Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 56
Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
Hi All,
I'm finally moving over to join my wife and so the real business of sorting things out is beginning.
I want to keep our UK accounts open and also our credit cards just in case we have to come back anytime soon. I can change my address to my Mum's but was wondering if there are any issues with this?
Are there any tips you could give us?
Thanks,
Scott
I'm finally moving over to join my wife and so the real business of sorting things out is beginning.
I want to keep our UK accounts open and also our credit cards just in case we have to come back anytime soon. I can change my address to my Mum's but was wondering if there are any issues with this?
Are there any tips you could give us?
Thanks,
Scott
#2
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
Hi All,
I'm finally moving over to join my wife and so the real business of sorting things out is beginning.
I want to keep our UK accounts open and also our credit cards just in case we have to come back anytime soon. I can change my address to my Mum's but was wondering if there are any issues with this?
Are there any tips you could give us?
Thanks,
Scott
I'm finally moving over to join my wife and so the real business of sorting things out is beginning.
I want to keep our UK accounts open and also our credit cards just in case we have to come back anytime soon. I can change my address to my Mum's but was wondering if there are any issues with this?
Are there any tips you could give us?
Thanks,
Scott
I think its def a good idea to keep them open. I also kept my UK contract mobile too - costs me about £50 a year which I don't mind paying.
Good to have this stuff for if you ever move back.
Good luck with the move - it was absolutely baltic today and my car completely froze up this morning - petrol and all. Had to take a taxi to the station.
#3
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,179
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
Hi All,
I'm finally moving over to join my wife and so the real business of sorting things out is beginning.
I want to keep our UK accounts open and also our credit cards just in case we have to come back anytime soon. I can change my address to my Mum's but was wondering if there are any issues with this?
Are there any tips you could give us?
Thanks,
Scott
I'm finally moving over to join my wife and so the real business of sorting things out is beginning.
I want to keep our UK accounts open and also our credit cards just in case we have to come back anytime soon. I can change my address to my Mum's but was wondering if there are any issues with this?
Are there any tips you could give us?
Thanks,
Scott
Also open some online savinigs accounts - eg ING, First Direct, HSBC.
I would also open a brokerage account and some unit or investment trusts before you leave as they are impossible to open once you are a non-resident.
If you have any spare cash, open an ISA before you leave. You won't be able to contribute after you leave, but you can hold on to them.
And sign up for Class 2 NI contributions so you'll eventually get a pension.
PS: Might want to get a Virgin PAYG mobile for when you're back in the UK - a lot cheaper than using a US triband.
#4
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 56
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
Cheers, yeah I saw the report, frostbite warnings!
How did they find out? Do any ask for any proofs of your new address?
Just hoping your card company isnt the same as one of ours as I'm leaving a small amount of them to make sure I have plenty of capital to back us up while I'm looking for a job!
How did they find out? Do any ask for any proofs of your new address?
Just hoping your card company isnt the same as one of ours as I'm leaving a small amount of them to make sure I have plenty of capital to back us up while I'm looking for a job!
#5
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 56
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
Already got the Virgin PAYG how much cheaper is it than back in the UK!
#6
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
Hi All,
I'm finally moving over to join my wife and so the real business of sorting things out is beginning.
I want to keep our UK accounts open and also our credit cards just in case we have to come back anytime soon. I can change my address to my Mum's but was wondering if there are any issues with this?
Are there any tips you could give us?
Thanks,
Scott
I'm finally moving over to join my wife and so the real business of sorting things out is beginning.
I want to keep our UK accounts open and also our credit cards just in case we have to come back anytime soon. I can change my address to my Mum's but was wondering if there are any issues with this?
Are there any tips you could give us?
Thanks,
Scott
#7
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 56
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
Did anyone open an offshore account? Looking at HSBC but its £20 a month with the kind of balance I'd maintain..
I would transfer cash back to my UK account periodically and thought it may be easier to do this through such an account than transferring through my US bank.
On the banking subject who would you recommend, esp in the IL area.
Wife's opened one up with Harris bank for now.
#8
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
Exactly what I did. Most definately worth keeping an account going in the UK; you never know when you might need to transfer some money back and forth for whatever reason. It'd be a royal pain if you close out all your UK accounts entirely.
The other option would be to set up a UK pounds based offshore account.
#10
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Joined: Dec 2003
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Posts: 110
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
Ditto. We kept both our bank account and bank credit card too. Both have our US address and the credit card automatically draws the repayment from our UK bank. Have not had any problems with either.
#11
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Joined: May 2006
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 56
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
#12
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
The company in question was Egg - I regularly took advantage of their balance transfer offers - then after about 9 months of only US transactions they called my mum and dad's house to ask where I lived.
I went ballistic and phoned them back to ask what was going on. They said that they suspected that I was no longer a UK resident and were putting a bar on the account until I returned. I told them to stick their bar up their proverbial and paid the account off then and their.
Had no such probs with 2 other UK cards.
#13
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
Personally I wouldn't go down that route if I were you - use your mum's addy - much less hassle.
The company in question was Egg - I regularly took advantage of their balance transfer offers - then after about 9 months of only US transactions they called my mum and dad's house to ask where I lived.
I went ballistic and phoned them back to ask what was going on. They said that they suspected that I was no longer a UK resident and were putting a bar on the account until I returned. I told them to stick their bar up their proverbial and paid the account off then and their.
Had no such probs with 2 other UK cards.
The company in question was Egg - I regularly took advantage of their balance transfer offers - then after about 9 months of only US transactions they called my mum and dad's house to ask where I lived.
I went ballistic and phoned them back to ask what was going on. They said that they suspected that I was no longer a UK resident and were putting a bar on the account until I returned. I told them to stick their bar up their proverbial and paid the account off then and their.
Had no such probs with 2 other UK cards.
Last edited by Jerseygirl; Feb 5th 2007 at 8:55 pm.
#14
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 56
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
Personally I wouldn't go down that route if I were you - use your mum's addy - much less hassle.
The company in question was Egg - I regularly took advantage of their balance transfer offers - then after about 9 months of only US transactions they called my mum and dad's house to ask where I lived.
I went ballistic and phoned them back to ask what was going on. They said that they suspected that I was no longer a UK resident and were putting a bar on the account until I returned. I told them to stick their bar up their proverbial and paid the account off then and their.
Had no such probs with 2 other UK cards.
The company in question was Egg - I regularly took advantage of their balance transfer offers - then after about 9 months of only US transactions they called my mum and dad's house to ask where I lived.
I went ballistic and phoned them back to ask what was going on. They said that they suspected that I was no longer a UK resident and were putting a bar on the account until I returned. I told them to stick their bar up their proverbial and paid the account off then and their.
Had no such probs with 2 other UK cards.
#15
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
As for bank, just change address to the US address, it's pretty simple and most shouldn't have a problem with it.
Transferring money, use www.xe.com you'll get better rates, even if it is a hassle to set up, it's worth it in the long run.
Before you move, fill in a P-85 to claim any taxes back, it's just easier to do when your still in the UK...though with the new tax year, you probably won't be getting much back...and register to vote over seas', and set up a proxy voter, because you probably won't have time to send your vote back in the mail, and it's just easier setting up a proxy when your in the UK.