A couple of years ago we asked the BBC to provide information about third-party data sources used by TV Licensing.
The BBC told us that TV Licensing used the commercially available Royal Mail Postcode Address File (PAF) to identify newly built and demolished properties and a company called Acxiom to identify the occupiers of unlicensed properties.
Entirely by coincidence we recently discovered that TV Licensing now sources third-party data from GBG, Experian, Equifax and REaD Group.
Using the Freedom of Information Act 2000, we asked the BBC to provide a description of the third-party data provided by each of these companies. In response, the BBC told us the following:
GBG:
This company provides landline telephone numbers, which are sourced from BT. TV Licensing uses this information to contact licence-holders on expiry of their TV licences.
Experian:
This company operates a product called MOSAIC, which is used to segment customers (e.g. put them into targeted groups) on the TV Licensing database. It can be used to monitor customer behaviour at household and postcode level.
Equifax:
This company provides an indication that the occupier of a No Licence Needed (NLN) property has moved in the previous 3 months. TV Licensing will then contact the present occupier of the NLN property to confirm its licensable status.
REaD Group:
This company provides an indication that the occupier of a No Licence Needed (NLN) property has moved in the previous 3 months. TV Licensing will then contact the present occupier of the NLN property to confirm its licensable status.
This company provides an indication that a property is occupied or unoccupied.
We also sought copies of any contracts between the BBC and these companies in relation to their work for TV Licensing, but that part of our request was refused.
You can view the full text of our request and the BBC's subsequent response on the WhatDoTheyKnow website.
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