Money Box

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Fraud Crackdown and Is Cash King? Jun 14, 2025

Show notes

The fight against what is called push payment fraud - when victims are groomed and manipulated into transferring money to criminals - took a huge step forward in October when new regulations for banks and other finance companies were introduced to make the banks involved liable for the losses. It was the result of years of campaigning which Money Box has reported on from the very beginning. Now the first set of figures since then shows it is working better, but still not perfect. We'll hear from David Geale the Chief Executive of the Payment Systems Regulator.

This week, some of Britain's biggest pension funds have pledged to invest more of the money they look after into UK assets. Seventeen major workplace pension providers have signed the Mansion House Accord, a voluntary initiative which commits them to invest at least 10% of the pension funds into what it calls 'private markets' with half of that invested in the UK. The Treasury says this commitment will drive more investment into infrastructure and businesses, while driving higher returns for savers and reducing risk through diversified asset holdings. We'll speak to the Chief Executive of The People's Pension which is the UK's largest workplace pension fund.

If you get child benefit for a child aged 16 or over it will stop on 31 August unless you tell HMRC to continue paying it. What do you need to know?

And are we becoming too reliant on digital banking when we should all have some cash for emergencies?

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Dan Whitworth, Eimear Devlin and Catherine Lund Researcher: Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 12pm Saturday 17th May 2025)

Money Box Live: The 'Sadmin' of Bereavement Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

Earlier this spring the Financial Conduct Authority warned that some banks and firms lack empathy when dealing with bereaved customers and called for them to do more.

Money Box Live received a huge response from our listeners when we covered the story, with emails from listeners about how they coped with their grief while managing finances following the death of a loved one.

Felicity Hannah is joined by lawyer Gary Rycroft and Sarah Middlemiss, from the end of life charity Marie Curie, to answer those questions and hear those experiences.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Catherine Lund and Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle

(This episode was first broadcast at 3pm on Radio 4 on the 14th of May 2025)

Cancer Costs and Mortgage Deals Jun 06, 2025

Show notes

Around 1 in 2 people living in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime according to Cancer Research UK. That stark statistic is a reminder how the disease can impact families up and down the country, but it's not just the health of people diagnosed that can forever be changed. The finances of those who survive the disease can also be devastating too. We'll hear from a man recovering from a cancer diagnosis about how it impacted his life, and speak to a charity that is calling for better financial support for cancer survivors.

As the Bank of England cuts interest rates to 4.25%, we’ll discuss what the best deals are at the moment. Data shows that while some lenders are offering deals at less than 4%, you’d need a big deposit and have to pay a fee, so what is out there and who can get it?

And investment platforms should be required to pass on voting rights to shareholders. That's the call from the trade body, the Association of Investment Companies. If you buy a share in a company you have the right to vote on corporate decisions. At the moment, some investment platforms pass on the right to vote, others require you to opt-in, some don't pass on the rights at all and some even charge to do it. The AIC wants that to change so that all platforms are required to pass on the rights, which would require a change in the law. In response, the Personal Investment Management and Financial Advice Association says a wholesale change to regulation to force this issue could result in significant costs to firms and an overwhelming level of paperwork for customers.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researchers: Eimear Devlin and Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast on Radio 4 at 12pm on Saturday 10th May 2025)

Money Box Live: Move or Improve? Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

If your home isn't working for you, should you pack up and move or get the builders in and improve?

Moving is expensive, aside from the price of the house there's Stamp Duty and solicitors fees to think about. So, is it worth getting the builders in instead if you're desperate for an extra bedroom? Insurance firm Aviva predicts 7 million of us will renovate over the next two years, spending an average of £14,000 each.

But what happens if the renovations go wrong, you run out of money, or you're hoping to move but no-one wants to buy your home?

Felicity Hannah is joined by Beth Rudolf from the Conveyancing Association and Harvey Fremlin, Managing Director at The National Self Build & Renovation Centre.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers/Helen Ledwick Editor: Jess Quayle

(This episode was first broadcast at 3pm on Radio 4 on the 7th of May 2025)

Wealth Divide and Domestic Abuse May 31, 2025

Show notes

People over the age of 60 hold nearly £3 trillion of wealth in the value of their homes, almost all of it mortgage free. That is more than half of all housing wealth in the UK. Under 35s by contrast control only £600 billion and half of that is mortgaged. These startling figures were published recently by the upmarket estate agent Savills which has analysed housing data in Britain for many years. It says this disparity between young and old has never been bigger.

