Money Box

Money Box reporter Dan Whitworth investigates why a failed energy company is still sending bills to customers. Extra Energy ceased trading ten months ago. Last month former customer Diane received a letter demanding over £4,000 for supplying gas to her 2 bedroom home. Guest: Ellen Fraser, Energy Analyst at Baringa. A savings account that pays a 50p bonus for every pound you save. Just imagine that...

Have you set up a new business after becoming a parent? What are the challenges and rewards? The number of mothers that are working for themselves has doubled in the last ten years according to IPSE, a society representing Professionals and the Self Employed. There are now almost 600,000 freelancing mothers across the UK. In addition, there are many mums who are running their own businesses and em...

The number of mortgages approvals hit a two-year high in July, according to the Bank of England but approvals for first time buyer mortgages remained flat. We look at why it's happening, the problems for young house seekers, the deals that are out there and how to save for a deposit with the help of mortgage broker Rebecca Robertson, the Director of Evolution Financial Planning and first time buye...

There are nearly 14 million disabled people in the UK and a report from Scope has found they have to pay an average of £583 every month to have the same living standards as someone without a disability. Inevitably, the costs of mobility aids and having to use certain public transport will add to the monthly outgoing. But what are some of the less obvious, or hidden, costs of having a disability? H...

Imogen is 21-years-old. She's also invisible – financially. Despite renting for 2 years, working and paying her bills on time the credit agencies she's contacted won’t let her see her credit record because her "identity can’t be verified." What does that mean and what can Imogen do? Guests Imogen and James Jones, Head of Consumer Affairs at Experian. Dan Whitworth reports on a woman's 20 month fig...

Adam Shaw and guests discuss the new rules about fees, deposits, requirements for landlords to keep their property habitable and plans to change eviction law. To join the conversation call 03700 100 444 from 1pm – 3.30pm on Wednesday 24 July, email moneybox@bbc.co.uk or tweet @moneybox. Plus Adam visits the UKs largest Build to Rent scheme to find out what the concept offers tenants. On the panel...

Money Box listener Gary takes reporter Dan Whitworth on a guided tour of electric car charging points in Swindon to illustrate the complexities of navigating the system and the associated costs. Guest: David Newton, CEO of BP Chargemaster, the UK's largest electric charging network. Laura would love to be a homeowner. She regularly enters raffles and competitions in the hope of winning a house. Ri...

Share your experiences and tips for meeting the extra costs of the school holidays. Call 03700 100 444 from 1pm to 3.30pm on Wednesday 17 July (standard network charges apply) or e-mail moneybox@bbc.co.uk now. Whether you're working and need to find the money for extra childcare costs or you're looking for ways to entertain your children on a low income, we'd love to hear your stories and solution...

Money Box's Drew Miller Hyndman has been to Southampton where this week TSB Bank held the latest in a series of in-branch sessions aimed at educating people on how to avoid becoming victims of financial fraud. Guest: Ashley Hart, Head of Fraud for TSB. Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson have both set out their tax plans should they become Prime Minister. Carl Emmerson, Deputy Director of the Institute...

Adam Shaw and guests discuss the costs and considerations of driving an electric car. To join the conversation call 03700 100 444 from 1pm – 3.30pm on Wednesday 10 July, email moneybox@bbc.co.uk or tweet @moneybox. We’d love to hear your views, questions and experiences. On the panel: Melanie Shufflebotham, Co-founder of Zap-Map and Next Green Car Claire Evans Consumer editor, Autocar and What Car...

Prepaid cards are continuing to increase in popularity, often as an alternative to a bank account. In many cases they are advertised as ‘no paper work, no fuss’ but Money Box hear's that's not always the case. A growing number of credit unions are offering loans which are repaid directly by child benefit payments to try to stop people getting into a cycle of expensive debt. Felicity Hannah reports...

Who will take care of your finances and welfare if you no longer can? Putting in place a Power of Attorney - what ever your age - allows one or more trusted people to manage your money and personal needs if and when you need help, such as dealing with your bank, paying your bills or arranging personal care. There are many aspects to consider such as who to appoint, what responsibilities they will...

