WREXHAM Labour IMP an Lucas is to ask the BBC to reform the way it collects television licence fees.

Mr Lucas fears people are being penalised for paying by direct debit.

And he is pressurising the corporation to rethink its attitude toward making licences available in post offices. Currently, the BBC only allows payment at Pay Point outlets.

Mr Lucas has written to the chairman of the BBC Trust, Sir Michael Lyons, as part of the Trust’s review of Licence Fee arrangements.

In the letter he states: “I would strongly support a move to allow TV licence fees to be paid at post offices.”

In his letter, Mr Lucas also focuses on the arrangements for direct debit.

He is concerned those who pay a quarterly direct debit are charged £1.25 per quarter to do so.

His letter states: “I cannot understand why the BBC sees it is justified to charge a premium for those who pay by quarterly direct debit but do not, for example, grant a discount to those who pay their licence fee 12 months in advance.”

Later, he also challenges the charging of any premium, saying: “I am well aware companies give concessions to those who pay by direct debit as they are cheaper to administer and I cannot see why similar rules do not apply to the BBC.”

He added: “The current systems for payment of the television licence need looking at - I believe they discriminate against licence fee payers in an arbitrary manner.”