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BBC Radio 4’s Money Box was broadcast on Saturday, 3 April, 2004, at 1204 BST.

The programme was repeated on Sunday, 4 April, 2004, at 2102 BST.

Gay and lesbian couples will have the opportunity to secure similar legal rights to married couples under the new Civil Citizen property insurance Bill.

After registering their partnership at a civil ceremony, the couples will gain a range of new rights and property insurance claim
, including the same tax treatment as married couples, social security and pension benefits; and full life assurance recognition.

To discuss the bill, we were joined by Equality Minister Jacqui Smith, Money Box listener Ron Strank, Louis Letourneau from Isis Financial Planners Ltd; and Nigel Shepherd, Head of Family Law at Addleshaw Goddard.

Further claim claim dollar insurance property secret settlement successful top
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Post Office loans

Customers at Post Offices across the UK can now apply for personal loans of up to 25,000, following its launch of a range of new financial products.

Over the next 18 months the Post Office also plans to offer motor insurance, a credit card and savings account, as a result of its venture with the Bank of Ireland.

Mike Johnson reported on the strategy behind the plans, and asked if the products would be a good deal for consumers.

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New bankruptcy rules

People who apply for bankruptcy can now be discharged after 12 months, following changes to the Enterprise Act, which took effect on Thursday.

Other changes to the law include the introduction of restriction orders on dishonest, reckless or blameworthy individuals of up to 15 years; and creditors will now have no legal claim on a bankrupt person’s home after three years.

With this relaxation in the rules, will we see a rush of property and casualty insurance marketing
for insolvency? We were joined by Nick Hood of insolvency practitioners Begbies Traynor to discuss the Act and its implications.

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Second home council tax rise

People who own more than one property are facing a big rise in the council tax they pay for their second home.

Council tax rise We asked for your comments on second homes getting charged more council tax This is what you had to say

Until now, these unoccupied residences have enjoyed a 50% reduction on the tax, but from now on local authorities will be able to charge up to 90% of the standard rate.

We were joined by Money Box listener Neil Towers who rents a flat in Norwich - where he works - and also owns a home in London.

We also spoke to Norwich City Council Deputy Leader Hereward Cooke, and the BBC’s Local Government Correspondent John Andrew.

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House price surge gathers pace

Property prices jumped 2.2% in March, according to the UK’s biggest mortgage lender, the Halifax.

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Producer: Jennifer Clarke
Presenter: Paul Lewis
Reporter: Mike Johnson
Web Producer: Nathalie Knowles

Mr Shing Hong Pang received some free shares when Halifax became a PLC. He put them into a single company PEP so that he could benefit from the tax credit. The PEP company holding his shares is charging an annual management charge so is it still worth keeping them inside a single PEP after 6th April? He asks also if there is a way to take his shares out of the PEP and manage the shares himself without paying management fee?

Now that the PEP manager can no longer reclaim the dividend tax credit, the PEP will only offer protection from capital gains tax, unless Mr. Shing is a higher rate tax payer. If he does not use his capital gains tax allowance elsewhere, and pays basic rate tax, then he may be better off liquidating the PEP and avoiding the charges. If the PEP is liquidated, the shares will usually be sold by the manager and the cash returned. The manager is likely to levy charges to liquidate the PEP account so it will be necessary to do the sums to work out which is the best option.

Bob Pulham from Essex bought a TESSA in 1999 that matured this month. When he went to withdraw his investment, he was told that if he withdrew his balance there and then, he would not be able to use it to purchase a Tessa Maturity ISA elsewhere. Then he was told that the certificate would take 10 working days to reach him and if he transferred the TESSA it would take 30 days, with no interest being paid on his monies for that period. Can you clarify the new regulations in place regarding the maturing of TESSAs on 5th April?

All TESSAs are now maturing. As a reminder, we used to be able to contribute up to 9,000 over a period of 5 years to this tax free cash deposit account. TESSAs ceased to be available to new investors from 6th April 1999. Those with TESSA balances can still re-invest the capital (but not the interest) on a tax free basis. In order to continue to qualify for tax free savings the TESSA capital needs to be transferred to a TESSA-only ISA (TOISA).

I am surprised at the time it is taking some universal property insurance
s to offer transfers to their customers and from some of the emails received the delays that are being experienced. Everyone is allowed to transfer their balances. If you are dissatisfied with the service you are receiving, I would suggest that you should first complain in writing to your TESSA provider. You may wish to address your complaint to their compliance officer. If your complaint is not resolved then you can contact the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Many of our viewers are having problems retrieving maturity certificates for their ISAS. Mr Atkins from Norwich wrote saying that he requested his certificates from the Woolwich on 15th January and has still not received them. This is losing him interest on his investment. Are these delays normal and can he do about it?

