Money Box

More than 45% of UK households keep a pet. It's estimated that we spend almost £4.5 billion a year on them. Yet research suggests we underestimate what it costs to keep them.

You may not have heard of some of them; transaction charges, custody charges, collateral management costs, but these hidden pensions costs can have a real effect on your savings over the years.It's been estimated that charges - including a notional 1% which are hidden - could destroy a quarter of the value of a pension over 30 years. Why, when they matter so much, is it so hard to get the full picture and what can you do about it?Share your experience. Call us on 03700 100 444, email moneybox@bbc.co.uk or tweet @moneybox. Lines open from 1pm on Wednesday 12 December. You can also email moneybox@bbc.co.uk or tweet @moneyboxPanel guests: Chris Sier, academic and transparency campaigner Michelle Cracknell, The Pensions Advisory Service Jeff Houston, Secretary of the Advisory Board to the Local Govt Pension schemePresenter: Lesley Curwen Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: John Murphy

In March of this year Money Box listener Nicola's financial adviser made his first attempt to move her investment fund, valued at £40,000, from Aegon to another provider. Nine months later, despite making a formal complaint and taking their case to the Financial Services Ombudsman, the money has yet to arrive. To date Aegon has offered Nicola £100 which it increased this week to £500, as an apology "for the unacceptable delays she has faced in the transfer of her funds." Guest: Nicola's independent financial adviser, Iain Forrest, Director of Forrest Financial Management and we also hear from the Financial Ombudsman Service. Dan Whitworth reports on a HMRC VAT exemption rule clarification which recently came into force and has resulted in some people seeing a sudden increase in their property management company service charge. The clarification is intended to make it clear that third parties such as property management companies are subject to VAT. Some of these companies have started to pass the cost on. Guest: Alan Pearce, VAT Partner, Blick Rothenberg. A pensions dashboard which will allow people to see their scheme details, old and new, big and small, in one place, online, for the first time is due to go live next year. However the first version won't contain state pension details and once it’s up and running pension providers will be able to offer their own commercial dashboards. Guest Sir Steve Webb, Director, Royal London and former pensions minister.Presenter: Adam Shaw Reporter: Dan Whitworth Producer: Charmaine Cozier Editor: Richard Vadon

The competition regulator has stepped up its investigation into the £2 billion a year funerals market, after finding prices have risen above inflation for over a decade.

Infertility affects one in seven couples. Many people seek medical treatment to help them conceive. Some fertility treatment is available on the NHS, but the majority of couples go privately and pay for it themselves. It can be incredibly expensive, costing tens of thousands of pounds.Money Box Live is looking at the costs involved in fertility treatments. If this has affected you or your loved ones, or you have a question you'd like answered, presenter Louise Cooper and an expert panel want to hear from you. So why not call Money Box Live now 03 700 100 444, geographic charges from landlines and mobiles apply.Or email moneybox@bbc.co.ukor tweet @moneyboxGuestsPeter Thompson, Chief Executive of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the UK's independent regulator of fertility treatment. Aileen Feeney from the the charity, Fertility Network UKDr Raj Mathur, Senior fertility Consultant, working in both the NHS and a private clinic.

Money Box reporter Dan Whitworth investigates complaints from customers of a small energy supplier, Outfox the Market, who suddenly found themselves facing huge increases to their direct debit payments. Outfox the Market emailed Anna and her husband Rob to say their direct debit amounts would be split, meaning they would pay much more during winter and less in summer. The couple are already around £200 in credit on their account so they decided to switch supplier. Outfox the Market say the direct debit change would average out over the year. Following its administration deal with its lenders the pension fund of news publisher Johnston Press is being placed under Pension Protection Fund (PPF) rules. What happens if your pension passes to the PPF? Guest: Hilary Salt, Founder First Actuarial.We hear from the man who ended up being reported to the police for fraud by his insurer after making a stolen jewellery claim following a burglary. Neil McFarlane, Group CEO with the specialist jewellery insurance broker T.H. March outlines what you should consider when insuring gems, rings and watches at home. Reporter: Dan Whitworth Presenter: Paul Lewis Producer: Charmaine Cozier Editor: Richard Vadon

