2 questions\???(banking/mobiles)

As it is getting closer and closer to the time that I will have to leave the US, I have tons of questions and loose ends to tie up....

1.  How difficult is it to get a bank account in the UK? Can I apply to an international bank?? Are there any international banks?

2.  What do I do about my cell (mobile) phone? I have T-mobile as my server and I am under contract, do you think that they will help me work that out? Or will I have to break my contract with them and start anew in UK?

I guess that is more then 2 questions ...sorry guys 

Opening up a bank account can be a breeze, or it can give you premature grey hair. I found it very difficult, but eventually managed an HSBC account. Even though it seems like they'd all have the same rules, each bank is different about their procedures, so just shop around really. If you do a search in the forum's search feature for "bank account" you can read through some of the other topics about this, it is complicated and everyone has a different experience.

As far as the phone is concerned, I'm nearly positive you'll have to just start fresh.

I agree with Marlespo...I didn't have a problem but many of my workmates did.  Just recognize that it won't be as easy as it is in the States & it will take time for it all to go through even after you get the okay.  As for phones, tell the company that you are moving overseas (even bring your plane ticket & show your visa stamp) & they may not charge you for it (that's how it worked for me).  And then start anew! (If your phone is triband you may be able to use it over here...ask at T-Mobile)

It's a good idea to bring at least 3 months worth of bank statements from your US bank.  I was told at Barclay's if I can prove my banking history to them, they will set up a current account with debit card for me whereas if I don't I can only have a basic account for a certain length of time.  I don't know of any international banks- but perhaps in the larger cities like London there are.  I had an HSBC in the US for some time and opened an HSBC here but unfortunately was not able to transfer money back and forth, though I could use the ATM cards in either country without a service fee.  I do know if you have Bank of America, which I currently do, and Barclay's you can use their cash machines either way without any fees.

For me, getting a bank account was the single most difficult thing about moving to the UK.  It took me 6 months to finally find a bank willing to offer me an account, because I didn't fit neatly into one of their predefined categories. 

The crux of getting a bank account for me wasn't that I didn't have a solid banking/credit history in the US, but that it was difficult to "prove" my address since we are living in student housing as my husband is a student.  I didn't have a council tax bill, electric/phone/internet bill or anything else that they would take as proof of address.  They wouldn't even take my pay stub!  Not a letter from my landlord, not a letter from my employer.   I'm not sure if banks are so rigid by choice or by requirement of law, but either way it was not a fun process.

To get a bank account you will need: proof of identity (passport) and proof of address (council tax bill or electric/phone/internet/water bill showing your name and your address).   Depending on the bank, they may also want to see three months of bank statements from your US bank and/or a copy of your US  credit report.  If you have all these things, then you can pretty much walk up to any high street bank (NatWest, Barclays, HSBC, RBOS, etc) and get an account the same day.

What I ended up having to do was apply for an offshore account through Lloyd's TSB.  It's called a World Wide Service account and is especially for foreign nationals who have resided in the UK for less than 3 years. Works just like a regular Lloyd's TSB account, but is classified differently under UK law (don't ask me why) and thus is subject to different rules about what can be accepted as proof of address/identity/income, etc.  I *highly* reccomend it.  At the end of three years, if you can prove you have a visa to extend your stay, then they automatically roll you over to a regular UK current acount.  Very nice indeed!

Whatever you do, come prepared and bring more information than you think you'll ever need.  Good luck!!

Get an employment letter from your company.  It will definitely help.  That is all I had to show HSBC to get myself an interest bearing checking, savings account and credit card.  I had no issues whatsoever opening up my accounts.

bvamin

I agree with Marlespo...I didn't have a problem but many of my workmates did. Just recognize that it won't be as easy as it is in the States & it will take time for it all to go through even after you get the okay. As for phones, tell the company that you are moving overseas (even bring your plane ticket & show your visa stamp) & they may not charge you for it (that's how it worked for me). And then start anew! (If your phone is triband you may be able to use it over here...ask at T-Mobile)

I called ATT and they were quite rude and were like, you'll have to pay to break the contract $175. That's the same as letting it run w/ the smallest monthly fee. I'm still cancelling it, but I will try what you suggest and see if I can save some money

The crux of getting a bank account for me wasn't that I didn't have a solid banking/credit history in the US, but that it was difficult to "prove" my address since we are living in student housing as my husband is a student.

