Welcome to This Is Money podcast sponsored by Charles Stanley Direct.

I'm Georgie Frost and joining me and Simon Lambert today is Helen Crane.

And coming up, is it time we just all admitted that free banking, well isn't really free anyway, and started paying for our own accounts?

Worried parents are wondering how they'll cover Labor's planned VAT on private school fees

should they win the election.

This is Money helps one diligence saver work out how to find an advisor that they can trust,

and Crane is back on the case and helping one reader who was sold a car by Cynch with

a pretty significant fault.

Don't forget you to update with all the latest breaking money news.

Just go to this ismoney.co.org or download the app.

Charles Stanley Direct. Investing made easy.

Cost effective and flexible.

Using our website or app. With our comprehensive range of investments, trade in shares, funds, investment trusts and

ETFs, there's a range to suit all levels of investor.

Choose your own or consider our ready-made solutions.

Charles Stanley Direct. Sign up now. Investment involves risk. But first, most of us don't pay to have

a bank account. Obviously some do to get bits on the side. But this free, if in credit banking model in the UK is a market and commercial

decision and not a regulatory requirement other than for basic bank accounts. That was a point

repeated recently by the boss of the Financial Conduct Authority, who said that the regulator

would not stand in the way of banks opting to charge customers to hold accounts.

But why would they do this and what would it mean for us?

Welcome, Simon, welcome Helen.

...