BBC orders investigation into claims of aggressive TV licence enforcement
Summary: The BBC has ordered an investigation into how an outsourcing firm collects the TV licence amid claims that it runs an aggressive incentive scheme to maximise collection of fees from non-payers. Capita was said to have told an undercover reporter, who posed as an applicant for an enforcement job, that the company was “greedy” for as much cash as possible. Area TV licensing manager Ian Doyle was filmed saying: “We are looking to get 28 licence sales per week from each officer. As soon as you hit that magic 28 there’s a bonus ... Basically you’ve got to get 28 conviction statements before you can start hitting extra money.”The BBC told Capita to investigate the claims and “ensure swift and appropriate action” was taken. It confirmed that Capita operated an incentive scheme for enforcement officers, but insisted that this should only apply to licence fee sales and not prosecution statements as the undercover footage suggested. The House of Commons culture, media and sports committee is to raise the issue with both Capita and the BBC. Capita faces allegations that staff targeted vulnerable people under incentive scheme to maximise collection of fees
[] Anyone with a television or who watches iPlayer without a licence can be fined up to £1,000 and given a criminal record.
[] The government has threatened to revive plans to decriminalise non-payment in a move that could cost the corporation £200m a year.
[] Capita’s enforcement officers are told to catch more than 28 licence fee evaders each week, as part of the company’s £58m contract to collect the charge.
In my opinion: I think that the new system that the BBC have got is effective because there are people (mostly students) who would watch things on demand and not have TV licences but still watch things on the iplayer, BBC just need to get better at catching those who don't have one because then there isn't no point of them having this system. BBC need to be able to have the right people who know what they are doing to maximise their collection fees otherwise these allegations that Capita were faced with could then be seen as a continuos problem. In addition it can also make the audience to be put off by BBC and may not even use it as much or no more because of the experiences they have faced with their team.
No comments:
Post a Comment