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Important new information for TV Licensing customers

After 31 July 2006, customers will no longer be able to pay for their TV licence at the Post Office®. Customers can instead take advantage of PayPoint’s growing network of outlets to pay or save for the TV licence, using cash or debit card payments. PayPoint outlets can be found in newsagents, convenience stores, supermarkets, petrol stations and other retailers.

There are more than 15,000 participating PayPoint outlets in the UK, with another 2,000 expected to become available by 2007. This compares to 14,585 branches of the Post Office® network which currently provide TV Licensing over-the-counter services (source: Postwatch). 79% of PayPoint outlets are open from 9.00am to 8.00pm. On average they open for 100 hours per week and 98% are open on Sundays. A national media and communications campaign is now taking place to inform licence payers of the changes, which will include working with stakeholder groups to utilise all available communications channels to reach as wide a range of audiences as possible. These changes do not affect customers living in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man.

TV Licensing aims to make it as easy as possible for people to buy a TV licence, which is why there are many different ways to pay in addition to the new PayPoint services.  An increasing number of people are choosing to pay by signing up to Direct Debit, now used by over 12 million people to pay for their licences, while others choose to pay their TV licence via our website,www.tvlicensing.co.uk, by putting a cheque in the post, or by phone using a debit or credit card.  

The TV Licensing Savings Card

TV Licensing will be phasing out its savings stamps and bringing in a new savings card,in conjunction with Revenues Management Services LTD and PayPoint, which provides a safe, secure and flexible way to pay towards the cost of a television licence. People can continue to buy savings stamps until 16 July 2006 and can continue to use savings stamps at the Post Office® until 31 July 2006. After that date, stamps can still be used to buy a licence and their value can be redeemed by contacting TV Licensing.

TV Licensing will be writing to everyone who has purchased a licence using stamps in the last year to explain the changes and provide them with a savings card by the end of June.

Applying for the over 75 free TV licence

Anyone who is aged 75 or over is entitled to a free TV licence. The free licence will not be issued automatically - you still need to apply for it. Anyone applying for the free TV licence can now do so by post (TV Licensing, Bristol, BS98 1TL) or by phone on 0845 603 6999. You will be asked to provide your name, address, date of birth and your National Insurance Number (this can be found in the top left hand corner of your Pension Book). If you don’t have a National Insurance Number, you will be asked to send proof of age to TV Licensing, for example, photocopies of your passport, your birth certificate or your driving licence.

The licence also covers any other household members living at this address. In addition, those who are aged 74 can apply for a short-term licence by calling the number above, which will be valid until the end of the month before their 75th birthday.

Applying for the blind licence concession

If you are applying for your blind licence concession for the first time, please get in touch with TV Licensing by ‘phone on0845 603 6999 when you receive your TV licence renewal notice.

You will be asked to send a photocopy of your blind registration document from the local authority to TV Licensing, Blind Concession Group, Bristol BS98 1TL, which TV Licensing will validate. We will then send you a letter confirming the details and the payment amount, which you can then take to any PayPoint outlet to pay for your licence by cash or debit card. You can also choose to pay in a number of other ways, including by Direct Debit, via our website or over the ‘phone by debit or credit card.

If you are renewing your blind licence, you can choose to make your payment using any one of the methods outlined above.

Making payments on the Cash Easy Entry scheme

Cash Easy Entry is a cash payment scheme available for those on income-related state benefits.  People using this scheme can use PayPoint outlets to make their payments. They will also be able to make payments at the Post Office® up to the 31 July, following which you will no longer be able to use the Post Office® to pay for your licence.

Two hundred thousand licence fee payers already use PayPoint to pay for their licence using the Cash Easy Entry scheme for those on income-related state benefits. To find their nearest PayPoint, customers can visit www.paypoint.co.uk/locator.htm or call 0845 155 0404.

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