The Budget

[Russ]

So, what are our predictions for the Chancellor's pre-election bribes today?

[Pierre]

Free smarties for all over 85's

[Marge]

Toyboys on prescription for single girls in their 30's

[danielf]

fags up by 15p

[Aragorn]

About £2 billion of bribes for middle class voters.

Followed by £3 billion of stealth clawbacks next year after the election.

Not cynical

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4346849.stm

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by homealone

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4346849.stm

Am I right in believing that at the moment with dormant accounts, the banks claim the money as part of their profits, but should the customer claim the money, it will be available.
If the treasury grabs this money, how will the customer/saver get it back?

Originally Posted by Aragorn

About £2 billion of bribes for middle class voters.

Followed by £3 billion of stealth clawbacks next year after the election.

No - it's £2 billion of promised bribes, followed by £3 billion of actual stealth taxes, and then they'll tell us how we're only worse off by the difference between the two.
__________________

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Am I right in believing that at the moment with dormant accounts, the banks claim the money as part of their profits, but should the customer claim the money, it will be available.
If the treasury grabs this money, how will the customer/saver get it back?

I don't know how the banks cook their books, but this is just plain daylight robbery. How GB can justify clearing out bank accounts just cos people don't touch them for a while is beyond me.

Just shows the money-grabbing thinking at no. 11

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Am I right in believing that at the moment with dormant accounts, the banks claim the money as part of their profits, but should the customer claim the money, it will be available.
If the treasury grabs this money, how will the customer/saver get it back?

in the same way as when the life companies were given permission to pay their orphan with profit funds out to shareholders, then the stock market collapsed and the cussion fund had vanished to the policy holder suffered (and still is sufferering as life companies had to sell out of shares at a rock bottom price in order to prove to the FSA that they are solvent)

So if the customer claims the money in a dormant bank account otherr customers suffer in terms of reduced interest rates. The shareholder WILL NOT suffer

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by ScaredWebWarrior

I don't know how the banks cook their books, but this is just plain daylight robbery. How GB can justify clearing out bank accounts just cos people don't touch them for a while is beyond me.

Just shows the money-grabbing thinking at no. 11

Just imagine, a granny puts away £500 for her grandson planning to give it to him when he's 18.
She doesn't understand things like ISA's and other accounts set up for long term savings.
18 years later, she goes to take the money out and gets told "sorry dear, the treasury thought you didn't want your money any more so took it 15 years ago"

[Paul K]

Originally Posted by Russ D

So, what are our predictions for the Chancellor's pre-election bribes today?

Giving pre-election bribes with one hand and taking it back with the other? You know, the usual

[AndrewJ]

Alienware computers to be sent to everyone for nothing, and broadband being forced to give out at 34gb bandwith to everyone for 10per month, also making all internet broadband caps illegal, and to provide me with Jessica Alba one weekend per month.

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by AndrewJames

Jessica Alba one weekend per month.

Sorry, I've already been promised that one, along with Kate Moss

[Scarlett]

I'm praying for an increase in stamp duty thresholds... What with looking to move later this year an all.

But willing to bet that it's not going to actually raise to £150,00 0 as mooted in some places
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Oh and if Im really going to be cynical...

Whatever the budget, I'll be in the single demographic group that worse off rather than better off after he changes.

[Mr_love_monkey]

Originally Posted by Scarlett

I'm praying for an increase in stamp duty thresholds... What with looking to move later this year an all.

But willing to bet that it's not going to actually raise to £150,00 0 as mooted in some places

They're never going to change stamp duty, nor inheritence tax, both of which now must be great little earners - considering in a lot of areas you'll be lucky to get a 3 bed house for less than 250,000 - that's a lot of money going to the government