Dear listener

MY SUPREME COURT DAY.  Wednesday 25 November 2009.

Up at six so that by seven I can be in front of my microphone at home ready to talk to Good Morning Wales. We expect the banks to lose the test case which the Supreme Court is ruling on today. But of course they could win, I told the nation.

By nine I am outside the Court opposite Westminster Abbey and at a quarter past through security and in the building. Five minutes later I am on my mobile telling Radio Tees much the same as I had said to Radio Wales.

Into the ecclesiastical Edwardian Gothic of Court 1 which is packed with journalists, campaigners, members of the public and lawyers. Spot on quarter to ten ‘All Rise!’ which we do and three Supreme Court Justices enter. No wigs or robes. Just business dress.

Lord Phillips, President of the Court, reads his judgment summary. Within two sentences we know the banks have won. Within two minutes he has finished and they file out. There is an awful silence. Except among the lawyers representing the banks who have been suspiciously jolly all along (they get notice of the judgement before the rest of us).

We collect the written judgment, mill around making calls and feeling slightly bemused. Had the banks really won? Had five Supreme Court Justices overturned the High Court and the Court of Appeal? Had they really confounded the expectations of journalists, campaigners, politicians, and – as far as we could tell – the banks themselves? Had a million customers lost?

They had. Outside a scrum of journalists with television cameras, radio equipment, notepads, and flashguns interview campaigners who have marshalled their thoughts enough to express shock, dismay, anger, and outrage.

Radio Stoke calls and I give them the news. After that I have a few moments to start reading the judgment. There is hope buried in it. Not for the people who had already applied for a refund – their cases would almost all be rejected. But in future, more competition, a change in the law, even a broader court case which might be won, are all hinted at by their Honours.

An hour later I admire the Houses of Parliament gleaming in the sunshine as I stand by the BBC box on College Green which has a quality ISDN line to the studios. The area smells like a recycling depot, as they are now called. A workman reluctantly turns off his power drill so I can record a quick interview for Radio Ulster. Then at midday I bring Radio 4’s You and Yours programme up to date.

Back to another BBC box to do a short interview with my colleague Vincent Duggleby at the start of Money Box Live. And then a call to go into Television Centre to give the very latest views on the News Channel at 6.30pm.

Twelve hours after I began I am home. Win or lose it is still this week’s top story…

… IN THE BEST RADIO PROGRAMME (Voice of the Listener and Viewer), FINANCIAL PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR (ABI Media Awards) and the winner of PERSONAL FINANCE BROADCAST PROGRAMME (Santander Media Awards)…

What now for the million people whose complaints have been on hold pending this result? Can the banks’ charges be challenged on other grounds? And did the banks win because the Office of Fair trading took the wrong case?

After that bankchargestastic start, a top academic economist tells us who pays the million pound salaries in the City. Errrr-it’s us.

Why does Ryanair charge £5 per passenger per flight if the travel is booked by any debit or credit card except Visa electron, which is free? That’s £40 for a family of four flying to Spain and back. And how do you get hold of a Visa Electron card anyway?

VAT came down to 15% on 1 December 2008 but is due to go back up to 17.5% on 1 January, pushing many prices up by more than 2% as the New Year sales begin. But what rate is charged if a builder does work this year but sends his bill next? Or your phone bill arrives on 31 December but covers charges for 2010?

That’s the plan. But the spare slot for breaking news is still there – all eyes on Dubai. Check out what is, in the end, broadcast by tuning in to Radio 4 Saturday at noon, listening to the repeat on Sunday at 9pm, or logging on to the website bbc.co.uk/moneybox where you can listen at any time or subscribe to the podcast, as well as read stuff, watch videos, follow up items, download transcripts and documents, and send us things you want us to look into. And of course Have Your Say on this week’s topic – still to be decided.

Best wishes,

Paul

PS Don’t forget the programme preview on Breakfast BBC 1 just after 0845 on Saturday.

e-mail Paul Lewis