[lwilli63]

It’s been 18 months since we moved to Coquitlam from Kingston-Upon-Thames, UK and I thought I would pen a few thoughts and comments on our time here thus far. This isn’t about knocking either BC (I hesitate to say Canada because it is so vast and we have experienced a very, very small part of it so far) or the UK both of which I love or have grown to love dearly, it’s just my experience so far from my own unique viewpoint.

I was lucky enough to have a job when I arrived – my employers in the UK asked me to set-up an office in Vancouver, without the job there is NO WAY that I would have made the move with wife and kids in tow. Research conducted in the UK before making the move indicated that finding a job in BC would not be easy; the reasons for this have been documented extensively in the forum so I will not go into the details. Despite being educated to post graduate level and having extensive experience in IT I can state with some degree of confidence that if I’d arrived without work I would still be unemployed or performing a job way below the level of remuneration and responsibility that I was used to in the UK. I think this is a major factor that anyone coming over to BC should pay particular attention to. My wife is still looking for work (albeit half-heartedly as I think she enjoys being a lady of leisure).

The banking system here is simply appalling, nay shockingly dreadful. I cannot pay my landlord by direct debit I have to go and deposit a check into his bank every month, when the cheques run out I am stung $70 for a new cheque book. Setting up the company bank account was like crawling over broken glass – it was that painful, slow and not cheap to run. “Ah, but that is why the banking system here is so robust unlike that of the UK” I hear some cry – this has nothing to do with risk; it is simply red tape and appalling inefficiency. There I got that out of my system. Oh, trying to get company credit cards for business expenses…. I won’t go into that I still have the scars on my back.

I preface my next comment by stating outright that I am no genius, far from it – I’m your average Joe. Generally, the level of incompetence in many areas is simply staggering eg. phoning the bank, a utility company, credit card company with a simple request can turn into a marathon call. I’ve had a couple of accountants already and neither of them inspired any confidence. However, they are all so polite and helpful that I find it near impossible to lose my temper and / or be rude.

I was paying an arm and a leg in the UK to have both my kids educated privately, simply because the state schools in my area were not good. My experience with schools here has left me with nothing but praise and admiration for the teachers and the system (despite a teacher’s strike that has been going on for quite some time). This has meant that I have a lot more disposable income, some of which has gone into paying for my kid’s activities that I could barely afford in the UK: skiing, skating, Tae-Kwon-Do, piano, guitar lessons etc, etc.

I have had cause to use the health system (nothing serious) and once again I cannot praise it enough, maybe I was lucky I don’t know but I didn’t experience any delays or waiting lists – this included booking an appointment with a specialist for my son: the appointment was made for the following week. I know for a fact I would have had to wait over 3-months for same in UK.

We had been renting our house in England and whilst the house was in very good nick and fully managed by an estate agent we were always terrified that something major would go wrong with it eg. new roof etc. So we decided to sell and are waiting for the exchange rate to move in our favour before bringing funds across. The next big decision facing us now is whether to buy or rent for another year.

The scenery and range of provincial / regional parks is simply stunning, we were never much into hiking but we are now trying to complete the 70 best hikes in BC (published by Vancouver Sun last year) we have crossed off 30 odd so far and the beauty of this land never ceases to inspire awe and wonder.

I coach the 10-12 yr olds team at our local rugby club and apart from being very rewarding it has helped us meet many people. We have made a number of good friends already: Canadians, Mexicans, Phillipinos, British etc etc, it’s quite a cosmopolitan group, so socially we have managed to integrate. We have also found some superb watering holes in the neighbourhood where a pint can be had for $4 (Guinness $6), I’ve even acquired a taste for spicy chicken wings.

Things we miss from UK: a good tennis club, playing bridge, my wife misses her family. Oh, I also miss being able to buy booze when going shopping for groceries and I’d like to be able to buy cheese at a reasonable (as opposed to extortionate) price. So overall, we are settled and very happy with our new life here in B.C. so much so that we have decided to stay at least until the children have finished school (another 8 years) and we hope that the favourable circumstances we find ourselves in do not change dramatically.

If you are planning on coming over think very carefully about the job situation and keep an open mind, as other posters have said many times before things aren't necessarily better or worse over here: they are just different.

[R I C H]

Good luck for your future, sounds like you're pretty happy here.

Couple of points WRT banking - it's not the banking system per se that's at fault concerning rental payments, you have a lazy landlord. My renters pay me by direct deposit, it's very simple to set up. Interact e-mail deposits are an alternative too.

Sounds like you've come across a poor branch of whomever you bank with as when I started my business here the account side of things was dealt with in under and hour, with free cheques offered.

[lwilli63]

Originally Posted by R I C H Good luck for your future, sounds like you're pretty happy here. Couple of points WRT banking - it's not the banking system per se that's at fault concerning rental payments, you have a lazy landlord. My renters pay me by direct deposit, it's very simple to set up. Interact e-mail deposits are an alternative too. Sounds like you've come across a poor branch of whomever you bank with as when I started my business here the account side of things was dealt with in under and hour, with free cheques offered.

