There are fixed dates for the tests for 11- and 14-year-olds, but test dates are not given out in advance for seven-year-olds, for whom the experience is supposed to be less formal.

BBC: Tests - a guide for parents

Some customers may not be able to comply and may be forced into using less formal and more costly intermediaries such as cheque-cashing services.

ECONOMIST: Retail banks

For that reason, less-formal processes may sometimes be more effective and timely.

FORBES: Transcript

It could be that there are still an enormous amount of caring people but they are doing it in a less formal way.

BBC: England