Tens of thousands of people are using two new apps which let them access their wages as they earn them. With no more waiting around for monthly pay days is this new tech helping people’s financial health or putting them at more risk of going into debt? Some of the people who lost money with the collapsed investment firm London Capital and Finance have been given a glimmer of hope they may be eligi...

Louise Cooper and guests look at the volatile world of investing in digital currencies. Call 03700 100 444 from 1pm to 3.30pm on Wednesday 26 June or e-mail moneybox@bbc.co.uk now with your experiences and questions. Joining Louise are: Marc Warne, Founder, Bittylicious Jemima Kelly, reporter, FT Alphaville Dave Jevans, CEO, CipherTrace Producer: Diane Richardson Editor: Emma Rippon

Complaints about the loans used to buy cars have trebled in three years - 50% up in the last year alone. A million new cars were sold to individuals in 2018 - more than nine out of ten on finance. We borrowed £45 billion to buy new and used cars last year. The size and growth of this finance has caused the Bank of England to express concerns and in November the Financial Conduct Authority was so w...

Childcare in the UK is amongst the most expensive in the world – and prices keep rising. For some families, nursery fees cost more than the monthly mortgage. Whether you are looking at nurseries or childminders for your pre-school children what financial help is available to reduce costs? What is tax-free childcare and how does it work? Who is eligible for 15 or 30 hours’ free childcare a week – a...

An inquiry has been launched into the potential mis-selling of leasehold properties. The Competition and Market Authority are aiming to shed light on potential misleading practice and unfair terms to better protect people buying a home in the future. What difference could it make to the lives of many whose homes have become unsellable? We speak to some of the British Steel workers persuaded to tra...

For years we've rented carpet cleaners or hired a dinner jacket for a wedding. But now we're beginning to rent all sorts of other things too. Furniture., toys, even outfits for a work do. Money Box Live looks at the increasingly popular option of renting stuff rather than owning it. What can you borrow and what the pros and cons of doing so? We visit the Library of Things in south London where you...

Millions of people need financial advice but don't get it according to a damning report out this week. It's called the 'advice gap' and includes people who need advice about investment or pensions but can't afford professional advice and people who need free advice on a variety of money matters but don't know where to get it. We discuss how to make financial advice more accessible to everyone. Ban...

Credit unions are financial not-for-profit co-operatives run by their members which offer a range of saving accounts and loans. Around 2 million people in the UK belong to one. In order to join people must have something in common with other members such as living or working in the same area or having the same occupation. The work that credit unions do with those who are excluded from mainstream f...

Letting agencies can no longer charge tenants fees when they rent a property. They've already been banned in Scotland and now England is following suit. They can be pretty hefty - for example £500 for a credit check, £200 to check out of the property. These fees account for £700m a year and account for a fifth of agencies turnover. So is this a win win for tenants or will the ban have unintended c...

Music streaming is big business. But how do the various providers differ and how do their payment models work - for consumers and musicians? We'll hear from grime artist Chiedu Oraka, Alice Enders from Enders Analysis and from Chris Cooke who is head of Music at CMU Insights, a music business consultancy. If you have a question for the panel or want to share your experience call us on 03700 100 44...

New safeguards for victims of bank fraud come into effect from Tuesday. Over 350 million pounds was stolen from accounts last year through what's called Authorised Push Payment Fraud - that happens when a person is tricked into transferring money into a fraudster's account. Often the banks have refused to refund victims but now they will have to. Figures released this week by StepChange - one of t...

Crowdfunding involves asking a lot of people for typically small amounts of money. It's done online as a way of financing businesses, individuals, charities or the development of ideas. There are different ways to do it including making a donation, giving money in return for shares in a business, providing a loan or receiving a reward linked to the fundraising project in return for your cash. Join...

At least two million people suffer domestic abuse in the UK each year. But domestic abuse is not always just physical. Taking control of a partner's money - financial abuse - is often part of controlling someone. This week a new advice service has been launched aimed at people who work in banks and building societies to help them spot the signs of economic abuse among their customers and encourage...