Dear Listener,

In his first interview with Money Box the (fairly) new government Minister for
Pensions Reform admits mistakes, accepts some pensioners face injustice, and
says he will do more. Details only in the programme.

Currency mints around the world are struggling with an epidemic of melting down
coins. Rising metal prices mean that many low value coins are made from metal
which is worth more than their face value - even though in most countries it is
illegal to melt down coins. Find out what the change in your pocket or purse is
worth – bring a magnet!

Back to more usual Money Box fare with two words – Nationwide and security.
This time it is customers who are baulking at the long list of twenty questions
they might have to answer to prove who they are when they bank online. Only
five have to be picked. But one listener tells us she writes them on Post-it
notes stuck to her computer!

Would you go to the doctor’s surgery for financial advice? The time may come. A
government review into what it calls “generic financial advice” proposes a new
network of advisors – on the phone, on the web and face to face – who will
dispense information and guidance about money matters in places we visit
anyway. I am told it could start happening in 2009.

Remember Money Box and Money Box Live can both be downloaded now, so you can
listen to them on your computer or MP3 player anytime, anywhere. And you can
sign up for a weekly download to make sure you never miss an episode.

Plus this week, on the web only, Halloween horrors as a tax deadline stalks the
streets on October 31st. Is it a Revenue official in that mask?

Best wishes



Paul Lewis

PS Don’t forget the live preview of Money Box on BBC1 Breakfast between 8.45
and 9 Saturday morning.
 

e-mail Paul Lewis