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We generate and send your cancellation letter to TV Licensing by registered mail
Sender
Recipient
Digital registered letter with receipt of acceptance
Subject : Cancellation of TV Licensing agreement
Step-by-step guide to cancel your TV Licence in the UK, refunds, timing and alternatives. Refunds processed within 21 days. Clear, actionable steps.
| Fastest method (name it + why) | Online refund/cancellation form - a refund, when approved, automatically cancels the licence |
|---|---|
| Effective delay | Cancellation effective immediately when refund is approved; refunds paid within 21 days |
| Notice period | You can apply for a refund up to 14 days before the date you no longer need the licence |
| Cancellation fee (amount or 0) | 0 |
| Minimum commitment | None |
| Phone + hours | Not published by TV Licensing |
| Postal address for registered letter | TV Licensing, Street only, DL98 1TL Darlington, United Kingdom |
TV Licensing administers and enforces the United Kingdom television licence fee on behalf of the BBC. A valid TV Licence is required to watch or record live television on any channel or device and to use BBC iPlayer.
One licence covers a whole household regardless of the number of devices. The colour TV Licence annual fee is £180 and the black and white licence annual fee is £60.50 since 1 April 2026.
Any UK household that watches or records live TV on any channel, on any device, or uses BBC iPlayer requires a licence unless a statutory exemption applies (for example, households where everyone is eligible for a free licence through Pension Credit, or blind concessions).
| Subscribers | 23.3 million |
|---|---|
| Annual revenue | £3.879 billion |
| Founded | 1991 (BBC responsible for collection) |
| CEO | Kerris Bright |
Official guidance on whether you need a licence is available from the UK government at gov.uk - TV Licence.
| Method | Steps summary | Estimated time | Proof obtained | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web | Apply for a refund or cancel licence via TV Licensing online service; if refund approved licence is cancelled automatically | Refunds processed within 21 days; cancellation effective on approval | Refund payment or confirmation of cancellation and updated licence status | Easy |
| Phone | Call TV Licensing and request cancellation or refund | Not published by TV Licensing | Not published by TV Licensing | Medium |
| Post | Write to TV Licensing at the registered postal address to request cancellation or refund | Processing time not published; allow several weeks for postal handling and refund processing | Not published by TV Licensing | Medium |
| Direct Debit | Stopping a Direct Debit does not cancel the licence; you must formally cancel the licence separately | Stopping DD immediate with bank; licence remains until cancelled formally | Bank proof of DD cancellation only; licence status unchanged | Medium |
| Email / Online contact form | Use TV Licensing contact form to request cancellation or refund | Not published by TV Licensing; refunds paid within 21 days when approved | Not published by TV Licensing | Medium |
Rule: If you no longer need a UK TV Licence because you are permanently moving abroad you can apply for a refund for the unused full months remaining on your licence. Required proof documents: proof of new overseas address (TV Licensing accepted documents not published). Applicable law/article: Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 - consumer cancellation rights apply to subscription renewals and similar situations; see section 261.
Rule: The colour licence fee increased to £180 on 1 April 2026 and the black and white fee increased to £60.50 on the same date. Required proof documents: not applicable for cancellation solely because of price change; TV Licensing specific retention policies not published. Applicable law/article: Consumers have rights under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 regarding renewal cooling-off notices when subscriptions are renewed.
Rule: In the event of a subscriber's death, the household may need to inform TV Licensing and claim any eligible refund if the licence is no longer needed. Required proof documents: proof of death (TV Licensing document requirements not published). Applicable law/article: Rights to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 where relevant and standard administrative procedures for licence changes.
Rule: If you qualify for a blind concession you can apply for a refund at any time for any length of time left on your licence; the one-month rule does not apply. Required proof documents: evidence of entitlement to the blind concession (specific documents not published). Applicable law/article: Gov.uk and TV Licensing official guidance on concessions; check gov.uk - TV Licence.
