Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
Feb 5th 2007, 9:00 pm
#16
Thinking about it
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Mid-West
Posts: 9,435
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
If I return to the UK and inform them I was here will the contributions I missed be paid by Uncle Sam ??
Feb 5th 2007, 9:08 pm
#18
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 56
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
Its 11 years contributions here to qualify isn't it? I need to check as I'll have done that and then no point adding to it..prob no state pension available by the time I'm ready for it!
Feb 5th 2007, 9:08 pm
#19
Thinking about it
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Mid-West
Posts: 9,435
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
Enough for what ??
So say I go to the US for 4 years and work the whole time. I could use ss payments made in the US to cover the missing ni contributions in the UK - is that what you're saying ??
So say I go to the US for 4 years and work the whole time. I could use ss payments made in the US to cover the missing ni contributions in the UK - is that what you're saying ??
Feb 5th 2007, 9:10 pm
#20
Thinking about it
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Mid-West
Posts: 9,435
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
That's kind of what I was thinking anyway and already opted out of additional state pension payments at home.
I'm more concerned about 'wasting' future contributions should I go back to the UK to be honest.
I'm more concerned about 'wasting' future contributions should I go back to the UK to be honest.
Feb 5th 2007, 9:11 pm
#21
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,021
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
You have to have made a certain amount of contributions and I'm not sure what that is. As Bob said there is an agreement between the US/UK to make up the pension payable.
Feb 5th 2007, 10:04 pm
#23
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
It's 10 full quarters of contributions, but can work out to be less than 10 years.
Feb 5th 2007, 10:05 pm
#24
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 56
Feb 5th 2007, 10:12 pm
#25
Junior Showtime
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Singapore
Posts: 3,759
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
I have LloydsTSB current account and CC's. Both have US billing address though I use online banking to pay CC from another UK account (Barclays) No problem having a US address.
Class 2 conts for pension purposes may be worthwhile if you are within 10 years of a state pension and have a full contribution record. You can get a statement advising your contribution record from http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/ which can help to answer any questions you have re current position and future entitlement.
Class 2 conts for pension purposes may be worthwhile if you are within 10 years of a state pension and have a full contribution record. You can get a statement advising your contribution record from http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/ which can help to answer any questions you have re current position and future entitlement.
Feb 5th 2007, 10:12 pm
#26
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
I was talking about the US...don't know about the UK....but if you don't have enough contributions to draw a pension in one country, you can use your countributions in the other as a top up.
Feb 6th 2007, 1:02 am
#27
thanks for all the fish !
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Austin, TX - Finally !
Posts: 218
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
With regard to changing to US account, I thought they'd have a problem with sending statements etc internationally and Halifax told me that the least number of statements they can send is 4 a year (quaterly).
Did you have to go into a branch to change your address to US address ?
Actually I have 4 accounts with Halifax and everytime I've moved it's taken me 5 or 6 attempts to get my address changed on all my accounts. IMHO they're a good bank as far as services are concerned but they're a very incompetent when it comes to customer service and basic administration.
R./
Feb 6th 2007, 1:09 am
#28
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,021
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
I have a Halifax account and had to send a letter to my branch to change my address to my folks and then had to call them 5 times until I finally got to speak to the branch where they said, "oh yes we got your letter and we sent a letter to you for you to confirm that this was from you"..... yep they sent the letter to my OLD address !
With regard to changing to US account, I thought they'd have a problem with sending statements etc internationally and Halifax told me that the least number of statements they can send is 4 a year (quaterly).
Did you have to go into a branch to change your address to US address ?
Actually I have 4 accounts with Halifax and everytime I've moved it's taken me 5 or 6 attempts to get my address changed on all my accounts. IMHO they're a good bank as far as services are concerned but they're a very incompetent when it comes to customer service and basic administration.
R./
With regard to changing to US account, I thought they'd have a problem with sending statements etc internationally and Halifax told me that the least number of statements they can send is 4 a year (quaterly).
Did you have to go into a branch to change your address to US address ?
Actually I have 4 accounts with Halifax and everytime I've moved it's taken me 5 or 6 attempts to get my address changed on all my accounts. IMHO they're a good bank as far as services are concerned but they're a very incompetent when it comes to customer service and basic administration.
R./
Feb 6th 2007, 3:31 am
#29
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: Maintaining UK bank accounts and Credit cards
I just love First Direct ... bend over backward to help you ...