TV Licence payers are hastening to cancel their subscriptions in the face of an anticipated April rule change. The BBC TV licence fee is due to increase from £169.50 to £174.50 starting 1 April; however, thousands will be exempt from this rise.
Taking to social media to vent about the surcharge, one disgruntled user exclaimed, “People can manage quite happily without it. We live in an age of on demand entertainment. There is little need for live TV when you can watch catch-up (except on iPlayer) without the need to pay the BBC tax – of which a huge sum is spent on enforcement, given the number of threatening letters they send out each month to non-payers.”
Another commented tersely, “all well and good but the money is not being spent on programming is it. Nope — no reason the BBC needs more than 5 billion – and Reeves has postponed the spending review — so really no government department increases can be allowed until that is done.”
An individual remarked, “A sensible MP would decriminalise the licence fee and then make the BBC subscription only == easy. – lots of choice .. the people can then decide and it won’t be a #tax anymore – not difficult at all and very fair.”
Meanwhile, another detractor snapped, “Of course Labour want you to pay for the BBC: It is their tame mouthpiece. Just watch Question Time if you want proof. The Beeb is not fit for purpose and should go independent. They will soon find out how popular they are. SCRAP THE LICENSE FEE NOW:”, reports Birmingham Live.
One critic quipped: “The BBC may be much needed as a propaganda arm for the Labour Party. The rest of us can live without it, thank you very much.”
Anyone caught not complying with the licence requirement without a valid reason risks being taken to court and facing a maximum fine of £1,000, in addition to any legal costs and potential compensation. Additionally, those who require a TV Licence will still need to purchase one.
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