Money Box

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Tax Cuts, Housing Costs and Paying at the Pump Dec 23, 2023

Show notes

We'll take a closer look at what the Autumn Statement means for your personal finances. On Wednesday the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, made announcements about tax, pensions and benefits. With his top takeaways, Paul Lewis talks tax cuts and the unfreezing of the local housing allowance.

A listener went into a filling station to put just enough petrol in her car to leave her enough money to buy food for the family dinner. Then, the petrol station ringfenced the cost of a full tank and although she spent a fraction of that, the rest was not released for two days. Why did that happen and what can she do?

And the new global report from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners which says reports of financial abuse of vulnerable clients is increasing.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Dan Whitworth and Sandra Hardial Researcher: Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast, 12noon Saturday 25th November 2023)

Money Box Live: Autumn Statement Special Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt has opened the red briefcase once again to deliver the Autumn Statement in the Commons.

But what does it mean for you and your money?

Felicity Hannah will be looking at how today's announcements impact your personal finances - from pensions, to taxes and benefits.

Joining her to answer your questions and comments are, Alice Haine, Personal Finance Analyst at BestInvest, Dawn Register, Partner at the accountancy firm BDO and Sangita Chawla, Managing Director for Standard Life.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Reporter: Paul Ruddick Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle

(This episode was first broadcast at 3pm, Wednesday the 22nd November, 2023).

QR Code Scams and Bank Account Access Dec 16, 2023

Show notes

The number of reported scams involving QR codes has nearly quadrupled in less than three years according to figures seen by Money Box. The data was revealed by City of London Police and gathered from reports made to Action Fraud. The Charted Institute of Trading Standards is warning those reports are likely to be just the tip of the iceberg. We'll hear the story of one woman who was scammed after using a QR code in a car park.

The government's cost of living support payments to help people on low incomes cope with rising bills have not been enough to meet the scale of the problem. That's the warning from Parliament's Work and Pensions Committee which this week called on the government to consider widening the eligibility for future payments. The Department for Work and Pensions says the payments have provided a significant financial boost to millions of households and are just one part of the record £94 billion support package - which includes a 10.1% rise to benefits earlier this year and a more than £2 billion Household Support Fund to help with the cost of household essentials.

A young disabled man was denied access to a high interest savings account - after his parents, who have a court order to deal with his finances, tried to open the account. How common is this and what can you do? And what can you expect from the Autumn Statement?

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Joanna Morris and Jo Krasner Producer: Dan Whitworth Researcher: Sandra Hardial Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 12pm, Saturday 18th November 2023)

Money Box Live: How to Save for Children Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

Most people would like to save for their children but it's not always straightforward. There are questions about the best accounts, about how much you can afford - and about what those children might decide to spend the money on once they hit 18!

According to Standard Life 7 out of 10 parents are worried they're not saving enough for their youngsters' futures.

Felicity Hannah is joined by Kirsty Stone, a Chartered Financial Planner at the financial adviser The Private Office and Stephanie Fitzgerald, Head of Young People Programmes at The Money Charity to answer your comments and questions.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Reporter: Eimear Devlin Editor: Jess Quayle

(This programme was first broadcast on Wednesday the 15th of November at 3pm).

Help for people in mortgage arrears and deferring your state pension. Dec 09, 2023

Show notes

As the number of homeowners behind on their mortgage jumps we look at a scheme in Wales trying to help people stay in their homes.

Also on the programme we speak to experts who weigh up the pros and cons of deferring your state pension and hear about the complications one woman had in getting the money she was owed.

We'll tell you if you're eligible for the winter fuel payment and, as the cost of living continues to bite, we visit a baby bank in Perth and Kinross to meet the volunteers who run it to speak to them about the increasing demand for help in providing everything from nappies to milk powder to wipes and toys.

Money Box Live: Love and Money Dec 06, 2023

Show notes

This week we are talking all things love and money and what co-habiting, marriage and divorce mean for your finances.