Thanks Rich. This is a prime example of what I call incompetence WRT banks. I bank with TD Canada Trust and I have been to my branch and my landlords bank (CIBC) on at least 2 occassions and they both tell me that I cannot pay directly - and in fact that there is no way to do it. I could pay directly if my landlord banked with the same bank as me.

How did you manage to do it (if you don't mind me asking)?

On the business banking side of things yes, my small business manager is a complete knob but to be fair there were some complications to do with owners of the company being resident outside of Canada.

[iaink]

interac "e transfer" is easy to do if they are at all tech savy, but its $1.50 a pop.


My first bank in canada was TD. Never again. Free "PC banking" is the way to go for me.

Still, I think we all agree banking here is archaic, so other than that it sounds like its going well.

[R I C H]

Originally Posted by lwilli63 Thanks Rich. This is a prime example of what I call incompetence WRT banks. I bank with TD Canada Trust and I have been to my branch and my landlords bank (CIBC) on at least 2 occassions and they both tell me that I cannot pay directly - and in fact that there is no way to do it. I could pay directly if my landlord banked with the same bank as me. How did you manage to do it (if you don't mind me asking)?

One tenant likes to use Interact e-transfers, they suck up the $1.50 cost, the others bank with RBC, as I do, and they have a direct deposit set up.

A previous tenant gave me 12 post-dated cheques in advance, which meant a trip to the bank each month, but at least I was in control of it and not reliant on them forgetting.

[JB0591]

Hi Iwilli63

Congrats on your first 18 months. I thought your comments about the job situation was too true, I did the move without one and it took nearly a year to get it sorted. I have to admit I fell on my feet in the end, with better pay and less responsibility.

Had I known the situation I would have stayed in UK working for a little longer and a. saved more money for the move b. came out on more recce trips looking for work.

I must admit that I have had crap experiences with banks and utility companies in the UK and here so not difference for me.

Enjoy your next hike.

JB0591

[Atlantic Xpat]

Originally Posted by iaink Still, I think we all agree banking here is archaic, so other than that it sounds like its going well.

One point in the banking systems favour is the ability to obtain a new interac card, immediately over the counter in any branch of your bank should you have lost/damaged the old one. In the UK that would involve a call to the call-centre and a new one arriving by post some weeks later. With all the attendent "how to I access my money" problems in the interim.

I do agree with the OP's opinion that the vaunted Canadian banking being more robust than UK/US is more about inefficiency and a low risk tolerance than anything else.

[lwilli63]

Originally Posted by JB0591 Hi Iwilli63 Congrats on your first 18 months. I thought your comments about the job situation was too true, I did the move without one and it took nearly a year to get it sorted. I have to admit I fell on my feet in the end, with better pay and less responsibility. Had I known the situation I would have stayed in UK working for a little longer and a. saved more money for the move b. came out on more recce trips looking for work. I must admit that I have had crap experiences with banks and utility companies in the UK and here so not difference for me. Enjoy your next hike. JB0591

I'm glad to hear that you eventually landed on your feet: more pay and less responsibility is the kind of winning combination I like

Cheers

[helcat12]

Originally Posted by lwilli63 If you are planning on coming over think very carefully about the job situation and keep an open mind, as other posters have said many times before things aren't necessarily better or worse over here: they are just different.

Very true.

My OH came out here and secured an IT job (more money than the UK with a more robust company) and we came over as FSW Cat 2 applicants on the strength of that. (Well, he came first, but that is another story.)

With his income it has been a financially stress-free immigration and I have been able to take lower-paid work to tide me over until I can work in my profession.
Without it, we wouldn't have considered coming at all.

Contacts we have had with FSW Cat 1 applicants and postings on BE suggest that they frequently have a hard time getting a job even though their profession is supposedly "in demand".
I think the "in demand" list is very misleading and gives unwary immigrants a false sense of security.

[glenn wilson]

Welcome to BC.... Province of challenge

[Aviator]

Originally Posted by glenn wilson Welcome to BC.... Province of challenge

It will be if the NDP get in next time round They just got in to Chilliwack Hope, which was a Liberal safe seat for years.

[Tonycuk]

lwilli63, thanks for a great update post, its been very helpful, I hope you don't mind but I have PM'd you a quick message

Many Thanks

[Boy d]

Originally Posted by iaink interac "e transfer" is easy to do if they are at all tech savy, but its $1.50 a pop. My first bank in canada was TD. Never again. Free "PC banking" is the way to go for me. Still, I think we all agree banking here is archaic, so other than that it sounds like its going well.

Another plug for pc banking....certainly neve paidc70 bucks for cheques........or any fees for that matter...good post

[flashman]

Originally Posted by iaink Still, I think we all agree banking here is archaic, :

Might be archaic but they're in better shape than the rest of the world.

[el_richo]

Originally Posted by flashman Might be archaic but they're in better shape than the rest of the world.

Don't be so sure about that. Like all other things Canadian, they're just a little behind the times. Unfortunately when the other major countries are enjoying a recovery, Canada will be faltering

Good for house prices, bad for jobs, and especially immigrants