Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Money Box

Discussion & Talk

Podcasts

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.

BBC Radio 4 FM

Money Box: 05/05/2012

05/05/2012

BBC Radio 4 - Money Box, 05/05/2012

Energy bills, HMRC hassles, benefit confusion, Arch Cru compensation and faster payments.

Short-changed by your energy company? The HMRC phone odyssey, benefit confusion over capping, IFA's ordered to pay landmark compensation and when is a faster payment fast?

Are you being short-changed by your energy company. We hear from one listener who thought she had agreed a set amount for direct debit yet found herself being charged nearly double when all the time her account was in credit. What are your rights when you think you are being over-charged and why does it happen?

Warning letters are going out this week to almost 70,000 households advising that their benefit will be cut next April when the controversial benefits cap is imposed. But there are concerns that the letters are being sent to many households who will not be affected and that some ways of mitigating the reduction are not mentioned in the letter.

The latest chapter in the HMRC odyssey: On-hold nightmares and wrongly sent letters. Since Tuesday 650,000 people have been clocking up fines of 10 pounds a day which could go on for 90 days and then have another 300 pounds added straight after that. Their offence is that they have not filed their 2010/11 tax return and it is now three months past the deadline. We hear from some listeners who have given up trying to get through on the phone to HMRC to sort this out even though they are being wrongly fined.

A landmark ruling from the Financial Services Authority to compensate investors who lost out in two risky Arch Cru funds. Independent financial advisors have been ordered to foot the bill. It's the first time the FSA has used a relatively new power which allows them to order a group of financial companies to refund customers if there's been widespread losses on a particular product. We talk to Daniel Grote from Citywire who has followed the story since it broke and an independent financial advisor who is frustrated that advisors who weren't involved with the Arch Cru investment will carry the can.

And when is a faster payment fast. We hear who is abiding by new EU rules and who is not.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Money Box

05/05/2012

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4