TV Licensing Reminds Savvy Students to Claim Their TV Licence Refund Before Summer Break

TV Licensing Reminds Savvy Students to Claim Their TV Licence Refund Before Summer Break

LONDON, May 22, 2012/PRNewswire/ --

Students heading off on their summer holidays from halls and rented accommodation
could be entitled to a cash-happy refund of almost GBP37 on their annual TV Licence.



Many students moving back to their parents' home will no longer need their own TV
Licence over the holidays. If there are three full calendar months before their
college-time licence expires and the home they are moving to for the holidays is licensed,
students are entitled to a refund for the unused quarter.



As well as making gadget choices for uni and buying the essentials for new digs,
students need to ensure they buy a TV Licence
[https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/pay/index.aspx ] at the start of the academic year to allow
enough time to qualify for a refund at the end of the year. A colour TV Licence bought in
October last year would mean they could receive a refund of GBP36.37.



Glen Morris, of TV Licensing, said:



"With the end of term on the horizon and the summer holidays fast approaching, it's
great news for students who bought a TV Licence last September or October to know they can
claim some cash back. As well as reminding students they need to be correctly licensed to
watch or record programmes as they are shown on TV, we also want to remind them to take
advantage of the refund before they move back home for the summer."



Research by TV Licensing [http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk ] shows that half of students
(50%)* are watching at least an hour of TV a day across a myriad of devices. A TV licence
is needed to watch or record programmes at the same time as they are shown on TV, whether
you are watching through an aerial on a TV set or via the Internet on a device such as a
laptop, games console, tablet or mobile phone.



Pete Mercer, National Union of Students (NUS) Vice-President (Welfare), said:



"The TV Licence refund is great news for students, especially at the end of term when
finances may be tight. We feel it's important for TV Licensing to inform students,
especially when it comes to viewing TV on a laptop or via the Internet, as they can
sometimes be unsure as to when a licence is required. It's vital students are aware of the
law and are correctly licensed, allowing them to watch TV as they wish and avoid risking a
prosecution and a fine of up to GBP1,000."



To arrange a refund, or for further information, simply visit
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/studentinfo where you can complete an online form, or call TV
Licensing on 0300 790 6090.



Notes to editors



*Research was conducted by Harris Interactive among 220 students spread across
universities in the UK in November 2011.



TV Licensing, students and the law.



When do you need a TV Licence?



A licence is needed if you're watching or recording television programmes at the same
time as they are being shown on TV. This is true no matter what device you're watching on
(including TV sets, laptops, mobile phones or game consoles) and no matter how you're
receiving the programmes (including terrestrial, satellite, cable or digital television
channels). Anyone without a valid TV Licence who watches or records television programmes
as described above risks prosecution and a fine of up to GBP1,000.



- If you live in halls of residence and use a device to watch or record TV in your own
room, you need your own separate TV Licence



- You also need your own licence if you are sharing a house with other students and
use a device to watch/record TV in your room, and your room is a separately occupied place
(a separate tenancy agreement would normally indicate that this is the case).



- If you have a separate tenancy agreement but a television is only being used in a
communal area, then only one licence is required.



- If you are sharing a house with other students and you use a device to watch/record
TV in your own room, but the house can be treated as one place shared by all, then only
one TV Licence is required (a joint tenancy agreement would usually be evidence that the
house is a single licensable place for this purpose).



- A device powered by its own internal batteries - a pocket sized TV or a mobile phone
for example - may be covered by a licence at the student's parents' address. However, you
must not install the device (plug it into the mains) when using it to receive television.
If there is no TV Licence at your parents' address, you will need to obtain one to watch
TV.



Costs and refunds



A colour TV Licence currently costs GBP145.50, and a black and white licence is GBP49.
The licence fee is frozen at its 2012 level of GBP145.50 until the end of the current BBC
Charter period in 2016.



For further information or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson please contact
the TV Licensing Press Office on +44(0)20-8752-6606.





Source: TV Licensing




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