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| Rating agency warning | Rating agency warning |
| (3 days later) | |
| BBC Radio 4's Money Box Saturday, 23 May 2009 at 1204 BST On Radio 4 and Online Listen to the programme class="" href="/1/shared/spl/hi/programmes/money_box/transcripts/Money_Box_23_May_09.pdf">Programme transcript (13 pages) | |
| The government is planning to borrow £220bn this year to make the books balance. | The government is planning to borrow £220bn this year to make the books balance. |
| That means persuading wealthy investors that the UK government is still a safe bet to lend money to. | That means persuading wealthy investors that the UK government is still a safe bet to lend money to. |
| But that may be more difficult after one of the world's top credit rating agencies, Standard & Poor's, warned that the UK might lose its top-notch "triple A" credit score because of the huge debt it has amassed. | But that may be more difficult after one of the world's top credit rating agencies, Standard & Poor's, warned that the UK might lose its top-notch "triple A" credit score because of the huge debt it has amassed. |
| And that could mean it will cost more to borrow this year's £220bn because of the added risk. | And that could mean it will cost more to borrow this year's £220bn because of the added risk. |
| The only way to avoid this is to bring the debt levels down which would mean cutting spending, raising taxes - or both. | The only way to avoid this is to bring the debt levels down which would mean cutting spending, raising taxes - or both. |
| We discuss the implications with Howard Wheeldon, chief strategist at BCG Partners and Gavin Oldham, chief executive of the Share Centre. | We discuss the implications with Howard Wheeldon, chief strategist at BCG Partners and Gavin Oldham, chief executive of the Share Centre. |
| Rating agency warning | Rating agency warning |
| Further information: Rating agency warning on UK debt External internet links | Further information: Rating agency warning on UK debt External internet links |
| Forged dollars | Forged dollars |
| What could you do if your holiday money turned out to be fake? | What could you do if your holiday money turned out to be fake? |
| Thousands of people order foreign currency for holidays abroad each year but very few check it when they pick it up. | Thousands of people order foreign currency for holidays abroad each year but very few check it when they pick it up. |
| They simply trust the firms involved are selling genuine notes and coins. | They simply trust the firms involved are selling genuine notes and coins. |
| But if during your holiday you discovered some of your notes were counterfeit, what comeback would you have against the company if you believed it supplied you with the notes? | But if during your holiday you discovered some of your notes were counterfeit, what comeback would you have against the company if you believed it supplied you with the notes? |
| Bob Howard reports. | Bob Howard reports. |
| Holidaymakers claim notes forged | Holidaymakers claim notes forged |
| Have Your Say: Fake currency | Have Your Say: Fake currency |
| Further information: Holidaymakers claim notes forged External internet links | Further information: Holidaymakers claim notes forged External internet links |
| Mortgage rates | Mortgage rates |
| moneyextra is urging mortgage customers to shop around | moneyextra is urging mortgage customers to shop around |
| Mortgage lenders are treating their customers as profit-fodder, says comparison website moneyextra.com. | Mortgage lenders are treating their customers as profit-fodder, says comparison website moneyextra.com. |
| It said lenders have increased the difference between the Bank's rate and their Standard Variable Rates to "unheard of" levels. | It said lenders have increased the difference between the Bank's rate and their Standard Variable Rates to "unheard of" levels. |
| The average SVR is now 4.19% above the base rate which represents a 120% rise in income for lenders in 12 months, it added. | The average SVR is now 4.19% above the base rate which represents a 120% rise in income for lenders in 12 months, it added. |
| And it warned that four out of 10 mortgage holders risk falling prey to these rates when their current deals end this year. | And it warned that four out of 10 mortgage holders risk falling prey to these rates when their current deals end this year. |
| We speak to Richard Mason, managing director of comparison website moneyextra.com and Bernard Clarke from the Council of Mortgage Lenders. | We speak to Richard Mason, managing director of comparison website moneyextra.com and Bernard Clarke from the Council of Mortgage Lenders. |
| Mortgage rates | Mortgage rates |
| Further information: External internet links | Further information: External internet links |
| Pension charges | Pension charges |
| Are the charges on your pension plan unnecessarily high? | Are the charges on your pension plan unnecessarily high? |
| Are hundreds of thousands of people overpaying on their personal pensions? | Are hundreds of thousands of people overpaying on their personal pensions? |
| The annual fee for managing pensions has come down but people who started their pension many years ago are paying higher charges. | The annual fee for managing pensions has come down but people who started their pension many years ago are paying higher charges. |
| Is it worth moving to save the higher costs? | Is it worth moving to save the higher costs? |
| We ask financial adviser Mark Meldon of RC Gray & Co and speak to Maggie Clark of the Association of British Insurers. | We ask financial adviser Mark Meldon of RC Gray & Co and speak to Maggie Clark of the Association of British Insurers. |
| Pension charges | Pension charges |
| Further information: External internet links | Further information: External internet links |
| Lloyds TSB share offer | Lloyds TSB share offer |
| Many of these shareholders are not professional investors at all | Many of these shareholders are not professional investors at all |
| Nearly three million people with shares in Lloyds Banking Group have to make a difficult choice over the next couple of weeks. | Nearly three million people with shares in Lloyds Banking Group have to make a difficult choice over the next couple of weeks. |
| They are being offered the chance to buy yet more shares in the part nationalised bank at a big discount. | They are being offered the chance to buy yet more shares in the part nationalised bank at a big discount. |
| If they choose not to they could get a cash payout instead - but the level of that depends on the value of Lloyds shares in the future. | If they choose not to they could get a cash payout instead - but the level of that depends on the value of Lloyds shares in the future. |
| We discuss the complex offer with Gavin Oldham, chief executive of the Share Centre. | We discuss the complex offer with Gavin Oldham, chief executive of the Share Centre. |
| Lloyds TSB share offer | Lloyds TSB share offer |
| Further information: External internet links | Further information: External internet links |
| OTHER NEWS: Building societies ratings cut | OTHER NEWS: Building societies ratings cut |
| Credit ratings agency Fitch has downgraded five UK building societies amid weak economic conditions. | Credit ratings agency Fitch has downgraded five UK building societies amid weak economic conditions. |
| Further information: Building societies' ratings cut | Further information: Building societies' ratings cut |
| BBC Radio 4's Money Box was broadcast on Saturday, 23 May at 1204 BST. | BBC Radio 4's Money Box was broadcast on Saturday, 23 May at 1204 BST. |
| The programme will be repeated on Sunday, 24 May at 2102 BST. | The programme will be repeated on Sunday, 24 May at 2102 BST. |