BBC accused of ‘bullying pensioners’ after threatening to check licence fees on Christmas Day
The BBC has been accused of “bullying pensioners” through “thuggish” tactics after threatening to check OAPs’ TV licences on Christmas Day.
Bosses had warned Britain’s elderly that they could face a visit on December 25 – with £1,000 fines looming if inspectors found evidence of unlawful TV-watching.
“As there’s no record of a TV licence at your address, you should expect a visit from an enforcement officer,” the TV Licensing notice reads.
“It may be on December 25 or another day.
“You could be prosecuted if you are caught watching, recording or downloading programmes illegally.
“Our officers visit an address every 10 seconds.
“And if no one answers, they can come back.”
Dennis Reed, director of senior citizens’ campaign group Silver Voices, said: “Such threatening behaviour is thuggish.
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“It’s an underhanded, desperate attempt to try to pressure older and vulnerable people into paying.
“To specify Christmas Day of all days is astonishing… Clearly, they won’t be calling on December 25.”
TV Licensing then admitted the letters were sent in error.
A spokesman for the authority said: “We apologise to anyone who received one.
“There will be no visits on Christmas Day.”
The “underhanded” letters came after it emerged Britons’ TV licences would be rising from £169.50 to £174.50 in just months.
The increase, which works out to an extra 42p per month and will come into force from April 2025, comes as part of annual inflation-linked rises which will continue until 2027.
As part of the plans, only over-75s on Pension Credit are and will be eligible to watch television for free.