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BBC Radio 4's Money Box
Saturday 10 May
at 1204 BST
On Radio 4 and Online
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The number of homeowners facing court action after failing to keep up with mortgage payments is up in England and Wales, says the Ministry of Justice.
The number of mortgage possession claims - the first stage of the repossession process - rose 16% in the first quarter of 2008.
At the same time the number of mortgage possession orders - when a court grants an order for possession of a home - was also up.
Some 27,530 mortgage possession orders were made in the first three months of the year, 17% higher than in the first quarter of 2007 and 9% higher than in the fourth quarter of 2007.
The figures were published as the government announced details of help for homeowners who are struggling to pay their mortgages.
It is promising more free legal advice for those at risk of repossession, along with extra funding and specialist training for debt advice agencies.
We talked to Nick Lord, consumer debt campaigner and Michael Coogan (pictured above), director general of the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
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The deposit schemes offer a free service to help resolve disputes
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Tenancy deposit scheme
Too many landlords are still not protecting their tenants' deposits, despite new laws obliging them to do so, according to the consumer body Citizens Advice.
Since last April most people taking out a new assured shorthold tenancy in England and Wales should have had their deposit protected by their landlord through one of three officially sanctioned schemes.
But there is evidence that in some cases the money is not being safeguarded, leaving some tenants out of pocket.
Bob Howard investigated.
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The Pensions Advisory Service's Malcolm Mclean joined us
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Annuities
One benefit of the credit crunch has been a sharp improvement in some annuity rates.
This can boost pensioners' income in retirement substantially.
But the latest figures show that two-thirds of people are still failing to shop around to make sure they get the best annuity they can.
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been investigating whether pension providers are doing enough to promote the "open market option".
Meanwhile the Pensions Advisory Service has launched a new online tool designed to help people find their way through the annuity maze.
We talked to Tom McPhail, head of pensions research at Hargreaves Lansdown and Malcolm McLean, chief executive of the Pensions Advisory Service.
Further information/related stories:
The FSA assessment found both good and bad practice
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Online comparison sites
Some insurance comparison websites could mislead consumers because of the way they present information, according to the FSA.
The regulator reviewed 17 different comparison websites.
Although it found evidence of good practice, it concluded that the clarity, fairness and accuracy of information given to consumers could be improved in some cases.
For instance a number of sites used assumptions to generate quotes, but did not disclose what these assumptions were; other sites failed to list all the relevant features of insurance polices or provided incorrect information on the excess consumers would have to pay.
Earlier this year the insurance brokers' trade body, BIBA, asked the FSA to tighten the rules governing such sites, amid concerns that some consumers were being sold unsuitable products.
We discussed the findings with BIBA's Graeme Trudgill and the FSA's head of financial promotions Ed Harley.
Further information/related stories:
BBC Radio 4's Money Box was broadcast on Saturday, 10 May 2008 at 1204 BST.
The programme was repeated on Sunday, 11 May 2008 at 2102 BST.
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10 May 2008
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