Page 3 | Would you do this? (Ben Fogle's TV license donation)

ScrewBalls99 · 2019-06-12T17:23:17+00:00

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48607896 Would you do this? Donate towards over 75's free TV licenses?

StoneofDestiny · 12/06/2019 23:55

By the time people have reached 75 they've probably paid for a TV license for at least 55 years (maybe longer). I have no problem allowing free viewing after that. If we are lucky enough to get to that age, we will all benefit from the same concession.

saraclara · 13/06/2019 00:02

If you know someone struggling to pay their license, pay it for them.
A blanket donation to random old people makes no sense.

Nanny0gg · 13/06/2019 00:02

So then they can claim pension credit too. I'm not clear what your point is?

That £8,767.20 pa doesn't exactly allow you to live the high life. You need to have less than that to receive PC.

A TV licence is nearly a week's pension.

I hope everyone on this thread is paying shedloads into a private pension.

Nanny0gg · 13/06/2019 00:04

You could be prosecuted if we find that you have been watching, recording or downloading programmes illegally. The maximum penalty is a £1,000 fine plus any legal costs and/or compensation you may be ordered to pay.

Gooigi · 13/06/2019 00:24

So where is this money going exactly? Is he just going to give it to a bunch or random over 75s so that they can pay for their TV license or what?

And why does he think "society is in danger of losing its moral compass"? Because they're not giving every over 75 a license? Bit of an exaggeration.

StoneofDestiny · 13/06/2019 00:33

The cost of means testing the TV license 'benefit' will cost a fortune - and tax payers will foot the bill.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 13/06/2019 00:34

So where is this money going exactly? Is he just going to give it to a bunch or random over 75s so that they can pay for their TV license or what?

Exactly what I was wondering. Just how big a salary does a daytime TV D-lister earn anyway?

HUZZAH212 · 13/06/2019 00:57

Hopefully it'll be made clear that it'll be means tested then and not a blanket generic letter sent to all households over 75. We live in a society where some OAP's literally have to decide between food/heating every year as they may not even be claiming all they realise they're entitled to. It's generally the most vulnerable who struggle the hardest as they believe they just have stump out for these additional costs and don't even know what extra funding they can apply for.

OldAndWornOut · 13/06/2019 01:01

Yes, I'd do it.
Bloody hell, there aren't many perks to growing old, and a tv is all some older people have for company.

Iheardarumer · 13/06/2019 01:11

Would I donate money to people living mortgage free on final salary pensions?

No, mate. No, I would not.

Redglitter · 13/06/2019 01:15

So where is this money going exactly? Is he just going to give it to a bunch or random over 75s so that they can pay for their TV license or what

It seems that really it's just a point making gesture. He donated it to Age Concern. Theres nothing to say itll go anywhere near pensioners licences as far as I can see. If hrs donated it to a charity I cant imagine hell have any say in how it's used.

A nice but pretty pointless gesture perhaps

TinklyLittleLaugh · 13/06/2019 01:16

Hmm, it’s a bit “look at how lovely I am”. He could easily have done it anonymously. He’s not my cup of tea anyway. Yet another hereditary celebrity.

TheFairyCaravan · 13/06/2019 01:29

Absolutely not.

Where were all the celebs when disabled people were losing their DLA and Motability cars? That's still happening and no one gives a shit? What about the people waiting months and months for appeals? They can't afford food never mind watch the bloody tele.

We've not seen anyone dip their hands in their pockets to end period poverty or help families who can't afford to feed their kids. The 6 week holiday is coming up, some kids don't get 3 meals a day then because they're missing out on school meals. Where's the outrage? Who is donating their salary? No one, that's who.

My FIL sits on his £7k sofa saying that disabled people shouldn't get "free cars" and people choose to use food banks. He's got more money than he knows what to do with so he can pay for his own tv license. And as for all this crap about them all being veterans, my 24yo has served longer in the forces than all his grandparents put together.

Myotherusernameisshy · 13/06/2019 01:30

No, I don’t understand why wealthy pensioners would need it to be free. If they are on pension credit they don’t pay. If they are not on pension credit they can afford it anyway.

managedmis · 13/06/2019 02:02

We've not seen anyone dip their hands in their pockets to end period poverty or help families who can't afford to feed their kids. The 6 week holiday is coming up, some kids don't get 3 meals a day then because they're missing out on school meals. Where's the outrage? Who is donating their salary? No one, that's who

^^

This, really.

TheBouguets · 13/06/2019 02:14

If people on Pension Credit are going to be the only ones to get a free TV Licence is that really fair to people who have diligently provided for their old age while a person who may have been a drunk, an idle, feckless person gets Pension Credit and therefore gets a free TV Licence?
This is on top of the fact that some female Pensioners will not be getting the Pension at 60 which was the deal they were born into.
In my case, it means that I will pay a TV Licence while the exh who still owes every penny of Child Maintenance will get a free TV Licence.
This is just more of the Government attacking the weakest in Society and the British people are allowing it

HelenaDove · 13/06/2019 02:28

people on Pension Credit are going to be the only ones to get a free TV Licence is that really fair to people who have diligently provided for their old age while a person who may have been a drunk, an idle, feckless person gets Pension Credit and therefore gets a free TV Licence

I was going to post on one of these threads that i wondered how long it would be before PC claimants getting a free TV licence would be used as a stick to beat them with .

Turns out not long at all

LauderSyme · 13/06/2019 02:29

Even the poorest pensioner is guaranteed an income from the state of over £150 per week. I know that's not much money at all, but the poorest working-age people only get £73 per week from the state, less if they're aged under 25. And they are not exempt from paying for the TV licence.

Pensioners on Guaranteed Pension Credit also get their whole Council Tax bill covered by Council Tax Reduction whereas working-age people have to pay a minimum of 20%.

Pensioners' incomes have been very largely protected from austerity cuts and the £150.50 per year that they are losing now is a lot less than the hundreds that many working families have lost.

I'm sure I read that the subsidy for over 75's is about a quarter of the BBC's entire budget so they would have to substantially cut their output to continue to fund it.

Bearing all this - and many of the comments above - in mind, I think scrapping the freebie is reasonable and I would not donate to replace it.

HelenaDove · 13/06/2019 02:35

Its no more true that ppl on Pension Credit are feckless than it is that mums are popping out kids for benefits Both stereotypes are ridiculous and untrue.

TheBouguets · 13/06/2019 02:38

@HelenaDove. My views are not taken from the TV Licence situation on its own. I don't get State Pension until later, I didn't get any Child Maintenace and now I won't even be a candidate for a free TV Licence.

You don't know what a piece of cr@p the exh was and still is. Try life with him before you snipe at me.

HelenaDove · 13/06/2019 02:39

Well Lauder there are changes coming in for mixed age couples The younger partner is a carer in a lot of cases but when that has to change ppl like you will be the first to complain about bed blocking. Its family carers that keep pensioners OUT of hospital or at least not having to go into hospital as often.

HelenaDove · 13/06/2019 02:41

You sniped at people on PC first. My DH is 69 He has never been drunk in the 27 years ive known him .

HelenaDove · 13/06/2019 02:42

Your ex sounds like a knob and im sorry. Was he a pisshead by any chance?

Walkingdeadfangirl · 13/06/2019 02:43

No fecking way. Why should the poor pay rich pensioners to have free stuff?

HelenaDove · 13/06/2019 02:45

How the fuck is it the fault of pensioners that you dont get CM?

that is the fault of the misogynistic system we have not the fault of pensioners.