Thousands of Britons could be in line for a refund on their BBC TV licence fee if they meet certain criteria, including being over a certain age, living in care homes, or moving into a property that already has a TV licence. In the UK, it’s compulsory to have a licence to watch or record live television, or to view any content – whether it’s live or catch-up – on BBC iPlayer.
This rule also extends to laptops, computers, tablets, and mobile phones. In April, the BBC TV licence fee saw a £5 hike, taking it to £174.50, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate. You don’t need a TV licence if you only watch programmes on catch-up using streaming services other than BBC iPlayer. These include Netflix, Amazon Prime, ITVX, Disney Plus, YouTube, All4 and My5. However, if you decide to watch any live shows through these services, you would need a TV licence.
In June, a father triumphed in a court case against TV licensing after he cancelled his licence to watch streaming services.
Lee Stuart was dragged to court for not paying his TV licence despite previously explaining to a TV Licensing inspector that he didn’t require one.
If you no longer need your licence before it expires, you could be entitled to a refund, provided you have at least one month left on it.
You can also apply for a refund if you are eligible for an over-75 or blind concession.