Rule: You can apply for a refund if you will no longer need the licence and you have at least one complete month left on it. Required proof documents: you must state the date you will no longer need the licence; supporting documents not published. Applicable law/article: Refund and cancellation rules published by TV Licensing; refunds processed within 21 days when approved.
Rule: The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 provide a 14-day cooling-off period for many contracts concluded online or away from business premises. For ongoing subscription renewals, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 requires clear renewal cooling-off notices. Required proof documents: clear statement of cancellation. Applicable law/article: Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 and Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 - cooling-off rights.
Retention offers from TV Licensing are not reported in the public research data. There is no publicly disclosed standard retention discount or negotiated price reported. If you want to ask for alternatives or checks, contact TV Licensing online or by phone and ask whether any concession or change of payment method is available; state your exact circumstances such as receipt of Pension Credit or blind concession entitlement.
Current annual prices: Colour TV Licence £180, Black and White £60.50. Example yearly saving calculations versus competitor alternatives from the research data:
Concrete prices used: £180, £60.50, £39.00, £49.99, £83.88, and a weekly payment option from TV Licensing starting around £6.50 is available for payment cards.
Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 give a 14-day cooling-off period for most contracts concluded online or off premises. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires services to be performed with reasonable care and skill and limits unfair contract terms, including disproportionate cancellation penalties.
The Competition and Markets Authority highlights that hard-to-cancel subscriptions and unclear auto-renewal terms can be unfair. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 sets out specific renewal cooling-off rights; see the statutory text at legislation.gov.uk.
Step 1: Complain to TV Licensing through their contact channels. Step 2: If unresolved get advice from Citizens Advice. Step 3: Escalate to the relevant ombudsman or seek redress using Section 75 or card chargeback where the payment qualifies. The exact ombudsman depends on the sector and contract type.
If you cancel your licence and you continue to watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer you will need to buy a new licence. Confirm that no household member watches live broadcasts or uses BBC iPlayer after the cancellation date.
If you applied for a refund and your claim was approved, refunds are paid by cheque or BACS transfer within 21 days. If a refund was refused, TV Licensing will confirm their decision; requests cannot be reconsidered after processing.
Information about how long TV Licensing retains customer data is not published in the research data. To re-activate, purchase a new licence online or via the available payment methods before you resume watching live TV or BBC iPlayer.
Use this checklist to cancel and confirm your TV Licence status.
£15
/ mois
Covers all household devices for watching or recording live TV and for BBC iPlayer. Direct Debit options available, including an initial 6-month split at around £30/month then £15/month.
From around £6.50 weekly payments initial phase
/ mois
Flexible payment option with initial weekly payments then fortnightly payments; allows spread of licence cost.
No commitment. Billoff helps you cancel or adjust your TV Licensing subscription without hunting down every detail alone.
Below are common alternatives people compare for this type of subscription.
£7.99
/ mois
Flexible, contract-free access to Sky content and HBO Max series without a TV Licence requirement for on demand content.
£9.99
/ mois
Massive channel and VOD selection including built-in VPN.
£9.00
/ mois
Budget IPTV with large channel and VOD selection and VPN protection.
£13.00
/ mois
Large channel list with a focus on UK channels and sports with 4K streaming options.
TV Licensing is available in many countries. Here are several frequently cited markets:
What you should know about TV Licensing subscription and cancellation terms:
Automatic monthly or yearly renewal. Billing is handled by the primary account or the signup platform.
Renewal runs automatically at the end of each billing period while the subscription stays active.
Cancel from account settings or the app store used at signup. Access usually continues until the paid period ends.
Refunds depend on billing date, country, and payment channel.
The family plan admin can add or remove members per the service’s household and age rules.
Plan changes and cancellations follow the provider’s terms and local law.
Billoff simplifies cancellation: we handle the cancellation process for your TV Licensing subscription, whichever payment method you use.
Cancel, adjust, or compare options in a few clicks.