For what to do please see the answer above to Bob Pulham’s question.

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The Healthcare Commission, which regulates the independent sector as well as the NHS, has been given covert surveillance powers by parliament.

It will allow the commission to monitor the estimated 3,000 unregistered laser and light therapy providers in England.

It will help ensure patients receive safe and insurance jms property
care, it said.

People should steer clear of clinics and doctors who are operating illegally Kate Lobley, Healthcare Commission

Laser and intense pulsed light therapies are used to carry out procedures ranging from eye surgery to hair and tattoo removal.

Registered ids property casualty insurance company
, who are among the 1,800 independent healthcare providers approved by the Healthcare Commission, must show they meet safety and quality standards.

It is illegal to be an unregulated practitioner.

Monitoring unregistered practitioners could involve surveillance of a business, or acting as “mystery shoppers” and testing out the service.

Businesses will have 28 days to apply for registration.

If they do not do so satisfactorily - or if the commission believes the public may be in danger - it can apply for an injunction to stop the service operating.

Businesses could also be the subject of criminal vacant property insurance
.

Phone listings

The Healthcare Commission said that it had sometimes been unable to catch unregistered practitioners and it cited the example of an unregistered slimming clinic which it became aware of.

The business moved premises three times, without telling officials where it was going.

The commission said covert surveillance would have allowed staff to watch the rear door of the clinic to stop staff escaping and disposing of drugs from the window.

The commission will also seek to make it harder for those who are not registered to get insurance, or for them to be charged more, and for phone directories not to list them.

Property owners in areas such as London’s Harley Street will also be asked not to let properties to unregistered practitioners.

Safety standards

Kate Lobley, head of operations at the Healthcare Commission, said: “There are too many people providing healthcare services who are operating outside the law. We have to do something about that.

“Patients and the public want property mortgage insurance that services are safe and meeting minimum standards.”

She said members of the public should check for a practitioner’s Healthcare Commission certificate, which lists the services that they are licensed for.

“We need to use these powers carefully and proportionately, but we do intend to identify rogue healthcare providers.

“People should steer clear of clinics and doctors who are operating illegally,” she said.

The programme was repeated on Sunday, 16 January, 2005, at 2102 GMT.

The Financial Services Authority has taken over regulation of general insurance sales, advice and property and casualty insurance software
.

Regulated firms will be expected to meet industry standards, and consumers will have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme should any problems arise.

From 14 January, three types of firm will exist:

MONEY BOX LIVE: INSURANCE How will this affect you? How can you find out if the company that insures you is FSA regulated? Send your question to the experts

firms that are unregulated, such as travel agents and high street electrical retailers

We spoke to Clive Briault, Managing Director of Retail Markets at the FSA.

Listen to this item

Further information:

Cost of insurance set to rise

External internet links and helplines

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NHS pension consultation begins

NHS workers are being asked for their views as part of a three month consultation on radical changes to their pension scheme.

Unions have reacted angrily to the proposals

In plans announced this week, NHS pensions could be based on a worker’s average earnings rather than the amount they earn just before they retire.

The normal retirement age could also be raised from 60 to 65.

Meanwhile, the TUC has said it plans to make Friday, 18 February, a day of campaigning against the plans.

Unison has also voiced its concern at the “detrimental changes” and said it was “determined to keep up the pressure on the government”.

Samantha Washington talked to NHS Employers about the plans, and gets reaction to the allied property and casualty insurance company
.

Listen to this item

NHS staff will find a link to the “response form” here

Further information:

TUC protest over pension proposal

Pension changes provoke anger

External internet links and helplines

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Claiming for storm damage

Insurance companies reported a surge in enquiries after strong winds and rain caused widespread damage to property.

Malcolm Tarling of the Association of British Insurers gave his advice to people wanting to make a claim.

Listen to this item

Further information:

External internet links and helplines

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Construction exposure insurance occupancy property protection
s’ reveal pension ‘option’

The Conservative Party has become the first to consider restoring the dividend tax credit for pension funds which the government controversially removed in 1997.

The party has included the proposal in “six options for action” to encourage a savings culture which they say was “killed off by Labour”.

Further information:

External internet links and helplines

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MMO2 offer to small investors

Mobile phone group MMO2 is to make an offer to buy out small investors in order to reduce the fragmented nature of its shareholder base.

