Report Fraud and Student Loans
Summary
Money Box investigates the new "Report Fraud" agency, designed to replace the discredited Action Fraud, and its promise of more effective action against crime. The episode also uncovers alarming practices by bailiffs, leading to calls for statutory regulation to protect vulnerable debtors. Additionally, it examines new safeguards for households on heat networks and scrutinizes the high interest rates on student loans, which many graduates feel they were misled about, causing their debt to spiral.Episode description
Billions of pounds is lost each year to fraud, be that by criminals simply stealing someone's money or by thieves tricking victims into giving them their details before draining their bank accounts. It's a crime that is massively under-reported, with very low conviction rates too. To tackle this, a new agency's been created called 'Report Fraud'. It replaces the problematic "Action Fraud" which had been the place for victims to report fraud for over a decade. Paul Lewis interviews Chief Superintendent Amanda Wolf who's the Head of Report Fraud.
There are calls for a cut in the interest rate on some student loans. In recent weeks some graduates have been saying they feel they were missold their loans, because they're only paying off interest on what they owe, despite high levels of payments. The Department for Education says that its making what it called "tough but fair" decisions to protect taxpayers and students. We'll discuss that with the Higher Education Policy Institute.
There is growing pressure from charities and MPs for the government to introduce statutory regulation of the bailiff sector in England and Wales as a matter of urgency. Campaigners say it's about making sure people who are in debt aren't on the receiving end of bad practice form bailiffs breaking the rules.
And half a million households on heat networks now have new protections when it comes to their heating bills.
Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Bisi Adebayo and Dan Whitworth Researcher: Niamh McDermott Editor: Jess Quayle
(First broadcast on Radio 4 12pm Saturday 31st January 2026)