I ask the people who collect TV License money by sending nasty letters to students asking them to pay up or call an 0870 number to explain they don't have a TV how much money they made from the 0870 calls. Here's the salient part of their reply, almost a year later. What does anyone think?

"In relation to the exact amount of the rebate received, I can confirm that the BBC
does hold the information you requested.  However, I am withholding this information
under s43 of the Act.  Section 43 states that information will be exempt under the Act
if its disclosure under the Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial
interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).  

"The disclosure of this information would be likely to prejudice the commercial
interests of the BBC since the information you have requested relates to a contract
which Capita holds with a separate provider (BT) for the provision of these services.
Capita have negotiated the terms of this contract, including the cost structures.
Releasing this information would be likely to prejudice Capita’s ability to negotiate
favourable terms in the future.  Further, if the BBC were to release this information,
this would harm our relationship with Capita.  This would in turn prejudice the
commercial interests of the BBC as our commercial relationship would be harmed (as
we would not be able to work together to most efficiently collect the licence fee).

"This information is also exempt under s41 of the Act as the information was provided
to the BBC in confidence and the public interest in releasing this information does not
outweigh the public interest in maintaining the exemption.

"I am satisfied in terms of section 2(2) of the Act that in all the circumstances of the
case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in
disclosing the information.  I have considered the public interest test in the section on
why information has been withheld below. "

Have a read of this thread  http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1116870168

where you will find that I have an FOI request ongoing, although up to now it has taken over 12 months just to be allocated to a case handler, so don't hold your breath.

Many thanks Derrick,

Hope you are well.

I did notice that thread, but it seemed to be about trying to get geo numbers rather than trying to find out how much money they make from them.

They send these incredibly rude demand letters to all students in dorms every year saying if you don't have a TV call us on this number (0870). I guess it will be 0871 this year. The crazy thing is most students just obediently call them. Hence, my request for how much money they make. I'm curious whether the confidential commerciality excuse can really stand in this case. It seems everything is contracted out (out-sourced) now and in that case the public can know very little about how its deputies are spending its money or how much they are taking from them by these illegitimate means.

best,
Stephen

Just wish most students were made aware of another say not to style site (you know which one) ;)

Poor honest students, using up all their credit on the 087 number, when all they want to do is fill their brains and liver... *cough*