The BBC has brushed off calls for a six-month TV licence amnesty for over-75s. Campaigners had called for pensioners who were robbed of free licences in August to be given until the spring to stump up the £157.50 fee or setup monthly direct debits, because of the coronavirus pandemic.
However, corporation chief Tim Davie rejected the plan – and instead highlighted the increasing numbers of over-75s securing licences.
In a letter to Silver Voices director Dennis Reed, who had called for the amnesty, Mr Davie said: “More and more people are now getting a licence – now over 3 million – including 2.34 million who have paid and over 700,000 who have claimed free licences. “This means around 70% of households have transitioned to the new