Money Box

Latest Episodes:

Universal Basic Income - Can it work? Feb 06, 2019

Show notes

How would you like to receive a set income from the state without conditions?

It's an idea which is gaining world wide attention with pilot schemes in Finland, Canada and Spain to name a few. In Scotland ministers have awarded funding to four local authorities to undertake feasibility studies with a view to holding a pilot.

Adam Shaw and a guest panel discuss the theory behind the idea and examine how if it could ever work in practice.

How have the trials worked in different countries? Is a universal basic income a useful way of thinking about wealth redistribution or is it just an unaffordable utopian dream?

From 1pm Wednesday 6th February you can call us on 03 700 100 444 or email us at any time: moneybbc@bbc.co.uk.

Joining Adam on the panel: Jamie Cooke, Head of Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce Scotland Dr Louise Haagh, author of The Case for Universal Basic Income and a Reader in Politics at the University of York Dr Luke Martinelli, the main researcher on the Institute for Policy Research’s basic income research project at Bath University

Producer: Linda Walker Presenter: Adam Shaw Editor: Jasper Corbett

Mini-bond firm calls in administrators Feb 02, 2019

Show notes

A firm which raised more than £200m from 14,000 investors has gone into administration. London Capital & Finance Plc (LCF) issued mini-bonds which promoted returns of 8 percent and higher. The Financial Conduct Authority was already investigating, last December it froze the assets of the firm. It also directed LCF to pull its "promotional material on the basis that the way in which it was marketing bonds was misleading, not fair and unclear." The FCA also expressed concerns that "LCF bonds were being marketed as ISA eligible when they were not." Guest: Finbarr O'Connell, one of the administrators of London Capital & Finance Plc.

Tougher fraud prevention measures have seen some websites asking online shoppers to verify their identities by entering a six digit number, sent to them by text, before the transaction can continue. What if you live somewhere without a mobile signal? Guest: James Daley, Managing Director and Founder, Fairer Finance.

We hear from the Money Box listener who's paying hundreds of pounds a year in fee charges for a SIPP investment that’s been valued at £1. Guest: Adam Samuel, financial services compliance specialist.

Child Trust Funds were set up for babies born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011 to encourage regular, long-term saving habits. Families received starter vouchers of £250 or £500 to open fund accounts. If, after the first year, they hadn’t, HMRC did it and sent families details of their provider. In many of those cases families failed to contact providers and forgot about the accounts. The first wave of children are turning 16 when they can take control of managing accounts ahead of being able to make withdrawals at 18. How can a lost account be found? Guest: Carol Knight, Chief Operating Officer TISA.

The cost of car insurance Jan 30, 2019

Show notes

According to the Association of British Insurers, average motor insurance premiums dropped by 1% last year. But the experiences of many Money Box listeners tell a different story.

Louise Cooper and panel discuss why the cost of car insurance is so high.

How do insurers work your premium out? Is it ever a good idea to stick with your existing provider? And how common is it for young people to pay more for their insurance than the cost of their vehicle?

From 1pm Wednesday 30th January you can call us on 03 700 100 444 or email us at any time: moneybbc@bbc.co.uk.

Joining Louise on the panel: David Williams - Technical Director at AXA Insurance Amanda Stretton - Motoring Editor, Confused.com Neil Hart - Client Services Director at Consumer Intelligence

Producer: Alex Lewis + Linda Walker Editor: John Murphy

What makes an investment too good to be true? Jan 26, 2019

Show notes

Administrators have been appointed to the Dream Lodge Group leaving people, some of whom invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in the luxury holiday park lodge business, at risk of losing most if not all of their money. In return for their cash they were promised an 8% return on their investment plus a guaranteed buy back of their capital. In a statement to Money Box administrators Deloitte said "The best outcome for everyone would still be a sale of the business and we will formally report our progress on that and any other matters in our creditors report in mid-March. We appreciate this will be a difficult time for many people affected by the administration of the business.” What are the signs that an investment opportunity is too good to be true? Guest: Farhaz Khan, Secretary of the Financial Services Lawyers Association.

The European Health Insurance Card, or EHIC, gives people from the UK the right to access state provided emergency care while temporarily staying in another European Economic Area country or Switzerland for free or for a reduced cost. Tamara Hervey, Professor of EU Law at the University of Sheffield explains what happens to the EHIC post-Brexit.

The cash machine network Link will pay a 'super premium' to ATM operators in certain remote areas from April. It hopes the subsidy of up to £2.75 per withdrawal will keep machines free to use. Guest John Howells, CEO of Link.

If you’ve signed up with a credit rating agency to get alerts whenever your file is accessed, what can you do if you discover a company you've never heard of has searched your details? Guest Lisa Hardstaff, Head of Customer Experience at Equifax.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Producer: Charmaine Cozier Editor: Richard Vadon

Parking fines - the good, the bad and the ugly Jan 23, 2019

Show notes

Private parking firms are issuing penalties to drivers at the rate of one every five seconds. That's a 20% increase compared to last year.

