Keeping a UK Bank Account
Jun 8th 2007, 1:07 pm
#1
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Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Leeds
Posts: 316
Keeping a UK Bank Account
We've just got our Visa through and are just waiting for a buyer for the house so we thought it was a good time to try and get everything in order and we've come a bit stuck with regards keeping a current account over here.
Our current a/c is at Firstdirect and we have savings account with the halifax. Firstdirect charge if you have less than a certain amount going in unless you have other products and as we will be closing down everything else (mortgage, credit cards....etc..) I don't fancy being charge to keep it.
We can keep the websaver with the halifax but it doesn't fit our needs.
Can anyone give any advice/experience on which bank to go with? Our requirements are:
Operatable from OZ - online or telephone
debit card available - for purchasing christmas present for family etc online
can keep about 1k balance - no more....
thanks in advance.
Shelley
Our current a/c is at Firstdirect and we have savings account with the halifax. Firstdirect charge if you have less than a certain amount going in unless you have other products and as we will be closing down everything else (mortgage, credit cards....etc..) I don't fancy being charge to keep it.
We can keep the websaver with the halifax but it doesn't fit our needs.
Can anyone give any advice/experience on which bank to go with? Our requirements are:
Operatable from OZ - online or telephone
debit card available - for purchasing christmas present for family etc online
can keep about 1k balance - no more....
thanks in advance.
Shelley
Jun 8th 2007, 1:12 pm
#2
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Joined: Sep 2006
Location: 'stralia
Posts: 2,383
Re: Keeping a UK Bank Account
Just get an ordinary account from Halifax. Can operate online, can have a switch/visa card, can leave whatever balance you want.
I also have ones with Nationwide, RBS, Egg, Sainsburies.... in fact I only closed about two cards down, that I never used anyway.
It's not like here where they bloody charge you every month! No harm in keeping them open just in case.
You can request no paper statements (altho RBS may ignore this, they have ignored us on this point) or you can give your australian address, although this will probably have to be done in writing so it will take a few weeks to get sorted out.
Not something to worry about though, easy as pie!
I also have ones with Nationwide, RBS, Egg, Sainsburies.... in fact I only closed about two cards down, that I never used anyway.
It's not like here where they bloody charge you every month! No harm in keeping them open just in case.
You can request no paper statements (altho RBS may ignore this, they have ignored us on this point) or you can give your australian address, although this will probably have to be done in writing so it will take a few weeks to get sorted out.
Not something to worry about though, easy as pie!
Jun 8th 2007, 1:15 pm
#3
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,374
Re: Keeping a UK Bank Account
dnno if this will be any help, but i have kept my bank accooun open in scotland, coz i had a couple of policy's i wanted to keep up, it is just an everyday account and i dont think i get charged for anything and i can access it online.
I think it is a good idea to keep an account open, coz once you closed them all , i imagine you would have great difficulty if you ever needed to open one for any reason
I think it is a good idea to keep an account open, coz once you closed them all , i imagine you would have great difficulty if you ever needed to open one for any reason
Jun 8th 2007, 1:19 pm
#4
here and staying
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: happy in the hills of Perth......
Posts: 4,351
Re: Keeping a UK Bank Account
We have kept our Lloyds TSB account open, changed address to Oz one, all A ok,
We also have a Halifax AC but it states on their web site that their accounts are for UK residents only, so we put that one to a rele's addi!
Both are internet friendly and card use for internet purchases!
We also have a Halifax AC but it states on their web site that their accounts are for UK residents only, so we put that one to a rele's addi!
Both are internet friendly and card use for internet purchases!
Jun 8th 2007, 1:21 pm
#5
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Joined: May 2007
Location: The Land Of Song..and Pot Noodle!!
Posts: 1,736
Re: Keeping a UK Bank Account
We've just got our Visa through and are just waiting for a buyer for the house so we thought it was a good time to try and get everything in order and we've come a bit stuck with regards keeping a current account over here.
Our current a/c is at Firstdirect and we have savings account with the halifax. Firstdirect charge if you have less than a certain amount going in unless you have other products and as we will be closing down everything else (mortgage, credit cards....etc..) I don't fancy being charge to keep it.
We can keep the websaver with the halifax but it doesn't fit our needs.
Can anyone give any advice/experience on which bank to go with? Our requirements are:
Operatable from OZ - online or telephone
debit card available - for purchasing christmas present for family etc online
can keep about 1k balance - no more....
thanks in advance.
Shelley
Our current a/c is at Firstdirect and we have savings account with the halifax. Firstdirect charge if you have less than a certain amount going in unless you have other products and as we will be closing down everything else (mortgage, credit cards....etc..) I don't fancy being charge to keep it.
We can keep the websaver with the halifax but it doesn't fit our needs.
Can anyone give any advice/experience on which bank to go with? Our requirements are:
Operatable from OZ - online or telephone
debit card available - for purchasing christmas present for family etc online
can keep about 1k balance - no more....
thanks in advance.
Shelley
Thanks for posting that question, I was unsure about it too!!! How would you go about renewing debit card once expired?? where would they go ??
Sorry to answer a question with another question !!!
Zoe x
Jun 8th 2007, 1:31 pm
#6
Banned
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Tapping (Perth)
Posts: 2,619
Re: Keeping a UK Bank Account
We opened an account with Nationwide (Flexi Account) which we will keep open when we go to Oz, because you can operate it via the internet without the need for paper bank statements.
