BBC issues update after threatening to make TV licence visits at Christmas

The BBC has backtracked on its ominous letter sent out to UK households threatening to send TV Licence enforcement officers to people’s homes on Christmas Day for not paying for the annual fee.

Residents in the UK have to pay a whopping £169.50 per year to be able to watch live television or BBC iPlayer in any capacity. Roughly 24 million properties have the TV Licence which funds the state broadcaster.

However many people’s festive spirits were dampened this December after receiving a letter saying officers could turn up to their home if they have not paid the licence fee.

The letter was headlined “Will you be in on 25th December?”. It then continues to say: “As there’s no record of a TV Licence at your address, you should expect a visit from an enforcement officer.”

It adds: “It may be on the 25th December or another day. You could be prosecuted if you are caught watching, recording or downloading TV programmes illegally. On live TV or BBC iPlayer.

“You may have to pay a fine of up to £1,000 plus any legal costs and / or compensation.”

One worried Brit who had received the letter told LADbible of the “threat” they felt, saying: “I think it’s a horrific tactic that’s used to scare older and more vulnerable people that don’t know any better.”

Despite the letter stating that the visit can be stopped by paying the licence, it said “you can expect a visit soon” if you don’t.

After sparking nationwide outrage, a TV Licencing spokesperson said: “These letters were sent in error and we apologise to anyone who received one.

“There will be no visits on Christmas Day.”

The behaviour from the broadcaster was described as “thuggish” by Dennis Reed, director of senior citizens’ campaign group Silver Voices.

He said: “Such threatening behaviour is thuggish.

“It’s an underhanded, desperate attempt to try to ­pressure older and vulnerable people into paying.

“To specify Christmas Day of all days is astonishing… clearly, they won’t be calling on 25 December.”