Do you split the bills evenly or have a complicated spreadsheet to work out who pays what?

It comes as recent research published by the University of Bristol revealed 100,000 couples divorce in England and Wales every year - but only a third of them use the legal system to sort out their finances - the majority negotiate their own arrangements or in the worst cases, reach no settlement at all.

So, Felicity Hannah will cover everything from how to have those tricky money conversations with each other to how couples split their finances.

This week to answer your questions and comments, we're joined by Laura Suter, Head of Personal Finance at AJ Bell and Nigel Shepherd, specialist family lawyer and consultant with Mills & Reeve.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producers: Sarah Rogers Editor: Dan Whitworth

(This episode was first broadcast on Wednesday the 8th of November).

Fraud Refunds Report and Savings Tax Dec 02, 2023

Show notes

For the first time we know the record of individual banks on reimbursing victims of fraud. The Payment Systems Regulator published figures this week which show, bank by bank, what proportion of the victims were reimbursed and what proportion of their money they got back.

Millions of people, some with quite modest savings, now face the prospect of paying tax on the interest those savings earn. Who does it affect and what do you need to do about it?

We'll discuss a new report from the University of Bristol about finances and divorce.

And as recent research suggests two out of three British adults have told a 'financial fib' by lying about their earnings or what something cost, we want to know your financial fibs - email moneybox@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researchers: Sandra Hardial and Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 12pm, Saturday 4th November, 2023)

Lancaster Live: Can You Afford Your Home? Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

This week the team is live at a community centre in Lancaster to look at all things housing.

It's one of the biggest financial stories of the year. Rising interest rates led to hundreds of mortgage deals being pulled earlier this year before being replaced by costlier versions. This week the Bank of England will decide where they'll go next.

Exclusive figures for Money Box have revealed a third of people with a mortgages are overdrawn or have to borrow at the end of the month, meanwhile monthly rents average £1,304 a month.

To answer your comments and questions, Felicity Hannah will be joined by Sarah Pennells, Consumer Finance Specialist at Royal London, Dr Hilary Ingham, Professor of Economics at Lancaster University and Kim Howarth, Branch Manager of Entwistle Green estate agents in Lancaster.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Produced by: Sarah Rogers & Kath Paddison Editor: Jess Quayle

(This episode was first broadcast 3pm Wednesday the 1st of November, 2023)

Loan Sharks and Car Insurance Nov 25, 2023

Show notes

The official body which tackles loan sharks tells Money Box that for the first time in its almost 20 year history it is seeing people turn to loan sharks to pay for essentials like food and fuel. The England Illegal Money Lending Team investigates and prosecutes loan sharks and supports those threatened by them. We report from Blackpool and visit a credit union - CLEVR Money - where people can borrow money legally and at reasonable cost.

Why some pensioners may have to pay tax next year on their state pension even if they have no other income.

A cost of living payment of £300 will drop into the bank accounts of people on means-tested benefits from Tuesday - find out who's eligible.

And what's driving a rise in the cost of car insurance?

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Sarah Rogers Researchers: Sandra Hardial and Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 12pm Saturday 28th October, 2023)

Money Box Live: Fighting Back Against Fraud Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

More than £500m was stolen by fraudsters in the first half of 2023, according to figures from UK Finance. This is less than the same period in 2022, but Authorised Push Payment (APP) scams, where people are tricked into transferring money to thieves, are on the rise.

We ask what can be done to fight back against the fraudsters, both on a personal and industry-wide level?

Joining Felicity Hannah are Ben Donaldson, Director of Economic Crime at UK Finance, TSB’s Manager of Fraud Operations, Paul Davis and Kathryn Westmore, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Financial Crime and Security at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank.

Plus Dan Whitworth goes behind the scenes at TSB’s Fraud Prevention Centre in Sunderland. And we hear from case studies who’ve lost money, managed to get it back – but been left devastated by being scammed.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Reporter: Dan Whitworth Producers: Sam Clack and Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 3pm, Wednesday 25th October, 2023)

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