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You and Yours: Energy credit, Sherry revival, Rent to own

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08/12/2016

Energy credit, Sherry revival, Rent to own

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, Energy credit, Sherry revival, Rent to own

New energy credit figures. Sherry makes a comeback. Rent to own alternatives.

New figures on how much money energy firms are holding in customer credit, why sherry is making a comeback and the new, cheaper alternatives to buying household goods on credit.

You and Yours has new, exclusive figures on how much money energy suppliers are holding in customer credit. We reveal how much each household is overpaying on average and hear from people who've complained to us that their supplier has let them build up credit worth several thousand pounds. Our reporter brings the latest on our investigation and we speak to the energy regulator, Ofgem, about why energy firms are allowed to hold on to huge amounts of their customers' money.

We look at how sherry is making a comeback amongst a new generation of drinkers. Our presenter, Melanie Abbott, visits a tapas bar in London to try out some of the new sherries. With the help of with the wine critic and writer, Christine Austin, she samples some of the new styles and flavours now on the market and discusses why the traditional Christmas tipple is enjoying a sharp revival.

We investigate cheaper alternatives to buying households goods on credit. The Financial Conduct Authority is considering a cap on the amount rent to own companies can charge after complaints that consumers were sometimes paying double the original price of the product. Our reporter visits a shop in Merseyside which is rolling out a new model to help some of the poorest consumers afford items such as fridges, cookers and household furniture.

Producer: Tara Holmes
Presenter: Melanie Abbott.

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