The way we work is changing. By 2025, only 13% of people believe they will be working in traditional 9-5 employment.For the last 15+ years the number of self-employed workers has been increasing - tripling for the over 65's and doubling for the 16-24's whether it be as a sole trader or on zero hours or as part of the 'gig' economy. And that doesn't account for the rise of people on short term contracts with little or no job security.So in this brave new world of employment, how has the financial services industry responded? What can you do about your pension, insurance or getting a mortgage if you no longer have a career in one company but move from job to job?Your experiences and stories please: 03700 100 444. Lines open from 1pm on Wednesday 21`November. You can email moneybox@bbc.co.uk or tweet @moneyboxPresenter: Adam Shaw Producer: Alex Lewis

This week the government's publication of its draft Brexit Withdrawal Agreement was followed by the cabinet resignations of Dominic Raab and Esther McVey. The financial markets responded with a sharp drop in the pound before it stabilised and a fall in the share price of UK focused companies. Guest: Tom Stevenson Investment Director at Fidelity Worldwide Investments.Some of the biggest clothing retailers are being warned they could be encouraging young shoppers to get into problem debt. Major sports and fashion names are using a new type of “try before you buy” service from the Swedish bank Klarna for online orders. Guest Moira O'Neill, head of personal finance at Interactive Investor. A childminder reveals how problems with the government's tax-free childcare system are impacting on her business. Earlier this month around 22,000 standing order payments from parents to childcare providers were delayed. HMRC have apologised and say it was an isolated issue which has been fixed. Guest: Aoife Hamilton, Policy and Information Manager at Employers for Childcare. Until now Starling Bank services could only be accessed via a smartphone app. That changed this week after it joined a partnership which allows its customers to deposit and withdraw cash at Post Office branches. Is this a step backwards for digital banking? Guest: Anne Boden CEO and founder, Starling Bank.Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Producer: Charmaine Cozier Editor: Richard Vadon

What’s your experience of the biggest change ever made to the benefits system? Universal Credit - which is being gradually introduced across the UK - is supposed to make things simpler, by merging six benefits into one single payment. But it's been plagued by controversy, especially over delays in paying claimants, causing severe hardship in some cases. In Budget 2018, the Chancellor introduced new measures designed to improve the system. These include increasing the amount of money people can earn before their benefits are reduced and allowing two weeks extra benefits for those moving from the old system to the new. But will it be enough to solve the problems? How might this extra help benefit you? If you have been affected by Universal Credit, do share your story by calling 03700 100 444. Lines open from 1pm on Wednesday 14 November. You can email moneybox@bbc.co.uk or tweet @moneyboxGuests: Sarah Hayle, Welfare rights adviser, Community Law Service, Northampton and County Angela Marke, Head of Advice Quality, Advising Communities David Samson, welfare benefits specialist, Turn2Us Presenter: Paul Lewis Producer: Sally Abrahams

Tens of thousands of free educational books about personal finance are being sent to every secondary school in England. For free. Funded by money saving expert Martin Lewis, written by Young Money and supported by the Government, it 's the UK's first ever financial education textbook.The Government’s announced its second attempt to try to increase probate fees, this time from just a few hundred to thousands of pounds for some. We’ll find out what’s behind the move, if it’s likely to get through Parliament and explain why critics say the move is not legal.This week saw state pension age equalise. Many women are not happy. We speak to someone who reached state pension age before 65 but is receiving much less than a man the same age because she qualified when the previous, lower state pension was in force. These women have not been entitled to free bus passes, tv licences and the winter fuel allowance 2 to 4 years sooner than men of the same age as mentioned in the piece. Winter Fuel Allowance is linked to women’s state pension age for both women and men (now the common state pension age) which is also true of almost all free bus travel in England. In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland men and women get free bus travel from 60. Currently everyone is currently entitled to a free TV licence from 75.‘Why aren’t my auto-enrolment pension pots consolidated?’ We hear from a listener who wants to know why his pensions aren’t merged automatically.Presenter: Paul Lewis Producer: Alex Lewis Reporter: Dan Lewis Editor: Richard Lewis