Money Box

We speak to people who are worried that they've lost control of their life savings having handed it to a company they can no longer contact. Their situation highlights the huge concerns about the unregulated industry of inheritance planning, even though some businesses handle huge amounts of cash. Anyone can set themselves up as an estate planner or will writer but that lack of regulation can have alarming consequences when things don't go as planned.Also, Adam Shaw speaks to Richard Lloyd, the man appointed to lead an independent investigation into the running of the Financial Ombudsman Service. It follows a TV documentary that revealed a litany of problems facing the ombudsman, including severely under-trained staff, unachievable targets, and thousands of incorrect decisions. . And, what should banks be doing to stop the persistence of transfer fraud? With more than £200 million worth of people's money was lost last year after criminals impersonating their bank persuaded them to transfer money to the criminal's account. The victim's own banks won't be held accountable, but what about the bank where the stolen money is moved to? Natasha Vernier, Monzo Bank's Head of Financial Crime gives us one bank's view, and fraud consultant Richard Emery of 4 Keys International explains how banks should be forced to accept responsibility.Presenter: Adam Shaw Producer: Marie Keyworth Editor: Jim Frank.

On 25th May, sweeping new data protection rules come into force, changing the way individuals and businesses deal with personal data. The EU's General Data Protection Regulation - or GDPR for short - will give you the right to do things like ask companies and organisation to tell you what data they are holding on you, and how it's being used. It will also restrict the way direct marketing reaches your email inbox, and means you will be told if your data is compromised by hackers.While the new rules strengthen individual rights, it's a big change for businesses, who are running out of time to comply. While some are confident they will be ready by next month's deadline, others are complaining that information explaining what precise changes need to be made is hard to come by. And with the maximum fine of around £17 million or 4% of global annual turnover, the consequences of a company failing to comply could be huge.In this programme we explain what GDPR will mean for you as an individual, and for your business, busting some myths along the way. As ever we want to hear your experiences; email: moneybox@bbc.co.uk.Adam Shaw will be joined by a panel of guests: Annabel Kaye, co-founder of Koffee Klatch Nina O'Sullivan, Legal Director and Professional Support Lawyer at Mishcon de Reya Steve Wood, Deputy Commissioner at the Information Commissioner's OfficePresenter: Adam Shaw Producer: Marie Keyworth Editor: Jim Frank.

The cost of living alone, rather than living as a couple, is more than £1000 a year, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. In the UK nearly eight million people now live alone and spend on average £21 a week more than individuals who live as a couple. Money Box reporter Marie Keyworth visits Sussex to investigate the cost of living, shopping, exercising and holidaying alone.Up to 90,000 people on benefits are at risk of losing their home when the Government stops paying the interest on their mortgage in just over two weeks' time. In future, help with mortgage interest will be paid as a loan not a benefit. But new figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show that around 90% of those who get this benefit have not yet signed up for the loan that replaces it. It will be the same amount and still paid direct to their lender. But it will be a loan from the Government and secured against their home. If they do not sign up for the loan arrangement the money will stop from April 6th. We hear from Kit Malthouse, the Minister for Family Support, Child Maintenance and Housing, and from debt advisor Sara Williams, the founder of the Debt Camel blog.Also - Under Financial Conduct Authority rules, if you want to transfer a defined benefits pension of more than £30,000, you must seek guidance first. It's a safeguard against you making potentially disastrous financial decisions - but not an absolute block. That's because under pension freedom, it's your money and your decision. But one Money Box listener who received advice, but chose a different option, found it impossible to get her confirmation letter - which meant her pension transfer couldn't go ahead. Michelle Cracknell, chief executive of the Pensions Advisory Service explains your rights..Presenter: Paul Lewis Producer: Paul Waters.

This week a report from the Work and Pensions Select Committee says British Steel pension scheme members were targeted by "vulture" financial advisers after Tata was allowed to offload its retirement fund. It found that members were "shamelessly bamboozled" into transferring out of their final salary schemes, and criticises the Pensions Regulator and the FCA. The report also urged the FCA to ban contingent charging where financial advisers receive a fee for transfer advice, calling it "a key driver of poor advice." Guest Martin Bamford Chartered Financial Planner and Managing Director at Informed Choice Reporter Tony Bonsignore examines the issue of child maintenance and self-employed earnings as a bill on child maintenance evasion progresses towards its second reading. It's seeking to crack down on parents who use their self-employed status to "disguise the means they have available to financially support their non-resident children." Guest: Sumi Rabindrakumar from Gingerbread, the national charity for single parent families. Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) intend to lobby government to make the necessary changes to introduce what would be the UK's first collective defined contribution (CDC) scheme. It follows Royal Mail's decision to close its defined benefit scheme, which essentially pays out based on years worked and salary earned. How would the CDC scheme work and is there room for another pension option? Hilary Salt, founder of First Actuarial, who advised the CWU on the new scheme and Hugh Nolan, Chair of the Defined Contribution Committee for the Association of Consulting Actuaries, discuss. Presenter: Paul Lewis Producer: Charmaine Cozier Editor: Jim Frank.

