Mike
[FOI #30728 email]
13 April 2010
Dear Mike,
Request for Information – RFI20100387
Thank you for your email of 14th March 2010, requesting information under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (“the Act”).
Before I respond to your question, it may be helpful if I first explain the nature of the relationship between
TV Licensing and the BBC. ‘TV Licensing’ is a trade mark of the BBC and is used under licence by
companies contracted by the BBC to administer the collection of television licence fees and enforcement of
the television licensing system. The majority of administration is contracted to Capita Business Services
Ltd., with cash related payment schemes contracted to Revenues Management Services Ltd. Over-the-
counter services are provided by PayPoint plc. Marketing and printing services are contracted to Proximity
London Ltd as are public relations and advertising services. The latter are subcontracted by Proximity to
Fishburn Hedges Boys Williams Ltd, Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO Ltd and PHD Media Ltd. The BBC is a
public authority in respect of its television licensing functions and retains overall responsibility.
You have requested the following information:
“Could you please let me know how often legal proceedings have been taken against you in relation to your
harassment of non-licence holders?
I would like you to break this down on an annual basis from 2004 to 2009.
I would also appreciate it if you could let me know how many times this resulted in the BBC losing the case and
how many times it won.”
Between 2004 and 2009 four claims citing harassment have been brought against TV Licensing. Three of
those claims were struck out meaning the court decided that the claims had no reasonable prospect of
success, or amounted to an abuse of process. One claim is ongoing at the time of writing.
Your appeal rights
This enquiry has been dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act, as indicated above. If
you are not satisfied that we have complied with the Act in responding to your request, you have the right
to an internal review by a BBC senior manager or legal adviser. Please contact us at the address above
explaining what you would like us to review and including the reference number given at the start of this
letter. If you are not satisfied with the internal review, you may appeal to the Information Commissioner,
whose contact details are as follows: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF; telephone: 01625 545700; www.ico.gov.uk.
Yours sincerely,
Dan McGregor
Senior Policy Adviser, TV Licensing Management Team
