Summary
In April households are likely to see an increase of up to 50% in the cost of their energy bills. Many people already struggle to pay for gas and electricity so the upcoming price hike is expected to push many more into debt with their suppliers. What can people – and the energy industry – do to try to minimise the impact on people’s finances?
Starling Bank has stopped paying for adverts on Facebook and Instagram until, it says, they do more to stop scam ads from being placed on their sites. We find out what Facebook parent company Meta has to say about the move and find out what action, if any, the other challenger and traditional banks are doing about it.
Individual Voluntary Arrangements to help people find a way out of debt have come under the microscope before for being mis-sold. Now there is a consultation about their use.
And after a huge response to a story about cheques on last week’s programme we hear from listeners about their thoughts on them and take an alternative, historical look at those humble rectangular pieces of paper that stir so much passion.
Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Chris Flynn Producer: Dan Whitworth Researcher: Drew Miller-Hyndman Editor: Emma Rippon
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | You are about to listen to a BBC podcast and I'd like to tell you a bit about what goes into making one. |
| 0:06.5 | I'm Sadata Sese, an assistant commissioner of podcasts for BBC Sounds. |
| 0:11.2 | I pull a lot of levers to support a diverse range of podcasts on all sorts of subjects, |
| 0:16.0 | relationships, identity, comedy, even one that mixes poetry, music and inner city life. |
| 0:22.4 | So one day I'll be helping host develop their ideas, the next fact-checking, a feature, |
| 0:28.3 | and the next looking at how a podcast connects with its audience, and maybe that's you. |
| 0:33.6 | So if you like this podcast, check out some others on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:39.5 | BBC Sounds, music, radio podcasts. |
| 0:44.0 | Hello and welcome to this Moneybox podcast. |
| 0:47.2 | One new bank pulls its adverts from Facebook and Instagram |
| 0:50.3 | because of failures to check financial adverts are from genuine firms. Regulators |
| 0:56.0 | are warned that unscrupulous businesses are charging people in debt thousands of pounds in fees |
| 1:01.4 | which they take before a penny is paid off what they owe, and more about why you love cheques |
| 1:07.7 | and a look at their long history. But first, in just over two weeks, we expect |
| 1:13.4 | more bad news for customers about the cost of electricity and gas. On February the 7th, the energy |
| 1:19.6 | regulator, Offgem, will announce how much the price cap will rise. Now, that's the maximum |
| 1:25.0 | amount energy providers are allowed to charge domestic customers |
| 1:28.4 | and forecasts suggest it will go up by about 50%. So if you're paying £100 a month now, |
| 1:35.6 | you'll pay £150 a month from April. But even at current prices, a large number of people |
| 1:41.7 | are finding the cost of fuel too much to pay, leaving them |
| 1:45.0 | with large and growing debts. |
| 1:46.9 | So with me is Abbey Gittendra from Citizens' Advice, where she's principal policy manager |
... |
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