[lemarsh]

OK - some point-by-point responses. Please don't think I am just defending my employer - I do believe that fees are to high, however, I do believe that there should be a level playing field with all information. The problem with programmes like those shown on BBC/ITV are:
1) Trying to create good viewing figures - and 'company bashing' (whether it is Banks or Airlines etc) is good viewing.
2) You ALWAYS only get 1 side of the story. The Banks cannot actually talk to the TV Company because of customer confidentiality. 1 sided stories are always that - 1 sided!

lemarsh: Out of interest: what is (roughly) the average cost of running a (private) current account

To be honest, I haven't got a clue! Once was quoted about £10 - but that was years ago, and don't know the basis of this calculation - or even if it was a figure some one plucked out of the air.

I'm not sure if you're referring to just lloydstsb or all banks but...I have it in writing from the nationwide that cheques into their current accounts take 5 working days to clear.

Sorry, I'm 'old school' - Nationwide is still in my eyes (along with all the rest of them) a Building Society, playing at Banking! IN the old days, for example, Leeds Building Society would pay all the cheques into Lloyds, so had to add 2 or more days onto the Banks clearing cycle. Now this may not be the case now.

If I pay in a cheque on a monday, the earliest it will be cleared is friday morning at midnight but usually the following monday or tuesday.

Generally, cheques are cleared in the following times:
Day 1 (mon) - Paid into Branch - and sent to Head Office
Day 2 - Goes through clearing system - and exchanged between banks
Day 3 - Received by paying Branch
Day 4 - Technically, the paying branch can still return this item - and should therefore be classes as uncleared.
Day 5 (Fri) - Item would have cleared overnight (thur/fri) - but could still be received as unpaid.
CLEARED FUNDS are not a guarantee of the fact the cheque is going to be paid.

If I use my debit card somewhere, my available balance usually goes down (not always) but the transaction doesnt show until a day or two later.

The authorisation will reduce the balance - as the Bank has agreed to pay this. However, they have not received the actual debit, so cannot debit it from your account. CHances are (again this is going back a few years, but should still be in case, and I can't comment for other banks) the 'earmarked funds' (i.e. what was said to be coming out of your account) will be removed a few days later automatically, in roughly the time the debit appears.

A transaction from another bank (not standing order) seems to take an age it should be max 7 working days I am told but usually 3 to 5 days, it took 10 working days for me, you saying it doesnt happen but it DID happen.

I'm not arguing (honest) just explaining the system. 3 to 5 days is correct (I believe 3 should be the norm). If it does take 10 days, from UK to UK, there is a problem. Lloyds will not delay processing to your account. There is not justification for that, and no benefit to the Bank (any additional interest is going to be insignificant when it comes against the potential loss of an account - and 10 day transfers would result in a loss of accounts). Go back to the sending bank - and check account details etc. Providing they are a UK bank, there should be no need for more than 5 working days. I am presuming it is going into a Bank, as opposed to a credit card/building society account.The sending bank should do a 'trace' through the system (i.e. where was the money from leaving us- and on what day did it get to the next 'step' in the transaction). If there is a delay, this will show up where, and the necessary action taken to correct it. 10 days is unacceptable.

Lloyds TSB in the past have taken extra direct debit payments from my account for my loan without authorisation, I ring up and they refund, except guess what? a transaction from themselves needs 5 days to clear. If during this time a direct debit or standing order isnt cleared I am liable for the fees they wont refund.

Again, can't quote on individual cases, but.... a loan set up correctly (always a possability it was not set up right...) should only take 1 payment per month. Again, that is what you signed for under the consumer credit act agreement - £x for £y months on z date. Providing payments are not missed, this is the automatically set up. There may be (again - branch experience is now - especially for loans - out of date) a time when someone delays a payment (i.e. can it be paid on the 20th as opposed to the 10th), that if someone changed it between those dates, the computer will pick up the 20th, so a payment could be made on 10th & 20th - but this is just bad timing, and may not be the case.
If ANY MISTAKE the bank makes which results in bank charges (or any other charges for that matter) they should (and I believe are) always refunded. Where they may be an argument is where the fault lies. That is down to 2 people having a conversation, understanding each others point of view, and agreeing if the bank was at fault. If you do not agree with the decision the banks make, you can always follow the grievance procedures, which ultimately lead all the way to the Banking Ombudsman (whos decision is final on the bank, but not on the ciustomer).

It seems the banks are claiming that if penalties on the poorer people in society are dropped (they currently subsidise free banking for the rich) that free banking will end.

You tell me then the poor don't pay for the better off!