christmasoompa

Have a look in the MBTTUK forum, there are quite a few people there that have had similar happen to them irrc - unfortunately it's been due to lack of activity on an account and I think at least some of them have had it closed due to it.

The general advice I've seen on other threads is to just keep a small amount going in an out each month i.e. set up a direct debit to send a few pounds to another account.

HTH.

Atlantic Xpat

This is First Direct. I have received the same letter but not got around to phoning them yet. Given that its First Direct & the letter is genuine, I'd have no problem having a video call with them to essentially wave the relevant docs in front of a webcam - which is what I think they are asking me to do. If Webex is their video system then I'm fine with that as I already use it daily for work.

BristolUK

But then maybe you wouldn't have been asked. From time to time Pension paying government departments like to know the Pensioner is still alive so they make a check.

I was just thinking that maybe something similar went on for a banking customer abroad as opportunities for checks might be fewer.

General advice has been you need to be UK resident to open a UK bank account but maintaining one upon moving abroad is okay. However there have been examples of people having accounts closed when reporting a foreign residential address. So I kept all my UK stuff as if I was still there. The convenience of the credit limit plus overdraft facility was too important at the time. Still nice to know it's there even now

Regarding inactivity - I have a monthly payment into the account and pay UK credit card each month too so hopefully that looks okay.

I also make occasional cash withdrawals over here from it. They used to want me to inform them of my 'travel plans' so they could note the potential withdrawal.

HGerchikov

Can open, worms everywhere...

BristolUK

itsasmallworld

Wish we had thought to ask for postage. We just sent ours off to them.

BristolUK

So could we have a little poll?

Those who have had these letters, would you describe the associated bank account as inactive for a while?

Inactive........Yes/No

itsasmallworld

Account is active (activity roughly every 6 month)Questions :Is it inactive? NO

Snowy560

Yes they said Cisco Webex which I also use on occasion. It just started to get complicated for me because when we bought our landline handsets, after buying we then realised they weren't hands free/speaker, etc and the advisor said obviously hands free is better so you can sort the docs out etc. Then when he said first appointment after Christmas, I just thought mailing them seemed simpler.

He offered the money, actually, because I brought up about tracking. The postage on the envelope is prepaid from abroad. I think by this point in the conversation, with me asking a million Qs, he wanted me to take the mail option!

My bank account is not inactive. Not as active as when living in the UK, but regularly active, every month.

I see what you're saying, Bristol, about the UK address, but then if they do ask you, it's going to be problematic providing a recent utility bill or DL licence showing your name/address. The third option is a bank account statement, showing name/address, that is not the same bank and shows active transactional history.

Worry.

S

BristolUK

The address I gave is one I lived at before I bought my house and it's where my mum is. All bills are in her name anyway and would be if I actually lived there so that doesn't change anything. Could also be travelling with UK as base.

I would be able to produce alternative docs with that address.

Worst case scenario - say I'm here, produce the docs and carry on.

vanity

Wow, thanks for the heads up guys, I should check that the Bank has my latest info as I haven't been contacted