>>>>>>>>>>>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 entire commerce system is evil and only out to screw with my money.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>When you initiate transaction it immediately affects your account. To be precise, credit card purchase will be treated as 'pending' for 1-2 days, i.e. you may see it, but it is not debited yet. When you are on receiving side of the transaction, e.g. expecting a transfer, money will appear only when transaction is authorized and completed, i.e. it is the same 'pending' status for 1-2 days, but on the opposite side of the transaction.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>I know what you are saying, but it most definately affects my available balance. It is, for all intents and purposes, the same as not having the money in my account any longer. Why is my deposit not treated the same way?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Deposit is not treated this way because it is not authorized/cleared yet. Just imagine if receiving side gets the balance before the clearance completed and cashes it, and then sending side stops the transaction. It would be a gold mine for crooks.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Why is my charge posted immediately then? You are saying my bank does not trust me, but trusts any friggin vendor that pings my account?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>It sounds unfair, but bank trusts you no more that to any other friggin vendor: charges are posted immediately (pending), deposits wait for the opposite side getting clearance.
>>>>>
>>>>>But in the case where I make my visa payment online, and my visa card is with the same bank that has my account, aren't they then the same side?
>>>>
>>>>Two sides mean you and your vendor. Bank transfers payment between these two sides. Your charge will appear on your account immediately, with pending status. The vendor will not get money until your charge is properly authorized and cleared.
>>>
>>>I almost said, "Ah, got it", but now I'm not sure. Who is the 'vendor' in the case of my making a visa payment to my own bank? Bank of Nova Scotia has my account, and Bank of Nova Scotia has my visa account. So, in this instance, who is the 'Bank' and who is the 'Vendor'? My bank account is debited immediately on screen, but my visa account is not immediately credited on screen.
>>>
>>>It seems like ScotiaBank is just moving money from one pocket to the other, but taking a lot of time putting in the left pocket after taking it out of the right pocket.
>>>
>>>I'm probably missing something, but I'm not sure what.
>>
>>So you meant paying credit card statement in the bank branch? In this case, it is still two sides (accounts), they just happen to be owned by the same person (my program shows that it is some Alan Popow, hmmm...).
>>The paying side (bank account) gets charged immediately, and the 'vendor' side will get money when the paying side (it is your better, kinder side) gets transaction cleared.
>
>Ok, I get it, but it still seems to me that the transaction should be pretty much instantanious - especially when it's the same bank.

If it is two banking accounts then it goes instantaneous. However, credit card account is not the same as saving account.
Look at my previous note about your kinder side. On one side we have A.P., life-moving, easygoing spender; and on another is A.P., gloomy penny saver. It is not the same, so bank cannot treat these two guys the same way.
Try to look at this problem from your not so kinder side and it will get in place: why that irresponsible spender should get your hard-earned savings anyway?