Member Article

TV licence clampdown on businesses

Businesses have been warned to make sure they have TV licences in place with the launch of a crackdown on firms not paying the correct fees. Firms have been advised to renew their licences before the end of March, after which the fee will rise from £131.50 to £135.50.

Victoria Smith, TV Licensing spokesperson, said: “With the end of the financial year drawing near, now is the perfect time for businesses to check their TV licence status, and see if they qualify for a saving by renewing before March. “We are also advising businesses that during February and March there will be a crackdown on businesses, with increased visiting planned to business addresses. “We have a database of over 28 million addresses, which shows us if an address is licensed or unlicensed at the touch of a button, so our enquiry officers know where to focus their visits.”

Any business site, office, shop or garage must have a licence if a TV or computer is used to watch or record TV programmes. A licence is not required for watching pre-recorded videos, DVDs or closed circuit monitoring. One licence covers all the TV equipment a business uses on a single site, with the exception of hotels. Penalties for businesses found using a TV without a licence include prosecution and a fine of up to £1000.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .