BBC hires debt collectors to chase licence fee evaders

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

The BBC has hired Themis Recoveries to send enforcement letters to households suspected of avoiding the £180 TV licence fee, working alongside Capita amid rising evasion rates. With non-payment climbing to 12.5%, this move aims to bolster collection efforts as the BBC faces potential funding changes in its ongoing Charter review.

The BBC has enlisted the services of a debt collection agency to pursue households suspected of avoiding the TV licence fee, amid rising rates of non-payment. Themis Recoveries has been contracted to issue enforcement letters to those believed to be evading the £180 annual charge, working alongside Capita, which currently manages licence fee enforcement and conducts home visits to suspected evaders.

According to the BBC, licence fee evasion has increased to 12.5%, up from less than 7% five years ago. This uptick comes as more viewers cancel licences or transition to streaming services, reducing the corporation’s traditional revenue streams. Last year, a parliamentary report estimated the BBC may be losing up to £550 million annually due to non-payment.

Themis Recoveries has drawn scrutiny due to its previous involvement in debt recovery cases connected to individuals caught in identity fraud. In a high-profile incident, a couple victimized by a £7,300 fraud involving a cricketer who allegedly took out loans in their names hired Themis through a short-term lender, Likely Loans, to pursue the debt. The firm maintains it acted appropriately based on client instructions.

Former BBC executive David Elstein has cautioned that many who cease paying the licence fee are not evading payment intentionally, but may have simply stopped watching live broadcasts. Elstein attributes the rise in non-payment to weaker enforcement, the growing popularity of streaming platforms, and dissatisfaction with some BBC programming. Supporting this, government figures show prosecutions for licence fee offences dropped from 39,870 in the 2022-2023 period to 28,542 in the year ending 2024.

The BBC is currently undergoing a Charter review, which could result in significant funding reforms. Potential changes under consideration include introducing advertisements on the BBC website and YouTube channels, implementing subscription models, or establishing paywalls for certain content.

A spokesperson for TV Licensing emphasized the BBC’s commitment to helping viewers remain compliant with licensing requirements, noting that Themis’s communication aims to clarify when a licence is necessary, how to declare exemptions, and where to find assistance.

Michael Court, director of Themis Global, defended the company’s record, saying it “prides itself on its faultless compliance.” Addressing the fraud-related case, he stated that Themis acted in good faith based on the information provided by its client.