Confessions of a TV licence officer: Ex-Capita official reveals her favourite ‘hunting ground’ during ‘incredibly well paid’ career chasing fee dodgers
- Amy Fenton worked as an enforcement officer with Capita TVL for 3 years
Published: 08:04, 10 December 2023 | Updated: 09:49, 10 December 2023
A former TV licence officer has lifted the lid on one of Britain’s most controversial jobs – and the location of her favourite ‘hunting ground’ chasing fee dodges.
Amy Fenton worked for Capita TV Licensing after leaving school in 2003.
She had decided to take a break from education before starting university.
While she initially began in the call centre, Ms Fenton admitted she was drawn to the role of enforcement officer, which would get her out into the community and interacting with people.
Pictured: Amy Fenton with friends when she worked for Capita TV Licensing after leaving school in 2003
Ms Fenton said her ‘hunting ground’ became the areas of south and central Lancashire
The then teenager joined the Liverpool team, largely made up of ex-military men and retired police officers, but her ‘hunting ground’ post-training became the areas of south and central Lancashire, according to Lancs Live[2].
Ms Fenton often visited places like Preston, Chorley, Southport and Wigan.
She explained: ‘You would know if, for example, you had a visit for a very big, fancy house that you would likely find it was either empty or the occupants had just moved house and hadn’t changed the address on their licence yet.
‘On the other hand, I always relished receiving a big batch of visits for a huge estate in Wigan as I knew I would likely come away having sold as many as 30 licences in a day.’
Ms Fenton said the role was ‘incredibly well-paid’, but with a good salary and commission came certain drawbacks.
‘I remember visiting one terraced house in Chorley, seeing the TV was on through the window, but nobody answered the door.
‘I returned to my car, making the new-starter mistake of not locking my door once I got in, to then have an irate and aggressive woman pull open my door, attempt to steal my paperwork and punch me in the face.’
Another incident took place in the town of Great Harwood, when she was invited into a man’s house to check he didn’t have a TV.
After completing her training, Ms Fenton said her ‘hunting ground’ became areas of south and central Lancashire, such as Preston, Chorley, Southport and Wigan.
She recalled: ‘After a cursory glance downstairs, and spotting no television, I was making my way to leave when the man said ‘hang on, you need to look upstairs too’.
‘My naivety led to me saying ‘ok’ and I walked up the stairs with the man behind me.
At the landing I was trying to turn round to go back downstairs and make a sharp exit when he then said ‘you need to check the front bedroom’.
‘Stupidly, I did, and as I entered the room I heard the door close behind me.
Stunned, I couldn’t think of anything to say other than ‘I’m going now’ and fortunately he opened the door.’
Another incident took place during a visit to the town of Accrington, when she was the victim of an attempt to stage a hit-and-run.
Ms Fenton said she was driving down a street when a group of young people pushed a child in front of her car.
She got out of the car to check the boy was okay, but by this point he was already surrounded by a group of adults checking him for injuries.
One incident took place during a visit to the town of Accrington (pictured), when she was the victim of an attempt to stage a hit-and-run.
Ms Fenton was told that she could leave, but finding the situation puzzling, decided to call 999 to report the incident.
She went on to say that it was at that point she saw one of the youngsters taking a picture of her car.
Ms Fenton asked him what he was doing, to which he responded ‘you drove off after hitting that boy’.
Fortunately, Ms Fenton said the call handler heard every word and assured her that similar incidents had been staged by locals in the same street.
She said: ‘Despite the odd unfortunate incident, and having to contend with the weather, I actually really enjoyed my time as an enforcement officer.
‘It suited my university schedule perfectly as I could choose as and when I went out working (and in fact evenings were more productive as people were more likely to be at home).’
References
- ^ Megan Howe (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Lancs Live (www.lancs.live)