You need to give a UK address, so we will be giving them a relative's address as ours when we leave. New debit cards will be sent to the relative's address ('cause Nationwide will think we live there) and our relative will post them to us.
Gina
You need to give a UK address, so we will be giving them a relative's address as ours when we leave. New debit cards will be sent to the relative's address ('cause Nationwide will think we live there) and our relative will post them to us.
Gina
Jun 8th 2007, 1:43 pm
#7
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Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Leeds
Posts: 316
Re: Keeping a UK Bank Account
cheers,
I won't have a uk address though. OH doesn't want to use my sisters as he doesn't entirely trust my brother in law - suppose at a push we could use his mums up in scotland but we'd rather not. does anyone have one based solely on a oz address?
thanks again,
Shelley
I won't have a uk address though. OH doesn't want to use my sisters as he doesn't entirely trust my brother in law - suppose at a push we could use his mums up in scotland but we'd rather not. does anyone have one based solely on a oz address?
thanks again,
Shelley
Jun 9th 2007, 1:43 am
#8
Ready to go home!!!
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Wymondham, Norfolk
Posts: 103
Re: Keeping a UK Bank Account
We opened an account with Nationwide (Flexi Account) which we will keep open when we go to Oz, because you can operate it via the internet without the need for paper bank statements.
You need to give a UK address, so we will be giving them a relative's address as ours when we leave. New debit cards will be sent to the relative's address ('cause Nationwide will think we live there) and our relative will post them to us.
Gina
You need to give a UK address, so we will be giving them a relative's address as ours when we leave. New debit cards will be sent to the relative's address ('cause Nationwide will think we live there) and our relative will post them to us.
Gina
We have a Nationwide flex account and you do not have to have a UK address. We have given them our Oz address and they are more than happy with that. We get sent our statements and I have just received my new card direct from them. Might be easier for you than re-directing to a relative.
HTH
Emma
Jun 9th 2007, 2:23 am
#9
On the Dark Side :-)
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: South Wales to New South Wales!
Posts: 3,065
Re: Keeping a UK Bank Account
We're with HSBC and have full access to our account online and over the telephone. No problems at all
Jun 9th 2007, 9:47 am
#10
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Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Western burbs, Melbourne
Posts: 2,260
Re: Keeping a UK Bank Account
why not keep first direct plus their credit card for buying presents etc- that way you should not incur costs!
we have a FD account and they send statements plus new cards to our address in Oz.
we have a FD account and they send statements plus new cards to our address in Oz.
Jun 9th 2007, 11:18 am
#11
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 423
Re: Keeping a UK Bank Account
We have kept our Lloyds TSB account open, changed address to Oz one, all A ok,
We also have a Halifax AC but it states on their web site that their accounts are for UK residents only, so we put that one to a rele's addi!
Both are internet friendly and card use for internet purchases!
We also have a Halifax AC but it states on their web site that their accounts are for UK residents only, so we put that one to a rele's addi!
Both are internet friendly and card use for internet purchases!
I have a Halifax AC also, but moved from Uk to Eire and changed addy.
they dont give a hoot as long as you dont go overdrawn.
Therefore I dont see me moving to OZ a prob for them. Its just a few punches into the computer for them.
Jun 12th 2007, 11:22 am
#12
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Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,628
Re: Keeping a UK Bank Account
Hi Gina,
We have a Nationwide flex account and you do not have to have a UK address. We have given them our Oz address and they are more than happy with that. We get sent our statements and I have just received my new card direct from them. Might be easier for you than re-directing to a relative.
HTH
Emma
We have a Nationwide flex account and you do not have to have a UK address. We have given them our Oz address and they are more than happy with that. We get sent our statements and I have just received my new card direct from them. Might be easier for you than re-directing to a relative.
HTH
Emma
Jun 12th 2007, 11:38 am
#13
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Joined: May 2007
Location: The Land Of Song..and Pot Noodle!!
Posts: 1,736
Re: Keeping a UK Bank Account
I agree, you have to have a UK address to open the account but once it's open you can change the address to a foreign one. The other advantage of them is they don't charge extra fees to withdraw from a foreign cashpoint meaning my parents can pay birthday monies into the account in UK pounds and I can take it out in aussie dollars and buy my presents.
I will just leave my basic current account going and let her pay it in there!
Zo x
Jun 12th 2007, 1:09 pm
#14
Gone Senile Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Location: Sydney
Posts: 3,014
Re: Keeping a UK Bank Account
We operate our Nat West account via internet, they are happy enough for us to be Aus residents. The internet access is easy. We have full banking and credit card with no income going in.
My MIL also has full access and that has made things easier but not necessary because we left the country before selling our house.
Keeping a UK bank account is a sensible step, even if never considering stepping back.
My MIL also has full access and that has made things easier but not necessary because we left the country before selling our house.
Keeping a UK bank account is a sensible step, even if never considering stepping back.
Jun 12th 2007, 1:15 pm
#15
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: Keeping a UK Bank Account
Our current a/c is at Firstdirect and we have savings account with the halifax. Firstdirect charge if you have less than a certain amount going in unless you have other products and as we will be closing down everything else (mortgage, credit cards....etc..) I don't fancy being charge to keep it.
you can switch money between the two at anytime ..
workss great for me in the US ....