All The Info You Need Part 3
Aug 9th 2003, 10:23 am
#1
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Location, Location!
Posts: 1,481
All The Info You Need Part 3
BANKING TIPS
oke to various banks and cluey relatives in Oz to make some sense of banking plus added in what we remember from living there. Aim is to maximise interest on dosh from sale of our UK house until we buy in Melbourne plus minimise ripoff bank charges.
Our plan is below. Hopefully might save someone else a bit of brain space figuring it out.
Basics:
- Govt debits tax is taken on all transactions from accounts with chequebook facility - not just on cheques from those accounts. Daft.
- Impossible to avoid charges for using ATMs from other banks so you need to bank with a 'biggie' that has loads of machines: Top four are NAB (National Australia Bank), CBA (Commonwealth), ANZ and Westpac (Bank of Melbourne in Victoria). First two are the biggest. Check who's the biggest where you're going.
- Banks charge ridiculous amounts for current accounts unless you have lots of money with them. You have to have a $20K 'relationship' in total with the bank to avoid all charges. So it's possible to have a basic account charge free with minimal money in it (earning even more minimal interest!) if you keep $20K in something with better interest with the same bank (eg term deposit).
- You can get an instant access account with someone like ING (see their website www.ing.com.au) paying 4.75% on any balance. You need an account with another bank as a 'front' and the money can be transferred in and out same day by phone or web (none of this 3-5 days rubbish!)
We're going with Commonwealth so our strategy is:
- Use credit card for most transactions - look for one with decent bonus points/offers - direct debit full balance monthly from bank account
- CBA high interest current account (aka Cash Mgmt A/c) - keep minimal money in it, enough for day to day use, request no chequebook so no debits tax, transfer money from ING to top it up monthly/whenever
- CBA basic account (aka Streamline A/c) - with chequebook, keep $1 in it, transfer money across if cheque written (instantly done at ATM)
- CBA term deposit - eg 90 days pays 4.4% if set up on web (can only do it once in Oz), not as much interest as ING but difference more than offset by saving on bank charges with free banking
- ING a/c - rest of dosh earning 4.75% - can set this up on arrival, application form on web, need copy of CBA bank statement, takes 1 week to open
Hope this is some help to someone - my brain's fried...
RENT REBATE WHEN YOU ARRIVE
Some news that should linterest you new comers. When you arrive as a perminant resident and you are looking for work you can claim a rebate on any rent you are paying. You only get the payment while you are not working and you get it from center link along with your child benefit.
I have just filled a from out for the family we have in the Mandurah house ( they told me about it actually) and they are going to get back around $100 a week.
Hope this helps
Paula
TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR ONE WAY TRIP
Try John Wason Ltd. Click here for their web page.
They do a special insurance package for expats. It covers your travel there and your contents after you arrive. You can pick and choose which bits of the policy you want. It is even transportable so that if you move to somewhere else in the world your insurance always goes with you.
I insured with them and the quote was very reasonable and they were very flexible with which bits of the policy came into effect at certain dates during the move. More importantly I've also had to make one claim (theft from my house in Australia) and they settled in full (minus the excess) very promptly
I found two cheap policies (Which best buys) who cover one-way trips. In both cases cover ends 48 hours after arrival. Most others end at immigration control - what use is that if your stuff gets nicked in the airport carpark???
For under 40s: www.leadedge.co.uk
For over 40s: www.worldwideinsure.com
Same company for both.
Columbus (0207 375 0011) offer one way travel insurance. It stops as soon as you pass through immigration, but at least you are covered for delays, loss of baggage, etc. They were very reasonable, only £35 for two adults.
I rang a big Aussie insurer for Victoria - RACV - www.racv.com.au., phone no. 00 61 13 19 55, to compare local prices.
RACV said they were perfectly happy to cover temp accom for however long, whether with or without a lease, rent paid nightly or whatever, on same basis as usual contents. Then just a change of address when moving.
Premiums were much lower than Wasons esp with a letter from previous insurer saying no claims in last 2 years. A lot of excess options are available - up to $1000. Sample premium for $75K cover new for old with $300 XS in Box Hill, Melbourne was $363 pa. They laughed at the premiums we pay in London...
So we're going to go with the cheap best buy travel policies above: leadedge/worldinsure which expire 48 hours after arrival. Then ring up in first 2 days to get RACV cover on the spot.
Outbacker is another option for one-way trip insurance - www.outbackerinsurance.com The cover levels seemed better than other policies in the same price range.
Getting one way travel insurance is not an issue and quite esy to do it's just finding a policy with enough cover to:
a) Ensure you fully covered for a period of 3 weeks
b) Offers sufficient person effects cover so that laptops, cameras jewllery etc are covered (most limit it to £1500) which is no good for us. The Future Mrs Dinky has an engagement ring which is worth more than the total cover and I'd hate to have to replace that again!
