Licence fee letters 'too harsh'

A licence is required by anyone who watches or records TV programmes as they are being shown on TV

The BBC is too heavy-handed in the way it collects the TV licence and should tone down reminder letters, its governing body has said.

There was a clear public view early letters were "too harsh", particularly among people who did not own a television set, the BBC Trust added.

But it said the BBC should send strong letters later on to deter evasion. In 2007/8, the evasion rate was 5.1%.

The BBC said it would "closely examine and act" on the letter recommendations.

TV Licensing should do more to target the minority of hardcore evaders to make sure that everyone who should pay, does pay Sir Michael Lyons

The TV licence is fee is collected by TV Licensing, a group of companies contracted by the BBC.

Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons said the BBC must "balance firmness and fairness" in the collection of licence fees.

"TV Licensing should do more to target the minority of hardcore evaders to make sure that everyone who should pay, does pay," he said.

A consultation, which questioned more than 4,000 members of the public, audience groups and other interested parties, was carried out between September and November of last year.

Only a third of those who responded thought correspondence from TV Licensing met the BBC's aim of being "clear and concise, polite but firm".

'Determined enforcement'

The report said 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," the report added.

The review follows complaints from MPs of threatening adverts

Those consulted who did not own TV sets or other equipment to watch broadcasts complained about the way they were dealt with.

"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," the trust said.

Only a third of those who responded thought the policy was appropriate.

The trust said TV Licensing should make it easier for people to let them know if they did not have a TV set.

But it said enforcement officers found that 27% of households that claimed not to have a set actually had one.

We appreciate the trust's endorsement that strong messages in our later letters are needed to deter evasion BBC statement

The BBC's chief financial officer Zarin Patel said in a statement: "We keep our letters under constant review so the trust's guidance and the public's views in this area are very welcome.

"We appreciate the trust's endorsement that strong messages in our later letters are needed to deter evasion."

The BBC would report back to the trust with an action plan in June, she added.

'Dire threats'

Adverts warning of an imminent visit from the TV licence detector van had led to accusations of bullying.

A campaign last year carried the sound of a helicopter apparently bearing down on a street followed by the sound of a barking dog, a knock at a door and the warning: "Your town, your street, your home... it is all in our database."

Last year, Tory MP David Maclean accused TV Licensing of scaring people with "dire threats of prosecution" even when they did not own a set.

Earlier this month, it was announced that the cost of a colour TV licence would rise by £3 to £142.50 from 1 April.

In 2007/2008, £3.4bn was collected in licence fee revenue.