BBC accused of whitewash over inquiry into licence fee bullies
THE BBC has been accused of a ‘whitewash’ after a review of its bullying licence fee agents found it does not have a ‘systemic’ problem.
In February the Daily Mail exposed the ruthless tactics of TV licence fee collectors. But now an internal investigation by the firm that collects the £147-a-year charge has said there was ‘no evidence’ of a big problem.
The BBC said it was ‘grateful’ and accepted its findings. But Conservative candidate Andrew Bridgen said yesterday: ‘The BBC’s blatant whitewash won’t wash with the BBC licence fee payer.
‘The people out there know how heavyhanded the collectors’ tactics are.
‘It’s not a surprise [that the review found this], but they’re wrong. Constituents have written to me over years complaining about just this sort of behaviour.’
During our investigation, bosses at Capita encouraged our undercover reporter to spy on homes and take money on the doorstep, telling him: ‘We will drive you as hard as we can to get as much as we can out of you because we’re greedy.’
Staff were offered bonuses of £15,000 a year to gather evidence to take as many people to court as possible, and hundreds had orders to catch 28 evaders a week.
Dozens of people contacted the Mail after our exposé telling of their ordeals at the hands of licence fee agents. Some of the people targeted included a student nurse, a parish councillor and a pensioner living in sheltered accommodation.
But in a letter to the BBC, Capita boss Andy Parker said: ‘We find no evidence to substantiate claims that the behaviours and comments featured in the Daily Mail are systemic and nor were they representative of the expected standards.
‘Equally, we have not identified any targeting of potentially vulnerable individuals. Finally, the review confirms there is strong management and governance in place to ensure standards are met.’
Mr Parker – who is due to leave Capita later this year – added that it may introduce new technology to make sure licence fee collectors stick to the rules.
BBC director general Lord Hall wrote back yesterday, saying he was ‘grateful for your assurances’, adding: ‘I expect Capita to take swift and appropriate action should individuals fall short of the conduct expected of them.’