Any people who have been through this already or who have found a solution I would appreciate suggestions.
Try giving Sweeneys a ring.....specialised insurances
0208 6562544
Also very good at Shipping insurance...hell of a lot cheaper than the ones pushed by the removal companies
TO DO LIST
Sell House
Pay off any debts
Sell car
Contact Tax Office (UK)
Get immunised for travel
Sort shipping company
Refs from banks (you will need proof that you are good payers)
Refs from employers
Stop Cable
Stop Council tax
Stop House insurance
Stop Electric, Gas, Water, Phone, Car insurance
Arrange mail to be forwarded to Brenda
Change addresses with bank
Book Flights
Close all bank accounts
Proof no claims bonus.
Convert dosh, open bank account
Get hotmail a/c
Stop car insurance and get rebate
make sure mobile is operative in oz or cancel contract
go to Link shop and buy one-tel pay as you go unlocked mobile with very low call costs £49.95 works in oz they say
Organise ALL the keys you have to the house and doors to give to the new people
Get e-mail addresses for everyone you can (cuts down on postage costs)
Cancel mobile phone contract
Cancel mobile phone contract
OPen oZ bank account (HSBC) prior
Register with as many job agenices as possible as I am trying to do a present, Hays and TMP Hudson have Global parts in london I have numbers if anyone wants them.
Be checking housing market and rentals on line
Decide what you will do first travel, or stay in a b& B
Arrange for car rental for first 2 weeks rentnewcars.com - where bar far the cheapest on all the sites I went on
If you are a tradesman, print of the licence form for your licence complete and have your qualifications ready in hand luggage to
Leaving Party
Pack you suitcase just before packers come with all the bits you will need when you go - (we are travelling first and leaving in Feb but in our cases will be our clothes,(summer) trade papers, driving licence, all important paperwork, references etc. (in hand luggage. So all winter clothes I have will be given away.
Fly west and avoid jet lag [:-) and get 32kg allowance each without having to be tied in to the Qantas migration fare. Which can be costly. Find out about what you can put in the hold for free.
cancel internet
check and have smear
Medical records
Carrianne
oke to various banks and cluey relatives in Oz to make some sense of banking plus added in what we remember from living there. Aim is to maximise interest on dosh from sale of our UK house until we buy in Melbourne plus minimise ripoff bank charges.
Our plan is below. Hopefully might save someone else a bit of brain space figuring it out.
Basics:
- Govt debits tax is taken on all transactions from accounts with chequebook facility - not just on cheques from those accounts. Daft.
- Impossible to avoid charges for using ATMs from other banks so you need to bank with a 'biggie' that has loads of machines: Top four are NAB (National Australia Bank), CBA (Commonwealth), ANZ and Westpac (Bank of Melbourne in Victoria). First two are the biggest. Check who's the biggest where you're going.
- Banks charge ridiculous amounts for current accounts unless you have lots of money with them. You have to have a $20K 'relationship' in total with the bank to avoid all charges. So it's possible to have a basic account charge free with minimal money in it (earning even more minimal interest!) if you keep $20K in something with better interest with the same bank (eg term deposit).
- You can get an instant access account with someone like ING (see their website www.ing.com.au) paying 4.75% on any balance. You need an account with another bank as a 'front' and the money can be transferred in and out same day by phone or web (none of this 3-5 days rubbish!)
We're going with Commonwealth so our strategy is:
- Use credit card for most transactions - look for one with decent bonus points/offers - direct debit full balance monthly from bank account
- CBA high interest current account (aka Cash Mgmt A/c) - keep minimal money in it, enough for day to day use, request no chequebook so no debits tax, transfer money from ING to top it up monthly/whenever
- CBA basic account (aka Streamline A/c) - with chequebook, keep $1 in it, transfer money across if cheque written (instantly done at ATM)
- CBA term deposit - eg 90 days pays 4.4% if set up on web (can only do it once in Oz), not as much interest as ING but difference more than offset by saving on bank charges with free banking
- ING a/c - rest of dosh earning 4.75% - can set this up on arrival, application form on web, need copy of CBA bank statement, takes 1 week to open
Hope this is some help to someone - my brain's fried...
RENT REBATE WHEN YOU ARRIVE
Some news that should linterest you new comers. When you arrive as a perminant resident and you are looking for work you can claim a rebate on any rent you are paying. You only get the payment while you are not working and you get it from center link along with your child benefit.
I have just filled a from out for the family we have in the Mandurah house ( they told me about it actually) and they are going to get back around $100 a week.
Hope this helps
Paula
TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR ONE WAY TRIP
Try John Wason Ltd. Click here for their web page.
