Money Box

Why can't I get an NI number?

17 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Money Box has learnt that thousands of people with the right to work in the UK have not been able to access a National Insurance number. Without one t...

MBL: Mortgages for first time buyers

14 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Buying your first home has always been a challenge, but amid the madness of 2020 it could be harder than ever. Adam Shaw and a panel of guests answer ...

Airbnb agrees to share tax data with HMRC

10 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

People who let out property using Airbnb have been warned this week that the firm will send HMRC the details of their earnings going back to 2017. It ...

MBL: Eviction Bans

07 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Renters could be at risk of losing their homes because of changes to the eviction ban that was brought in to protect tenants during the coronavirus pa...

City's plan to end poverty in 10 years

03 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The costly experience of being unknowingly signed up to a phone competition service. We hear how one subscription cost a Money Box listener over £1,0...

MBL: Personal Insurance

30 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) say that 6 million policy holders are paying too much for their insurance premiums and that radical reforms coul...

Are car warranties worth it?

26 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, revealed new measures to help stop mass job cuts in these economically uncertain times. This latest plan - the ...

MBL: Armed Forces Financial Help

23 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What financial support and guidance is available for serving and former members of the Armed Forces and their families? Joining presenter Charmaine C...

Ex-pat bank accounts closed due to Brexit

19 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Thousands of British people living in European countries have been told their UK bank accounts will be closed by the end of the year because of Brexit...

MBL: Paying for University

17 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Tuition fees, loans, student jobs and financial help, whatever’s on your mind we’d love to hear your questions, dilemmas and advice so e-mail mone...

Concern over increase in unpaid internships

12 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

With fewer jobs and rising unemployment among young people Money Box has seen worrying evidence that the illegal practice of not paying interns is gro...

MBL: Working From Home

09 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve replaced the buzz of the office with working at the kitchen table we’d love to hear how it's going. Have your work-life balance, your f...

The 'lost' Child Trust Funds

05 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

From this month, young people turning 18 can access money given them by the Government in a Child Trust Fund. All children born from September 2002 w...

Coronavirus and holidays

05 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If your holiday plans are affected by coronavirus, what are your rights? Chaos caused by the pandemic has left travellers with many questions - abou...

'We know apprenticeships work'

01 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

From now, the over 75s will have to start paying for their TV licences. We speak to the BBC’s Director, Policy Clare Sumner about what the BBC is do...

Scams

29 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Fake emails, bogus calls, spoof texts: Fraudsters are exploiting the pandemic to fleece as many unwitting victims as they can. So how to spot a scam a...

'Forced' back to work with no childcare

25 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

During the health pandemic a fraud epidemic has been growing. The latest official crime survey found fraud accounts for a third of all crime in Englan...

MBL: Coronavirus and Universal Credit

22 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If you're claiming benefits for the first time because of coronavirus, what’s your experience? Millions of people who have lost their jobs or thei...

Massive increase predicted in need for debt advice

18 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The organisation charged by the government to provide debt advice says it expects the number of people in financial difficulties to soar by 60% as the...

MBL: Coronavirus and Childcare

15 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Schools partially closed, nurseries struggling to reopen, grandparents shielding, childminders grappling with social distancing and a lack of au pairs...

How much of the Chancellor’s giveaway will come your way?

11 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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

MBL: Coronavirus: Should I go to university this year?

08 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Online lectures yet full tuition fees; socialising at a distance and virtual fresher's events - all because of the pandemic. So is it financially wor...

Children duped by 'loot boxes'

04 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Bounce Back Loans

01 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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'...

Paying to access your holiday refund

27 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 Saxo...

MBL: Redundancy

24 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 – b...

Thieves stole my identity

20 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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...

MBL: Broadband during lockdown

17 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 c...

Motor insurance in lockdown

13 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Money Box listeners tell us that their requests for refunds on their motor insurance are being refused despite using their cars less during lockdown. ...

MBL: How to make your money grow

10 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 wha...

NHS re-joiners targeted by promoters of tax avoidance schemes

06 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Key workers who are returning to the NHS to help it cope during the coronavirus pandemic are being targeted by promoters of tax avoidance schemes, a M...

MBL: Single Parents

03 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

There are nearly three million single parent families in the UK, which is 15% of all families. Their finances are often tight and they face a particul...

Self-employed grant extended

30 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Over 2 million people have received a grant from the government’s self-employment income support scheme. This week Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced ...

MBL: Furlough problems

27 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A quarter of British employees have been furloughed since the Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announcement in March. Under the Coronavirus Job Retention Sc...

Festival goers refund woes

23 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Festival goers are trying to get their money back from the organisers of Afro Nation but are being told that Portuguese law means they’re not entitl...

Finding a mortgage during Coronavirus

20 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Your questions on the challenges of getting and holding on to a mortgage or re-mortgage during coronavirus. How does being furloughed affect your pros...

Furlough scheme abuse

16 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Money Box has been hearing from furloughed workers who say their employers are abusing the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. It allows staff to be put...