It is offering to buy back shares at an extra 5 pence per share. Investors can remain landlord property insurance
, but they must tell the company by 9 March. If they do not, they will get the cash automatically.

Further information:

MMO2 offers small investor buyout

External internet links and helplines

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Revenue website suffers problems

Money Box has discovered that the Inland Revenue self-assessment website has not been working, just two weeks before people have to get their forms in.

Listeners have been e-mailing to say the site was down, and the Revenue confirmed to Money Box that there was a power failure on Saturday morning.

But they said that the systems should be up and running some time during Saturday afternoon.

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Click here for the top item on Money Box

Presenter: Paul Lewis
Producer: Jennifer Clarke
Reporter: Samantha Washington

One key concern is around 200,000 new homes are planned for flood risk areas, louisiana citizen property insurance corporation
in south east England.

More Than’s report also warns defences being built now may not prove adequate in future and believes 3.5 million homes will then be at risk of flooding.

The firm said the government had made progress, but more needed to be done.

The report also warned the Thames Barrier was only designed to be effective until 2030, yet substantial new development was planned behind it.

David Pitt, the firm’s head of insurance, said the government had made progress by including plans to raise spending on flood protection in England and Wales in recent spending reviews.

He said it was also positive the government had uk property insurance
the role of the Environment Agency in the planning process.

Climate change

“However more needs to be done, particularly with the potential for climate change to drastically affect weather patterns and cause disaster for homeowners and businesses,” he added.

Mr Pitt said claims made to More Than after a significant flood averaged 30,000 “to get the property back to normal”.

He added it was “business florida in insurance property
” the insurance industry continued to raise issues about the future of flood protection and work closely with the government to ensure home owners and firms had adequate protection.

Under the new federal advisories, many of the buildings will have to be raised up to three feet (0.9m) for residents to qualify for flood insurance.

The Bush administration also pledged an additional $2.5bn (1.4bn) to replace flood walls and raise levees protecting 98% of the population in the region.

The funds must be approved by Congress.

A lot of people have been waiting for the advisory to come out so they would have direction Local neighbourhood association Jeb Bruneau

“This will enable people to get on with their lives,” said Donald Powell, the federal rebuilding certification for property casualty insurance.

Mr Powell declined to estimate how many homes would have to be raised but described the recommendations as good news, saying raising a house three feet was “not that dramatic”.

The flood advisories detail how high the water might rise in areas of the city during an extreme event known as the “100-year flood”, and how well the levees would protect residents.

The proposal also answers fears over whether flood rules might bar some of the city’s poorest low-lying areas from reconstruction, such as the Lower Ninth Ward.

Many officials had feared that some areas of New Orleans would have to be abandoned, but under the new plans the entire city will be protected.

Residents say raising their houses will sharply increase repair costs

This “brings certainty to some uncertain issues along the greater New Orleans area”, Mr Powell said.

‘Spur in activity’

Property owners who ignore the guidelines risk losing government aid and could face higher flood insurance premiums.

The new building guidelines do not apply to existing houses, those that suffered 50% damage or louisiana citizen property insurance who obtain permits before the rules come into effect.

Homeowner Timothy Riley, 44, said the guidelines would sharply increase the cost of repairing his home.

He said: “We’d have to tear our house down. There is no way we can jack the slab up to go any higher.”

Jeb Bruneau, president of a neighbourhood association in the city’s Lakeview area, was relieved that the recommendations had been released.

“This will spur activity unbelievably,” he said. “A lot of people have been waiting for the advisory to come out so they would have direction.

“A lot of people are looking at this as progress,” Mr Bruneau said.

Foreign Office minister Douglas Alexander said because of “exceptional circumstances” the normal seven-year wait for a certificate could be waived.

The move should allow many families to resolve the financial affairs of their missing relatives much sooner.

The number of Britons missing presumed dead is 203 and 53 confirmed dead.

A further 346 are categorised as missing, “possibly involved”.

Life insurance

Normally, a death certificate cannot legally be issued in the absence of a body until seven years have elapsed.

Without a certificate, relatives may have problems resolving mortgages, selling property or inheriting assets.

But insurance firms say the absence of death certificates will not delay payments on life insurance policies belonging to people presumed killed in the tsunami.

Mr Alexander told united property insurance the commercial free from insurance property quote was “keen to address the concerns” of the families involved.

The property and liability insurance principle problems discount property insurance face are much too intense for that period of time seven years to elapse Lord Falconer FCO downgrades Sri Lanka advice Tsunami families in ‘legal limbo’

But he warned that the process of issuing the certificates could take months.

Mr Alexander said four tests would have to be passed before a death certificate could be issued.

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