cost of Sky I think it's quite cheap. I do have a problem with the intention to charge pensioners especially as they seem to spend the bulk of their money on mainstream programmes and programmes for kids.

Mainstream are going to appeal to the largest possible audience that's why.

BBC2 and 4 are not kids channels by any stretch of the imagine and have the more niche programming.

Having a kid's channel that rotates a series of repeats for 12 hours is hardly "a bulk of their money".

[UserSince2005]

As if we pay for this ****. Every threatening letter we get makes me less likely to ever pay for this ****

[arista]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EeuXRJAWkAElO89?format=jpg&name=900x900

[bots]

i really think this is the end of the BBC ... it's disgusting

[joeysteele]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EeuXRJAWkAElO89?format=jpg&name=900x900


This is nothing short of criminal in my view.
The BBC are really the lowest of the low in this act.

Shocking.

[arista]

This is nothing short of criminal in my view.
The BBC are really the lowest of the low in this act.

Shocking.



It's terrible
they are going to hunt all over 75 olds down.

[joeysteele]

It's terrible
they are going to hunt all over 75 olds down.

They'll find any resources to do that arista.
They'll have a presenter and 2 to 3 others on football programmes.
Numerous weather staff and more than one presenter on morning TV.

Yet they'll hound over 75 year olds to cover the costs for all that, which is unnecessary.

[thesheriff443]

It’s disgusting, mine is due am I’m serious considering chopping my Ariel feed and telling them to go f themselves been absolutely ****e on tv considering people been forced to stay at home

[user104658]

Meh. In today's world its not a huge amount of money, however, I do think it's well past time for them to move to an optional subscription model. We just don't use it at all... Or any broadcast TV to be honest... But the saving of being a cable cutter isn't worth the hassle :umm2:

[arista]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EgGKdTtWAAAPWxv?format=jpg&name=medium

Larger Image
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EgGKdTtWAAAPWxv?format=jpg&name=large

[joeysteele]

This has slipped off the radar rather.

Time it was made more an issue again, by the government too.