Money Box

Latest Episodes:

Access to accounts Jul 31, 2021

Show notes

A new plan has been brokered to cut down on aggressive debt collection by bailiffs. Will it work amidst fears of a post-pandemic surge in debt problems?

Tesco and M&S are both closing all the personal currents accounts they operate. What does this say about the role of supermarkets as financial institutions, and what should you do if you’re affected?

Digital current account provider Pockit says it’s had to freeze around 1,000 accounts due to suspicious activity reports. A number of those customers say they are taking legal action to get access to their cash.

And how can a pension fund you have paid into disappear as charges erode its value.?

GUESTS: Joe Shalam - head of the Financial Inclusion Policy Unit at the Centre for Social Justice Peter Hahn - Emeritus professor at the London Institute of Banking & Finance Helen Saxon – banking editor at MoneySavingExpert Gina Miller – founder of the True and Fair Campaign

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples Researcher: Sowda Ali Producer: Joe Kent Editor: Alex Lewis

Disability and Employment Jul 28, 2021

Show notes

How can our workplaces become an inclusive and fair environment for employees with a disability? If you’ve an idea or experience about job hunting, career support or staff retention e-mail moneybox@bbc.co.uk now, whether you’re an employer or an employee, we’d love to hear from you.

On the panel with presenter Charmaine Cozier are:

• Liz Johnson, Co-Founder, The Ability People • Martin Sigsworth, Employment Manager. Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) • Angela Matthews, Head of Policy and Research, Business Disability Forum

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Diane Richardson Editor: Alex Lewis

Frozen Out Jul 24, 2021

Show notes

Thousands of people say they’ve been shut out of their bank accounts without warning or explanation. MPs are investigating whether innocent customers have been caught up in a crackdown on money laundering.

For the first time in 25 years the one-off payment given to adult prison leavers in England and Wales is to be raised. The Prison Discharge Grant will increase from £46 to £76, but what difference will that make?

Last year 155,000 people shared an extra £16m in pay after that HMRC ensured they were getting minimum wage. Plus the latest clampdown on debt packager or IVA lead generator firms

GUESTS: Nicki Stopford - chief operating officer for the online complaints service Resolver. Monique Williams - Head of Delivery at Switchback, a charity for male prison leavers Clare Merrills - from HMRC Amy Taylor - Chair of the Greater Manchester Money Advice Group

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples Researcher: Stefania Okereke Producer: Joe Kent Editor: Alex Lewis

MBL: Travel Rights and Money Jul 21, 2021

Show notes

What do you need to know about travel rights, money and insurance this summer?

Adam Shaw and guests answer your questions about the practicalities and costs of travelling this year. Are you considering a summer holiday? Have you rebooked a cancelled trip? How much is a PCR test, what does the travel traffic light system mean for your insurance and how do you get the best deal on your travel money?

e-mail moneybox@bbc.co.uk now with your questions and stories. If you’ve just returned from a trip we’d love to hear how you got on.

On the panel are:

Rory Boland, Travel Editor, Which? Helen Saxon, Money Saving Expert Graeme Trudgill, British Insurance Brokers’ Association

Bereavement benefits Jul 17, 2021

Show notes

More than 20,000 bereaved families can now claim financial support once restricted to married couples and civil partners. The payments worth up to £10,000 have been extended to cover all couples who lived together and claimed child benefit.

Eight years ago the government said it would introduce funding for university and higher education that is comparable with the principle of Islamic finance. So when will it happen?

And what should banks do to protect problem gamblers.

GUESTS: Omar Shaikh - Advisory Board Member UK Islamic Finance Council Professor Sharon Collard, Research Director at the Personal Finance research Centre at the University of Bristol Danny Cheetham - anti-gambling campaigner

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples Researcher: Stefania Okereke Producer: Joe Kent Editor: Alex Lewis

MBL: Single Parents Jul 14, 2021

Show notes

There are almost 3m lone parent families in the UK and for many the pandemic has put increased pressure on already stretched family finances. The charity Gingerbread say that single parents are more likely to have lost jobs or experienced reduced hours and falling incomes.

If you’ve a question or a tip about supporting children when you separate, dealing with child maintenance payments and arrears or maximising your income, we’d love to hear from you.

Or if you’ve got some advice to share about free or low cost family activities for the summer we’re all ears, e-mail moneybox@bbc.co.uk to join the conversation.

On the panel are:

• Ros Bever, Family Lawyer, Irwin Mitchell • Victoria Benson, CEO, Gingerbread • Phil Agulnik, Director of benefits checker entitledto

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Diane Richardson Editor: Alex Lewis

'For your protection' Jul 10, 2021

Show notes

When banks stop you spending your own money. Barclays and Santander have banned payments to one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges while TSB may soon stop payments to all exchanges.

Why tens of thousands of people could be eligible for significant refunds after the HMRC lost what could prove to be a landmark case concerning the way it deals with child benefit paid to high earners.

What will change when the Financial Conduct Authority takes over regulation of pre-paid funeral plans?

Using your money to make a difference – the impact that green or eco-friendly pensions can have on combating climate change.

And financial lessons for cub scouts, following the launch of their Money Skills Activity Badge.

GUESTS: Philippa Hann - specialist financial services litigator at Clarke Willmott solicitors Stefanie Tremain- Director at Blick Rothenburg Sheldon Mills - Executive Director for Consumers, FCA Tony Burdon – CEO Make My Money Matter Jeannie Boyle - Chartered Financial Planner and executive director of EQ Investors

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples Researcher: Stefania Okereke Producer: Joe Kent Editor: Alex Lewis

Young entrepreneurs Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

What help and support is available to people with a business dream? How do you develop the skills you need to run your own business? We hear from some entrepreneurs about the experience of turning their ideas into reality.

To share your experiences and any questions e-mail: moneybox@bbc.co.uk

Presenter Louise Cooper is joined by an expert panel:

• Lisa Wardlaw, College Delivery Manager, Young Enterprise Scotland • Julian Hall, founder, Ultra Education • Alison Edgar, The Entrepreneur's Godmother

Presenter: Louise Cooper Producer: Diane Richardson Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples Editor: Alex Lewis

Google’s investment ad crackdown Jul 03, 2021

Show notes

Google is cracking down on financial-scam adverts in the UK, but will it work? Campaigner Mark Taber tells us what needs to be done to stem the millions of pounds lost to bogus investment schemes each year.

It was reported this week that the financial regulator has banned one of the biggest crypto currency exchanges from operating in the UK. Jannah Patchay, founder of Markets Evolution, and Jason Deane – a consultant for Luno, explain why those reports were wrong.

Park Christmas Savings, one of the UK’s most popular savings clubs says it will review its refund policy following a Money Box investigation.

And the push for Plain Numbers – why just a few small changes to the way financial information is displayed can dramatically increase customers’ understanding. Mike Ellicock explains the thinking behind his campaign.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples Researchers: Stefania Okereke and Anita Langary Producer: Joe Kent Editor: Alex Lewis

Community Energy Projects Jun 30, 2021

Show notes

Would you like to generate your electricity through a local, renewable energy project rather than buying it from a big supplier?

In this episode, Adam Shaw and guests consider the costs and practicalities of setting up and running community-led energy projects, do such initiatives make financial and environmental sense? Joining Adam are:

Jodie Giles, head of community and local energy at Regen Tanuja Pandit, director of Power Up North London Steve Shaw, the director of Power for People

If you've a story or view to share we’d love to hear from you, e-mail moneybox@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Adam Shaw Producers: Diane Richardson and Paul Waters Editor: Alex Lewis

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