Money Box

New green savings bonds

23 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The government has launched its new green investment bond for savers. The money raised will go to the Treasury and it says help pay for existing green...

Turning our money green

20 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Many financial products are labelled as green, sustainable or ethical but how can you be sure that your mortgage, investment or pension really does ha...

The future of face-to-face debt advice

16 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Debt advisers in England fear that government plans to change the way their service is funded will see big cuts in the amount of face-to-face advice a...

Spending Black

13 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Joice Etutu hears about some of the financial, mentoring and marketing initiatives supporting black entrepreneurs. Can business know-how and raising c...

Small businesses 'overlooked' in energy crisis

09 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hundreds of thousands of small businesses are not covered by the energy price cap which sets a maximum charge for each unit of electricity and gas. Th...

Energy Prices

06 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As temperatures drop and energy prices rise we're talking about bills, energy providers and switching on Wednesday's Money Box Live.What are your righ...

Proposed changes to student loan repayments

02 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

People in England and Wales who started university from September 2012 could see their student loan repayments rise by hundreds of pounds a year.Econo...

End of Furlough

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, known as the furlough scheme is coming to an end and we'd like to hear what this means for your job or your busi...

Keeping energy bills in check

25 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As the price of gas and electricity continues to soar. What more can be done to keep our bills in check?New pensioners who have turned 66 this year ar...

Saving for Children

22 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have a question about saving and investing for children? Whether you’re interested in easy access, regular savings accounts or thinking of s...

Big growth in money mules accounts

18 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Four energy companies go bust in a fortnight. Gas and electricity prices set to rise by 12% for millions of customers. And there are warnings of energ...

Sending money to family back home

15 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Many workers send a share of their wages abroad to support loved ones financially, a responsibility they may or may not be able to shoulder.In this ep...

Failures on young black unemployment

11 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Thieves are going after the millions of pounds being handed over to people reaching the age of 18 from their Government-sponsored Child Trust Funds. W...

Student Money

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As students across the UK set off for university, we’re taking a look at the big student money dilemmas. E-mail [email protected] with your experie...

Bitcoin fraud totalling £500k

04 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Money Box hears from the successful businessman who had half a million pounds stolen in three months through a Bitcoin fraud. He wants to warn people ...

The Hangover: The Fiscal Fallout

28 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Covid has been an economic crisis as well as a health emergency.In this four-part series Felicity Hannah meets families, businesses & local counci...

The Hangover: Local Councils

21 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Covid has been an economic crisis as well as a health emergency.In a new four-part series Felicity Hannah meets families, businesses & local counc...

The Hangover: Business

14 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Covid has been an economic crisis as well as a health emergency.In a new four-part series Felicity Hannah meets households, businesses & local cou...

The Hangover: Households

07 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Covid has been an economic crisis as well as a health emergency.In a new four-part series Felicity Hannah meets households, businesses and local counc...

Timeshare Holiday Ownership

06 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How does timeshare holiday ownership work and what should you find out before signing up?On Wednesday’s Money Box Live Louise Cooper and guests look...

Access to accounts

31 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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 problem...

Disability and Employment

28 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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, ...

Frozen Out

24 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Thousands of people say they’ve been shut out of their bank accounts without warning or explanation. MPs are investigating whether innocent customer...

MBL: Travel Rights and Money

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Bereavement benefits

17 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

More than 20,000 bereaved families can now claim financial support once restricted to married couples and civil partners. The payments worth up to £1...

MBL: Single Parents

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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 char...

'For your protection'

10 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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

Young entrepreneurs

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Google’s investment ad crackdown

03 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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 millio...

Community Energy Projects

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Left behind by the decline of cash

26 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Should the government force banks to guarantee everyone access to cash? Age UK warns that despite the rise of digital payments, millions of people sti...

MBL: Covid weddings

23 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Arranging your wedding or civil partnership during Covid can be very tricky, especially as rules and restrictions change. But what are your rights if ...

The race to avoid stamp duty

19 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Thousands of people are struggling to complete the purchase of their new home before a big rise in Stamp Duty begins on the first of July in most of t...

MBL: Trading in stocks and shares

16 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Low interest rates on savings has made many people consider putting money built up during the pandemic into stocks and shares in the hope of higher re...

Bitcoin or Britcoin?

12 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bitcoin or Britcoin? The Bank of England has published the results of its consultation on creating a new central bank digital currency – and also th...

MBL: Hospitality staff shortage

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants in England Wales, Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland are now open for indoor business. But there’s growing con...

DWP urged to rethink the two child Universal Credit cap

05 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Children’s Commissioner for Wales Professor Sally Holland explains why she, along with the Commissioners for Scotland and Northern Ireland, want the...

How to complain and get results

02 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What are you rights when making a complaint? How do you make sure you escalate your grievance to the right person? What difference can social media ma...

