MSP: ScrapTV licence charge

An MSP says she is determined to stop elderly people in Renfrewshire being hit with a 50 per cent surcharge on the cost of their TV licence.

Kirsten Oswald, MSP, has written to BBC bosses and the Scottish Secretary of State asking them to scrub the ‘ridiculous’ charges.

In 2015 the UK Government decided to stop funding free licences for those over 75.

Last month the BBC agreed that from August 1 free licences would only be available for those aged over 75 who are on pension credit.

A standard TV licence costs £157.50, with those paying for a new TV licence set to be charged around £ 26.25 a month for six months and then around £13.12 a month thereafter.

That would add up to a total of £236.22.

Now it has emerged some over the age of 75 contacting the BBC to pay for their licence by monthly direct debit are being dealt as new TV licence holders, meaning they could face a surcharge of 50 per cent in the first year.

East Renfrewshire MSP Oswald said: “This is an outrageous way to treat some of the oldest members of our community.

“It seems the BBC think those aged over 75 can afford to pay for a year’s TV licence up front; if they can’t, they face a 50 per cent surcharge in the first year.

“It is ridiculous that the free licence was withdrawn, but the BBC and UK Government should still try to assist older residents, not hit them with a huge surcharge.

“I have written to the head of BBC Scotland and the Secretary of State for Scotland asking them to intervene with their bosses in London and get this ludicrous surcharge withdrawn for all those aged over 75.”