Money Box

If you haven't switched energy suppliers in recent years, what does the energy price cap mean for you? The regulator, Ofgem, has announced plans to prevent gas and electricity companies charging a typical household more than £1,136 a year, saving households £75 a year, on average. But will it mean companies stop offering some of their cheapest deals currently on the market? And will consumers be lulled into thinking they don't need to shop around and look for better deals? But how to switch and save? Its not always straightforward. Louise Cooper and guests take your energy questions.Guests: Audrey Gallagher, Director of Policy, Energy UK Gillian Cooper, Head of Retail Energy Markets, Citizens Advice Joe Malinowski, founder, price comparison website theenergyshop.comPresenter: Louise Cooper Producer: Sally Abrahams.

A study by the Resolution Foundation thinktank has found that the vast majority of people experience significant monthly wage volatility at least twice a year. Almost half see significant changes half of the year. The study used anonymised data from 7 million Lloyds bank accounts. It's the first time that actual data has been used to look at monthly earnings. Official figures which show adequate income over the year may therefore hide serious problems in a number of specific months. We speak to the study's author Daniel Tomlinson.An end to letting fees charged to tenants is now in sight. The Tenants' Fees Bill has just had it's third and final reading in the House of Commons and is set to become law soon. It means that 'Administrative fees', 'credit check fees', 'tenancy renewal fees' and others will all be consigned to the dustbin saving tenants an estimated £240m. In Wales a similar law is expected to be in place next year and in Scotland letting fees have been banned since 2012.With RBS announcing more bank closures this week, we investigate one solution adopted by a small community when 3 out of 4 banks closed their doors. Almost a year ago Holywell in North Wales encouraged its shopkeepers to adopt a mobile card payment system instead of using cash to help bolster their economy. We find out how they have got on.And as hundreds of thousands of young people head off to university in the next few weeks we look at the student bank accounts on offer. Should you take the free rail card, the gift voucher or the free overdraft?Presenter: Adam Shaw Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Charlotte McDonald.

The future of motoring looks set to be increasingly electric with the Government committed to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040. That commitment was strengthened this month with the unveiling of a new Road to Zero strategy aimed at boosting the country's electric vehicle infrastructure with proposals including fitting chargers in new developments, offices and even lampposts. But how does buying and running an electric car compare to petrol and diesel and what might you have to consider when making the switch? Electricity can certainly be cheaper than traditional fuels but how do you navigate the range of charging options available? There're also a number of Government grants to consider- what's on offer and how can you apply?Joining Paul Lewis are Consumer Editor at What Car?, Claire Evans, Head of Go Ultra Low, Poppy Welch and Director of Zap Map, Melanie Shufflebotham. Email your questions to moneybox@bbc.co.uk or you can call 03700 100 444 between 1pm and 3.30pm on Wednesday 25th July 2018. Standard geographic charges from landlines and mobiles will apply.Presenter: Paul Lewis Producer: Tom Hill Editor: Charlotte McDonald.

Three years ago pension freedoms were introduced, allowing millions of people to transfer out of their Defined Benefit schemes and cash in their savings. The appetite for transferring appears to have grown since then - a total of more than £34bn being moved around in the last calendar year, according to the most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics. So why would you want to give one up? The high transfer values is one reason - a pension of £10,000 could translate to a cash sum in the hundreds of thousands of pounds. But going down this route is not the right choice for every member of a Defined Benefit pension scheme. There have been concerns raised by regulators that unscrupulous financial advisors have been swooping in on members of these schemes, enticing them out of their pensions when that may not be the right move for them. A case in point was for workers at British Steel. To talk about the pros and cons of transferring out of a safeguarded pension scheme, Paul Lewis will be joined by a panel of guests: Ros Altmann, former pensions minister Melinda Riley, Head of Policy and Technical at The Pensions Advisory Service Claire Walsh, Independent Financial Advisor James Baxter, Managing Director at Tideway WealthYou can e-mail your pension transfer questions now to moneybox@bbc.co.uk or on Wednesday 4 July between 1pm and 3.30pm call 03700 100 444. Standard geographic charges from landlines and mobiles will apply.Presenter: Paul Lewis Producer: Elisabeth Mahy Editor: Andrew Smith.

