Improve Money Rules In 50 Words. Suggest easy changes for our politicians

shropshire_lass

Dr.Watt wrote: »

None of us should be subjected to another form of what might be termed "legalised extortion". The "TV licence-fee" is a prime example of this. Long ago it could be justified as the BBC had no way to earn its upkeep, however this has long ceased to be a valid argument.
The BBC became a revenue-earning business many years ago but naturally did not want to give up the endless supply of free money. This extra "tax" on the consumer used to be obtained by very heavy-handed means which many people felt was tantamount to extortion, although they have modified the process to spin it into something which looks more respectable, the fat remains that it is entirely un-necessary.
Why stop with the BBC? Perhaps the battered tax-payer should be forced to donate an annual £5Bn to say, Richard Branson, or maybe Carphone Warehouse. Why single out the BBC for this special bonus. The way they disburse this treasure-trove shows complet contempt for the tax-payer.
Would most people wish to pay salaries of £16 million p/a to people who are basically disc-jockeys and clowns? Even the BBC management recognise that they are operating at an industrial level now by insisting that they are paid at levels like the banks and other big commercial enterprises.
If the BBC can prove that it cannot produce enough revenue from sales of material, then let them find another method like the proposed charges for overseas subscribers or even, yes, advertising like the other TV channels have been obliged to do for decades.

Who says ITV and the other independant channels are free? WE pay for them but the costs are hidden so you don't know you are paying!
For each and every TV advertised item you buy in the shops, part of the price you pay goes to pay for this advertising. A survey done many years ago worked out that it cost about £250 per person per year for independant channels. A family of four paying (hidden) costs of £1,000 per year! I wonder what the costs are now?

sheyo

Broadband Speeds
Make all broadband providers reveal the actual speed their broadband runs at not an 'up to speed'. This would then make it a more competitive service and we can better choose the best provider for ourselves with proper knowledge of service/speed/price offered.

barrenelly

suiko wrote: »

This single simple measure would make a greater improvement to the quality of life of more people than any other one I can think of. When there is so little light, surely it makes more sense to have it when people can best make use of it?

I believe that, despite vested interests, this measure would be popular even in Scotland.

Absolutely right. Accidents fell when this was tried before, and there's no reason why people in Scotland, or anywhere else, should not decide to work 10am-6pm or 8am-4pm at certain times of the year if that gives them more usable light.

cj9

Oblige all financial institutions to subscribe to the Faster Payments Service when making bank to bank money transfers. There is no justification to take 3 days to effect these transfers since it applies to cleared funds.

Damo666_2

Your utility company's bill should show what you would have been charged if you were on any of their other tariffs, so you can easily make a comparison.

And go one step further.
Your utility company to also show what you would have paid if you were with a compeditor.

Eg:
Dear Custormer,
Your energy use this month was 1234 units of Electricity at 0.05p/unit
Your bill is £61.70
You are on the 'BASIC Tariff'
If you were on our following Tariffs, here is what you would be paying:

• Eco Tariff £62.08
• On-Line Tariff £58.65
• Combined Elec & Gas Tariff £59.30 (Electricity only)

Our compeditors would have charges you:

• EON BASIC Tariff £63.21
• EON ECO Tariff £56.21
• Southern Elect Basic Tariff £59.43

Ect, you get the idea.

wriggly

Married couples and civil partnerships should be able to be jointly assessed for income tax (with allowances doubled). This would fix the unfairness in the Child Benefit changes, ensuring a family earning £50000 through a single earner (or single parent) gets the same benefits as a family earning £50000 through two parents each earning £25000. This would also encourage families with one low-earner and one stay-at-home parent to stay together to share tax-free allowances.

dolphin_1

Many pensioners like myself, who worked all our life, paid into a penion scheme, now find just because we recieve only just over the financial limit, and am therefore unable to claim any benifit, we therefore have to pay the full amount for dentistry glasses etc.
Surley a sliding scale should by applied, i can testify that another pensioner i no, with £46,000 in the bank, can still claim credits and can therefore still claim, rent help, dentristy, glasses etc,etc. I also no she has declared every penny to the appropriate departments.

shropshire_lass

emmybee wrote: »

A schoolteacher I know has three CRB certificates: one as a schoolteacher, one as a youth club leader and one as a Brownie leader. WHY? One CRB check should suffice, thereby cutting down on unnecessary expenses. SOMEONE is making a lot of money out of this ridiculous situation!

You have to be re-checked every 3 years at a cost of £50 each time. Money making scheme indeed.

pipsqeak

My Gas supplier has declared an increase of 9.4%. Having been advised of the increased KwH rates and having worked out the increase I am facing based on know previous useage, the increase is nearly 15%, five percent greater than that declared.

shropshire_lass

petebenson wrote: »

Stop hammering the BBC. It is an incomparably brilliant service in TV , Radio and online. You only need to experience the average output in other countries to know how bad things could be here. The day it goes or diminishes due to lack of funds watch Sky and the likes hike their prices.

People keep saying ITV is free. Well actually its not; WE ALL pay towards it. For each and every TV advertised item you buy in the shops part of the money you hand over goes to pay towards this advertising. A survey done many years ago found that it cost about
£250 per person per year for independant TV. A family of four paying £1,000 per year to watch! Wonder what the costs would be now?