'I've kept my mouth shut about the Money Advice Service, but...' blog discussion

tattycath

Well said Martin. :T I totally agree with shellieholly-it needed to be done.
All credit to them for asking for input in how they can improve it-pity they have wasted so much money before they did.

oldvicar

Suggestion to MPs:

Close MAS (costing £20M pa). Give £10M to Citizens Advice instead.

More bang. Fewer bucks.

Wobblydeb

I think you are deliberately talking down a competitor.

Was MSE perfect in it's first year of operation? Was it the size it has subsequently grown to?

I agree that MAS could be improved, but it has time on it's side, and something that MSE lacks - GENUINE INDEPENDENCE.

I for one laud the government's aim to ensure that there is a source of financial advice that is not dependent on affiliate links with commercial organisations to fund it. In the same way I do not want my doctor directly funded by GlaxoSmithKline or my police sponsored by G3.

Bananababe

Its great to see Martin advising the goverment on how to stop spending OUR money on unnecessary unhelpful services. Make a list Martin and work your way down !! TY

I hope they do bring in financial education in school thats fit for the modern world. I teach my kids but I wish someone had taught me as a child. Instead of hiding behind the sofa when the provy wifie came. Cause we couldnt pay her.

stoneman

Martin, well done, but did you get dressed in the dark that morning, honestly, a shirt the exact same colour as the jacket, you may be a whizz at money but mrs MSE needs to shake you up a bit;)

Errata

Why rant? A calm unemotional demolition of the service would have been far more grownup. Nobody likes to be harangued by ranters and consequently they give less weight to the ranters arguement than it deserves.

Stryder

Wobblydeb wrote: »

I think you are deliberately talking down a competitor.

Was MSE perfect in it's first year of operation? Was it the size it has subsequently grown to?

I agree that MAS could be improved, but it has time on it's side, and something that MSE lacks - GENUINE INDEPENDENCE.

I for one laud the government's aim to ensure that there is a source of financial advice that is not dependent on affiliate links with commercial organisations to fund it. In the same way I do not want my doctor directly funded by GlaxoSmithKline or my police sponsored by G3.

I hope your not attacking the multi-millionaire Martin Lewis are you? He will never be a "suit " :eek:

bigbill

If its not part of the CAB already the government will build it up costing millions of £'s and then simply hand it to the quango that is the CAB to run as they did with Consumer Direct, wait and see?

PasturesNew

Never heard of it.

mo786uk

The problem is that the Government is moving away from expensive knowledge based advice to cheaper generic/automated styles of advice.

So would be surprised if ML suggestion is put into practice.