One in seven over-75s is yet to get a TV licence following controversial decision to scrap freebies 

Around one in seven over-75s still haven’t bought a TV licence or applied for a new one following a controversial policy change, the BBC has revealed.

Last August, the broadcaster stripped 4.2million elderly viewers of their free TV licences. Only over-75s on pension credit can still get them for free.

According to figures released yesterday, around 2.7million over-75s have already purchased a licence while 750,000 have applied for a free one.

This leaves around one in seven older customers yet to transition – either by buying a licence or claiming a free one paid for by the corporation.

The BBC has praised the figures, saying they represent ‘good progress’ for the scheme. It added: ‘We always knew the transition process would take time and this has been central to our planning.’

The BBC said that ‘to date, more than 84 per cent of customers have made TV Licence arrangements.’

They also reported that 65 per cent of those who have bought a licence have chosen to pay in one go, with the remainder set-up on affordable payment plans.

A total of 4.2million free licences were being claimed when the scheme came into effect six months ago – which needed to transition to new paid or free TV licences.

It means that in total about one in seven over-75s are left to transition either by buying a licence or claiming a free licence paid for by the BBC.

The corporation said that ‘after six months, this is good progress for the implementation of a programme of this size. We always knew the transition process would take time and this has been central to our planning’.

The BBC claimed it wrote to all over-75 customers in August who had previously held a free licence explaining how they apply for a paid or free licence.

They then sent a reminder letter to a smaller group in October and November.