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Great “Improve Money Rules In 50 Words” Hunt. What easy changes for our politicians

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  • nansenst
    nansenst Posts: 57 Forumite
    Tax revenue from the sale of cigarettes should be put into a separate pot and used by the NHS to treat illnesses caused by smoking. In this way the rest of us should see extra money released to the NHS for those of us who arent killing ourselves by choice.
  • Introduce single ID No. and get rid of Passport, Birth Cert, NI No, driving license, criminal record, tax records, employment history, medical records, training/education records, etc

    Each section would be held on different databases and permission would be restricted so a Police Officer would be able to stop you and check any convictions or cautions but not your education records.

    Would simplify not only government administration but employment recruiting, pay, etc
  • jaffab
    jaffab Posts: 27 Forumite
    Make an hour a week of lessons entitled "Basic Money Sense" part of the national curriculum for all secondary school children.
  • VeeW
    VeeW Posts: 84 Forumite
    Barneysmom wrote: »
    Hi my idea isn't really about credit cards or mortgages type things but here goes, please don't laugh.....

    I think that people should be given more time to pay parking fines, or even a pay a bit a month.

    Wouldn't it make more sense to park legally?? No fines at all:j
  • VeeW
    VeeW Posts: 84 Forumite
    carolt wrote: »
    End the discrepancy where all UK taxpayers pay for some to get free university education (eg Scotland), free prescriptions, or free old-age care. If we all pay for them, we should all be entitled to the same benefits.

    2 different countries, 2 different parties in power. Why should Scotland pay twice for some things? Works both ways
  • VeeW
    VeeW Posts: 84 Forumite
    c_cottell wrote: »
    Introduce single ID No. and get rid of Passport, Birth Cert, NI No, driving license, criminal record, tax records, employment history, medical records, training/education records, etc

    Each section would be held on different databases and permission would be restricted so a Police Officer would be able to stop you and check any convictions or cautions but not your education records.

    Would simplify not only government administration but employment recruiting, pay, etc

    No doubt we'd have to pay for this despite having paid for the individual items, i.e passport, birth cert, driving license. Just another money making scheme for this nanny state we live in
  • VeeW
    VeeW Posts: 84 Forumite
    MSE_Martin wrote: »
    Great “Improve Money Rules In 50 Words” Hunt.

    What easy changes should our politicians make.

    Politicians focus on big changes, but often it's the little things that could speedily be changed to make life better – many can be said in under 50 words.

    We want your suggestions; a selection will be compiled, turned into a guide for all to read and sent to a selection of MPs for their views & published both here and (we hope) in the national media. Plus pls thank any posts you agree with.

    An update letting you know when the full selections picked and published will be in the free weekly MoneySaving Email.

    My example suggestions...



    As an example here are some of mine, they include things we’ve already campaigned on as well as some new ones....
    • Legal right to fair Energy Direct Debits.

      While paying by direct debit is cheaper, you’ve no legal right to demand it's fair; meaning companies can up it willy-nilly. This should be stopped. See the Fight Energy Direct Debits guide.
    • Right to know the rate you’ll get before applications go on credit files.

      Apply for a product and it puts a search on your credit file which hits your credit score, yet many products are rate for risk, without applying you can’t know the rate. This vicious circle thats hurts comparing products should be stopped. See Credit Rating guide
    • Water Rates Should Be Challengable

      Unlike council tax where if your property is overvalued you can be rebanded (see council tax rebanding), water rates are now over twenty years old and haven't moved with the times. People need a right to challenge unfair water rates.
    • All phone companies must give option to know price/min at start.
      When you make a phone call, you should have the option to automatically be told the price per minute cost of the call at the start. Many override providers do this but not main stream companies, it makes things more transparent.
    Please make your 50 word suggestions...

    So now I want to know what yours are. We’re going to compile a selection into a document, publish it on the site and the weekly MoneySaving email (goes to 3m people including many influential opinion formers) and send it to scores of politicians and influential regulators to get their response.

    To do it just click reply, please format it as follows

    "A brief headline of what the measure is.
    Then a longer description of the exact problem and how it should be dealt with. Keep it as practical as possible, so there is a definitive action. In total NO MORE than 50 words please."

    Important extra notes...
    • Pls only suggestions, no discussion.
    • This is only on MoneySaving issues please.... all non MoneySaving/inappropriate suggestions will be deleted). Yet it can be finance, energy, telephones, shopping anything MoneySaving.
    • Max one suggestion per post. You can post more than once though
    • No duplication please. Do check no one else has suggested it
    • This is for practical simple changes that positively benefit everyday lives. Not have a go at politicians thread. It's for small, easy practical changes. So things like "freeze MPs pay" or "Rewrite the tax system from scratch" won't make it.
    PLEASE THANK ANY SUGGESTIONS YOU AGREE WITH



    (requires you to be logged in)

    Martin

    UPDATE NOTE FRI 1 MAY 2008: Lib Dem Leader to Take Part...

    Hopefully you'll be pleased to hear that dipping my toe in the water has paid off. Our first politician has agreed to read the final compiled list, and it's a party leader. the Rt Hon. Nick Clegg MP of the Lib Dems.... plus he sent one of his own (any other politicians reading this who want to add one or take part, please send me a PM with your email address and we'll add you)

    Cheapest Energy Units should be the first
    It’s unfair that the first energy units you use are the most expensive: it’s harder to save money by cutting back. The first units should be cheapest, so people who use least, pay least. But I’d protect any low income families who genuinely need lots of energy with lower “social tariffs”.

    [threadbanner]box[/threadbanner]

    I'd like to thank Nick Clegg for this excellent suggestion
  • How about people between the ages of 55 and 64 being able to withdraw a small proportion of their public sector pension lump sum if unemployed and struggling to cope. The income part of the pension should remain unaffected - only the lump sum would be reduced when normal pension age is reached.
  • VeeW
    VeeW Posts: 84 Forumite
    michaels wrote: »
    Heavy taxes on moving (stamp duty) prevent people moving unless the market is rising strongly.

    Housing tends to outperform as the supply is limited. It is unfair that homeowners benefit from this exclusively, some of the gain should be shared with the country as a whole.

    Homeowners should benefit it is after all them that have paid for their home. It is the new hoops introduce in Scotland for us to jump thru' that is preventing people moving. I already paid for the survey before I bought my house, now I'm supposed to pay again if I sell so I won't bother selling. If everyone's doing the same = slowed down housing market.
  • VeeW
    VeeW Posts: 84 Forumite
    mower5 wrote: »
    Introduce 20% Capital Gains Tax on the profits from sales of private housing. Big anomaly in the tax system should be closed to fill the treasuries coffers and stop the next hpi bubble before it begins.

    Guessing you're not a home owner. I've paid for my house in full why should I be taxed again (all money earned taxed) on my profit if any?
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