TV Licensing "Payment Failed" Email — Scam Explained
An email says your TV Licence payment has failed and your licence will be cancelled. It includes a link to update your payment details. This is one of the most common phishing emails in the UK. TV Licensing does send emails, but you should always go directly to the official website.
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How This Scam Works
High Risk — One of the Most Common UK Phishing Scams
While TV Licensing does send genuine emails, they never include links that ask for your full bank details or personal information. Always go directly to tvlicensing.co.uk.
You receive an email appearing to be from TV Licensing saying your payment has failed, your licence is about to expire, or you are due a refund. The email includes a link to update your payment details or claim your refund.
The link takes you to a fake TV Licensing website that asks for your full name, address, date of birth, bank details, and sometimes credit card information. Because TV Licensing genuinely does contact people by email, this scam is particularly effective — recipients often assume it's real.
TV Licensing scams are among the most frequently reported phishing emails in the UK. Action Fraud receives thousands of reports about fake TV Licensing emails every year. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has repeatedly issued warnings about this specific scam type.
Red Flags
- Claims your payment has failed or your licence is being cancelled
- Sender address is not from @tvlicensing.co.uk
- Link leads to a website that is not tvlicensing.co.uk
- Asks for your full bank details, card number, or personal information
- Offers a refund you were not expecting
The safest approach is to never click links in TV Licensing emails. Instead, go directly to tvlicensing.co.uk and sign in to your account to check your payment status.
What You Should Do
What To Do
- Do not click any links in the email
- Go directly to tvlicensing.co.uk and sign in to check your licence status
- If your payment genuinely failed, you'll see this in your account
- Report the email through the NCSC at ncsc.gov.uk
- Report the email to Action Fraud
How to Verify Legitimately
Go to tvlicensing.co.uk directly and sign in to your account. Your payment status, licence expiry date, and any issues will be displayed there. If you pay by Direct Debit, you can also check with your bank whether the payment was collected. TV Licensing can be contacted at 0300 790 6113 for any queries about your licence.
Sources
- Action Fraud — TV Licensing scam that has cost victims over £830,000 — TV Licensing scam warnings
- National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) — Phishing: Spot and report scam emails, texts, websites and calls — Phishing email guidance for UK residents