TV Licensing

Freedom of Information Act (FOI)

Requests for information about television licensing under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The BBC regularly receives requests for information about TV Licensing under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“FOI Act”).  This section sets out the answers to some of the frequently asked questions.  If you are considering making a FOI request, please first check whether the information you are seeking is available below. 

The BBC’s FOI Act website also contains information about TV Licensing and includes copies of FOI responses considered of wider interest in the disclosure logs.  Please note that some of the information here and on the BBC’s FOI website is publicly accessible elsewhere, including under the BBC’s Publication Scheme. 

Exemptions

While the BBC aims to be as open as possible, we are not required to make all information about TV Licensing publically available.  Some information requested under the FOI Act may be withheld where an exemption is applicable.   

The exemptions commonly applied to TV Licensing information are section 31, Law Enforcement and section 43(2), Commercial Prejudice.

Section 31 is relevant where disclosure of the information would prejudice the prevention or detection of crime. 

Section 43(2) is relevant where disclosure of the information would prejudice or would be likely to prejudice the commercial position of the BBC or any other person. 

Both of these exemptions are ‘qualified’ exemptions and subject to a public interest test.  This means that the BBC can only apply the exemptions to information when we are satisfied that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing it. 

General information on the use of exemptions under the FOI Act is available here.

Personal information

Under the Data Protection Act 1998 you have the right to inquire of any organisation whether they hold your personal data, and to see a copy of that information.  If you would like details of the information held about you by TV Licensing, then you will need to make a Subject Access Request and pay a £10 fee.  Data protection enquiries relating to information held by TV Licensing can be made to the Data Protection Manager, TV Licensing, Bristol, BS98 1TL.

Like the right to information under the FOI Act, the right under the Data Protection Act is subject to exemptions which may affect our ability to supply information; each case will be dealt with on an individual basis.

Information about other people

If you are requesting personal information about other people or an address that is not your own, please note that we are not able to disclose this information to you.  To do so would be in breach of the Data Protection Act.

Available information

The information available in this section has been divided into the following areas.

1. About TV Licensing

• What is TV Licensing and the role of the BBC
• Financial information
• Contractual arrangements

2. Legal framework

• Statutory authority
• Independent oversight

3. Policies 

• Change of address policy 
• Refund policy
• Licensable places policy
• No licence needed policy
• Privacy policy

4. Licences: facts and figures  

• Number of Licences 
• Cost of a TV Licence 
• Payment options
• Evasion

5. Administering the television licensing system part 1

• Licence terms and conditions 
• TV Licensing database and data management
• Mailings/letters 
• Complaints
• TV Licensing’s use of phone numbers

6. Administering the television licensing system part 2

• Retailer notifications
• Enquiry officers
• Prosecutions
• Detection
• Search warrants