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MUMBAI:
The BBC Trust has published the findings of its wide-ranging
review into how the licence fee for the UK pubcaster is collected.
The
report assesses whether current collection arrangements are
efficient, appropriate and proportionate. Overseeing the arrangements
is a new responsibility for the BBC's governing body, which
held a public consultation as part of the review process.
BBC
Trust chairman LSir Michael Lyons says, "In collecting
the licence fee, the BBC must balance firmness with fairness.
The main findings of this review are that TV Licensing needs
to improve the tone of its early dealings with the public,
especially households that do not have TV sets. At the same
time, TV Licensing should do more to target the minority of
hard core evaders to make sure that everyone who should pay,
does pay.
"The
Trust wants to ensure that, for the vast majority of people
who pay the licence fee, the process is as simple and convenient
as possible. We would like to see payment plans simplified,
especially for people on low incomes. We need to discuss the
practical options of this with both BBC management and the
Government, which sets and regulates the payment plan rules.
"We
are asking BBC management to act on all our recommendations
and bring an action plan to us within three months. We expect
them to look for continued improvements in collection arrangements
and will review and approve their strategy annually."
The
Trust praises the work the BBC has done since it took over
responsibility for licence fee collection from the Home Office
in 1991. The evasion rate has dropped from 12.7 per cent to
5.1 per cent but the decline has now levelled off. The Trust
welcomes savings of £43.5 million in collection costs
since 2006/07 but recommends that the BBC should put more
emphasis on targeted enforcement, even if this leads to modest
additional cost.
Although
the Trust recognises concerns raised in the public consultation
about the ending of over-the-counter licence fee payments
at Post Offices, it concludes that the switch to PayPoint
has increased the number of outlets and offers better value
for money.
The
Trust's review records a clear public view that the tone of
reminder letters is too harsh. Only a third of those who responded
to the public consultation thought that communications met
the stated aim of being clear and concise, polite but firm.
The Trust calls on BBC management to ensure that early reminders
meet these requirements and are non-accusatory in tone. However,
the Trust endorses the policy of sending a strong message
in later letters to deter evasion, coupled with professional
and determined enforcement.
Although
the range of payment methods offered is considered satisfactory
for the vast majority of licence fee payers, the Trust recommends
further discussion over instalment schemes requiring up front
payments, which may present a barrier to those on low incomes.
In
the public consultation, strong views were expressed about
communications with households that do not have a TV set or
other equipment to watch live broadcasts. At present, such
households are not obliged to let TV Licensing know but, unless
they do so, they continue to receive letters and may be visited
by an enforcement officer. Only a third of those who responded
to the consultation thought this policy was appropriate.
The
Trust has called on TV Licensing to introduce easier notification
arrangements for households without TV sets, together with
improvements to the tone and content of standard letters on
this matter. It also recommends a review of procedures to
minimise the risk of errors when recording households that
have provided notification that they do not have a TV set.
However, the Trust notes that enforcement officers subsequently
discover sets in 27 per cent of households that claim not
to have one.
Looking
at the future of licence fee collection, the Trust highlights
issues raised by recent advances in the way people access
television content, including the BBC iPlayer. It calls for
clearer communication on the legal requirement for a TV licence
to view live internet streaming on PCs or mobile devices.
Publication
of the report follows public consultation carried out between
September and November last year. More than 4,000 members
of the public, audience groups and other interested parties
expressed their views. The Trust also commissioned audience
research among people including new migrants to the UK, low
income groups and those with no TVs. Arrangements were compared
with those of other agencies including the DVLA, a local authority
and a utility company.
Also
Read:
BBC
Trust starts public consultation on proposal for IPTV
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