BBC TV Licence refund worth up to £170 – are you eligible?

London: Did you know that in the UK, every household needs a TV licence to watch or record live TV? It doesn’t matter what channel you’re tuning into.

Starting in April, the TV licence fee is going up by £5, bringing it to £174.50. This increase is part of a deal made back in 2022, which ties the fee to inflation until 2027.

But here’s the good news: if you don’t watch or record live TV and you’re not streaming BBC iPlayer, you might be eligible for a refund on your licence.

You can apply for a refund if you won’t need your licence again before it runs out, and you’ve got at least a month left on it. So, if you’ve stopped watching live TV, it’s worth checking out.

UK households could snag a refund of up to £159 on their TV licence costs. How cool is that?

If you want to apply for a refund, you can do it online. Usually, they process refunds within 21 days, but it might take longer if they need to reach out for more info.

Your refund will come either by cheque or a direct bank transfer. The amount you get back will be calculated by TV Licensing, the folks who handle the licences.

They say refunds are based on the unused months left on your licence. You need to have at least one full month left to qualify.

So, if you’ve got between one and eleven months left, you could get a refund for that time. Just keep in mind, if there’s less than a month left, you won’t be eligible.

And if you haven’t paid for your licence in full, they might adjust the expiry date based on what you’ve already paid.

Now, you might be wondering when you actually need a TV licence. Well, you don’t need one for streaming services like Netflix or Disney Plus, or for on-demand TV from places like All 4 and Amazon Prime Video.

But if you’re watching or recording live TV on any channel or using BBC iPlayer, then yes, you do need a licence.

For those over 75 who receive Pension Credit, there’s even a chance to get a free TV licence instead of paying the usual fee.

TV Licensing says that free licences are only available if you’re 75 or older and either you or your partner at the same address is getting Pension Credit.

If you think you qualify for a free licence but can’t apply online, just give them a call at 0300 790 6117. Their advisors are available from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Monday to Friday.

Once you apply, it might take a few weeks to process. If there are any hiccups, they’ll let you know, and they might even call you if you’ve provided your number.

Just a heads up, there are different rules for over 75s living in the Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey.