Dear Listener

What did I do this week? I went to an awards dinner – the HeadlineMoney Awards at London’s Park Lane Hilton – and was thrilled and delighted that my Money Box colleague – producer and reporter Ruth Alexander – won the prize for Rising Star (Consumer) of the Year. The judges said 'Ruth shows confidence, conviction and empathy ... her submissions were engaging and topical and made the listener pay attention ... she will undoubtedly go far.' But not too far from Money Box I hope! On the night she was described as a ‘stand-out winner [with] one of the nicest voices on radio’.

Casting modesty aside I should also reveal that I was named Broadcast Journalist of the Year. Although I have won that before, the prizes this week mark two important firsts for the programme. It is the first time the programme has won two awards at one ceremony. And it is the first time a reporter on Money Box has won a HeadlineMoney prize. Ruth’s success is particularly notable as she was picked in competition with all other rising stars from print and online as well as broadcast.

The next morning I carried Money Box’s rather depressing message that final salary pensions are dead to a meeting in London of pension trustees. Organised by Engaged Investor my keynote speech went down surprisingly well – at least they didn’t boo. I was besieged afterwards by trustees who wanted to know (a) if there was any way to keep their own scheme going and (b) what would happen to public sector schemes when final salary ones ended among private employers. Neither has an easy – or popular – answer. You can still hear (and read) our pension special from 30 April on our website http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/moneybox/9469419.stm.

***IN MONEY BOX THIS WEEK***

National Savings & Investments launches a new issue of its popular index-linked savings certificates. We look at the pros and cons and ask just how long will this issue be on sale? The previous index-linked issue one was pulled last July after helping bring in £5.4 billion of sales in three months.

What does this mean? “I have checked our records and found that we have no record of receiving any information about your tax affairs which may have led to you not paying enough tax.” And is it a valid reason to refuse to write off tax that the Revenue is collecting years too late? HMRC will not be interviewed but an angry accountant will explain her concerns.

What should you do if you get a threatening letter about a debt you do not owe to a company you have never dealt with? Why are firms allowed to sell on debts and then wash their hands of the harassing collection practices of debt collectors?

A major gas and electricity energy company brings back standing charges for energy supply. What rights do they have to change your payments so dramatically?

And if you applied for tickets to see Olympic events in 2012 make sure you have enough in your bank or credit card account to pay for all that you ordered – the money may go out as soon as Monday. We also explain what happens if there isn’t enough money there and what you can – and can’t – do with unwanted tickets.

That is a high calorie five-course meal to fit into our four-course time-slot. But will it be starter, main, pudding, cheese, or coffee which is reluctantly dumped as we try to squeeze into our 24 minute corset? Or will we go lite on them all to fit in our five-a-(Satur)day? Find out by listening to more extended metaphors on Radio 4 on Saturday just after noon. The repeat is on Sunday at 9pm and you can of course listen at any time via the podcast page www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/moneybox. There you can still download the special 30 April programme on the death of final salary pension schemes. Check out our website www.bbc.co.uk/moneybox to follow links, download transcripts, send us stories or ideas you want us to look into and Have Your Say on debt collection practices.

Who should pay for care when we get sick, disabled, or very old? Money Box Live on Wednesday takes your questions on paying for care. Call 03700 100 444 when lines open at 1.30pm on Wednesday, or send an e-mail using the form on the programme page http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/moneybox/9484059.stm

This newsletter is available at bbc.co.uk/moneybox/newsletter around the time it hits your inbox (tell your friends who don’t subscribe) and you can join more than 6600 others who enjoy my random but timely thoughts on money and a few other things whenever I’m awake at www.twitter.com/paullewismoney.

Best wishes,

Paul

PS Don’t forget the trail for the programme on BBC1 Breakfast just after 0845. And I am back on breakfast on Thursday around 0640 and around 0820 (though those times are very subject to change) with another story and answering emails from viewers.

e-mail Paul Lewis