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13-02-2009, 02:31 PM
A SOLICITOR has been repeatedly threatened with legal action for failing to pay her TV licence fee - despite not owning a television.
Sarah Coates, who works at a city law firm, says she is fed up after receiving a torrent of demands for the £139.50 annual fee which funds the BBC.
The 27-year-old, whose Chesterton Road flat cannot pick up a TV signal, said: "They are really quite threatening letters and it's been going on for about six months.
"The latest threatens me with an interview under caution and they've also said they will take me to court.
"The tone of the letters is very intimidating and there is no presumption of innocence. I think they need to take a gentler approach.
"As a solicitor, I am very familiar with the legal system, but if you weren't, these letters could be very scary.
"It's also very difficult to get in contact with them as they don't provide a number to ring."
TV owners who do not pay their licence fees can face fines of up to £1,000 and repeated offenders can even be jailed.
However, many city residents without televisions have complained about the heavyhanded way they are treated by the TV Licensing Authority.
City MP David Howarth was contacted by around 20 people last year complaining about their treatment by the licensing authority.
He said: "There is no justification for treating people in this way.
"While we have to clampdown on those who are deliberately trying to beat the system, we need to protect innocent people from feeling intimidated, pressured and harassed."
Mr Howarth has taken the matter to Margaret Hodge, minister for culture, creative industries and tourism, who recommended that the BBC investigate.
The BBC Trust - a new independent governing body to represent the interest of licence holders - has held a public consultation in a review of the system.
A TV Licensing spokesman said: "Our records show that Miss Coates' address is currently unlicensed and, since August 2008, we have written to inquire whether a licence is needed on five occasions. We have no record of any contact from Miss Coates in reply.
"With a database of nearly 30 million addresses, we ask people to co-operate with us when we make inquiries and if a licence is not required, we would encourage them to inform us and allow us to update our records accordingly. All TV Licensing correspondence contains details of how to contact us by telephone, mail or by email."
He added TV Licensing "try to minimise inconvenience for genuine non-viewers".
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=390355
Sarah Coates, who works at a city law firm, says she is fed up after receiving a torrent of demands for the £139.50 annual fee which funds the BBC.
The 27-year-old, whose Chesterton Road flat cannot pick up a TV signal, said: "They are really quite threatening letters and it's been going on for about six months.
"The latest threatens me with an interview under caution and they've also said they will take me to court.
"The tone of the letters is very intimidating and there is no presumption of innocence. I think they need to take a gentler approach.
"As a solicitor, I am very familiar with the legal system, but if you weren't, these letters could be very scary.
"It's also very difficult to get in contact with them as they don't provide a number to ring."
TV owners who do not pay their licence fees can face fines of up to £1,000 and repeated offenders can even be jailed.
However, many city residents without televisions have complained about the heavyhanded way they are treated by the TV Licensing Authority.
City MP David Howarth was contacted by around 20 people last year complaining about their treatment by the licensing authority.
He said: "There is no justification for treating people in this way.
"While we have to clampdown on those who are deliberately trying to beat the system, we need to protect innocent people from feeling intimidated, pressured and harassed."
Mr Howarth has taken the matter to Margaret Hodge, minister for culture, creative industries and tourism, who recommended that the BBC investigate.
The BBC Trust - a new independent governing body to represent the interest of licence holders - has held a public consultation in a review of the system.
A TV Licensing spokesman said: "Our records show that Miss Coates' address is currently unlicensed and, since August 2008, we have written to inquire whether a licence is needed on five occasions. We have no record of any contact from Miss Coates in reply.
"With a database of nearly 30 million addresses, we ask people to co-operate with us when we make inquiries and if a licence is not required, we would encourage them to inform us and allow us to update our records accordingly. All TV Licensing correspondence contains details of how to contact us by telephone, mail or by email."
He added TV Licensing "try to minimise inconvenience for genuine non-viewers".
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=390355