Opening an Account or Credit Card in UK
 

I cannot understand why you have to be a UK resident to open one of the above in the UK. When we first came to Spain there was no problem opening a Spanish bank acount even though we didn´t have a spanish address at that time. Surely in a free moving Europe you should be able to open an account if living in another country? I can´t even get a credit card from Lloyds TSB who I have banked with for nearly 20 years.

Re: Opening an Account or Credit Card in UK
 

Yep, its a problem.

Thats why I left everything running when I left, 2 credit cards, debit card & bank accounts. I even had a problem with ebay / paypal initially because the UK credit cards bills are posted to a foreign address.

Re: Opening an Account or Credit Card in UK
 

We did the same as Mitzyboy, left everything running. After nearly Five years it is still working well.;)

Re: Opening an Account or Credit Card in UK
 

It's like that to prevent money laundering.

Re: Opening an Account or Credit Card in UK
 

The chance would be a fine thing :)

Re: Opening an Account or Credit Card in UK
 

Yes I was advised by the Halifax in UK to keep my account open and my internet account there, and I have had the same problem with Paypal, it was perfectly OK to use my UK card which has my Spanish address, but as soon as I had to update the expiry date I was no longer allowed to use it and had to get a spanish credit card which I didn't really want.

Re: Opening an Account or Credit Card in UK
 

We use our normal Spanish debit card for our paypal payments. Kept my UK account, BUT now I need to change the address.. and the problems that Halifax are causing, I need three pieces of paper to say I am who I am, and to prove that I do use that address for afficial contacts, If I go over to the UK, then I need only 2. I can easily produce the 2, but the third would be a problem, so am going to sort it out when I get back in teh UK next time.

Re: Opening an Account or Credit Card in UK
 

We opened on in Gib only at Christmas no problems with our Spanish address

Re: Opening an Account or Credit Card in UK
 

Since when was Gib in the UK?

Re: Opening an Account or Credit Card in UK
 

its an english account with an english bank and usable in the UK

Re: Opening an Account or Credit Card in UK
 

I have cards that I had before I left the UK. I did want to take out a Lloyds card through Air Miles as you can collect the miles and get a free flight for two just by taking out the card. Tried to fill it out on-line and it said UK residents only:(

Re: Opening an Account or Credit Card in UK
 

It may be a Sterling account with an English bank and you may be able to use it in the UK but it is not a UK bank account any more than a Natwest Channel Islands account.

It is just another offshore Sterling account.

It may be appropriate to the original poster but she has not yet said why she needs a UK account.