Does TV Licensing text you? Real TV Licensing texts vs scams

When TV Licensing may text you

‘ThemisTVL’ texts: the Themis Recoveries trial

TV Licensing is running a trial with a company called Themis Recoveries, which contacts people whose licence has expired by letter, email and text. TV Licensing says a letter introduces Themis first, and that Themis is then in touch for 28 days. On its scam page it describes the texts: “Texts will show ‘ThemisTVL’ as the sender and end with Themis Recoveries.” You can't reply to them.

The texts are reminders aimed at getting you licensed again, with ways to pay in instalments, or at hearing from you that you no longer need a licence. Payments go to TV Licensing itself, never to Themis. TV Licensing says Themis isn't a debt collector, doesn't pass anything to credit reference agencies, and won't ask for your bank details in an email or a text. The trial has its own help line, 0333 049 0735.

What a fake TV Licensing text looks like

TV Licensing's numbers and websites

If a TV Licensing text gives you a number to call, TV Licensing says it should be one of the ones below, and that you shouldn't call any other number. All but the WhatsApp number start with 03 (what 03 numbers cost).

On WhatsApp, TV Licensing says it never asks for passwords, one-time codes, or bank or card details. To see your licence or instalment plan without using any link in a message, type tvlicensing.co.uk into your browser and sign in.

Report a fake TV Licensing text

• Take a screenshot and email it to TV Licensing. Its scam page gives the address as textscam@tvlicensing.co.uk, and further down as textscams@tvlicensing.co.uk; check its page for the current one.
• Forward the text to 7726, free on most networks, then delete it.
• A fake TV Licensing email goes to report@phishing.gov.uk, which TV Licensing also points to.

If you entered card or bank details

TV Licensing says to talk to your bank immediately if you gave card or bank account details, and to report it to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 (in Scotland, Police Scotland on 101). If you tapped a link or installed anything, follow what to do after clicking a scam link.

TV Licensing also says it doesn't use bailiffs, so a text threatening a bailiff visit over a TV licence doesn't match how it works: do bailiffs send text messages. Paste any text into the scam text checker to see its red flags.

Sources

• TV Licensing, when it texts and its numbers: TV Licensing, 'Helping you avoid TV Licensing scams – and how to report one', summarised in our own words: TV Licensing says it may text payment card customers to ask for a payment, TVL Pay app users to confirm a payment (sender 'TVL Pay'), Direct Debit customers when there is a problem with a payment, people who paid the whole fee up front with a renewal reminder, people who used to pay on one of its payment schemes to suggest a new payment method, and people who contacted it with a confirmation or a survey. It says it will not text to say you are entitled to a refund, ask for bank details by text, or ask for personal details on its website before you sign in. Numbers its texts may give you to call: 0300 555 0293 (payment card), 0300 790 6082 (Direct Debit), or 0300 555 0510 or 0300 300 1030 (Simple Payment Plan), and no others. On WhatsApp it only contacts you from +44 800 020 9914, with a blue verified tick, and only if you contacted it first. Its official websites are tvlicensing.co.uk, tvl.co.uk, spp.tvlicensing.co.uk and 75plan.tvlicensing.co.uk. It asks for a screenshot of a scam text by email (the page gives textscam@tvlicensing.co.uk and, further down, textscams@tvlicensing.co.uk), and for scam emails to be sent to report@phishing.gov.uk. — https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ288, read on 2026-10-02
• TV Licensing, avoiding scams: TV Licensing, 'Helping you avoid TV Licensing scams – and how to report one': "Texts will show ‘ThemisTVL’ as the sender and end with Themis Recoveries." Short quote; the rest is summarised in our own words. — https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ288, read on 2026-10-02
• TV Licensing, messages from Themis Recoveries: TV Licensing, 'Help with messages from Themis Recoveries': "They will never ask for your bank details by email or text." Short quote; the rest is summarised in our own words. — https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/themis, read on 2026-10-02
• TV Licensing, the Themis trial in brief: TV Licensing, 'Help with messages from Themis Recoveries', summarised in our own words: Themis Recoveries writes to, emails and texts people for TV Licensing in a trial, when their licence has expired; a TV Licensing letter introduces Themis first, then Themis is in touch for 28 days; payments go to TV Licensing, never to Themis; Themis is not a debt collector, is given just four details (your name, address, mobile number and email address) and does not pass information to credit reference agencies; the trial has its own help line, 0333 049 0735; TV Licensing does not use bailiffs. — https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/themis, read on 2026-10-02
• NCSC, how to spot a scam: NCSC, 'How to spot a scam email, text message or call' (published 26 November 2021, reviewed 5 September 2022): "Urgency Are you told you have a limited time to respond (such as 'within 24 hours' or 'immediately')? Criminals often threaten you with fines or other negative consequences. ... If you have any doubts about a message, contact the organisation directly. Don’t use the numbers or address in the message – use the details from their official website." Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. — https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/spot-scams, read on 2026-10-02
• Report Fraud: Action Fraud / City of London Police press release, 4 Dec 2025, summarised in our own words: from 4 December 2025 fraud and cyber crime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are reported to the new Report Fraud service, which replaced Action Fraud, at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040; people in Scotland keep calling Police Scotland on 101. — https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/news.nsf/articles/Report+Fraud+service+goes+live+04122025143000; https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/, read on 2026-09-29
• NCSC, forwarding to 7726: NCSC, Report a scam text: "Most phone providers are part of a scheme that allows customers to report suspicious text messages for free by forwarding it to 7726. If you forward a text to 7726, your provider can investigate the origin of the text and arrange to block or ban the sender, if it's found to be malicious." — https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/report-scam-text-message, read on 2026-09-29

Quotes from GOV.UK, legislation.gov.uk, mygov.scot, the NCSC, the ICO and NHS England are used under the Open Government Licence v3.0; material from Ofcom is Ofcom copyright. Other pages are summarised in our own words or quoted briefly, with a link. How we check.