nick72

We are not bringing any UK things with us at all....

Wondering how easy it is to get either of these cards so we can pay for stuff when we get there !

We have a quite a large deposit to put in whichever bank we choose, will that have a bearing on anything ?

Nick

Wendy

Hi Nick,

I opened an account from the UK with ANZ and when we got here opened another for a visa debit card. It works just like a credit card except you use your own money, which you can transfer from your main account at anytime.

Most shops accept the normal EFTPOS card, but the debit card is great for buying online or paying bills with.

I haven't applied for a real credit card, as I want to avoid getting one if I can. It's so nice not owing anything

Pookster

Does having 2 accounts with ANZ mean 2 sets of account fees?
Ouch

Wendy

Yes. One is $4 a month the other is $6

saoghalbeag

I'm with Westpac and have 4 accounts (including a credit card) but they've got a package where I can roll all of these onto the one card and only pay the one monthly account fee ($5) which includes unlimited transactions (except at other ATMs that would be too much to ask )

Not trying to advertise for westpac, I don't particularly like them that much but you should perhaps follow it up with ANZ as they possibly have something similar???

Can you get a credit card here without residency? I'm Australian and when I was in teh UK I couldn't get access to anything that meant credit (loans, finance, credit cards) utnil I had residency??? I also couldn't give via direct debit to charities...which was sometimes a useful deterrent to those crazy ones with the clipboards in shopping centres...

chels

You can get a credit card without residency, but they make it difficult... a lot of credit cards specify you have to be a permanent resident. Those that don't specify a salary above a certain level - for ANZ it was $70,000. However, I know of a few people of temporary 457 visas who just lied on their applications and said they did have PR, and weren't asked for evidence of their PR status.

goldchoccycoin

I have a visa debit with St George Bank - $5 fee for account and good service. They have also said they can offer me a credit card as I have been a customer for 3 years - even though I am a temp resident! I'm sticking with the visa debit though as it suits my needs fine.

nick72

We will be residents in 4 weeks !!

Nick

YoSemite

yup I've got the ANZ one as well...

took about 5 mins (if that) to do the application online. few days later card had arrived in the post. popped up to the local ANZ, put money in account, activated card, did ID check and picked my own pin...


piece of cake!!!!!!!!!