"RichardS" wrote
| Even a day I could cope with as cheque clearance and BACS processing
| is AAUI a daily batch process. Three is taking the proverbial, and
| of course this is just for the core clearing banks.

Bank of Scotland take 5 days to clear English cheques. However many years
it's been since the Act of Union ...

| Many outside this system take even longer - I think it's Abbey
| that can take 6 days routinely.

Just wait till Santander take over.[1]

Owain

[1] And if you are an Abbey shareholder you will receive Santander shares
and have to complete a Spanish tax return.