BBC Money Box

Money Box

All that matters about money with Paul Lewis. News of savings and investments, credit cards and loans, pensions, banking, tax, benefits and giving to charity. The UK's premier weekly round-up of personal finance from the BBC.
Weekly English United Kingdom Business
9 Episodes

Loan Sharks and Car Insurance

The official body which tackles loan sharks tells Money Box that for the first time in its almost 20 year history it is seeing people turn to loan sharks to pay for essentials like food and fuel. The England Illegal Money Lending Team investigates and prosecutes loan sharks and supports…
25 Nov 25 min

Money Box Live: Fighting Back Against Fraud

More than £500m was stolen by fraudsters in the first half of 2023, according to figures from UK Finance. This is less than the same period in 2022, but Authorised Push Payment (APP) scams, where people are tricked into transferring money to thieves, are on the rise. We ask what…
22 Nov 29 min

£1.6m fraud investigation and Help to Buy

We investigate the case of Kent Brushes, a hairbrush company founded in 1777, which has had £1.6m stolen by thieves. The money was transferred in 40 separate transactions, all to new payees, in less than 20 minutes. Dan Whitworth reports. And - the difficulties facing people in England who used…
18 Nov 25 min

Money Box Live: Digital Divide

Just how much does technology impact your finances? Do you search for the best deals on your laptop or phone? Perhaps you keep track of your money through online banking. As many as 40% of people in the UK feel they cannot keep up with newer technology according to the…
15 Nov 28 min

Energy debt and Pension Withdrawals

This week, the energy watchdog Ofgem released data showing energy debts reached £2.6 billion between April and June. It says the rise in debt was due to both the increase in wholesale energy prices and wider cost of living pressures. We'll get reaction to that figure from Octopus Energy, one…
11 Nov 24 min

Money Box Live: Saving for Your Send Off

A lot of us like to save up for special occasions - a holiday, some home improvements - but, as we grow older, more of us think about saving for the costs that come after we die. In fact, 69% of people make some sort of provision to help with…
8 Nov 29 min

Funeral Plans and Energy Credit

A funeral plan company with more than 13,000 customers has gone bust leaving thousands of people without the plan they paid for. One Life Funeral Planning Limited was just 1 of around 40 firms which were not approved by the Financial Conduct Authority in July 2022 when it took over…
4 Nov 25 min

Money Box Live: Cutting Energy Costs this Winter

Money Box Live is looking at how to prepare for the cold nights ahead this winter following a year of high energy costs. The Ofgem energy price cap has fallen by 7% to just over £1900. The price cap is the maximum amount your provider can charge per unit of…
1 Nov 29 min

Energy Credit and Bereavement Support

Energy companies are holding on to too much of their customers' money in the form of credit on their accounts. That's according to Angus MacNeil, Chair of the House of Commons Energy Security and Net Zero committee. Money Box has uncovered the total amount of credit being held in the…
28 Oct 25 min