Dear Listener

Not much from me (phew!) as I have been pursuing a story all day that we hope (fingers crossed) will lead the programme tomorrow. I can’t say more. And if it doesn’t you will know I’ve been wasting my time. And even if it does you might think the same. Sigh. But definitely…

…ON MONEY BOX THIS WEEK

We revealed in the programme last Saturday that Barclays had frozen the bank account of Crown Currency Exchange after concerns about its solvency. On Monday the awful truth was confirmed as CCE was put into administration. More than 13,000 customers have lost around £20 million. We look at the aftermath. And how to protect yourself in future if you want to buy foreign currency over the internet.

People paying into a pension in the public sector – including teachers, nurses, doctors, police officers, fire fighters, civil servants and local council workers – will have to pay more, get less, and work longer. That is the message from the first report of the Independent Review of Public Sector Pensions headed by former Labour MP John – now Lord – Hutton. Should we be surprised? And will it really happen?

We look at the implications of the changes to Child Benefit announced this week. Will they work? And after the furore about the 5.8 million people who had the wrong tax deducted Money Box has learned that the Revenue’s main mailing started on Thursday. From now until Christmas 80,000 people a day will be told they have paid the wrong amount of tax – about three quarters paid too much the rest will be told they have to pay the underpaid tax.

Millions of us complain about our banks – but research out this week shows that very few of use ever change our bank account. Why are we so reluctant to leave a bank we don’t like?

We will try to squeeze that lot in before the plug is pulled by the time lords of Radio 4. Find out if we manage it by tuning in just after noon on Saturday. Or hear the repeat at nine pm on Sunday. Or log on and listen anytime on our website www.bbc.co.uk/moneybox. There you can also read web pieces, download transcripts, follow links, and send us stories or ideas you want us to look into and Have Your Say on the topic of the day.

Best wishes,

Paul

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

e-mail Paul Lewis