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20/10/2012

With Ruth Alexander. Winners and losers of the energy plans, car hire firm refuses to return deposits, how to stop children getting a windfall at 16, and fighting the fraudsters.

Everyone's talking about getting a better deal for our gas and electricity. First the Prime Minister on Wednesday said energy companies should put customers on their lowest tariffs. Then the regulator Ofgem announced yesterday that bills should include information about the cheapest gas and electricity tariffs on offer. But will the consumers really be better off? We speak to Richard Lloyd, executive director of the consumer association, Which?

Last year we investigated a car hire company that was failing to give customers back their deposit at the end of the car hire agreement. Money Box has learnt that customers are still being stung despite action from Trading Standards.

A listener alerts us to changes to NS&I's Children's Bonus Bonds so the bonds can no longer be held until the child's 21st birthday. Each bond will now mature once it reaches its five-year anniversary on or after the child's 16th birthday. The reason? NS&I says it's to simplify its range of accounts and investments to make them easier to understand. But our listener is frustrated as she doesn't want her children to get a windfall, aged 16.

Fighting the fraudsters. We hear about a new project to help older people spot 'too good to be true' offers and out-right scams.

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30 minutes

Last on

Sun 21 Oct 2012 21:00

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  • Sat 20 Oct 2012 12:00
  • Sat 20 Oct 2012 12:04
  • Sun 21 Oct 2012 21:00

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