>>>When I charge something against my bank card, debit or credit, my available account balance almost immediately reflects that amount. When I have money tranferred into my bank account, PayPal or a refund on a purchase, I usually will not see anything regarding that transaction from 4 to 10 days. Why is that? It makes me feel that
>>
>>The real reason is that the entire commerce system is evil and only out to screw with your money.
>>
>>Same here. Time was when I withdrew from an ATM and the balance shown was of that day. Now I see the deduction as of that xaction on the screen straight away. No matter which way I pay my credit card bill: phone, web, cheque in bank branch, post, they all state that up to 4 days are required for it to clear.
>
>Should be a lot better when fastpayments is fully functional (supposedly 97% of transactions) : http://www.fastpayments.co.uk/index.htm

Interesting. I haven't had a credit card for over 2 decades, and only have one now because I was about to exceed my o/draft limit, due to my period of unemployment. Had to go cap-in-hand to the bank 3 times to have it raised - now they didn't have to even inform me that my taxes are to be used to help keep them afloat!