Paying first rent, how?

Guess I am in the right section.

From what I have read, I can easily use US Mastercard and Visa Debit and use the Visa for ATM withdrawals right?

I will keep our credit union accounts here in the US and that is OK right?

Later I can open a UK account correct?

I'm concerned as to how I pay the big expense of the rent, deposit, taxes and fees right away. What kind of references would I have and I can't remember if someone said our US credit history can be used there? Please advise!

Thanks!

You can use your ATM cards but it's better to use them with your regular PIN if they have a Cirrus or Plus logo.  Using them as a credit card means you pay additional fees and are making a cash advance against your credit limit.

You can keep any accounts open in the US that you wish; you will want to give them an address where they can send your statements.  They may take a UK address, or they may not.

You can open a UK account usually once you have proof of identity and address.  That generally happens once you get a council tax or utility bill sent with your name to your address.  You can also apply for a provisional driver's license which can serve as ID and proof of address. You can do this regardless of whether you plan to drive in the UK.

You usually pay the first month's rent in cash.  You will need to make a number of withdrawals over as many days as required to accumulate enough cash. 

Your credit history in the US will generally not be used in the UK.  You can bring any references you like, useful ones might be your current landlord, if you have one.  No telling whether or not the UK landlord will use them, though.

Hi,

I'll answer the ones I know:

Yes, you can use ATMs in the UK with your US cards.  Watch out for fees from your bank for a) using an overseas ATM and b) converting your US dollars to UK pounds.

Yes you can keep your credit union accounts in the US.  There are a few methods for transferring money from the US to the UK.  If you look on this board you'll find several posts about it.

You can probably open a UK bank account, but in my experience UK banks are much more reluctant to open an account for than a US bank.  The UK bank might want to see pay statements to know that you're going to keep depositing money.

No your US credit history won't mean anything in the UK.  If you are not eligible to vote in the UK, establishing credit is difficult.  There are threads on here about how to do it.

Hope that helps.

You can use your ATM cards but it's better to use them with your regular PIN if they have a Cirrus or Plus logo.  Using them as a credit card means you pay additional fees and are making a cash advance against your credit limit.

You can open a UK account usually once you have proof of identity and address.  That generally happens once you get a council tax or utility bill sent with your name to your address.  You can also apply for a provisional driver's license which can serve as ID and proof of address. You can do this regardless of whether you plan to drive in the UK.

You usually pay the first month's rent in cash.  You will need to make a number of withdrawals over as many days as required to accumulate enough cash. 

Your credit history in the US will generally not be used in the UK.  You can bring any references you like, useful ones might be your current landlord, if you have one.  No telling whether or not the UK landlord will use them, though.

Sorry but what do you mean by 'regular' PIN? Plus my Visa debit doesn't have those logos so does that matter? What is difference in using regular ATM card and the Visa debit?

So we can each get a non-drivers ID like here in US? Neither of us drive anymore. Husband due to stroke and me because I no longer have a van with 40,000 dollars worth of modifications.

So we NEED references? If so can you tell me who would qualify?

Thanks so much.

So we NEED references? If so can you tell me who would qualify?

For private rentals, each landlord has their own requirements, so there's no list of qualified references.  They'll want to know you're not a scumbag, so if you can get letters of reference from any old landlords saying what a great tenant you were, that'd help.

I've been reading something in the US that depositors should avoid using debit cards except at their bank.
I see a big decline in the use of debit cards in general in the US because there is very little protection if someone gets the number or swipes the card twice after you have given it to them for a purchase. Also, Wells Fargo is starting to charge if you use their debit card so that is another reason people wouldn't be using them.

I use my debit card about once a month and only because there isn't another way to get cash.

99% of my transactions are done with Bill Pay or American Express Credit Card.
I use to cringe charging less than $5 but it doesn't phase me now.

I think if I paid cash I would be a lot more careful as to how much I was spending.

Sorry for the high jack.

Most people can make a cash withdrawal using a credit card as well as using their ATM card. So a credit card that you use to charge things can be used to get cash. The credit card will have a PIN to use at an ATM just like a regular debit card. However, using a credit card to withdraw cash is usually much more expensive than using the ATM card that is linked to your checking or savings account.

A provisional license is not a non-driving ID (there isn't one in the UK) but it can be used as one.

For private rentals, each landlord has their own requirements, so there's no list of qualified references.  They'll want to know you're not a scumbag, so if you can get letters of reference from any old landlords saying what a great tenant you were, that'd help.

We haven't had landlords. Who else?

Hi,

I'll answer the ones I know:

Yes you can keep your credit union accounts in the US.  There are a few methods for transferring money from the US to the UK.  If you look on this board you'll find several posts about it.

You can probably open a UK bank account, but in my experience UK banks are much more reluctant to open an account for than a US bank.  The UK bank might want to see pay statements to know that you're going to keep depositing money.

No your US credit history won't mean anything in the UK.  If you are not eligible to vote in the UK, establishing credit is difficult.  There are threads on here about how to do it.

Hope that helps.

Yes thanks! Following the posts here it seems it is possible to open a bank/credit union account in the UK but every branch goes about it different is this correct?

I lost part of the quote but I thought I read on here that Visa debit was so great to use. I guess I am still wondering how to access money from US accounts. Sorry for not getting it yet!

I've been reading something in the US that depositors should avoid using debit cards except at their bank.
I see a big decline in the use of debit cards in general in the US because there is very little protection if someone gets the number or swipes the card twice after you have given it to them for a purchase. Also, Wells Fargo is starting to charge if you use their debit card so that is another reason people wouldn't be using them.

I use my debit card about once a month and only because there isn't another way to get cash.

99% of my transactions are done with Bill Pay or American Express Credit Card.
I use to cringe charging less than $5 but it doesn't phase me now.

I think if I paid cash I would be a lot more careful as to how much I was spending.

Sorry for the high jack.

That is fine. I don't know about Bill Pay and since we aren't living on a job/career income we can't get the American Express right?

I lost part of the quote but I thought I read on here that Visa debit was so great to use. I guess I am still wondering how to access money from US accounts. Sorry for not getting it yet!

You should speak to your bank. They will be able to help you with making international transactions.

If you don't references then they will probably require more money up front.  Even for Americans with US references they sometimes ask for 6 months.

We haven't had landlords. Who else?

As bookgrl says, you'll probably have to put up a bunch of money up front.  If possible, I'd suggest offering to pay 6 months up front as a good faith gesture, which would establish your desire to set the landlord's mind at ease about what kind of tenants you'd be.

We haven't had landlords. Who else?

I lost part of the quote but I thought I read on here that Visa debit was so great to use. I guess I am still wondering how to access money from US accounts. Sorry for not getting it yet!

Visa debit cards are great to use overseas. You just have to be aware that there are fees associated with the convenience.

Have you been paying a mortgage in the US?

If you have a Bank of America account in the US, you can access your money it at Barcleys ATMs with no fee as per the Global ATM Alliance-  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_ATM_Alliance#Bank_of_America_International_Transaction_Fee.2FForeign_Currency_F
I believe there is a limit of £250 a day for withdrawals

With Citibank the limit is 350 pounds per day and no charges apply.I had a recent experience with my US bank card and when i called my bank in state I was told i can only use my card with ATM that has pulse or dines-club logo which citibank has. The logo thing might just be my bank policy.