Hello
Guest

Sponsored Links


Topic: UK Citizen Bank Question  (Read 800 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

  • *
  • Posts: 98

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: May 2012
UK Citizen Bank Question
« on: January 29, 2017, 11:31:27 PM »
Hi Everyone,

I read through most of the banking threads but couldn't find an answer to my question.  First let me give you some background information. UK citizen by birth; left when I was six years old. Planning to return from US later this year.

My question is, will the bank requirements apply to me regarding opening an account that applies to someone on a visa (spouse visa etc)
I will not have a job upon arrival but hope to get one soon after arrival.  I have no family where I plan to move so will need to rent for a while.
So getting banking sorted out asap is the goal but I'm alarmed at the hoops one has to jump through to get one.

Thanks for the response in advance

Brigette


  • *
  • Posts: 601

  • Liked: 35
  • Joined: Jul 2009
  • Location: Northern Engand
Re: UK Citizen Bank Question
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2017, 12:38:18 PM »
These days the banks treat everyone as some kind of money launderer just to open an account. You will need proof of address. Gone are the days when they treated customers as human beings. Now it's just drones with their box-ticking exercises.

I had a friend come over from Germany to live for a while in the UK. No visa required, obviously. I tried at Natwest and HSBC and failed to get them a bank account. I even had a sympathetic branch manager, but the managers don't have any authority anymore. In the end I gave up and had to order a second debit card and second bank account in my name and gave that to them to use.


  • *
  • Posts: 3902

  • Liked: 716
  • Joined: Nov 2012
  • Location: Eee, bah gum.
Re: UK Citizen Bank Question
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2017, 03:19:44 PM »
These days the banks treat everyone as some kind of money launderer just to open an account. You will need proof of address. Gone are the days when they treated customers as human beings. Now it's just drones with their box-ticking exercises.

Yes indeed. When we returned home last year we went into our bank, which we had kept an account with for 30 years, at the same branch, to upgrade the account to a different type, some weeks after we had changed our address with them to our new UK address.  It was unbelievably difficult as they required utility or council bills addressed to us at our current address as proof of who we are.  Turns out the letting agent had put the lease in both our names but transferred council tax and utilities into my name only.

The bank wouldn't even accept a recent bank statement from them to us in both our names, and the fact that we already had existing accounts with them was irrelevant.  Fortunately I saw that the water company had us both on the account so I was able to bring in a letter from them to the 2 of us so we could upgrade our checking account.  They showed us the approved list of authorities issued by the government, and even the signed house lease in both our names was not acceptable as proof of address.

Yet every month we listen to or read news stories about folks being robbed by thieves who convince them to transfer large sums of money to their bank account which they immediately empty and then disappear leaving no trace of themselves.
« Last Edit: January 30, 2017, 03:21:48 PM by durhamlad »
Dual USC/UKC living in the UK since May 2016


  • *
  • Posts: 98

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: May 2012
Re: UK Citizen Bank Question
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2017, 03:19:00 AM »
Thanks everyone for the reply.  Guess I'm going to have sort it out before moving.  Ugh


Sponsored Links