MBL: Starting a business during lockdown

13 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Felicity Hannah and guests talk to young entrepreneurs who've started businesses during the lockdown. She'll hear about the successes and challenges t...

Can I get a mortgage on furlough?

09 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Pandemic-related salary cuts and being furloughed could affect your ability to get a mortgage. What will mortgage providers take into account - your p...

Young workers affected by coronavirus

06 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Graduates and young workers face huge challenges getting and staying in a job as coronavirus changes the employment picture. Louise Cooper discusses t...

Furlough problems and obtaining cash refunds

02 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this week’s Money Box we hear from people who’ve been furloughed by their employer but are being pressured into working anyway - something very...

MBL: Coronavirus and claiming benefits

29 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Many people are having to claim benefits for the first time due to coronavirus. Paul Lewis and guests find out how some people have found this experie...

Umbrella companies and the contractors “left in limbo”

25 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

650,000 people work as contractors in a wide range of jobs across the UK – supply teachers, IT engineers, health care workers. But some of them have...

Car Finance

24 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On our programme last Saturday we looked at the new Financial Conduct Authority guidance for people with car finance who are struggling to pay it due ...

Coping with debt and accessing credit

22 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Adam Shaw and guests talk to people struggling with bills and finding it hard to access credit. They offer practical advice about how to stay on top o...

Wage support changes and debt help

18 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Action to protect workers who would otherwise face redundancy due to the coronavirus outbreak was brought in by the government last month. Known as th...

Student Finance

15 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How are student finances being affected by coronavirus? Louise Cooper is joined by Tom Allingham from Save The Student and Hayley Borrett from The Nat...

Coping with ‘income shock’

11 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Millions of people are still facing huge financial pressure despite government measures to help them deal with the fallout from coronavirus.Some estim...

Tenants and landlords rights

08 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Louise Cooper and guests discuss how government rules help tenants and landlords affected by coronavirus.Guests: Henry Pryor - Buying agent and proper...

New starters and the furloughed worker scheme

04 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

People who have recently begun new jobs say that the government’s plan to help businesses hit by coronavirus may treat them unfairly. Under the Coro...

Coronavirus: Your travel queries answered

02 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In recent weeks the Money Box inbox has been inundated with your queries and questions about travel and holiday issues. So we invited Simon Calder, tr...

Covid19 - Will insurance cover it?

01 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Wedding plans in ruins, holidays cancelled, business on hold and landlords unable to rent out their properties.This is exactly the kind of unexpected ...

Assistance for the self-employed

28 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week the Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the Government’s much anticipated help package for the self employed. Only about two thirds of an est...

Help for small businesses and the self employed

25 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Announcements from the Government are coming thick and fast about the help available for small business in these difficult times.An expert panel joins...

The Coronavirus Effect

21 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Money Box unpicks the Chancellor's announcement on support for wages and rents.Investments have taken a massive hit over the last few weeks as the sto...

MBL: Travel and coronavirus

18 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The UK government has urged Britons to avoid non-essential travel to anywhere in the world for 30 days to tackle the spread of coronavirus. Where does...

Corona Virus - the financial fallout

14 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The financial fallout from the Corona Virus pandemic. Making sense of the help available.And the Chief Financial Ombudsman, Caroline Wayman, tells us ...

MBL: The Budget Special

11 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you're young or old, rich or poor, how will the Budget affect your personal finances?Paul Lewis and a panel of experts give their opinions on ...

TikTok - time for change?

07 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

TikTok has been downloaded over 1.6 billion times and most of its users are young. They share videos and stream their activities live. The site allows...

MBL - The future of giving

04 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The traditional model of giving is in decline, no longer do people have a charity for life. Now the sector is coping with huge changes in the way peop...

New hope for leaseholders

29 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

People who bought leasehold homes from developers were "misled". That is the damning verdict of a report by the Competition and Markets Authority. The...

Discrimination and housing benefit

26 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Landlords and letting agencies who advertise property with a ban on renting benefits claimants - so-called "No DSS" clauses - risk legal action under ...

Savings - are they drowning not waving?

22 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A Money Box investigation has found that two of the biggest broadband providers are charging people up to £90 a year to keep their email address if t...

MBL: In-game purchases

19 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Unexpected bills from video games and apps? The online world of video games and apps can be financially treacherous, filled with loot boxes and micro-...

Bereavement Support Payment

15 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Should the unwed lose out on a benefit paid to married people? Bereavement Support Payment is available to the widows, widowers or surviving civil par...

MBL: Getting the best broadband deals

12 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week Louise Cooper asks how you can negotiate the best broadband deal. How do you know if you’re paying too much? What’s the best way of secu...

Leap in Under 30s taken to court for debts

08 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Money Box has found that there has been a big increase in the number of young adults being taken to court for unpaid debts. Court records show that la...

MBL: Dream weddings on tight budgets

05 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Wedding planning can be stressful and expensive. Venue, catering, flowers...the list goes on. Charmaine Cozier and guests talk through the best ways t...

