Frustrating Dealings With TV Licensing

IT HAS taken me some time to research my own correspondence file over the years with TV Licensing – about half-an-inch thick now – in order to support the excellent letter from Dave Stewart as to the shortcomings of this organisation.

As factor for a holiday home on the west of Scotland for very many years, I have always completed and returned promptly all inquiry forms from TV Licensing. This holiday home does not have a TV installed and this I have declared, year after year. What effect has this had? Absolutely none. Increasingly threatening letters have been received from TV Licensing over the years, despite the fact that I have had many assurances from the head of TV Licensing that this property’s records had been updated and that we would not be troubled again – all total hot air.

Now we have the name and address of Mr Fergus Reid of TV Licensing in West George Street, so we can direct our displeasure directly to him.

John Fulton, Tornagrain, Shandon, Glasgow.

IN RESPONSE to the article on digital TV ( I expected that somebody would sort it all out for me, June 5), I would like to clarify that if you choose not to convert to digital TV and can no longer receive TV programme services after switchover, you will no longer need a TV Licence. Under TV Licensing’s refund policy you would be able to claim reimbursement of any unexpired quarters remaining (three full calendar months), provided that you make an application within the lifetime of the licence and that there is no intention to use TV again before the expiry date.

Fergus Reid, TV Licensing, 226 West George Street, Glasgow.

SCOTLAND’S switch to digital TV, starting in the Scottish Borders this November and completing in 2011 is indeed something of a “revolution” (Bridging television’s digital divide, June 5). It will mean that for the first time, the majority of Scottish viewers will be able to receive the most popular digital channels free via an aerial.

Your report of the discussions about preparations for switchover by Holyrood’s local government and communities committee painted a somewhat negative picture of the situation in the Scottish Borders. I’m pleased to say that the committee, while accepting concerns raised by Scottish Consumer Council’s digital diaries project focusing on the experiences of a group of older viewers, also heard plenty of evidence that considerable progress is being made.

Digital UK has been established by the broadcasters to manage the process of switchover. We are confident that preparations in the Scottish Borders are on track. Our most recent research indicates that nine out of 10 viewers in the region feel comfortable about the process and, as our communications campaign gathers pace, we are seeing excellent levels of awareness and understanding.

Indeed, these important indicators are well ahead of those seen at this stage of the process in Whitehaven, which successfully switched over last year. We have already written to every household in the area and will do so again in the autumn. Our roadshow will also be visiting towns across the region in the coming weeks. In other words, there’s no shortage of help available from Digital UK and, of course, from the Switchover Help Scheme, which is offering digital TV equipment and installation to 18,000 older and disabled viewers in the Borders .

The revolution has started but is far from complete.

John Askew, Digital UK Manager, Border TV Region, The Met Building, 8th floor, 22 Percy Street, London.

Originally published by Newsquest Media Group.

(c) 2008 Herald, The; Glasgow (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.