Continuing problems applying for National Insurance Numbers

29 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A Money Box listener has been refused work by two employers because he was unable to provide his National Insurance Number despite the Department for ...

Apprenticeships

29 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Apprenticeships allow you to earn money as you study for qualifications and gain practical experience on the job.There's a wide range of careers and i...

MBL: Financing Electric Vehicles

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One in four of us is considering buying an electric car, according to the energy regulator Ofgem. So, what are the finances of going electric? They of...

FCA to force firms to treat customers better

22 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Financial firms are being told they will be forced to treat their customers better under plans by the regulator for a new “Consumer Duty”. It will...

MBL: Mortgages & the Pandemic

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Buying a house with a mortgage is one of the biggest commitments we make in life. The pandemic has seen households managing lower, unpredictable incom...

Difficulties claiming Personal Independence Payment benefit

15 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Many people on Disability Living Allowance are rejected when they are assessed for the newer benefit Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Paul Lewis h...

MBL: The Cost of Pets

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Last year families spent nearly £7 billion on their furry friends. Pet ownership has soared and so has the number of services on offer for the modern...

Is new guidance on selling high rise flats fit for purpose?

08 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mortgage providers are refusing to follow new guidance intended to help hundreds of thousands of people who are unable to sell or re-mortgage their fl...

MBL: Personal Banking and the Pandemic

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Covid-19 pandemic has placed a huge amount of pressure on banks and customers alike. How have you - and your bank or building society - adapted? F...

How does the Direct Debit Guarantee Scheme work?

01 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

9 in 10 of us use direct debits to pay some or all of our regular bills. 4.5 billion payments were processed in the UK in 2019. It’s a simple way to...

Dementia & Money

28 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Adam Shaw looks at dementia and money. Producer Smita Patel Editor Alex Lewis

Can number spoofing be stopped?

24 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The regulator Ofcom tells Money Box people shouldn’t trust Caller ID. It says the spoofing of numbers can be stopped, but to do so will take years. ...

Problem Gambling

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have you been tempted by a quick cash win, a jackpot prize or the challenge of finding a winning betting strategy? There are many forms of gambling av...

MPs demand action on IR35

17 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Loan Charge All-Party Parliamentary Group has called on the Government to take urgent action to address the exploitation of some contractors, in a...

Remote Working

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Working from home is changing the way we think about where we base our life and careers, but how remote can we be from our business or office?Can you ...

Why is the state pension so complicated?

10 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

More than 200 pensioners responded to a request to tell us how much their state pension was. They were nearly all different amounts. Next week the bas...

Divorce and separation during the pandemic

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There’s been a rise in the number of divorces according to the Office for National Statistics along with predictions that even more couples will spl...

What might negative interest rates mean for UK banking services?

03 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Fancy earning interest on a £10,000 loan? We’ll find out about what negative interest rates mean for consumers in Denmark and what might happen if ...

Number spoofing facilitating fraud

27 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

All too often we hear about fraudsters using the phone to trick victims into handing over thousands or tens of thousands of pounds and destroying live...

Debt during the pandemic

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A recent report by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) found that the coronavirus pandemic has driven more people into financial vulnerability. More...

Homeowners speak out on gagging clauses

20 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The government responds to Money Box’s revelation that developers are asking customers to sign non-disclosure agreements as a condition of getting p...

Shopping and Covid

17 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There’s no doubt that the pandemic has changed the way we live. But what impact has a year of lockdowns and restrictions had on shopkeepers and shop...

Owners of defective new homes gagged

13 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A senior MP tells Money Box it’s “appalling” that house developers are asking some customers to sign non-disclosure agreements as a condition of...

The rise of trading apps

10 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

More people are trying their hand at trading and investing using online platforms. Much of the trend is driven by trading apps, with a rise in the num...

Economic abuse law changes

06 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this week the Government announced that economic abuse will be a criminal offence under the Domestic Abuse Bill. The law previously only recog...

How might the Budget affect you?

03 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Paul Lewis is joined by a panel of experts to discuss how the Budget might affect your finances. Panelists:Anita Monteith – Tax manager at Institute...

Carers call for increase in allowance

27 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Nearly a million carers will get an increase of just 35p a week from April. 939,000 people receive a benefit called Carer’s Allowance — currently ...

Managing someone else's money

24 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Who will take care of your affairs if you can't and how do you go about giving someone the right to manage your money? It can be a big step for every...

Delays on bank's fraud line

20 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The impact long delays have when customers repeatedly call their bank's fraud line. Money Box hears about wait times of hours and hours. Paul Lewis ex...

Renting during the pandemic

17 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Almost half a million UK households are facing rent arrears according to a report from the Resolution Foundation published this week. That's in large ...

Credit ratings

13 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Data processing and other mistakes led to huge financial costs for one Money Box listener whose credit rating went into freefall. Paul Lewis hears wha...

