TV Licensing Reminds Savvy Students to Claim Their TV Licence Refund Before Summer Break

LONDON, May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Students heading off on their summer holidays from halls and rented accommodation could be entitled to a cash-happy refund of almost £37 on their annual TV Licence.

Many students moving back to their parents' home will no longer need their own TV Licence over the holidays. If there are three full calendar months before their college-time licence expires and the home they are moving to for the holidays is licensed, students are entitled to a refund for the unused quarter.

As well as making gadget choices for uni and buying the essentials for new digs, students need to ensure they buy a TV Licence at the start of the academic year to allow enough time to qualify for a refund at the end of the year. A colour TV Licence bought in October last year would mean they could receive a refund of £36.37.

Glen Morris, of TV Licensing, said:

"With the end of term on the horizon and the summer holidays fast approaching, it's great news for students who bought a TV Licence last September or October to know they can claim some cash back. As well as reminding students they need to be correctly licensed to watch or record programmes as they are shown on TV, we also want to remind them to take advantage of the refund before they move back home for the summer."

Research by TV Licensing shows that half of students (50%)* are watching at least an hour of TV a day across a myriad of devices. A TV licence is needed to watch or record programmes at the same time as they are shown on TV, whether you are watching through an aerial on a TV set or via the Internet on a device such as a laptop, games console, tablet or mobile phone.

Pete Mercer, National Union of Students (NUS) Vice-President (Welfare), said:

"The TV Licence refund is great news for students, especially at the end of term when finances may be tight. We feel it's important for TV Licensing to inform students, especially when it comes to viewing TV on a laptop or via the Internet, as they can sometimes be unsure as to when a licence is required. It's vital students are aware of the law and are correctly licensed, allowing them to watch TV as they wish and avoid risking a prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000."

To arrange a refund, or for further information, simply visit http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/studentinfo where you can complete an online form, or call TV Licensing on 0300 790 6090.

Notes to editors

*Research was conducted by Harris Interactive among 220 students spread across universities in the UK in November 2011.

TV Licensing, students and the law.

When do you need a TV Licence?

A licence is needed if you're watching or recording television programmes at the same time as they are being shown on TV. This is true no matter what device you're watching on (including TV sets, laptops, mobile phones or game consoles) and no matter how you're receiving the programmes (including terrestrial, satellite, cable or digital television channels). Anyone without a valid TV Licence who watches or records television programmes as described above risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

- If you live in halls of residence and use a device to watch or record TV in your own room, you need your own separate TV Licence

- You also need your own licence if you are sharing a house with other students and use a device to watch/record TV in your room, and your room is a separately occupied place (a separate tenancy agreement would normally indicate that this is the case).

- If you have a separate tenancy agreement but a television is only being used in a communal area, then only one licence is required.

- If you are sharing a house with other students and you use a device to watch/record TV in your own room, but the house can be treated as one place shared by all, then only one TV Licence is required (a joint tenancy agreement would usually be evidence that the house is a single licensable place for this purpose).

- A device powered by its own internal batteries - a pocket sized TV or a mobile phone for example - may be covered by a licence at the student's parents' address.  However, you must not install the device (plug it into the mains) when using it to receive television. If there is no TV Licence at your parents' address, you will need to obtain one to watch TV.

Costs and refunds

A colour TV Licence currently costs £145.50, and a black and white licence is £49. The licence fee is frozen at its 2012 level of £145.50 until the end of the current BBC Charter period in 2016.

For further information or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson please contact the TV Licensing Press Office on +44(0)20-8752-6606.