Originally Posted by NYCbound (Post 8018181)

And I thought it would be so simple....

We bank with both HSBC here and in the States, I can't believe just how different the two systems are, and how much harder the American's make it!

Here I would log on to Internet banking, set up a standing order and that's that, payment into their account same day every month until I say so.
Or if a one off payment is needed I would transfer the funds and the recipient would see them in their account within hours due to the faster payments system. No need for anything other than name, account number and sort code, no need for internet banking, can be done over phone or in branch or even on my iphone.

There, go through long winded sign up for 'Bill Pay' which can only be done once we changed the bank address to our USA one.
Find out Landlord's new address by emailing him and realise that for some reason HSBC doesn't recognise him as being able to have electronic payments due to the fact that it wouldn't even entertain the idea of me adding his account and routing number. We do all this on the 10th thinking the same processes would be in place, but give the money 5 days to get into his account, just incase, we'll be good tenants.
WRONG!! Bank issues a check to be sent to Landlord, a check (It'll take me a while to get back into using those old fashioned things) and they don't issue this check until the 13th.
Which ensues snotty email from Landlord asking where is the rent and if it's not in his account by Friday... So I show him the online statement to say it's left and on its way.

Great start to our lease!!
Must remember next month to do all that a little earlier in the month!

16 days until we move!!

Originally Posted by NYCbound (Post 8018181)

And I thought it would be so simple....

We bank with both HSBC here and in the States, I can't believe just how different the two systems are, and how much harder the American's make it!

Here I would log on to Internet banking, set up a standing order and that's that, payment into their account same day every month until I say so.
Or if a one off payment is needed I would transfer the funds and the recipient would see them in their account within hours due to the faster payments system. No need for anything other than name, account number and sort code, no need for internet banking, can be done over phone or in branch or even on my iphone.

There, go through long winded sign up for 'Bill Pay' which can only be done once we changed the bank address to our USA one.
Find out Landlord's new address by emailing him and realise that for some reason HSBC doesn't recognise him as being able to have electronic payments due to the fact that it wouldn't even entertain the idea of me adding his account and routing number. We do all this on the 10th thinking the same processes would be in place, but give the money 5 days to get into his account, just incase, we'll be good tenants.
WRONG!! Bank issues a check to be sent to Landlord, a check (It'll take me a while to get back into using those old fashioned things) and they don't issue this check until the 13th.
Which ensues snotty email from Landlord asking where is the rent and if it's not in his account by Friday... So I show him the online statement to say it's left and on its way.

Great start to our lease!!
Must remember next month to do all that a little earlier in the month!

16 days until we move!!

Originally Posted by Rete (Post 8018567)

I don't know HSBC but Citibank allows me to do what you claim to do in the UK. I have a "standing order" to pay each bill XX amount on XX date and that includes "mailing" a check to my landlord on the 27th of each month for the follow month's rent. The landlord will not allow direct transfer into their account. I have no problems at all. And I can change the amount paid at whim.

Originally Posted by NYCbound (Post 8018591)

Yep I can do all that, and for next month and the months following that's what will happen, it was the sending of a check I wasn't quite banking on and how long that would take! Banks here don't do sending cheques, unless it's a Bankers Draft and I think even they are becoming a little obsolete.
It's just a little bit different, that's all, I'm used to things being a little more instant, I just assumed it would be similar, must never do that, 'ass' and 'me' and all that!

Originally Posted by Michael (Post 8018742)

I don't think it is a real check but an e-check that they are sending.

Originally Posted by Dan725 (Post 8018895)

I actually think the online bank features are much better in the US (We have Bank of America). On a couple of occasions, I've tried to do somethings similar with Lloyds, and all of a sudden the UK online banking (Lloyds, at least) seems extremely limited.

Originally Posted by aebrett (Post 8019185)

That sounds like an issue with Lloyds rather than UK banks in general; I use firstdirect in the UK and they have the ability to send messages from within the online system. I had the same experience as the OP when I moved over here - if you want to pay someone who's not a large corporation (eg. landlord), the only way to do it seems to be by cash or cheque - there's no way to perform an electronic transfer. I'm also having to get used to being charged for everything - from using another bank's ATMs, to transferring money from my account to my wife's account.

Originally Posted by Dan725 (Post 8018895)

I actually think the online bank features are much better in the US (We have Bank of America). On a couple of occasions, I've tried to do somethings similar with Lloyds, and all of a sudden the UK online banking (Lloyds, at least) seems extremely limited.

I like the US banks generally have an inbuilt email function where you ask queries about your account. The online bill pay and such like is better and more comprehensive; also (with BOA, anyway), any charges, even if they are pending, show up immediately when you use your card. Plus their ATM's scan any checks you might be paying in, and tall yup the amount without you having to add it all up - good stuff.

Originally Posted by NYCbound (Post 8018181)

WRONG!! Bank issues a check to be sent to Landlord, a check (It'll take me a while to get back into using those old fashioned things) and they don't issue this check until the 13th.

Originally Posted by NYCbound (Post 8018591)

Yep I can do all that, and for next month and the months following that's what will happen, it was the sending of a check I wasn't quite banking on and how long that would take! Banks here don't do sending cheques, unless it's a Bankers Draft and I think even they are becoming a little obsolete.
It's just a little bit different, that's all, I'm used to things being a little more instant, I just assumed it would be similar, must never do that, 'ass' and 'me' and all that!

Originally Posted by Michael (Post 8018742)

I don't think it is a real check but an e-check that they are sending. I suspect they do it that way if a billing account number is not available since a normal electronic transfer in the US does not have enough information in the packet to fully identify the transaction (eg. no place to put comments).

US normal electronic transactions are also slower than in the UK. This is because electronic transfers are batch transferred at night to the Automated Clearing House (ACH), then on to the receiving bank, and finally back to the originating bank (can take several days to complete the loop). Even though this may seem to be a slow process, it is significantly better, faster, and cheaper than the current system in the euro zone to transfer between countries.