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Money Box

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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: 30/06/2012

30/06/2012

BBC Radio 4 - Money Box, 30/06/2012

Paul Lewis brings you the latest news from the world of personal finance.

Paul Lewis presents the latest news from the world of personal finance. Banks mis-sell complicated loans to small businesses, and RBS computer glitches continue to cause grief.

The Financial Services Authority has announced it's found "serious failings" in the way banks sold complex interest rate products to some small and medium-sized businesses. They were supposed to protect them in case interest rates went up. But in reality, some increased their borrowing costs. 

Money Box hears from Anne who runs a small business. She took out a mortgage with one of the banks, but it was conditional on a complicated "interest rate swap", which she really didn't understand but felt obliged to sign up to. She's struggling to cover the monthly payments. 

Paul Lewis also talks to Martin Berkeley, Senior Consultant, from Vedanta Hedging, an independent hedging company that advises business on hedging. 


Compensation for RBS customers? 

11 days after Natwest, RBS and Ulster bank first experienced a technical fault that left thousands of customers unable to see or access their money, we ask what the bank is doing to compensate all those who have been affected. 

We also explore how the bank can guarantee customers credit ratings will not be affected by missed payments caused by the glitch. 

Meanwhile up to 1.9 million customers of Ulster Bank are still unable to access their accounts. We hear from one customer who had to fly out to Portugal after his 18 year old brother and his friends got stuck out there with no money. 

Paul speaks to Antoinette McKeown, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland. 
Paul also puts your credit reference concerns to Tom Ilube, from the credit reference agency Callcredit. 

Closed Accounts

The chairman of a key consumer body has called for major changes in the way banks deal with customers where there is an allegation of fraudulent activity on an account. 

Adam Phillips, who chairs the FSA's Consumer Panel says current practices are "Kafkaesque." 

Money Box first highlighted this issue in November, when we reported how NatWest had closed an account of six month old girl. Bob Howard reports. 

Problems with prepaid currency cards?

Prepaid currency cards are becoming an increasingly popular way to take cash abroad. But some Money Box listeners have fallen foul of the small print. 

Money Box hears from one Cash Passport customer who found the money she'd loaded on to the card had been eaten up by fees, because she hadn't used the card often enough. Another, with an STA cashcard found she couldn't access her money until she'd upgraded her card. 

Paul Lewis talks to Amit Sharma, CEO of prepaid365.com, a comparison website for prepaid cards.

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30/06/2012

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