The FCA is warning about a form of online high-risk trading which some firms are illegally offering in the UK. Binary options trading involves betting on whether anything that can be measured in financial terms, like a currency or share index, will rise or fall below a specified price at a certain time. The FCA began regulating last month which means it's now illegal to sell those trades in the UK without its authorisation. Money Box listener Penny lost nearly £17,000 with an unauthorised firm but what can the FCA do in future to protect people like Penny? Christopher Woolard FCA Director of Strategy and Competition explains. The Department of Work and Pensions has confirmed that all Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims will be reviewed. It follows a Government decision not to challenge a court ruling that said changes to PIP were unfair to people with mental health conditions. Guest Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of the mental health charity Mind. Interest-only mortgage holders are being urged to contact their lenders after a financial regulator review found too many people avoid planning how they intend to clear the underlying debt when the mortgage ends. It comes as Bank of England figures show December mortgage approvals reached a three year low. Why? Guests: Jane King, Independent Financial Adviser with Ash-Ridge Private Finance and Samuel Tombs, Chief UK Economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.Presenter: Paul Lewis Producer: Charmaine Cozier Editor: Jim Frank.

How Britain created £435billion out of nowhere - and where the money went.

There's concern that thousands of steelworkers and former steelworkers at Port Talbot may have been badly advised to withdraw funds and put them into unsuitable investments. Money Box has learned that six firms have now voluntarily stopped signing up new clients. Money Box's Tony Bonsignore reports from Port Talbot. The programme hears from steelworker Paul who fears he's made the worst financial decision in his life. Megan Butler, director of supervision at the FCA and Michelle Cracknell, from the Pensions Advisory Service, explain the latest details of this complex situation. The Scottish Government is flexing its muscles over tax. As Money Box previewed last week, its draft Budget this week set out plans for increasing the present three income tax bands to five. Those earning up to £33,000 - will pay less income tax than they do this year. But some on higher incomes will pay considerably more. Stephen Hay, head of tax at accountants RSM joins the programme.Presenter; Paul Lewis Producer: Lesley McAlpine Editor: Andrew Smith.

What are the government's plans for tax and spending and how will they affect your personal finances? As the Chancellor delivers his second budget of the year, we're expecting measures to boost house-building and help young voters get on the property ladder. There may be a stamp duty holiday for first-time buyers or for pension-age homeowners wanting to downsize. Changes to pensions may be on the cards. What help might there be for savers and investors - and how will it be funded? Paul Lewis and a panel of experts assess the impact on the pound in your pocket. We'll meet the Marsden family from Oxfordshire, three generations living under the same roof - with an age range of 21 to 90 years old. How will the budget impact their lives? Paul Lewis will be joined by:Anita Monteith, Technical Manager at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Tom Selby, Senior Analyst at AJ Bell Iona Bain, Founder, Young Money blogPresenter: Paul Lewis Producer: Sally Abrahams.

Parents who use two government childcare schemes tell Money Box about a problem they fear is putting their children at risk of losing their nursery places. It happens when they go online to reconfirm their continued eligibility for either the tax-free childcare top up scheme or for 30 hours free childcare. After receiving a successful confirmation message they then get another one saying their entitlement will be stopped as they no longer meet the criteria - despite there being no significant change in their circumstances.Workers who are paid weekly and who also claim Universal Credit face having it stopped or reduced next month. The benefit is assessed on the basis of a four week month and there are five Fridays in December, which means the extra pay packet could push them over the income threshold to qualify for payment. To receive it again they have to reapply. As Universal Credit is paid in arrears there are concerns it could severely damage people's finances. Guest: Kayley Hignell, Head of Policy, Families, Welfare and Work, Citizen's Advice. The idea of increasing National Insurance Contributions by 1 percent to raise an extra £5bn towards funding adult social care in England is being put forward in a new report. One of its authors, Andrew Kaye, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Independent Age discusses with Angus Henton, Co-founder of the Intergenerational Foundation. Stamp duty is 'gumming up' the housing market according to joint research from The London School of Economics and the Family Building Society. It claims the prospect of a large tax bill is causing potential downsizers to stay where they are. Guest: LSE Professor Tony Travers. Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Vivienne Nunis Producer: Charmaine Cozier.

New technology is transforming the way we handle our finances. Are you someone who uses mobile apps to keep track of how you spend your money or does the thought of it fill you with dread?Have you signed up to text alerts informing you of when you're about to go overdrawn? Do you use Twitter and other forms of social media to communicate with your bank or would you rather visit your branch and have a chat with a real person? Open banking, an industry wide initiative being introduced by the Competition and Markets Authority in January 2018, will mean that customers can choose to share their financial data with third party providers. The aim is to encourage more competition within financial services and provide customers with greater market choice and control over their money. Customers should be able to see a single view of their finances and receive recommendations about new financial and non-financial products such as broadband and energy tariffs. Does this prospect excite you or worry you?Call 03700 100 444 from 1pm to 3.30pm on Wednesday 1st November or e-mail moneybox@bbc.co.uk.Joining Louise in the studio are:Imran Gulamhuseinwala, Global Head of FinTech at Ernst and Young and Implementation Trustee for Open Banking. Dominic Lindley, consumer campaigner and Director of Policy at think tank New City AgendaPresenter: Louise Cooper Producer: Helena Selby Editor: Andrew Smith