TV Licence dispute- Help

[congming88]

I renewed my TV licence on-line last November and have e-mail and documentary proof of having done so (Expiry Date:30 Sep 2010)
At the beginning of this month I began receiving letters advising me that I was unlicensed, demanding payment and threatening prosecution if this was not forthcoming.
I called 'Capita' , the private company that collects TV License fees to find out why I was sent these letters.
I was advised that due to a "technical error" on their system, the funds had not been transferred from my bank to them. (They claimed to have sent a letter back in December 2009 informing me of this. I received no such letter.)
I was advised to visit my bank and check that this was the case.
Yesterday I did so only to be told that I would hve to pay 2 ponds for a statemnet from that period since immediate records go back only 6 months.
On a point of principal I called Capita asking them to send this fee since the fault was theirs and I was already out of pocket for phone and petrol. Their Customer Service Team member advised me that I would have to pay this and apply for reimbursement in writing. I told him I would do this if I had it in writing that they would honour this arrangement. He said that I would have to put this request in writing!
This comes at the end of a week that has seen my wife being doorstepped at our home by a Capita agent armed with a chip and pin machine requesting payment and threatening prosecution if this is not forthcoming. (My wife explained the situation and politely refused.)

I would be grateful to hear from someone who knows my rights and can advise me of my legal position regarding this matter.
Many thanks in advance...

[bednobs]

personally, for 2 quid i would get the statement and go from there.

[ummmm]

Can you not arrange for internet banking? Your statements go back 18 months or so with a click of the mouse.

[Kathyan]

Just found this, interesting reading!

http://www.tpuc.org/stoppayingtvlicencefees

[Hopkirk]

Why should he or she, Helen? £2 is a lot to some people.

[ummmm]

That's a bit dramatic hopkirk. £2 can't even buy the Sunday papers.

[salspotters]

The Mail On Sunday is only £1-50
or
The Sunday Telegraph is £1-90

[ummmm]

I thought the Sunday Times was more than that but I rarely buy it on it's own. Either way, 50p and 10p will hardly break the bank.

[salspotters]

The Sunday Times is £2

[ummmm]

lol...if I buy a paper that's what I buy but usually I'll be getting brekki stuff as well...

Like I said before though...get internet banking because the statements go back 18 months and are free.

[woofgang]

I already said that!!

[bednobs]

i have just thought, do you have the actual licence? surely if you don't then you havent paid for it, and if you do, you have?.
Also as to the "£2 is a lot of money " comment, i would hazzard a guess that someone who can pay for their tv licence in 1 go is not going to have all that much trouble finding 2 quid

[factor-fiction]

Hi bednobs- in one of his replies he says he has a licence.
The whole thing doesn't seem quite right to me.

[AlBags]

I agree ... He should sit there and let them do the work.

[factor-fiction]

Maybe AlBags, but I'm not sure it is clear whether things are exactly as they seem. Was an electronic payment set up? Was the money paid/collected? Has he actually got a valid licence with something in writing that says it has been paid. But the poster doesn't seem sure himself that the payment was ever taken

[wolf63]

I translate the problem to be that they payment was not received by the TV Licence people. They are now chasing up payment.

[jackthehat]

Company A are responsible for collecting the TV Licence Fee.
Company B are responsible for issuing the TV Licence (physical evidence that payment has been made and received).

A tell B that congming88 has paid in full, and B issue the licence.

If B has failed to collect the money from congming88, then although he has a TV licence, it has NOT been paid for and is worthless.
Unless congming88 can 'prove' that payment was made by him to A for the TV licence he will be seen as a 'defaulter'.
Although, he is under the impression that it has been paid for, he is also NOT confident enough to tell Capita to stuff it.
I would satisfy my own mind that I had paid, and then let Capita chase their own tails in trying to prove otherwise.

[SUSPECT]

JTH capita collect the licence fee
capita issue the licence
capita are in charge of the database
got a complaint about capita thugs
complain to the bbc

Who won the contract to handle bbc complaints >>>>> capita

Looks like there is only a C no A or B

[jackthehat]

My point still stands...........

[AlBags]

He CAN prove it ..
He has a confirmation email and other documents to prove it.
Why should he produce another one? (Bank statement)
TV Licensing do not say "you must provide prrof of payment with a bank statement" do they?
No court will do him with the evidence he has.

All that A .. B stuff .. You got your own stuff wrong ...
"If B has failed to collect the m..." should be A.