Money Box

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 For Fiscal Studies compares, contrasts and costs the policies. Gaps in the money management skills of children who are in, or young people who have left, care in England is the focus of a new report. It follows an inquiry by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Financial Education for Young People. Ralph who went into care when he was 14 shares his perspective on the issue. Guest: Sam Turner, Voice and Influencing Manager at Become, a charity for children in care and young care leavers. July 31st is the deadline to renew tax credits. If you already claim them what do you have to do and if you don’t – could you? Guest Victoria Todd Head of the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group team. Reporter: Drew Miller Hyndman Presenter: Paul Lewis Producer: Charmaine Cozier Editor: Emma Rippon

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? Anders Nilsson, GoComparePresenter: Adam Shaw Producer: Diane Richardson Editor: Emma Rippon

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 on how they work in practice.Why people who live in parts of Scotland are being charged extra for online delivery charges and how Office of Tax simplification plans to simplify inheritance tax.Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Emma Rippon

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 have and whether you want to place restrictions on the decisions which can be made on your behalf or set out specific wishes in advance. Perhaps you have one but are having difficulty using it or you're concerned that a relatives finances are being managed badly? Who can help if a relative or friend has already lost mental capacity but doesn't have a power of attorney in place?Whether you're thinking of setting up a power of attorney or want to share your views and experiences of using one we'd love to hear from you.Presenter Paul Lewis will be joined by:Sandra McDonald, former Public Guardian for Scotland Samantha Buckthought, Partner, Wolferstans & Panel Deputy for the Court of Protection Katie Evans, Money and Mental Health Policy InstituteCall 03700 100 444 from 1pm to 3.30pm on Wednesday 3 July (standard network charges apply) or e-mail moneybox@bbc.co.uk now.

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 eligible for compensation. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme says some people may have been given advice about investing which would mean they could make a claim to get some, or all, of their money back. We hear the latest from the administrators and those who could benefit and those who are worried they might miss out.Counting down to the end of a five year loan agreement, one small business couldn’t wait to make the last payment. But the owners didn’t read the small print. It said they needed to give three month’s notice before they could stop paying the loan. We speak to a contract law specialist to see what people should do to avoid any similar nasty surprises.Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Emma Rippon

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, CipherTraceProducer: 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 worried it published new rules about how that credit was sold. We look at how well our ability to repay is being assessed.Small businesses and the self-employed who pay VAT will have to make big changes to how the submit their information to HMRC over the next few months. It's all part of Making Tax Digital where quarterly figures must be submitted using approved software rather than just entering them manually on the HMRC website. Some large firms who already make accountancy packages are telling customers they must sign up for new and often expensive upgrades but do they really need to?Nearly seven in ten people seeking advice were advised to transfer out of their guaranteed final salary pension and invest the money into a riskier pension fund. That's according to data released by the Financial Conduct Authority this week, collected over the last three and a half years. It says for most people that is bad advice - is it time for stricter controls on pensions transfers?Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Emma Rippon

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 – and what help can you get to pay for childcare if you’re on Universal Credit? We'll explore the options available to parents wanting to give their child the best start in life.Adam Shaw and a panel of guests will be taking your calls, emails and tweets. Do get in touch. Call 03700 100 444 – lines open at 1300 on Wednesday 19 June; email moneybox@bbc.co.uk or tweet @moneyboxGuests: Megan Jarvie, Head of Coram Family and Childcare Charlotte McDonough, UK Policy advisor, Save the Children Neil Hill, Money expert, Money Advice Service Presenter: Adam Shaw Producer: Sally Abrahams

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 transfer out of their final salary pension schemes by rogue advisers. This week the Financial Conduct Authority visited Port Talbot to answer some of their questions. Earlier this month, the Equity Income Fund run by fund manager Neil Woodford suspended withdrawals by its investors. We hear from a listener whose money became trapped in the fund despite requesting a withdrawal more than 72 hours before the fund was frozen.And after the BBC announced this week that many over-75's would have to start paying for their licence fee, we find out who will still be able to get it free.Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter Dan Whitworth Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Emma Rippon

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 can rent a tent, a waffle maker or even a ukulele. Will borrowing not buying help save the planet? Guests: Emily Gordon-Smith Director of Consumer Products at Stylus Martyn James, Consumer rights expert at ResolverPresenter: Louise Cooper Producer: Sally Abrahams