I didn't have the kind of proof of address they were looking for as well, which was a pain. In the end I called my US bank (I had kept my Wells Fargo account open) and had them change my address to an English one. I waited until I received a statement from that account, and HSBC accepted that as proof of my UK address.

I didn't have the kind of proof of address they were looking for as well, which was a pain. In the end I called my US bank (I had kept my Wells Fargo account open) and had them change my address to an English one. I waited until I received a statement from that account, and HSBC accepted that as proof of my UK address.

We tried the same thing and they didn't accept it, because our account was a joint account rather than something solely in my name.  It had to be something with my name and ONLY my name on it for some strange and ridiculous reason (something about I could be still living in the US trying to launder money).   

I often wonder for Uk citizens going to the US, if they run up against things like this (what do you mean I don't fit in your checkbox system?!).  But that's another thread entirely. 

We tried the same thing and they didn't accept it, because our account was a joint account rather than something solely in my name.  It had to be something with my name and ONLY my name on it for some strange and ridiculous reason (something about I could be still living in the US trying to launder money).   

I often wonder for Uk citizens going to the US, if they run up against things like this (what do you mean I don't fit in your checkbox system?!).  But that's another thread entirely. 

Not really, the US doesn't have as strict anti laundering laws as the UK, so people moving from the UK to the US for the first time don't really have these issues as much.

bvamin

I actually had similar experiences in the US but I think it was mainly due to the fact that my salary was paid in the UK while working in the States so I couldn't  satisfy them with a regular pay into an American checkings account. I guess I was lucky that my first assignment was in Cambridge (Boston), MA, where the banks there were more used to foreigners (students) and thus I was able to open an account with Fleet (have to say though, it cost me $25/mth in fees!).

As for the UK (since I'm neither from any of the 2 countries), had the same probs opening a current account but I "worked" my way up by opening a savings account first (most of them provide you with a cash card so that you can withdraw money from ATMs) and then applying for a current account when I got a job here.

Naw, when David came to the US with me this last December they gave hima  bank account straight away. He could have been a blind, footless monkey and they'd have given him an account!

Why are you coming to the UK? I came to the UK, and everyone from around here asks, "what the heck did you come here for?" I am starting to agree, as the amount of bureaucracy involved in processes here is mind numbing and debilitating. Think long and hard about what your objective is, and if it is for family, skip it. You'll get a better paying job in America and your money will take you longer. I am semi retired from the Navy and am just about fed up. In general, the people are fantastic, but their always seems to be some sort of hassle with accomplishing simple life missions on a regular basis, i.e. having to pay for parking when your child is in the emergency room, banks that prohibit more than a certain amount of money per day from a teller without 24 hour notice, expensive gas, bad traffic, very little quality work to be found. I am looking for house back in America so I can get the hell out of here . . . .

Why are you coming to the UK? I came to the UK, and everyone from around here asks, "what the heck did you come here for?" I am starting to agree, as the amount of bureaucracy involved in processes here is mind numbing and debilitating. Think long and hard about what your objective is, and if it is for family, skip it. You'll get a better paying job in America and your money will take you longer. I am semi retired from the Navy and am just about fed up. In general, the people are fantastic, but their always seems to be some sort of hassle with accomplishing simple life missions on a regular basis, i.e. having to pay for parking when your child is in the emergency room, banks that prohibit more than a certain amount of money per day from a teller without 24 hour notice, expensive gas, bad traffic, very little quality work to be found. I am looking for house back in America so I can get the hell out of here . . . .

Life is what you make of it no matter where you live ! Some seem to love being in the Uk and others do not. It is really all personal choice and opinion. Don't just take one opinion and run with it or let it scare you off. There are many wonderful threads here about people who would never return to the US, people who love the quirkiness of UK living and so on. Good luck with your move.