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The latest news from the world of personal finance plus advice for those trying to make the most of their money.

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Money Box: 02/07/2011

02/07/2011

BBC Radio 4 - Money Box, 02/07/2011

Paul Lewis and guests discuss the sale of the personal details of motor accident victims.

The sale of personal details of motor accident victims hits the headlines - five months after Money Box first highlighted the issue. Plus, the latest on Tesco Bank access problems.

This week, the selling of the personal details of motor accident victims hit the headlines. It is a practice Money Box investigated in February, uncovering the merry-go-round of fees that have turned even a minor car accident into a lucrative commodity for a whole procession of firms trying to make money out of it. From the breakdown truck that tows your car to the personal injury lawyers that try to involve you in the £2 billion a year whiplash business the fees that change hand at every stage have been blamed for the 33% rise in car insurance premiums last year. Paul Lewis interviews Steve Hardy, head of personal lines at Axa, about the insurer's decision to stop taking referral fees from personal injury lawyers ; and he interviews Andrew Wigmore of the Claims Standards Council, about the hunt for nuisance text messagers who claim you could be due compensation for an accident you have had - even when you haven't had one.

Meanwhile, Tesco Bank has announced that two-thirds of customers who were locked out of their accounts throughout last week have now logged back in online. It said on Thursday that 1,650 of the 2,500 who were excluded owing to technical issues are now back in the system. But, almost two weeks on, Money Box continues to receive emails from frustrated customers who haven't resolved their access problems. The programme investigates what is behind the technical problems.

Also this week, more information about how the new financial services watchdog will work has been announced. The industry faces "tougher and bolder" regulation, under plans for the forthcoming Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). One of the successors to the Financial Services Authority (FSA), it will come into being by the end of 2012.The FCA will oversee the way 27,000 firms, including banks, do business with customers and with each other. It aims to prevent any more of the mis-selling that cost customers billions of pounds in the past two decades. Paul Lewis interviews Hector Sants, chief executive officer of the FSA, about his vision for the new protection body.

Also in the programme, Money Box hears just how a student's eight pence overdraft attracted more than £200 in charges. And, a listener asks, "Any news on where Habitat gift cards are being accepted, and for how long?" Money Box has the answer.

Presenter: Paul Lewis
Producer: Ruth Alexander.

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