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Factual: Money

The latest news from the world of personal finance

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: 28/01/2012

28/01/2012

BBC Radio 4 - Money Box, 28/01/2012

Charity credit cards withdrawn, dividend spotting, and NS&I tries to deter richer savers.

Presented by Paul Lewis. Featuring the major bank withdrawing charity credit cards, dividend spotting, and NS&I tries to deter its richer savers.

On Money Box with Paul Lewis: 

Britain's biggest banking group, Lloyds, has announced it is to scrap its charity credit cards which have allowed customers to donate millions of pounds to good causes. Halifax and Bank of Scotland says it is no longer "cost effective" to offer the cards which help Cancer Research UK, the NSPCC and the SCPCA in Scotland. The programme hears from Baroness Finlay of Lladaff from the All Party Parliamentary group on cancer.

People claiming compensation for mis-sold payment protection insurance are being warned this week not to pay for help from claims handling companies. They can take a quarter or more of the compensation awarded. But the Financial Services Compensation Scheme says they make no difference to the chance of winning. But it says three quarters of all those claiming compensation do get help from a firm that charges them. Mark Neale of the FSCS tells the programme about his concerns.

If your car is badly damaged in an accident that clearly wasn't your fault and you had been paying your insurance premium, you would expect your motor insurer to pay out. But Money Box has spoken to one listener who has been told not only will his firm not act for him, but his premium will not be returned either. Bob Howard reports. The programme also speaks to Graeme Trudgill from the British Insurance Brokers' Association and also to Malcolm Tarling from the Association of British Insurers. 

Share prices on the London stock markets tumbled last year though they are recovering now. So should people concentrate their investment strategy on firms that pay out regular dividends instead? Last year total gross dividends rose 19.4% - the first annual increase since 2008, the start of the financial crisis. Oil giant BP returned to the dividend list last year after suspending payments following the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. So what factors should investors bear in mind when focusing on dividends? Hugo Shaw from Bestinvest will explain all. 

National Savings & Investments has cut the interest rate on its direct saver account from 1.75% to 1.5%, saying it has been getting too much money paid into it recently. NS&I has a financing target set each year by HM Treasury. It says it expects to exceed the target with £4.5bn. of money deposited by savers. Will the plan by NS&I to attempt to discourage wealthy savers depositing large amounts work? Jane Platt from NS&I joins the programme.

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