Dear listener,

The latest rise in interest rates is the fourth in 10 months, adding roughly £100 a month to an average mortgage. And rates on credit cards and loans are also rising. Is the debt crisis getting worse?

Eight million people were persuaded in the late 80s and early 90s to leave the state earnings related pension scheme and buy a personal pension instead. The financial regulator, the FSA, is under fire after saying there was no widespread mis-selling but admits that 120,000 people could have been mis-sold.

Have you thought of fitting solar panels or a wind turbine to generate your own electricity? You can sell the surplus back to your energy supplier. But why do they pay half as much per unit as they charge?

Another report slams tax credits. Nearly £6 billion has been overpaid causing hardship when the Revenue takes it back. How can the Revenue rescue its flagship scheme?

And new hope for thousands of people who lost money in the split capital investment trust scandal. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme will pay out to customers of Exeter funds.

More on all those stories on Money Box - live on Saturday at noon, repeated Sunday at 9pm and any time (after midday) on the web.

Best wishes,

Paul Lewis

e-mail Paul Lewis