Wilso16

We have decided to open an account with Westpac whilst still in the UK but I am trying to find out if we will be charge the AUD$5 a month straightaway or not until we arrive and get our cards etc.

We aren't leaving until September so I don't really want to be charged for the 3 months I am not even in the country!

Have tried looking on the Westpac website but can't find anything to help with this.

Thanks.

keithandsam

hi
i`m pretty sure that we didnt pay any fees untill we activated our account once we had arrived,but that was 18mths ago now and it might have changed.

Aldebaran

I'm getting charged $5 a month by WestPac and I'm still in the UK. I think if you have over $1500 or something like that in your account then you don't get charged

AL

Tatyana R

You def get charged the $5 after 30 or 60 days of opening!

Got to get use to paying for banking

Techno Freak

Check my thread out for all the numbers you need when you come to apply:-

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...=westpac+guide

Wilso16

Thanks for the replies. Think it is ludicrous that have to pay for something I am not even using!

Thanks for the numbers Techno Freak!

Techno Freak

No probs.

petensue

you need $3000 in your account to avoid charges.we have just opened an account with westpac and have 60 days to make a deposit or account will be closed

tictac

If you're not going to be using it until Sept and you don't want to pay the AUS$ 15 (£6.21) then why not wait until you get here to open an account?

It took us about 20 mins to open 4 accounts with Westpac. We just walked into our nearest branch with our ID docs and voila!

hantsfamily1

Every penny counts but in the grand scheme of things £2.50 per month is not a lot to worry about when you look at how much you have paid out to get there.
Peace of mind is more important so decide if you can afford £2.50 per month and have it organised early or wait until closer to the time.
A pint or any drink is more than £2.50 so have one less a month before you go and relax.

sassie

I know what you mean. A few years ago, I had about $150 in a Westpac Account. At the time I was living in the UK, and when I returned home to Brisbane about 2 years later and went to make a withdrawal, the account was completely empty. Even though there were no funds in the account, they still took their $5.00 each month so I ended up owing them money to close the account! I am now with HSBC and ING, and pay no bank fees.