Residents in the Handsworth and Lozells areas of Birmingham are advised to make sure they are correctly licensed to watch live TV ahead of forthcoming TV Licensing visits across the area.
Over the coming weeks, TV Licensing will be visiting unlicensed addresses within the north-west area of the city. The penalty for watching or recording live TV without a licence is prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.
Mark Whitehouse, spokesperson for TV Licensing, said: “We’ve been meeting with local community groups over the past couple of weeks explaining the need to be correctly licensed and the risks associated with evasion. We would always prefer people to be licensed rather than risk prosecution. The actual rate of evasion continues to remain low, at between just five and six per cent, so we know most people are correctly licensed.
“We do understand some people may find it difficult to pay their licence fee in one go, which is why we offer numerous ways to spread the cost, including a weekly cash payment plan, a savings card and monthly Direct Debit scheme, which can all be set up very quickly online or over the phone.”
TV Licensing information is available in five languages, including Panjabi, Urdu and Bengali at tvlicensing.co.uk/languages and translation services are available for anyone needing additional language support to set up a licence over the phone by calling 0300 790 6114.
A colour TV Licence currently costs £145.50 and is required by anyone watching or recording TV programmes as they are shown on TV, whether they are using a TV set, computer, mobile, tablet, or any other device. A licence is also needed to watch live TV online.
