Money Box

Latest Episodes:

How much of the Chancellor’s giveaway will come your way? Jul 11, 2020

Show notes

As quarantine is lifted and airports get ready for summer flights, are some airlines taking advantage of people who are being offered the opportunity to rebook their flights?

Earlier this week Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlined how he planned to get the economy up and running again following the harm done by coronavirus. Front and centre was a £2bn "kick-start' scheme to create more jobs for young people. But does it go far enough? Poppy and Ataysha - two young people who could be helped - tell us what they think. With Sam Windett, Chair of the Youth Employment Group.

There were also big announcements on the coronavirus job retention scheme with £1000 promised for every person firms bring back to work after being put on furlough. But we hear about the furlough scheme sums that were just too tricky for one employment agency. With Lucy McLynn, Partner and Head of Employment at BatesWells.

Plus stampduty, VAT and eating out.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researcher: Lizzy McNeill Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Emma Rippon

MBL: Coronavirus: Should I go to university this year? Jul 08, 2020

Show notes

Online lectures yet full tuition fees; socialising at a distance and virtual fresher's events - all because of the pandemic. So is it financially worthwhile going to uni this year, if you won't be getting the university experience you’d hoped for or dreamed of? How valuable is a degree for your future earnings? Is it better to do an apprenticeship, to earn as you learn? Or ditch higher education altogether and dive into the uncertain jobs market? We'll be taking questions and hearing the dilemmas of school leavers across the across the UK as they decide what to do next.

Join Adam Shaw and a panel of guests - and share your views and experiences. Email moneybox@bbc.co.uk or tweet @moneybox

Guests: Dr Maria Neophytou, acting CEO of Impetus Paul Johnson, Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies Sophie Graham, a National Careers adviser

Producer: Sally Abrahams Editor: Emma Rippon

Children duped by 'loot boxes' Jul 04, 2020

Show notes

Just days after a damning House of Lords report, Money Box can reveal that loot boxes in some games aimed at children have win rates of as little as 0.01%. Experts are worried this could get children hooked on gambling.

The courts have ordered changes in the way income is calculated which will mean more money for thousands of people on Universal Credit.

And we hear from one listener who got his money back for a cancelled holiday through his debit card but now the company is trying to take it back.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Daniel Whitworth Researcher: Lizzy McNeill Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Emma Rippon

Bounce Back Loans Jul 01, 2020

Show notes

The government-backed loans designed to give small firms quick and easy access to cash during the coronavirus crisis. If you've applied for one, what's your experience? Has it saved your business from collapse? Many listeners have contacted us, angry and frustrated at the time it's taking to get the loans approved. For some, time is running out. Without income, how can they pay the bills, never mind adapt to the new phase of lockdown? Unless they get this emergency cash, they're worried they won't survive.

Money Box Live wants to hear your questions, stories and successes. Email moneybox@bbc.co.uk or tweet @moneybox

Guests: Stephen Pegge, Managing Director of Commercial Finance, UK Finance Craig Beaumont, Chief of External Affairs, Federation of Small Businesses

Presenter: Louise Cooper Producer: Sally Abrahams Editor: Emma Rippon

Paying to access your holiday refund Jun 27, 2020

Show notes

Listeners whose holidays have been cancelled are telling us that they are having to pay to get their money back off their credit card. With Helen Saxon, Banking Editor at MoneySavingExpert.

Thousands of parents are using lockdown as an excuse not to pay maintenance for their children. Single parent charity Gingerbread say that Covid-19 is making things worse and that the official service that should make them pay is not checking what they say.

The face masks that cost $10 to buy but $109 to deliver - and still don’t arrive. The dangers of believing ads on Instagram and social media.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Researcher: Lizzy McNeil Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Emma Rippon

MBL: Redundancy Jun 24, 2020

Show notes

Are you worried you’re about to lose your job because of the coronavirus crisis? Has the job retention scheme kept you afloat since lockdown – but now your boss wants to let you go? If you’re facing redundancy, it's important to know your rights. How many days’ notice should you get and how much pay? If you're an employer, do you understand your obligations if you have to reduce your workforce? Millions of workers are at risk of redundancy in the coming months as the government furlough scheme starts to be phased out from August. So now is the time to get your redundancy queries answered.

Paul Lewis and a panel of experts are here with knowledge and advice. Email your questions to moneybox@bbc.co.uk

Guests: Merrill April, Partner at CM Murray, specialist employment lawyers Susan Raftery, Senior adviser at Acas, the conciliation and advice service for employees and employers Minesh Patel, Welfare policy manager, Citizens Advice

Producer: Sally Abrahams Editor: Emma Rippon

Thieves stole my identity Jun 20, 2020

Show notes

There's been a sharp rise in the number of people whose identity was stolen last year - up by almost 20% on the year before. It can have a devastating effect on your financial life. One listener tells us how it took months to restore her good name and cost her £10,000.

Young people are inevitably hit badly by a major financial crisis like the one we are living through. Figures out this week show that the number of young unemployed people is growing by more than 4000 every single day. One charity has told the BBC Three reporter Harvey Day that the number of people in their twenties applying for emergency help has soared.

And can National Savings and Investments keep up with the demands of being at the top of the best buy tables?

Email moneybox@bbc.co.uk

Presenter Paul Lewis Researcher: Lizzy McNeil Producers: Alex Lewis and Paul Waters Editor: Emma Rippon

MBL: Broadband during lockdown Jun 17, 2020

Show notes

What’s the best way to get fast, reliable and affordable broadband during lockdown? With millions of us now working from home due to Covid-19, and children relying on the internet for online schooling, decent broadband is more important than ever. So how to be sure you're getting the right deal? What offers are available? How easy is it to move to a new provider - and what can you do if your current deal is about to end and you can't get through to your provider? We'll also have top tips on how to make the most of your existing broadband.

Our panel of experts is ready to answer your questions and offer their advice.

Email us with your broadband woes and wins: moneybox@bbc.co.uk

Guests: Adam French, Senior Consumer Rights Editor at Which? Selina Chadha, Director of Consumer Policy at Ofcom

Producer: Sally Abrahams

Editor: Emma Rippon

Motor insurance in lockdown Jun 13, 2020

Show notes

Money Box listeners tell us that their requests for refunds on their motor insurance are being refused despite using their cars less during lockdown. The regulator has recently called on firms to review the value of their policies in light of the lockdown but critics say they let car insurers 'off the hook'.

Google is still allowing crooks to advertise dodgy investments and websites, despite telling this programme earlier in the year it was working with the Financial Conduct Authority to offer consumers better protection. We hear from one woman who had almost £30,000 stolen after clicking on a paid for advert that fraudsters had placed.

And this week we learnt that the UK economy had shrunk by a fifth in a month - an unheard of decline - showing the difficulties that many firms are experiencing. More than a million have been kept afloat by the Coronavirus job retention scheme. From August all firms will have to start paying towards the costs of furloughing staff. How will they cope and what rights do furloughed employees have if they are facing redundancy?

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researcher: Lizzy McNeil Producers: Alex Lewis and Charmaine Cozier Editor: Emma Rippon

MBL: How to make your money grow Jun 10, 2020

Show notes

Adam Shaw and guests discuss how you can make a return on your money in turbulent economic times. With saving rates low and stock markets volatile what should your strategy be, even if you only have a small amount to invest?

Panel:

Anna Bowes, co-founder of Savings Champion Felix Milton, financial planner at Philip J Milton

Email your questions to moneybox@bbc.co.uk

Producer: Ben Carter Editor: Emma Rippon