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Financial Abuse, Roaming Charges, Florists, Council Tax Debt; Financial Ombudsman

Consumer news and issues. How can government departments, agencies and banks help to protect survivors of physical and financially abusive relationships?

Women's Aid and the TUC are calling on government departments, agencies and banks to review their practices to protect survivors of physical and financially abusive relationships.

We speak to one survivor who was left with Β£95,000 worth of debt and from Hilary Fisher, Director of Policy at Women's Aid.

By 2018 it's predicted that we'll all have 70 connected devices in our homes, which will change how we act as consumers. Melanie Abbott reports live from the Retail Week conference where it's been a topic of discussion, and hears from Dixons Carphone Warehouse CEO, Seb James.

EU governments have said roaming charges for mobile phone users travelling in the 28-member bloc should remain at least until the end of 2018. You and Yours hears from one customer who faced huge bills when their mobile phone signal automatically switched to overseas networks when close to the Irish border.

There are 15,000 florist businesses in the UK. It's an industry made up of mainly small businesses who are seeing their sales decline as Supermarkets offer cheaper and cheaper bouquets. So what are independent Florists doing to boost business?

Councils are being accused of using aggressive debt collection tactics and offering less help than banks to people who've fallen behind with their bills. We speak to debt charity StepChange who say too many councils adopt a heavy-handed approach to non-payment of council tax.

Complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service are taking longer to resolve than a year ago.Peter hears from one man who waited four and a half years for the financial ombudsman to settle his case and to the chief ombudsman at the FOS, Caroline Wayman, about why there are such long delays.

Available now

45 minutes

Chapters

  • Financial Abuse

    Woman's Aid are calling on financial institutions to protect survivors of financial abuse

    Duration: 06:47

  • Retail Week Conference

    By 2018 it's predicted that we'll all have 70 connected devices in our homes.

    Duration: 06:16

  • Council Tax Debt

    The councils heavy-handed approach towards debt collection could be making problems worse

    Duration: 05:24

  • House Factory

    A Housing Association is designing and building timber-framed homes for its tenants.

    Duration: 06:54

  • Retail Week Conference Part 2

    More from Melanie Abbott at the Retail Week conference.

    Duration: 05:58

  • Financial Ombudsman

    The Financial Ombudsman is taking longer to resolve complaints.

    Duration: 06:15

Broadcast

  • Thu 12 Mar 2015 12:16

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