They do a special insurance package for expats. It covers your travel there and your contents after you arrive. You can pick and choose which bits of the policy you want. It is even transportable so that if you move to somewhere else in the world your insurance always goes with you.
I insured with them and the quote was very reasonable and they were very flexible with which bits of the policy came into effect at certain dates during the move. More importantly I've also had to make one claim (theft from my house in Australia) and they settled in full (minus the excess) very promptly
I found two cheap policies (Which best buys) who cover one-way trips. In both cases cover ends 48 hours after arrival. Most others end at immigration control - what use is that if your stuff gets nicked in the airport carpark???
For under 40s: www.leadedge.co.uk
For over 40s: www.worldwideinsure.com
Same company for both.
Columbus (0207 375 0011) offer one way travel insurance. It stops as soon as you pass through immigration, but at least you are covered for delays, loss of baggage, etc. They were very reasonable, only £35 for two adults.
I rang a big Aussie insurer for Victoria - RACV - www.racv.com.au., phone no. 00 61 13 19 55, to compare local prices.
RACV said they were perfectly happy to cover temp accom for however long, whether with or without a lease, rent paid nightly or whatever, on same basis as usual contents. Then just a change of address when moving.
Premiums were much lower than Wasons esp with a letter from previous insurer saying no claims in last 2 years. A lot of excess options are available - up to $1000. Sample premium for $75K cover new for old with $300 XS in Box Hill, Melbourne was $363 pa. They laughed at the premiums we pay in London...
So we're going to go with the cheap best buy travel policies above: leadedge/worldinsure which expire 48 hours after arrival. Then ring up in first 2 days to get RACV cover on the spot.
Outbacker is another option for one-way trip insurance - www.outbackerinsurance.com The cover levels seemed better than other policies in the same price range.
Getting one way travel insurance is not an issue and quite esy to do it's just finding a policy with enough cover to:
a) Ensure you fully covered for a period of 3 weeks
b) Offers sufficient person effects cover so that laptops, cameras jewllery etc are covered (most limit it to £1500) which is no good for us. The Future Mrs Dinky has an engagement ring which is worth more than the total cover and I'd hate to have to replace that again!
Any people who have been through this already or who have found a solution I would appreciate suggestions.
Try giving Sweeneys a ring.....specialised insurances
0208 6562544
Also very good at Shipping insurance...hell of a lot cheaper than the ones pushed by the removal companies
TO DO LIST
Sell House
Pay off any debts
Sell car
Contact Tax Office (UK)
Get immunised for travel
Sort shipping company
Refs from banks (you will need proof that you are good payers)
Refs from employers
Stop Cable
Stop Council tax
Stop House insurance
Stop Electric, Gas, Water, Phone, Car insurance
Arrange mail to be forwarded to Brenda
Change addresses with bank
Book Flights
Close all bank accounts
Proof no claims bonus.
Convert dosh, open bank account
Get hotmail a/c
Stop car insurance and get rebate
make sure mobile is operative in oz or cancel contract
go to Link shop and buy one-tel pay as you go unlocked mobile with very low call costs £49.95 works in oz they say
Organise ALL the keys you have to the house and doors to give to the new people
Get e-mail addresses for everyone you can (cuts down on postage costs)
Cancel mobile phone contract
Cancel mobile phone contract
OPen oZ bank account (HSBC) prior
Register with as many job agenices as possible as I am trying to do a present, Hays and TMP Hudson have Global parts in london I have numbers if anyone wants them.
Be checking housing market and rentals on line
Decide what you will do first travel, or stay in a b& B
Arrange for car rental for first 2 weeks rentnewcars.com - where bar far the cheapest on all the sites I went on
If you are a tradesman, print of the licence form for your licence complete and have your qualifications ready in hand luggage to
Leaving Party
Pack you suitcase just before packers come with all the bits you will need when you go - (we are travelling first and leaving in Feb but in our cases will be our clothes,(summer) trade papers, driving licence, all important paperwork, references etc. (in hand luggage. So all winter clothes I have will be given away.
Fly west and avoid jet lag [:-) and get 32kg allowance each without having to be tied in to the Qantas migration fare. Which can be costly. Find out about what you can put in the hold for free.
cancel internet
check and have smear
Medical records
Carrianne
Aug 9th 2003, 10:24 am
#2
High in the Dandenongs
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Listening to Puffing Billy
Posts: 9,183
my god Carrianne, thanks for all of that. Did i miss part 2 somewhere?
Aug 9th 2003, 10:26 am
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: Sussex
Posts: 1,927
Thanks Carrianne your are a star you have done all the hardwork for me.
Cheers
footie chick
Cheers
footie chick
Aug 9th 2003, 10:32 am
#4
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Location, Location!
