50 word Moneyfesto - Small changes for a big difference 2013

Nourse79

Introduce UK National Identity Cards or Resident Permit with photo ID. Surely, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. Right ? and that should save a lot of 'public' money.

Kat76

Make us proud of Britain again - make her the strong nation we used to be by Re-Nationalising Services and Utility Companies making them run as non-profit making organisations, with any profits from consumer bills only being allowed to be made for reinvestment & improvement purposes, rather than making directors and share holders into fat-cats.
NHS - Hospitals & Health Trusts - Police - Fire - Ambulance - Coastguard - Mountain Rescue - Cave Rescue
Gas - Electricity - Water - Sewerage - Landline/Broadband

Kat76

In this technological age, many workers now find their work comprises of them sitting at a computer/phone/desk all day long. It is no wonder we're turning into an obese nation. Make it law that all employers have to provide 30mins of gentle led exercise per day to every member of desk-bound staff. Health and productivity can only improve...

campfire08

Introduce a usury law set at 10% above BoE rate for all lending and credit business.
If possible back date it to cover all outstanding loans.
This will drastically reduce defaults and impose loan discipline on lenders and borrowers.

Kat76

Regulate the Estate Agents for both Sales and Lettings. Currently unregulated, only affiliated by choice and payment of subs to certain bodies confusing sometimes called "ombudsman". Currently if they misbehave, all that happens is that their affiliation is ceased. No punishment, no legal procedings, no investigation, Nothing!

Kat76

There are currently 3 "goverment approved" schemes, but only one (DPS) is run by the goverment and truely keeps the deposit safe.
The others (My Deposits and TDS) are insurance based schemes to which the estate agent/landlords pay a subscription, then the estate agent/landlord keeps the deposit themselves for the duration of the contract. There is no help for the landlord if the estate agent does a bunk with the deposits. All the schemes do is unaffiliate that estate agent... useless! And there are 2 more useless "goverment approved" schemes about to launch 1st April.
Tenants are fine because ultimately it is the landlord's responsibility to "protect the deposit" and thus if a scheme fails them, they have to shell out of their own pocket to give the tenant their deposit back.

Kat76

Try moving house to one with only a landline connection (not cable). You are faced with only one real "choice" - BT - as you have to "reconnect" to use its line and they will charge over £100 for doing this if you don't take out a minimum 12mth contract with them when they will waive the connection fee (say if you wanted to use another provider like Plusnet). As the UK is moving more into a renting nation, moving is going to be more common, hence BT will be unfairly getting all the custom. Separate line-rental costs from phone/broadband packages so a fair competition is to be had for the packages as there is only one line-provider in a lot of places.

ellie8_2

Force magazine/television/billboard advertisements to keep images natural and ban photoshop/correction to the models. It creates unrealistic images for (especially) young people that they believe they should look like it.

Former_MSE_Wendy

Thread now closed - thanks for all the suggestions folks.