Brexit and benefits

01 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most important rights that Europe gave us was the freedom to live and work in EU countries and retire there. About a quarter of a million U...

MBL: Your rights when a dream holiday becomes a nightmare experience

29 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What are your rights when that dream holiday you've saved up for gets cancelled or you experience problems during the holiday itself? Paul Lewis and g...

Concern over quick sale estate agents

25 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Home owners are at risk of losing large amounts of money when selling their properties by using so called quick sale estate agents. That’s a warning...

MBL: How to make the gig economy work for you

22 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The gig economy is booming in the UK. More than a million people are using online platforms to secure jobs. Some people say that Uber drivers and cour...

Should students pay council tax?

18 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Four students studying at Durham University received a surprise bill for Council Tax. They were billed hundreds of pounds for a period when no-one was...

MBL: How to buy a property without help from mum and dad

15 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

For many young people buying a home can seem like an impossible dream. High property prices, no way of saving for a big deposit and worries about payi...

Travelex customers face continued chaos

11 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Council tenants on Universal Credit are much more likely to be in rent arrears than those who don’t get the benefit. That’s according to research ...

MBL: How to make money from social media

08 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The world of the influencer is a lucrative one. Online stars made $8bn in 2019 and it's not just household names that are earning money. Louise Cooper...

The history of financial mistakes

04 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

History is littered with tales of financial error – many instantly familiar even though they may have taken place several centuries apart. Why do we...

The Money Clinic revisited

28 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Money is one of the top three strains on relationships and it’s a common cause of rift between family and friends.You might be cautious and risk ave...

The gift of money

21 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Government has accepted all but one of the recommendations made by Sir Amyas Morse in his review of the controversial 'loan charge'. This means th...

Money Box Live: Communal Living

18 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

From a housing cooperative near the city, to an organic farm in the sticks, communal living can vary enormously. So what are the financial pros and co...

The battle for buying your freehold at a fair price

14 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's been described as a "David and Goliath" contest. Hundreds of leasehold home owners have joined together - for the first time - to begin a legal f...

Money Box Live: How to find the right car finance

11 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Over 90% of all new car purchases are made using some form of finance. And yet research suggests the vast majority of buyers don't understand the con...

Christmas Debt

07 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

For many households, Christmas is the most expensive time of year. Food, drink, presents - the list of things to spend money on can be endless. Many o...

Money Box Live: Fostering

04 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How much financial support is available for foster carers looking after children in need? Around 65,000 children live with foster families across the...

Money Box election 2019 special

30 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

With fewer than two weeks to go until the 2019 General Election, Money Box takes a personal finance look at the manifesto pledges of the four main par...

Money Box Live: Bailiffs

27 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What can and can't bailiffs do when they knock on your door to collect a debt? What happens if it's not your debt, or you've paid it off already? And...

The best way to tip

23 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Money Box has learned that an increasing number of families who bought new build freehold homes are finding a few years later find they cannot sell th...

Money Box Live: Collectables

20 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

From comic books to Dinky Toys, costume jewellery to milk bottles, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to collecting. But where should you buy an...

Starting young to save for retirement

16 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The UK's banks haven't been able to agree who should pay compensation to customers who have had money fraudulently stolen from their bank accounts. Un...

Money Box Live: Leaving School at Sixteen

13 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What are the career options available for 16 year-olds today and what are the financial implications? Whether it's college, some paid work or getting...

Hotel room investors face losing 'life changing' sums

09 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

People who put money into a UK-wide hotel room investment scheme have been told they’re likely to have lost their money. Northern Powerhouse Develop...

Money Box Live: How To Retire Young

06 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Could you save enough of your income and budget so tightly that you can afford to retire in your thirties or forties? A US movement called FIRE – F...

Opposite-sex civil partnerships become law

02 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In amongst this week's political upheaval, a date was set for opposite-sex civil partnerships to become law. The first ceremonies will take place on D...

Money Box Live: Mental Health & Money

30 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Our expert panel take a look at the problems around mental health and money. From how to make your benefits work better for you, talking with banks an...

What's next for QuickQuid borrowers?

26 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The payday lender QuickQuid has entered administration. It follows an earlier announcement of plans to close its business in the UK where it was the l...

The Personal Finance of Comedy

23 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

You might think of comedians as up on a stage in a pub, but that's just one part of what the job entails today. Social media, streaming services and s...

How to give yourself a pay rise

19 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week the decision was made to wind down the funds managed by ‘star’ manager Neil Woodford. Listeners have been in touch wanting to know what ...

Credit scores

16 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you know what your credit score says about you? If you’ve had a breakup, make up, break down, spending spree or life shock in the last six years,...

'Herders' and 'olders'

12 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this programme we go undercover into the world of the mule, discovering how children as young as 13 are being groomed to hand over their bank accou...

Can my money help fight climate change?

09 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Can I get a good return on investments that do good? Should you be letting your money speak rather than be out on the street? With £2.2 trillion in p...