Concern over fraud reporting

BBC Radio 4's Money Box Saturday 23 June at 1204 BST On Radio 4 and Online Programme transcript (49 KB)

On Saturday's programme, Money Box asks if changes to the way card fraud is reported is failing the victims of crime.

Two months ago, the Home Office said card fraud should no longer be reported to the police but to the banks.

They then decide which cases are serious enough to pass back to the police.

But research by the BBC's Newsnight programme has found that two police forces had no cases passed to them and another had seen the number fall since the new system began.

Bob Howard has been investigating.

Further information:

Card fraud 'is not investigated'

March 2007: Concern over new fraud reporting

Have Your Say: Do new rules 'decriminalize' card fraud?

External links and helplines

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Call for action on buy-to-let

Many buyers feel buy-to-let landlords have an unfair advantage

A call is being made for the government to tackle the growing problems that are said to be developing as a result of the buy-to-let property boom.

Its detrimental effect on first-time buyers struggling to get on the housing ladder has been highlighted again in a major conference on housing.

Is it time for tax reliefs offered to buy-to-let owners to be changed and, if so, how?

We discussed the issues with Chartered Institute of Housing president Paul Diggory and John Socha, vice-chairman of the National Landlords Association.

Have Your Say: Buy-to-let

Further information:

Tax call for buy-to-let homes

How buy-to-let is changing your street

External links and helplines

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Savings

Some accounts are using increasingly complex bonus offers

Savings bank ING Direct has been accused of misleading customers with its latest offer of higher interest rates.

Money Box heard from one disappointed saver and spoke to ING Direct spokesman Martin Rutland about the concerns.

Further information:

External links and helplines

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Equitable Life compensation

The report was prepared by Liberal Democrat MEP Diana Wallis

Euro MPs have put pressure on the government to pay compensation to those who lost savings after the near collapse of Equitable Life.

MEPs voted to back a new report blaming light-touch UK regulation and asking the UK government to set up a compensation scheme.

Money Box interviewed the report's author, Liberal Democrat Euro MP Diana Wallis.

Further information:

Refund Equitable victims EU says

External links and helplines

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Student banking

Thousands of new graduates are going to be hit by bank charges because HSBC is ending their free overdraft facility this summer. Bob Howard reports.

Further information:

External links and helplines

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BBC Radio 4's Money Box was broadcast on Saturday, 23 June 2007 at 1204 BST.

The programme was repeated on Sunday, 24 June 2007 at 2102 BST.