Why this grandfather will face losing his television when free TV licences are revoked in August

Graham Hazard, 79, from Cowfold, bought his first TV licence in 1963 but after falling into financial hardship, gave up his television in the early 2000s when the cost became too much to bear.

He was delighted to be able to apply for a free licence once he turned 75, and has particularly enjoyed having the TV as a distraction during the many long weeks of isolation in lockdown.

But now letters from the TV Licensing agency have started to arrive, warning that from August he will be required to pay or may face prosecution.

"I feel aggrieved," he said. "I paid my licence fee for all those years, but the cost just kept going up and up until it was just too much. People will say that it's good value, but for me television has never been my first priority - when money is short it is a luxury and one which I was not able to afford for many years."

During his years without a television Graham received letters and visits from the licensing agency who wanted to check that he was not watching illegally.

"It always seemed to me that they didn't quite believe anyone could live without a TV set," he said. "They want to come into your home to try to catch you out. It's quite intimidating as you get older. I wouldn't have been bothered by that sort of thing when I was in my 20s or 30s, but when you're older you're not quite so brave about facing up to the authorities.

"The whole thing has made me feel very anxious. There must be many more people like me worried about this."

Whereas in the past Graham could be quite confident that since he had no TV, he didn't need a licence, now he feels the letters are much more vague and confusing.

"There is a great long list of things that you need a licence for if you are capable of watching BBC programmes on them," he said. "The list on the back of the letter includes PCs, laptops, tablets, games consoles, DVD, Blueray and VHS recorders or that catch-all term, 'anything else'.

"I think many people in my position will just get so worried about getting into trouble that they'll pay up.

"But on my budget it's just not affordable. I have some big utility bills coming in June and July, so come August there might not be anything left.

"If I sign up to the monthly direct debit it will be £26 for the first six months. When all you've got is your pension and every penny is accounted for, you can't just find an extra £26 a month."

Graham worked for the BBC as a technician in the 1960s and left in the early '70s.

"My experiences tell me that the BBC have a distorted view of their subscribers," he said. "With management based in London and on vast salaries, they quote figures saying that most pensioners have an income over £30,000 a year and can afford the licence. But that's just nonsense - what world are they living in?

"£150 might be petty cash to them. I worked out that my entire licence fee would pay the director general's salary and expenses for 45 minutes, assuming that he works for 40 hours a week.

"To me, the sense of privilege and entitlement in the BBC does not belong in the 21st century. They need to get real."

Free licences for the over-75s were introduced in 1999, with the cost met by the government. However, in 2015 it was announced that the subsidy would be phased out by 2020 and the government handed the decision over the future of the scheme to the BBC - meaning the unpopular decision to revoke the free licences lay with BBC officials rather than ministers.

The free licences were due to end in June, but it was delayed until August as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Age UK has been campaigning to protect free licences for the over-75s, and says removing access to TV for older people is an 'unthinkably cruel blow when many are already facing huge challenges'.

It says: "For over a million of the oldest people in our country, television is their main form of company. Right now, that’s under threat.

"The BBC has announced they plan to means test TV licences for the over 75s. That means they'll only be free for people receiving Pension Credit. We believe this change will harm millions of older people who rely on their TV and the most vulnerable will be forced to cut back on essentials to make end meet, or lose out on TV altogether.

"It’s time for the Government to step in and the BBC to step up to save free TV licences for over 75s."

The charity says four million older people will be affected by the changes.

It says: "Half of all over 75s are living with a disability, and many rely on their TV for companionship and entertainment.

"For those who don't have the internet, TV lets them stay up to date with what's happening in the world.

"Nearly a third of over 75s are living in poverty or just above the poverty line. Paying a hefty extra bill would simply be impossible when they're barely scraping by as it is.

"Our research shows that more than 2 million over 75s will have to go without TV or cut back on heating and food if free TV licences were scrapped."

A BBC spokesman said: “After an extensive consultation we’ve reached the fairest decision we can in funding free TV licences for the poorest older pensioners receiving pension credit, while protecting BBC services. We want to support older people through this change as much as possible. Those who have a free over-75 licence do not need to do anything just yet. TV Licensing will write to over-75s customers ahead of the change to explain how to apply for their free licence if they receive Pension Credit, or how to pay for a licence if they don’t, and we’ll be introducing a new payment plan so that older customers are able to make regular smaller payments. TV Licensing is also working with older people’s groups and other support organisations to help older people through this change.”