MBL: Working abroad

10 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Working from home has become more commonplace since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. With changes to the world of work, are you allowed to pack ...

Caravaners denied refunds on fees

06 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Electricity and gas bills will rise in April by an average £96 a year - an increase of 9 per cent at a time when inflation is less than 1 per cent. E...

Financial Abuse

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do you recognise and bring an end to financial abuse? Maybe you’ve spotted that a relative is no longer eating properly, heating their home, or ...

MBL: Fraud

03 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Fraudsters and scammers are always finding new ways to part you from your money, pressurising you to make a hasty decision or tricking you into sharin...

Self-employment income support scheme discrimination claims

30 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is being taken to court by mothers who claim the self-employed income support scheme discriminates against them. That's b...

Travel

27 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Stay at home is the current advice but travel companies are reporting a surge in holiday bookings from those hoping for adventure later this year.Othe...

Students left without access to student finance

23 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Tens of thousands of students are being denied access to student funding despite a Government pledge in 2013 to change things. The delay to an 'altern...

MBL: Leasehold Reform

20 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What could the new plans for leasehold reform mean for you? Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced what he calls the biggest reforms to Engli...

Getting your credit balance back from your energy supplier

16 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If there is a hundred pounds or more credit on your electricity or gas account you can get it back. We tell you how to do it and explain what the situ...

MBL: Cryptocurrencies

13 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bitcoin values again capture the headlines, some central banks are developing their own digital currencies and PayPal and Facebook are entering the ma...

Brexit and your money

09 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time since 1974 the United Kingdom is not part of the European Union, so how will this affect your finances?We look at the new Global He...

Financial Education

07 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How good are you with money? Are you a saver, a spender or a canny investor and where did you learn those skills - from family, school, or maybe you t...

A vision of our financial future

02 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

2020 has been a tumultuous year, full of the unexpected, so what can we anticipate for our finances over the years to come? In 1998 futurologist Graem...

MBL: Charity fundraising

23 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been a tough year for charities since the global pandemic struck but many of you have come up with innovative ways to raise money for the cause...

Regulator "flawed approach" to minibond firm

19 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A damning report by Dame Elizabeth Gloster finds that the financial regulator failed nearly 12,000 people who lost up to £237 million after an invest...

Rise in complaints about banks to Ombudsman

12 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Exclusive figures from the Financial Ombudsman Service show a big increase in the number of complaints about banks in relation to fraud and scams. The...

MBL: Shared Ownership

09 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re priced out of the housing market, could shared ownership help you onto the property ladder? Offered by housing associations and private d...

Fraud victims facing salary deductions

05 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We've been hearing from listeners who’ve been contacted by Department for Work and Pensions demanding repayment of Universal Credit advances that th...

Payment Holidays

02 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Is taking a break from regular payments on your mortgage, credit card or a loan for example a good way to help you through financial difficulties?Char...

Fraud in the Direct Debit system

28 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Money Box has found evidence of fraud in the Direct Debit system. We hear how Ursula, pictured with her son Phil, was repeatedly targeted. But how can...

MBL: What does the Spending Review mean for you?

25 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As the government lay out their financial plans for the next year, Paul Lewis and our panel discuss how they will affect your money. From pay and bene...

Parents not able to claim Test and Trace Support Payment

21 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Money Box investigates why parents who have to take unpaid leave to look after children who need to self isolate are unable to claim the £500 Test an...

MBL: Record redundancies

18 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The UK is seeing a record number of redundancies, with the latest figures showing more than 314,000 people lost their jobs over the summer. Charmaine ...

Warm Home Discount 'lottery'

14 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How do you make sure that people get advice before they cash in their pension funds early? The latest figures show that more than £2 billion was rele...

MBL: The "excluded" self-employed

11 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the early days of lockdown the government announced support for the self-employed who'd had their work impacted - or even destroyed - by the pandem...

Refused a home Covid test

07 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A Money Box investigation has found that people across the UK are being refused home Covid tests because of their credit histories. The government use...

MBL: Can I afford a baby?

04 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Felicity Hannah and our expert panel field questions on all things baby related - from parental leave and pay to saving for a baby, your legal rights,...

The end of furlough

31 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme wraps up, what are your redundancy rights? And what happens if you’re on a zero-hours contrac...

MBL: Lockdown Entrepreneurs Revisited

28 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Starting a business is hard, but starting one during lockdown is harder. Louise Cooper and guests revisit young entrepreneurs who made their side hust...

Tier 3: The last shift

24 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The numbers of people targeted by thieves on Instagram has sharply risen during lockdown and Action Fraud is warning Instagram users to be wary of fra...

Looking for work

21 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re under 30 and struggling to be noticed by employers our panel are ready to help. Find out which industries are hiring, how to handle CV gap...