TV Licensing scam texts and emails: how to tell if it's real

If you've already entered card or bank details, see what to do if you clicked or paid.

Is this TV Licensing email a scam?

TV Licensing's own guidance says to check:

• The sender. Genuine emails come from donotreply@tvlicensing.co.uk, donotreply@spp.tvlicensing.co.uk or tvlfieldresearchteam@tvlicensing.co.uk. Tap or click the sender's name to see the real address. TV Licensing warns that some scams now spoof its real addresses, so a correct sender alone doesn't prove it's genuine.
• How it greets you. If you've given TV Licensing your name, it will address you by your title and last name, and it may include part of your postcode. Scams often say "Dear Customer" or "Dear client", or use your email address.
• Whether it asks you to pay. TV Licensing says it only emails you about payments if you have missed one.
• The licence number. Scam emails may show a fake one. Your real licence number is on TV Licensing's letters and in emails from donotreply@tvlicensing.co.uk.
• Refund offers. TV Licensing warns about emails saying "click below to access your refund" followed by a request for card or bank details. It says it would never process a refund that way.
• Spelling and odd addresses. Look for mistakes, and for addresses with extra hyphens, full stops or numbers in place of letters.

What TV Licensing won't ask for

TV Licensing says it won't ask for:

• your mother's maiden name
• your date of birth, unless you're over 74 and applying for a free TV Licence
• your card details for a missed payment until you've signed in with your licence number, last name and postcode.

Do TV Licensing send text messages?

Yes, in some cases. TV Licensing says it may text you:

• to ask for a payment, if you pay with a TV Licensing payment card
• to confirm a payment made with the TVL Pay app, from "TVL Pay"
• if there is a problem with your Direct Debit
• to remind you to renew, if you pay for your licence in full
• to ask you to set up a new way to pay, if you used to pay on one of its payment schemes
• with a confirmation or a satisfaction survey, after you've contacted it.

It also lists what it will never do by text:

• tell you you're entitled to a refund
• ask for your bank details
• ask you to enter personal details on its website before you've signed in to your licence.

What if the text asks me to call a number?

TV Licensing says to call only if it's one of these: 0300 555 0293 (payment card), 0300 790 6082 (Direct Debit), or 0300 555 0510 or 0300 300 1030 (Simple Payment Plan). If a text asks you to call any other number, it says don't call it.

What about texts from "ThemisTVL"?

These can be genuine. TV Licensing says a company called Themis Recoveries sends letters, emails and texts for it, as part of a trial, to people whose licence has expired. Real texts show ThemisTVL as the sender, end with "Themis Recoveries" and can't be replied to. Real emails come from mailing@themisglobal.co.uk. TV Licensing says you always pay TV Licensing, not Themis, and that Themis will never ask for your bank details by email or text.

Which websites are really TV Licensing?

Before you enter anything, check the address. TV Licensing lists its official websites as:

• tvlicensing.co.uk
• tvl.co.uk
• spp.tvlicensing.co.uk
• 75plan.tvlicensing.co.uk

To see where a link goes without opening it, hover over it on a computer, or press and hold it on a phone. If you scan a QR code on a TV Licensing letter, TV Licensing says you should see one of these addresses before you tap through.

The safest check doesn't use the message at all: go to tvlicensing.co.uk yourself and sign in to see your licence or payment plan.

Does TV Licensing use WhatsApp?

Only if you contact it first. TV Licensing says it will only message you on WhatsApp from +44 800 020 9914, with a blue verified tick, and only after you've contacted it. It says it will never ask for passwords, bank or card details, or one-time codes on WhatsApp. A WhatsApp message from any other number is not TV Licensing.

What about TV Licensing scam letters?

TV Licensing warns that a scam letter may be addressed to you by name and ask you to call or go online to confirm payment details, often saying there's a problem with your licence or that you're due a refund. It says its real letters to licensed customers use your title and last name and include your TV Licence number. If a letter worries you, sign in to your licence on tvlicensing.co.uk to check.

How do I report a TV Licensing scam?

• Scam email: forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. TV Licensing says the National Cyber Security Centre will investigate and have scam websites blocked or taken down.
• Scam text: forward it to 7726, the free number that reports it to your mobile provider. TV Licensing also asks for a screenshot or photo of the text at textscam@tvlicensing.co.uk.
• Lost money or entered details: report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk (opens in a new tab) or on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, contact Police Scotland on 101.

What to do if you clicked or paid

1. Entered card or bank details: TV Licensing says to talk to your bank immediately. Call the number on the back of your card, or 159, which connects you to your own bank. 159 never calls you.
2. Report it to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040, as TV Licensing advises.

Our guide to what to do if you clicked a scam link covers every case. Not sure about a message? Paste it into our free Scam Check. It runs in your browser and nothing you paste is stored.

Common questions

Do TV Licensing send refund emails or texts?

Treat any refund message as a scam. TV Licensing says it will never text you to tell you you're entitled to a refund, and it warns about emails that offer a refund and then ask for card or bank details, which it says is never how it processes refunds.

What email address do TV Licensing emails come from?

TV Licensing says its emails come from donotreply@tvlicensing.co.uk, donotreply@spp.tvlicensing.co.uk or tvlfieldresearchteam@tvlicensing.co.uk. It warns that scammers can spoof these addresses, so also check that the email uses your name or part of your postcode, and sign in at tvlicensing.co.uk yourself rather than using the link.

Do TV Licensing send text messages?

Sometimes: for example, a payment request if you pay by TV Licensing payment card, a Direct Debit problem, or a renewal reminder. TV Licensing says it will never text you about a refund or ask for bank details by text. Texts from ThemisTVL can be genuine and are part of a TV Licensing trial.

How do I report a TV Licence scam email?

Forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk, the National Cyber Security Centre's reporting address. For a scam text, forward it to 7726 and send a screenshot to textscam@tvlicensing.co.uk. If you've lost money, report it to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

I entered my card details on a fake TV Licensing site. What now?

Call your bank straight away on the number on the back of your card, or on 159, and tell them. Then report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040, or to Police Scotland on 101.

Related guides

• HMRC scam calls, texts and emails
• Is this DVLA text or email real?
• Parcel delivery scam texts
• How to tell if an email is a scam

Sources

• Helping you avoid TV Licensing scams, and how to report one — TV Licensing (opens in a new tab)
• Help with messages from Themis Recoveries — TV Licensing (opens in a new tab)
• Avoid and report internet scams and phishing — GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
• Report a scam text message — National Cyber Security Centre (opens in a new tab)
• Stop, hang up, call 159 — Stop Scams UK (opens in a new tab)

Last checked: 25 September 2026