Consumer News
Changes to TV License
10th May 2007
From 1st April, the cost of a colour TV license increased to £135.50 and that of a black and white license to £45.50.
There was an equivalent increase in the cost of a license for a blind person. The cost of a license for a person in residential care increased from £5.00 to £7.50.
OFT sends out scam letters
6th March 2007
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is sending out a mass mailing of mock scam letters telling people that they have won a huge sum of money. A total of 20,000 letters are being posted to members of the public in the Midlands, South East England, North East England and Wales.
The mock letter is designed to look like the type of scam that the OFT seeks to tackle. On the back of the letter there is a statement telling people that the letter is an OFT warning and that there is no real prize.
There is more information about scams on the Scams page of the OFT website.
Cash back phones may be cash back cons, warns Citizen Advice
8th February 2007
Problem-solving charity Citizens Advice is warning people to be wary of cash back mobile phone deals promising refunds that may never materialise.
Changes to the way you pay for your TV licence
6th July 2006
After 31 July, you will no longer be able to pay for a TV licence at the Post Office. Instead, licences will be available from PayPoint outlets in places such as newsagents, supermarkets and convenience stores.
You will be able either to buy a licence outright, or save towards it by paying in instalments using a new savings card. The savings card replaces TV licence stamps which are being phased out from 16 July.
To find out more about the changes, visit the TV Licensing website.