TV licence arrears Why are these a priority? TV licence arrears are a priority debt because TV Licensing can cancel your TV licence if you fall behind with payments. You can be fined in the magistrates' court if you do not have a TV licence. What can I do? If you do not have a TV licence, you need to buy one as soon as possible, or apply for a free licence if you are over 75 years old. There are several ways you can pay, including weekly, fortnightly, monthly and every three months. Choose a method that suits you best. Go to www.tvlicensing.co.uk or call 0300 790 6071 for more information. If you have a TV licence but have missed payments, contact TV Licensing straightaway. You will need to make up the missed payments to keep your plan. Discuss how you can do this with TV Licensing. What if I am being fined in the magistrates’ court? If you don’t have a licence, it is usually a good idea to plead guilty. Fully explain the reasons why, even if you just forgot to buy one. If you haven’t already done so, buy a TV licence as soon as you can. Send a copy to the court. Even if you get a fine, you will still need to buy a TV licence. If you are being fined, or already have a fine for not paying your TV licence, also see Magistrates’ court fines on page 61. Page 60