SCROOGE BBC bosses sent “bullying” letters to pensioners threatening to call on Christmas Day if they have no TV licence.
A campaign group has accused the Corporation of using “thuggish” tactics to pressure the elderly and vulnerable into paying up.
The notice, which threatens a £1,000 fine and legal costs, reads: “Will you be in on December 25?
“As there’s no record of a TV licence at your address, you should expect a visit from an enforcement officer.
“It may be on December 25 or another day.
“You could be prosecuted if you are caught watching, recording or downloading programmes illegally.
“Our officers visit an address every 10 seconds.
“And if no one answers, they can come back.”
Dennis Reed, of over-60s campaign group Silver Voices, said: “Such threatening behaviour is thuggish.
“It’s an underhanded, desperate attempt to try to pressure older and vulnerable people into paying.
“To specify Christmas Day of all days is astonishing.
“Clearly they won’t be calling on December 25.”
A TV Licensing spokesman said the letters were sent in error.
He said: “We apologise to anyone who received one.
“There will be no visits on Christmas Day.”
The Sun told in March that the BBC had blown £169million in five years chasing TV licence dodgers — equivalent to a million licence fees.
The number of households paying is declining, dropping to 23.9million in 2023-2024 from 24.4million the year before.
Ministers said recently that the fee will rise each year in line with inflation until 2027.
It will go up £5 in April, from £169.50 to £174.50.
Only over-75s on Pension Credit get a free one.
An online petition calling for their abolition has 15,000 signatures.
