TV Licence payers are rushing to cancel their automatic payments ahead of a looming planned April rule change.
The TV licence fee is set to rise from £169.50 to £174.50 starting April 1, but thousands of individuals are exempt from this increase.
BirminghamLive reports many people have taken to social media to express their anger at the hike, with some declaring they will end their direct debits.
The paper reports one person fumed: “People can manage quite happily without it. We live in an age of on demand entertainment.
“There is little need for live TV when you can watch catch-up (except on iPlayer) without the need to pay the BBC tax – of which a huge sum is spent on enforcement, given the number of threatening letters they send out each month to non-payers.”
Another person observed in a lengthy post online: “All well and good but the money is not being spent on programming is it.
“Nope, no reason the BBC needs more than 5 billion, and Reeves (the Chancellor Rachel Reeves) has postponed the spending review, so really no government department increases can be allowed until that is done.
“A sensible MP would decriminalise the licence fee and then make the BBC subscription only, easy, lots of choice…the people can then decide and it won’t be a tax anymore, not difficult at all and very fair.”
Feeling seemingly more aggrieved than some, one individual added: “Of course Labour want you to pay for the BBC: It is their tame mouthpiece. Just watch Question Time if you want proof.
“The Beeb is not fit for purpose and should go independent. They will soon find out how popular they are. SCRAP THE LICENSE FEE NOW.”
Households are scrambling to cancel their direct debits (Image: Getty )
At present a TV Licence costs £169.50 (£57 for black and white TV sets) for both homes and businesses.
According to the www.gov.uk website, if you live in a shared household you need your own TV Licence if you have separate tenancy agreements and you watch TV in your own room.
Students living in university accommodation need a TV Licence to watch TV in their own room, although a licence may already cover shared areas.
