This email was sent to Money Box subscribers on 29 May 2010

 

Dear Listener

 

Which side are you on? That was the comment of several listeners after hearing my version of ‘The Truth about Goldman Sachs’ on Radio 4 on Monday. Because the world divides into three over Goldman Sachs. There are those – probably the biggest group – whose response is ‘Goldman Who?’ They have either never heard of the world’s biggest (in some ways) and most profitable (in others) bank or they have just about heard of it but haven’t a clue what it does. But the other group – those who have heard of it and think they know what it does – split firmly into two. One half (the bigger one I suspect) has its own view about what the ‘gs’ in its website address www.gs.com stands for – as this listener who emailed me said ‘enjoyed your programme about the Great Satan’. But the other and perhaps slightly smaller half agrees with this New Yorker I spoke to in Times Square ‘Hey it’s a bank. We need them. And it does what it does real well.’

 

So if you missed ‘The Truth about Goldman Sachs’ which was broadcast on Monday you can listen again here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8735929.stm and let me know if I did find ‘the truth’. Or perhaps I should say ‘your truth’. I certainly found mine. If you want to know more – and why the truth is in fact beige – here is my blog www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/radio4/2010/05/the_truth_about_goldman_sachs.html

 

On to the show….

 

In this week’s Money Box

 

***The end of Child Trust Funds. Since 1 September 2002 every child born in the UK has had a child trust fund account opened for them with a small chunk of public money to kick it off and the possibility to get a lot more from family and friends. But from 1 August 2010 the chunk will become a speck and from 1 January 2011 it will disappear altogether when this strange and unique experiment ends. So what happens to existing CTFs? And what now for saving for children and grandchildren from 2011?

 

***We look at the websites that sell you Government forms and information that you can get free or much cheaper direct. One that called itself ‘official’ has now removed that word after our enquiries.

 

***If your mobile phone is stolen who pays for the calls the thief makes? It could be you. One listener found she had a bill for £1500. We look at the rules – and what can you do if it happens to you?

 

***And Pru in a stew. What is the future for the safe, reliable old company now that its Asian adventure has gone awry? If you are one of the 70,000 shareholders how should you vote? And after Friday’s changes what will you be voting for?

 

Another story is brewing under which might make this week or, more likely, next. So find out what’s in and what’s out by listening to Money Box at noon on Saturday, at nine pm on Sunday, or at any time on the website www.bbc.co.uk/moneybox. There you can also watch videos, follow up items, read web pieces, download transcripts, follow links, and send us stories or ideas you want us to look into. And Have Your Say on – we expect – picking your way between official and unofficial websites one of these topics. 

 

Best wishes,

 

 

 

Paul

 

PS don’t forget the programme trail on Breakfast on BBC 1 between 0845 and 0900 on Saturday.

 


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