Money Box
Episodes
Relationships and Money
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How we manage financial relationships with the people we care about. whether it be sharing money, lending it or simply having a different view about ...
What can you do if two suppliers bill you for the same energy use?
18 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Money Box listener Rebecca found herself caught between two of the UK’s biggest energy firms. After moving to a new home in the summer she changed t...
Pioneer Zopa exits peer-to-peer lending
11 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sixteen years after it appeared as the first of its kind in the world, Zopa has announced it's leaving the peer-to-peer lending business to focus on b...
The Cost of DIY & Home Improvements
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Buying a home is likely to be the biggest investment of our lives and it’s no wonder that people want to spend money improving it. During lock down,...
'I had £18,000 stolen after my drink was spiked'
04 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A 26-year-old believes his drink was spiked on a night out and his finger print used to unlock his smart phone allowing thieves to steal £18,000 from...
Financial Abuse
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Restricting access to money, bank accounts and the right to earn an income are a few of the many and varied forms of financial abuse, often accompanie...
Money Box wins back £145,000 for a vulnerable customer after his bank said no
27 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A High Street bank has refunded £145,000 to a man in his eighties after Money Box intervened. Alan was persuaded by thieves to transfer tens of thous...
Running an Online Business
25 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What does it cost to run an online business? Small business owners share their experiences of setting up, marketing and developing their online brand...
Problems with eco-homes and equity release
13 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're urged to be more environmentally friendly, but one listener has found he cannot release the equity he has tied up in his specially built, and of...
The Cost of Inventing
11 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How do you turn a brilliant idea into a usable and saleable product, what does it cost to protect your design and how do you get the funding to start ...
Voucher fraud - how employers' social media can put staff at risk
06 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We hear from a new starter whose boss asked her to buy £800 of vouchers - but it turned out to be a scam. Employers’ social media could be putting ...
Support for families
03 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Felicity Hannah talks to parents and community groups about the challenges facing many families and asks what financial and practical support is avail...
How much should the state pension rise by?
30 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How much should the state pension rise by? Baroness Ros Altmann says pensioners are being short changed by a government plan to temporarily break the ...
Autumn Budget 2021
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What will Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Autumn Budget mean for your personal or household finances? Paul Lewis and guests would love to hear your views ...
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...