MPs, charities and free debt advice providers are calling for an urgent change in the law to help protect the finances of thousands of domestic abuse survivors. At the moment people, mainly women, who are left in debt after fleeing abusive relationships normally have to have their names and addresses published as part of the process of getting that debt written off. Something campaigners say not only puts their personal safety at risk, but can also put them off addressing financial problems altogether. The government has said its currently reviewing this matter and will update in due course.

And, annuities are a safe, regular income in retirement. You can use your pension fund to buy one and a growing number of people are doing just that. Sales of annuities have seen an 83% increase since 2020, based on figures from the Association of British Insurers. We'll discuss what's behind that rise.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Dan Whitworth and Jo Krasner Researcher: Catherine Lund Editor: Jess Quayle

(This programme was first broadcast at 12pm Saturday 3rd May 2025)

Pensions Minister and Poor Bereavement Service May 24, 2025

Show notes

In an exclusive interview with this programme the Pensions Minister has talked about the government's plans to reform the UK's pension system. Torsten Bell has said that pension schemes should be moving more of members' money out of shares and into infrastructure projects where returns are higher. And he announced a new plan this week to bring millions of small pension pots together into one multibillion pound so-called 'consolidator scheme'. Hear that interview with Paul Lewis in full.

Banks, building societies, utility suppliers and pension providers "must do far better" when it comes to helping people deal with the finances of loved ones who've died. That's what the Chief Executive of Hospice UK, Toby Porter, has told this programme. We'll discuss best practice and what can be done to improve poor service.

And a government savings scheme designed to help people on low incomes is being extended and widened. How does Help to Save work?

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researchers: Catherine Lund and Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle

(This programme was first broadcast 12pm Saturday 26th April 2025)

Money Box Live: School Wraparound Care May 21, 2025

Show notes

Parents typically pay an average of more than £80 per week for a childminder and £66 per week for after-school club, to cover the hours they're working. That's according to the latest data from the charity Coram Family and Childcare.

This week a new trial of free breakfast clubs launched at 750 schools across England, and the government says it'll save parents as much as £450 in childcare costs. Wales and Scotland already have programmes to provide free breakfasts to children in some primary schools.

In this programme Money Box Live discusses what help is available to try and cut the costs of wraparound care.

Felicity Hannah is joined by Lydia Hodges, Head of Coram Family and Childcare, and Laura Suter, Director of Personal Finance at the investment platform AJ Bell.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle

(The episode was first broadcast at 3pm on Wednesday the 23rd of April 2025).

Investing in Gold and Accessing Child Trust Funds May 17, 2025

Show notes

Money Box investigates fees being charged of teenagers who are struggling to access their child trust funds. We speak to an 18 year old who agreed to pay a claims management firm 25% of his fund plus VAT, not realising he could do it for free. Lord David Blunkett was in government when Child Trust Funds were created in 2002, he tells Money Box that the unclaimed public money sitting in CTFs should be going to young people not firms looking to cash in. Gold has seen rising prices this week in response to global markets turmoil. The precious metal is traditionally seen as a safe investment during times of economic turbulence. We look at the pros and cons of investing in gold and the different ways to do it. Bank branches continue to close and in some remaining branches hours or services are being reduced. We hear from a Money Box listener who struggled to make a face to face appointment at his local bank branch.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Sarah Rogers Researchers: Eimear Devlin and Jo Krasner Editor: Beatrice Pickup

(First broadcast at 12pm Saturday 19th April 2025)

Money Box Live: Social Housing May 14, 2025

Show notes

New analysis shows that some parts of England have waiting lists for social housing that exceed 100 years. Recently the government pledged £2 billion of new investment to build up to 18,000 new social and affordable homes. But will that be enough? Felicity Hannah is joined by Jasmine Basran of the housing charity Crisis, and Alastair Smyth of the National Housing Federation.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Neil Morrow and Sarah Rogers Editor: Beatrice Pickup

Tariffs, Pensions and Credit Card Debt May 10, 2025

Show notes

The stock markets have been on somewhat of a roller coaster since US president Trump announced global trade tariffs. Listeners emailed Money Box to tell us about the impact of the fall out in their pensions and investments. The advice from the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association which speaks for pension companies is 'if you still have many years until you retire, you have plenty of time to recover short-term price falls'. But, what happens if you're retiring right now and you've seen your pension plummet?

Also on the programme, the amount we owe on our credit cards is at record levels, topping £73 billion. But is increased borrowing an indication of consumer confidence or personal crisis?

And do you know you state pension age? Research suggests many of close to retirement don't.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Eimear Devlin and Jo Krasner Output Producer: Craig Henderson Editor: Sarah Rogers

(This episode was first broadcast on Saturday the 12th of April on BBC Radio 4)

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