Graduates who sign up to training programmes offered by some of Britain's biggest outsourcing companies are being hit with bills running into tens of thousands of pounds if they decide to leave within two years. Some of those affected are now planning legal action. Will the government keep its commitment, written into legislation, to publish the details of how a ban on pensions cold calls will work by the end of the month? If it doesn't the Work and Pensions Secretary will have to explain to Parliament why that hasn't happened. Guest Rachel Vahey, Product Technical Manager, Nucleus FinancialIt's been a bad week for the Universal Credit benefit. On Thursday the High Court found the way it was implemented unlawfully discriminated against two severely disabled men when their income dropped after moving over to it. We hear from one of the claimants and Tessa Gregory from Leigh Day Solicitors who represented the men.On Friday a critical report from the public spending watchdog the National Audit Office said the Universal Credit system was slow and not delivering value for money. Guests Deven Ghelani, Director of Policy in Practice who helped shape the policy and Jane Millar, Professor at the Institute for Policy Research, University of Bath.

A government-backed scheme that allows you to buy part of your home and rent the rest. It's often advertised as a more affordable way for first-time buyers to get on the property ladder. But how affordable is it, especially when rent and service charges go up? Paul Lewis and guests explore the pro and cons of this kind of home ownership, which avoids the need for a hefty deposit and allows you to keep buying a bigger share of the home, but which can also limit who you can sell your property to and evict you if you get behind with your rent. Guests: Amy Nettleton, Aster Group housing association Jaedon Green, Leeds Building Society Giles Peaker, partner and housing specialist, Anthony Gold solicitorsPresenter: Paul Lewis Producer: Sally Abrahams Editor: Andrew Smith.

How can you avoid SIM swap fraud happening to you? TSB customers have contacted Money Box after their mobile phones were targeted by criminals. The fraud involves an identity thief posing as their victim in order to trick mobile phone providers into issuing a new SIM card. That card is then used, along with other information, to access and steal from online bank accounts. Reporter Tony Bonsignore investigates, and we hear from Keiron Dalton, head of fraud at Aspect Software.There is a call for people who have stopped work before reaching state pension age to check if they can top up their pension through voluntary contributions. In certain cases it could add £244 a year to their state pension. Steve Webb, director of policy at Royal London explains who qualifies and what they need to do. More lenders appear to be offering mortgages to older borrowers, with one provider allowing people to hold one until the age of 99. Jane King, independent mortgage advisor with Ash-Ridge Private Finance discusses what is behind the focus on older borrowers. Presenter: Paul Lewis Producer: Charmaine Cozier Editor: Hugh Levinson.

It's a little known fact that if you or a relative has an ongoing health problem, the NHS will pay, not just for your treatment in hospital but could also pay for all your care needs, be that in a private care home or even in your own home.More than 160,000 people get exactly that support. Many more feel they should get it. The scheme is known as Continuing Healthcare Funding and it can be worth thousands of pounds per month. It's available to people living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland they decided the funding system was not fit for purpose and got rid of it three years ago.So, how do you qualify for financial support for long term health problems? What can you do if the support is withdrawn? And is this an effective way of looking after people whilst being sensible with public money?Let us know your views on NHS Continuing Healthcare. You can get in touch with Money Box Live at moneybox@bbc.co.ukAdam Shaw is joined by a panel of experts: Lisa Morgan, Partner and Head of Nursing Care at Hugh James Solicitors in Wales Dan Harbour, Director of Beacon CHC Julie Wood, Chief Executive of NHS Clinical Commissioners Presenter: Adam Shaw Producer: Marie Keyworth Editor: Andrew Smith.

Money Box Live listener Anne from Dorset got in touch to tell us she feels "practically paralysed" when it comes to making decisions about spending money. She is 65 years old, retired and has an income of £20,000 a year through a combination of pensions and ad hoc work. She also has savings. But she has no idea if this will be enough to live comfortably in her retirement. She sees friends going on cruises and splashing out on luxuries which she'd love to do, but she is frightened of running out of money so ends up doing nothing. Anne says she knows she is fortunate to have a steady income, but she's not really enjoying retirement because she's too scared about her finances.Does this strike a chord with you? Get in touch with Money Box Live at moneybox@bbc.co.ukLouise Cooper will be joined by: Michelle Cracknell, Chief Executive, Pensions Advisory Service. Debora Price, Professor of Social Gerontology at the University of Manchester. Jenni Allen from consumer group Which?

New figures show a rise in contracts that do not guarantee a minimum number of hours. Whether you are a worker or an employer, how does this kind of arrangement work for you?