Posts: 1,481
No problem, just share and share a like, Just decided to do this, this morning as I was feeling delicate after a sunny afternoon on the shandy yesterday and the thought of sun this morning makes me feel quesy.
Aug 9th 2003, 10:37 am
#5
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: Sussex
Posts: 1,927
Hair of the dog might work!
No better still go back to bed. Thanks for all the info i have saved it to file and when i get round to it i will put it in my Oz journal.
Have a nice weekend.
footie chick xx
No better still go back to bed. Thanks for all the info i have saved it to file and when i get round to it i will put it in my Oz journal.
Have a nice weekend.
footie chick xx
Aug 9th 2003, 11:01 am
#6
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Location, Location!
Posts: 1,481
feeling much better now going to the gym for a quick workout.
you to have a good weekend
you to have a good weekend
Aug 9th 2003, 11:22 am
#7
Can't re member
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Goolwa, near Adelaide
Posts: 389
Got a link or directions to this 4.75% interest account from ING ?.
It's not obvious (to me) how to find it from their homepage.
===
ATMs are overrated. With EFTPOS cashback ATMs are almost redundant.
I'm with HSBC, have never used their ATM and have never paid an ATM fee. I get 5 free withdrawals per month from other machines, but prefer to ask for cashback at the supermarket. I pay no fees and always have cash and access to cash.
==
Dunno where you get the "$20k relationship" from. Reads more like an urban legend than reality.
Can you explain the source of that info ?
ta.
It's not obvious (to me) how to find it from their homepage.
===
ATMs are overrated. With EFTPOS cashback ATMs are almost redundant.
I'm with HSBC, have never used their ATM and have never paid an ATM fee. I get 5 free withdrawals per month from other machines, but prefer to ask for cashback at the supermarket. I pay no fees and always have cash and access to cash.
==
Dunno where you get the "$20k relationship" from. Reads more like an urban legend than reality.
Can you explain the source of that info ?
ta.
Aug 9th 2003, 11:29 am
#8
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Location, Location!
Posts: 1,481
no worries http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...eferrerid=6589 is the thread the info came from.
I have just collated others input to make it easier for people.
I have just collated others input to make it easier for people.
Aug 9th 2003, 1:09 pm
#9
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2003
Location: Sunshine Coast Queensland
Posts: 242
I have opened an account with Commonwealth and their brochure has the info about $20k, no charges in it.
Phil
Phil
Aug 9th 2003, 2:40 pm
#10
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 234
Well done Carrianne for posting this info and letting others benefit from it. A lot of it is also useful for those of us heading for NZ.
Just one thing. Could you let us have Brenda's address so we can arrange to have our mail forwarded to her?
Ben
Just one thing. Could you let us have Brenda's address so we can arrange to have our mail forwarded to her?
Ben
Aug 9th 2003, 2:54 pm
#11
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 160
I think I missed the "get immunised" somewhere down the line. What Jabs are people having???
Cheers
Mich
Cheers
Mich
Aug 9th 2003, 2:59 pm
#12
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 160
Re: All The Info You Need Part 3
Great post Carrianne .... many thanks
Rental car company and travel insurance will come in handy. Got to get references from the banks yet, but what about house insurance, do you need proof of no claims there as well??? What kind of references would you need to rent a house in OZ ???
We are getting ready to go as we have sold the house, just awaiting visas after bond lodged......
cheers
Mich
Rental car company and travel insurance will come in handy. Got to get references from the banks yet, but what about house insurance, do you need proof of no claims there as well??? What kind of references would you need to rent a house in OZ ???
We are getting ready to go as we have sold the house, just awaiting visas after bond lodged......
cheers
Mich
Aug 9th 2003, 3:53 pm
#13
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Location, Location!
Posts: 1,481
Hi,
We have had Hep A booster and thyphoid as we where travelling before hand Hep B is recommeded for those going to NZ.
Ben Brenda Who ?
We have had Hep A booster and thyphoid as we where travelling before hand Hep B is recommeded for those going to NZ.
Ben Brenda Who ?
Aug 9th 2003, 4:01 pm
#14
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 234
Ben Brenda Who ?
"Arrange mail to be forwarded to Brenda"
Just kidding...
Ben
Aug 9th 2003, 5:27 pm
#15
too busy to work members
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Tahmoor NSW - Southern Highlands
Posts: 1,385
Thanks Carriane Great help.
www.Ing.com.au should get the australian info rather than the uk site.
WHEN/IF we sell the house we can start on the list.
PLEASE PLEASE please get me a buyer who stays the distance.
www.Ing.com.au should get the australian info rather than the uk site.
WHEN/IF we sell the house we can start on the list.
PLEASE PLEASE please get me a buyer who stays the distance.