Council income from parking penalties has never been higher.

So why this increase?

Every motorist has a parking ticket story. So what's yours?

Email us moneybox@bbc.co.uk or call us from 1300 on 23rd January: 03 700 100 444, geographic charges from landlines and mobiles apply.

Presenter: Louise Cooper Producer: Alex Lewis and Linda Walker Editor: John Murphy

Benefit rule changes for pensioners with younger partners Jan 19, 2019

Show notes

New rules are set to change access to pension credit. At the moment the benefit can be claimed to top up income when the older partner in a couple reaches the qualifying state pension age. From May 15th it will switch to when the younger person in the relationship qualifies. Pensioners with younger partners who are already on pension credit or pension-age Housing Benefit will not be affected by the change while their entitlement remains. The announcement was made via a written statement by pensions minister Guy Opperman which was published on Monday. Guest: Gareth Morgan CEO of Ferret Information Systems.

Money Box listeners who took out student loans in the 1990s have received letters offering to settle the debt if they agree to pay a percentage of their outstanding amount. Some of these former students are approaching the point where their loans will be written off anyway. Guest: Martin Lewis, Founder and Chair MoneySavingExpert.com

Sorting out a £51 tax refund ended up costing one man £137 after he searched online and dialled a number listed on an official looking website which he thought belonged to HMRC. It wasn’t and the line he called which connected him to HMRC was a premium rate one. Guest: David Hickson of the Fair Telecoms campaign.

Reporter: Dan Whitworth Presenter: Paul Lewis Producer: Charmaine Cozier Editor: Richard Vadon

Financial Resolutions Jan 16, 2019

Show notes

A New Year, a new you!

Many of us have committed to eat better and get fitter. But just as popular is to save more.

We want to know how you have resolved to improve YOUR personal finances. Email us: moneybox@bbc.co.uk or call us from 1300 on 16th January on 03 700 100 444, geographic charges from landlines and mobiles apply. Let us know how you're doing.

Presenter: Louise Cooper Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: John Murphy

Rare victory for bank fraud victim Jan 12, 2019

Show notes

Two banks have taken the unusual step of refunding a fraud victim all her money. With new rules for banks on this issue coming into force soon, is this a sign of things to come and are more victims likely to benefit? We hear from bank fraud consultant, Richard Emery, of 4 Keys international.

Economy Energy has become the ninth energy supply company to go bust in the last year. 235,000 customers are now being told to sit tight while Ofgem appoints a new supplier, but has the regulator opened up the market too much? We speak to one of its executive directors, Mary Starks.

And with Universal Credit complicating who does and doesn’t get free prescriptions in England, hundreds of thousands of people are being wrongly fined for not paying the £8.80 fee. We find out what it means for claimants and pharmacists and speak to Sandra Gidley, from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Producer: Sally Abrahams Editor: Richard Vadon

Money Box Live: Small Claims Court Jan 09, 2019

Show notes

Is it time to turn to the small claims court?

It’s only 9 days into the New Year and your relaxed demeanour may have already waned. Especially if faced with a mountain of Christmas presents that never worked and a feeling of resentment about the botched boiler repair.

Help is at hand in the form of the small claims court – a low cost way for you to claim what you feel you are owed by an individual or small business, providing it's not more than £10,000.

In the past year a little over 2 million claims were raised in England and Wales, 39,000 of them via the Government's newly launched online service. They boast that the fastest claim was lodged and paid in under two hours.

Today our panel discusses the effectiveness of the system for getting you your money back:. Helen Dewdney aka The Complaining Cow and consumer champion Benjamyn Damazar, regular user of the small claims court process Stephen Gerlis, retired district court judge.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: John Murphy

The cost of a 'no-fault' accident Jan 05, 2019

Show notes

Have you had an accident in the last 5 years - even if it wasn't your fault? Ticking that box on a car insurance application can be very costly - even if you weren't to blame. Money Box reporter Dan Whitworth has been investigating why.

Around 14,000 investors who put their money into a mini-bond sold by London Capital & Finance are in limbo this week after the Financial Conduct Authority froze the firms assets and banned it from advertising or selling the product. What does this mean for people with money invested?

The Chinese economy is flagging after decades of expansion and the latest Bank of England figures show a fall in UK consumer lending. Will 2019 see our personal finances coming under an increasing squeeze?

And as the currently un-named Government backed 'Single Financial Guidance Body' comes into being - taking on the roles of The Pensions Advisory Service, Pension Wise and Money Advice Service - we mull over suggestions for what it could be called...

Presenter: Paul Lewis Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Richard Vadon

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected