The TV licence fee will increase to £174.50 for a colour licence from April 1, 2025, an increase of £5. Many Brits aren’t happy, but thousands could get away with saving the cost by cancelling
Many of us begrudge having to fork out for a TV licence every year and with prices going up by £5 in April, people are asking whether they even need one.
Peoples’ viewing habits have changed since the BBC licence fee was first introduced in June 1946 when it covered the black and white single-channel BBC television service and cost just £2.
But fast forward to today and people are less likely to watch live TV with many of us relying on catch up TV, Netflix and YouTube. And people do not have to pay for a TV licence if they only watch Netflix and YouTube, meaning they could save £174.50 per year.
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Yes, that’s right – if you only utilise catch-up services to watch shows after they’ve been broadcast on TV, excluding BBC iPlayer, then you likely won’t need a TV licence. This applies whether you’re viewing on a TV, laptop, phone or desktop computer.
And if you realise you don’t actually need a licence, you could apply for a refund. There is so much confusion surrounding who does and doesn’t need a TV licence that thousands of Brits who don’t actually need a licence are paying the fee. If you simply stream your TV programmes, you may not need one.
Refunds are given by TV Licensing if the holder does not need their licence again before it expires. To obtain a full refund, people need to complete an online form with their details and clarify the date which they will no longer need it. TV licensing will then work out how much of a refund someone is due.
If you’re over 75 and on Pension Credit the good news is you qualify for a free TV licence and can save the full £174. Households with a blind or severely sight-impaired member can get a 50% discount on their TV licence fee.
Residents of care homes or sheltered accommodation: If you live in residential care or sheltered housing, you might be able to snag a concessionary TV licence at just £7.50 per room, flat, or bungalow.
But make sure you check whether you do need a TV licence or not as if you’re found watching TV programmes that necessitate a TV licence without having one, you could face a fine of up to £1,000.
Meanwhile, next month has been dubbed ‘Awful April’ because so many household bills are rising. with hikes expected across council tax, broadband, water, energy, and phone bills. Almost three quarters (73%) of people are worried about affording their essential bills this spring.
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