Fee to open current account???

After waiting not-so-patiently for the past 6 months, I have finally fulfilled my residency requirement to open a proper current account with Halifax. I went there today and everything went fine until the clerk told me that I would have to pay 100 pounds into the account in order to activate it. Is this normal practise at most UK banks? I've never had to PAY money into my US accounts to open them.

Also, I thoroughly researced various banks and their web sites reading the fine print about their different current accounts before I chose one and not once did I see any mention of this 100 pound requirement.

I opened a current account (and later a savings account) at HSBC within only a couple of months of moving here, and I did not have to pay a fee for either of them.  Is it a security fee because you don't have a credit history here in the UK, or is that their standard fee for everyone?  If it's the latter, maybe they have a "no frills" type of current account?

I already have the no-frills account (ie no checkbook, debit card, overdraft). I opened that soon after I arrived here. This is the proper current account I'm opening that I was told back in September I'd have to wait 6 months to open.

Basically, they told me that I have to put 100 pounds into the account in order to receive my new debit card and pin number. Once I've paid in the month and received my card & pin, then I can withdraw the money back out again. It isn't a charge per se, more of a security deposit I guess. I'm just wondering if this is only a Halifax thing or if it's normal at most UK banks.

I haven't heard of it with any other banks and I certainly didn't have to do it when I opened my Royal Bank of Scotland account in 1999.

I've never heard of this, and... i used to work for the Halifax!

That settles it. I'm cancelling my application with Halifax and going with HSBC instead.

i didn't have to do with with NatWest.  And there was no 6 month waiting period...

I am opening an account with Barclays and it seems pretty pain-free. They want a US proof of identity that has a permanent address (ie drivers license), a current passport (preferably with matching name to your DL), and some sort of proof of employment either her or in the U.S. No 6 month waiting period and they don't care whether you have your residence established here yet. No extra fees.

That settles it. I'm cancelling my application with Halifax and going with HSBC instead.

Not to put a downer on your plans - but HSBC is known for their unethical investments.  Most recently they bought out a mortgage lender in the states known as a predatory lender. 

I don't even walk of the same side of the pavement with HSBC! 

eddieranch- you didn't need to show anything showing your UK residency?  three years ago I tried to open up an account at Barclays- they wouldn't touch me with a 10 foot pole- because i didn't have a bill/council tax bill/gas bill that showed my UK address. 

the more i read through bank related posts here the more i'm convinced it's a crapshot- i think it's down to the individual branches in the individual towns/cities.  in my town i've found NatWest to be the best to deal with (after trying unsuccessfully to deal with Barclays- and hearing the issues my boyfriend's had with Norwich and Peterborough).

one of these days i'd love to troll through all the posts and collate all the info- who's had good/bad experiences with setting up accounts at all the various UK banks.

eddieranch- you didn't need to show anything showing your UK residency?  three years ago I tried to open up an account at Barclays- they wouldn't touch me with a 10 foot pole- because i didn't have a bill/council tax bill/gas bill that showed my UK address. 

It's very easy to get your name on the council tax bill - when I moved here it took one phone call and about two days to get a new payment book with the additional name on it.  My husband and I did it six years ago. 

Meggles, I'll let you know Tuesday after I open it. Today's visit to the Gloucester Rd. branch indicated no need of UK residency proof.

one of those things I guess

I've never heard of HSBC being known for making unethical investments - and that includes recent financial headlines and websites I regularly visit. that said, of course I may have missed the 'news' in that respect - but it certainly is'nt 'well known'

I've had absolutley fantastic service from HSBC, i will not change to another bank even though some of their accounts 'seem' better to switch to (I'd just rather open then up separatley and use them less regularly) I find their internet banking is extremely easy to use too. To this end, I've just recently opened my business banking account with them too!

For me, a definite thumbs up for them!

I'll also keep a lookout for these unethical investments they've made - in the same breath, I daresay other large corporations, banking or not, have done something similar!

Cheers!
Dennis! West London & Slough UK!

It's very easy to get your name on the council tax bill - when I moved here it took one phone call and about two days to get a new payment book with the additional name on it.  My husband and I did it six years ago. 

unfortunatly, i was moving here solo.  so I had to find a place to rent, move in, sign up for council tax myself.  that took about 3-4 weeks. 

I've never heard of HSBC being known for making unethical investments - and that includes recent financial headlines and websites I regularly visit. that said, of course I may have missed the 'news' in that respect - but it certainly is'nt 'well known'

Simple - just do a google for *HSBC* and *unethical* and you will get 1,000's of results.  It is well known. 

And for arguements sake - if you want to invest/save/borrow money from an institution - shouldn't you do research to find out where your money is going?  Maybe I am the exception - but I do my research.  I don't want to be part of a bank/building society, etc that is destroying rainforests, buying up known predetory lenders, and such like.

But hey - that's just me.