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Citizens Advice sees a 20% hike in TV licence debts

25 Mawrth 2014

New figures from Citizens Advice reveal a 20% increase in TV licence debts from October to December last year, compared the same period the year before.  

In 2013 Citizens Advice Bureaux helped people with 3,912 issues TV licence arrears problems. In the same year 34,527 people also sought online advice about licence fees.

MPs are today due to vote on plans to amend the Deregulation Bill, which would make failing to pay the television licence fee a civil rather than criminal offence.

Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said:

“There is a difference between won’t pay and can’t pay. The increasing pressure on people’s finances means more and more are struggling to make ends meet. In the last year Citizens Advice Bureaux have seen a 20 per cent rise in problems with television licence arrears.

“A jail sentence for being unable to pay is out of kilter with how other debts are handled. The squeeze on people’s finances is not going to disappear any time soon. It is crucial that all creditors face up to the reality of people in financial difficulty and take steps, like offering affordable repayment plans, to help them meet their financial commitment.”

Case studies

  • Jessica and Steven, a couple with a five year old daughter, had both experienced periods of unemployment and although they both have steady work now, their previous fluctuating incomes meant they got into significant rent arrears. Fearing they’d lose their home, they used the TV licence money to make a token payment to the landlord. When a bailiff came to collect the TV licence money they decided to take out a high cost loan to meet their demands. They are now struggling to keep up with the loan repayments and fear sinking further into debt.
  • Jack was struggling to pay for his TV licence alongside other high-priority debts. When Jack became swamped with the debts he was too afraid to attend court and so he received a prison sentence.
  • Lucy, a single mother with two children, could not pay for her TV licence and was landed with a further £300 bill for the use of bailiffs. The bailiff refused to accept weekly payments and demanded the full £438.

Notes to editors:

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website.
  2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
  3. To find your local bureau in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk. You can also get advice online at adviceguide.org.uk
  4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers
  5. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.3 million clients on 5.4 million problems from October 2013 to September 2014. For full 2013/2014  service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends
  6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 3,000 service outlets across England and Wales.