George Rosier's portfolio & blog site

Everyone hates paying their TV license. There’s no escaping it, and it’s annoying to think we’re being made to fund the likes of Eastenders and other such guff. So how do they go about achieving this feat online?

I am writing this whilst on the train, so here we have…

A (short) review of www.tvlicensing.co.uk

As mentioned already, the thought of being made to pay for the privilege of watching colour television in our own homes is all sorts of shit – especially when the fee goes towards paying for programs you probably don’t even watch. Does the site support the shit-ness? Does it make you want to part with your money? Or is it like every other quango site? Read on and find out!

First impressions

It seems unfair, given my thinly-veiled rantings above, that the BBC/Government have apparently done a good job on this site. I want to hate it because of what it does…but I can’t. Dammit.

On arrival, it’s clear what’s going on, and what information is available to you. The layout is well thought-out, and the most commonly asked questions are on the homepage (namely information for students, and what kind of device requires a license).

Delving a little deeper shows consistent and clear information, and good persistent top-nav/tab elements for paying, updating your details, or checking whether y0u need a license.

The colour scheme is suitably inoffensive too, and isn’t intrusive or distracting.

Journey & usability

The journey that guides you through the process of buying/renewing a license is easy – and I suppose it would be, given the lack of anyone’s desire to part with cash! Step 1 is a simple starter, and step 2 introduces a dynamic drop-down of content that’s pre-populated with the most common answers (which helps a lot), and the button designs are such that it’s clear what the next step is – complete with clear and bold colouring for the mouseover state.

If you’re a new customer, the stages for entering your bank details and the like are equally simple, with an unconventional yet effective horizontal breadcrumb (presumably so it didn’t clash with the existing breadcrumb at the top) and clear messaging throughout.

For those that are renewing, it’s equally simple: just enter your address details and off you go into the renewal process.

I also like the use of the security reassurance device in the right-nav.

Final thoughts

I’ve got to be brief, since I’m falling asleep here. My final though? This site is annoyingly good.