What are the biggest consumer finance issues for the election?

globalds

Maybe time to really sort out the pension mess.

Something like the Australian superannuation scheme.

Every body paying in about 10-15% of there wages in and it being carried from one job to the next.
We have a ludicrous system at the moment where the state pension does not pay out enough to live on.

suelynx

Why do politicians have plenty of money and a huge wage rise, and we have to struggle with frozen salaries, increased taxes, which includes petrol, food and all other purchases?

AnxiousMum

becko1 wrote: »

Why is this linked to parents income, it should be available to all children as they are going to school for the same reason. Some children get £30 p/w when others get nothing. this is not fair

On the EMA - why does it not take into account the size of your family? My son in Year 13 qualifies for nothing, his older brother qualified for nothing - as we were about £20 per year too high in the earnings bracket. With a family of five children, the government was in effect saying we could afford the £30 per week for them to attend school - not necessarily so. We couldn't afford it as much as someone who earnt less money but only had one child. But then, my kids would've gone anyway - unlike kids featured recently on a tv show using EMA money to fund their fags and booze.

MSE_Martin

globalds wrote: »

Maybe time to really sort out the pension mess.

Something like the Australian superannuation scheme.

Every body paying in about 10-15% of there wages in and it being carried from one job to the next.
We have a ludicrous system at the moment where the state pension does not pay out enough to live on.

Already coming please see http://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2010/03/26/not-got-a-pension-you-will-do-in-two-years/

Why are ISA transfers not done electronically and savers losing out with insane ISA transfer processes?

Already being done please see

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/banking/2010/03/super-complaint-into-cash-isa-transfers-launched

wymondham

Have road tax or tax on petrol, not both... simplify things...

Terri31

1. Education!
2. Fuel and Energy prices - disproportionate rises have been largely unchallenged. We should be protesting as loudly about this as the Poll Tax. Also, it is impossible to compare tariffs on this and other items such as phones. There ought to be a pricing structure that is clear and common to all so that real comparisons can be made. Current practice is deliberately incomprehensible. Comparison sites I'm afraid are not altogether reliable as many people are not organised enough to have their current bills to hand and results are often based on guesswork.
3. Water metering - is inherently wrong. Water is essential to life and good health and hygiene. While we ought not be wasteful people should not be fearful to use it.

ScuzBox65

Why is it that only one parent can claim this? In separated families this benefit prevents one parent - 90% are fathers - claiming benefits/tax credits, plus the CSA determine the claimant of child benefit to the 'parent with care' regardless of how care is split, even in 50:50 cases.:mad:

nikki.paul

• Families on energy meter: family on low incomes being made to pay more for their energy because they are on a meter. (even better make the companies reply us all the money they have made us overpay)

• Sort out the companies charging disgusting interest rates (cap interest rates for all)

• Warm front grants: Only enable to low income families (ect), or adults on DLA. (therefore under 18s on DLA not entitled to it because they can not hold a tenancy agreement, surly under 18s just as vulnerable)

• Tax credits: stop it being calculated yearly (i.e. claim £140 per week tax credits as only one adult working, if the second adult starts work half way through the tax year you have a huge overpayment straight away which could run into thousands therefore no incentive for people to find work.

• Bank charges: put legislation in place to stop the banks taking advantage of people with bank charges. At the high of my debt the bank had charged me and my husband over £5000 in bank charges sometimes £100s per day.

• Financial education in school to give children the best financial start in life to help them to avoid debt and manage their money in the future.

FluffyFiFi

veruccasalt wrote: »

Allow couples to transfer tax allowance. I gave up work to bring our family up. My husband is now our sole wage earner. He should be allowed to use my tax alowance for our family's benefit.

This would be a fair way of helping out hard working families who are struggling to make ends meet whilst trying to bring up a family.

angelpops

Why do people who give up work to look after their children get no financial help. Childcare and transport costs are so high, it is not financially worth returnig to work. We now have one income coming in and no benefits (apart from child allowance) to help us with rising costs and bills.