It’s not only consumers who risk heavy fines for TV License evasion. Installers and retailers also face prosecution for failing to pass on information about the customers they sell or rent TV equipment to. So are you playing your part in the fight against TV license evasion?

According to John Mussell, Head of THE Dealer Unit at TV Licensing, retailers and installers play an important role in the battle against TV License evaders: “The onus may be on the customer to buy a TV license, but businesses large and small also have a legal duty to inform TV Licensing of all sales and rentals.”

Under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967, retailers have 28 days to present TV Licensing with the names and addresses of customers they sell or rent TV equipment to. Those who fail to do so are breaking the law and risk a maximum fine of £1000.

This law applies to the selling or renting of all new and second hand TV receiving equipment and, therefore, not only includes TV’s but also set-top boxes, TV cards and computers with TV cards already installed.

It is not necessary for you to notify TV Licensing about sales or rentals you make to other TV dealers for re-sale. It is the responsibility of the company who sells the TV to the end-user to inform TV Licensing of the transaction.

However, you do need to notify TV Licensing about staff sales or rentals, and under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967 (as amended), you must keep a record of all transaction for a minimum of 12 months.

Notifications are compared to the database of current UK license holders in order to ascertain whether or not an ‘evader’ is at large. Last year dealers notified the TV Licensing Dealer Administration Centre of over 440,000 TV sales and rentals a month. This contributed towards the capture of more than 1,000 evaders a day.

John Mussell explains how important it is for dealers to notify TV Licensing about transactions: “We do visit dealers regularly and we take failure to notify us very seriously as it can obstruct our role, which is to collect the license fee and tackle evasion.”

The process of notification has never been easier and there are three simple ways to inform TV licensing of a sale or rental:

1. E-mail
tvlsc@tv-l.co.uk

2. Computer Disk
For details call the
Dealer Administration Centre
Tel: 0117 921 9392
Fax: 0117 921 9422.

3. Manual Form
Call 0117 9219312 for a form.

Alternatively, an ‘electronic notification system’ can be set up by TV Licensing for companies that deal with more than 200 TV transactions a year. Customer information can then be passed on immediately in order for retailers to avoid the risk of prosecution for non-notification.

If you stop selling or renting TV equipment and only carry out repairs, you should inform the TV Licensing Dealer Centre in order for them to delete your number from their records.It is also important that you let TV Licensing know if you cease trading or move address by phoning 0117 921 9392/9312.

Many dealers ask if they themselves need a license. The answer to this question is no if you are just testing, repairing or demonstrating TVs to customers on the sales floor. However, if you use a TV for recreational purposes, you must have a license.

For more information about your role as a dealer in the fight against TV License evasion, visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk or contact:

The Manager
Dealer Administration Centre
TV Licensing
Bristol
BS98 1TL

Tel: 0117 921 9312