Moving to CALIFORNIA (LA). Help!
Oct 3rd 2005, 8:41 am
#31
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Re: Moving to CALIFORNIA (LA). Help!
Originally Posted by Mickey Monk
Good luck finding that other bank.
The reasons CA banks require a SS# are:
1: If you earn interest it must be reported on a SS#. There is no excpetion to this.
2: If you bounce checks or otherwise cost a former bank a loss this information is reported on your SS# and your CA Drivers license.
3: Banks require at least one form of US ID. Now you can use a US drivers license as your one form of US ID but to get one you'll need to have a SS# so again you will need a SS# to open a bank account.
4. The aforementioned Patriot Act requires banks to get a SS# for all new accounts.
5. The money laundering act also requires banks to obtain SS#s to aid in tracking money launderers.
If anyone here has opened an account within the last few years without a SS# I want to know what bank that is because I know many Nigerians who would love to do business there!
The reasons CA banks require a SS# are:
1: If you earn interest it must be reported on a SS#. There is no excpetion to this.
2: If you bounce checks or otherwise cost a former bank a loss this information is reported on your SS# and your CA Drivers license.
3: Banks require at least one form of US ID. Now you can use a US drivers license as your one form of US ID but to get one you'll need to have a SS# so again you will need a SS# to open a bank account.
4. The aforementioned Patriot Act requires banks to get a SS# for all new accounts.
5. The money laundering act also requires banks to obtain SS#s to aid in tracking money launderers.
If anyone here has opened an account within the last few years without a SS# I want to know what bank that is because I know many Nigerians who would love to do business there!
Oct 3rd 2005, 8:47 am
#32
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Posts: 22,105
Re: Moving to CALIFORNIA (LA). Help!
Originally Posted by woodsey
we opened a bank account in LA and got an horrifically large mortgage with no SS# and no US ID in fact we hadn't even secured our visa's at that stage..they posted everything including our ATM cards to our address in the UK.
I added my husband's name to my bank account (already established) with no SS# or US ID#, never had a problem. Don't know if it was because it was already an established account or just that it wasn't a problem.
Oct 12th 2005, 9:37 pm
#33
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2
Re: Moving to CALIFORNIA (LA). Help!
Hey you lot, thanks for all the replies.
I am sure it'll all work out. I'm flying out next week. One of the main reasons i'm going to this area is for all the climbing, scenery and beaches. And the weather... winter in England is cold and miserable.
Cheers.
Neil.
I am sure it'll all work out. I'm flying out next week. One of the main reasons i'm going to this area is for all the climbing, scenery and beaches. And the weather... winter in England is cold and miserable.
Cheers.
Neil.
Oct 13th 2005, 2:15 am
#34
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Posts: 22,105
Re: Moving to CALIFORNIA (LA). Help!
Originally Posted by Neilmorbs
Hey you lot, thanks for all the replies.
I am sure it'll all work out. I'm flying out next week. One of the main reasons i'm going to this area is for all the climbing, scenery and beaches. And the weather... winter in England is cold and miserable.
Cheers.
Neil.
I am sure it'll all work out. I'm flying out next week. One of the main reasons i'm going to this area is for all the climbing, scenery and beaches. And the weather... winter in England is cold and miserable.
Cheers.
Neil.
Oh I forgot, the smog is particularly lovely in the hot days of Fall.... And if you climb a mountain, you'll be able to see it perfectly in the valley. I miss it already....
Oct 13th 2005, 3:27 am
#35
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,877
Re: Moving to CALIFORNIA (LA). Help!
Originally Posted by Neilmorbs
Hey you lot, thanks for all the replies.
I am sure it'll all work out. I'm flying out next week. One of the main reasons i'm going to this area is for all the climbing, scenery and beaches. And the weather... winter in England is cold and miserable.
Cheers.
Neil.
I am sure it'll all work out. I'm flying out next week. One of the main reasons i'm going to this area is for all the climbing, scenery and beaches. And the weather... winter in England is cold and miserable.
Cheers.
Neil.
Oct 13th 2005, 4:34 am
#36
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Re: Moving to CALIFORNIA (LA). Help!
Originally Posted by AmerLisa
Oh I forgot, the smog is particularly lovely in the hot days of Fall.... And if you climb a mountain, you'll be able to see it perfectly in the valley. I miss it already....
Oct 13th 2005, 6:25 am
#37
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 15,455
Re: Moving to CALIFORNIA (LA). Help!
Originally Posted by woodsey
we opened a bank account in LA and got an horrifically large mortgage with no SS# and no US ID in fact we hadn't even secured our visa's at that stage..they posted everything including our ATM cards to our address in the UK.
That is surprising. Only my husband has SS# and the bank would only deal with him.Getting a mortgage required SS# and they eventually accepted UK credit reports although it was "Computer says no" for a while.
Oct 13th 2005, 6:48 am
#38
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Posts: 15,455
Re: Moving to CALIFORNIA (LA). Help!
Originally Posted by Neilmorbs
Hey you lot, thanks for all the replies.
I am sure it'll all work out. I'm flying out next week. One of the main reasons i'm going to this area is for all the climbing, scenery and beaches. And the weather... winter in England is cold and miserable.
Cheers.
Neil.
I am sure it'll all work out. I'm flying out next week. One of the main reasons i'm going to this area is for all the climbing, scenery and beaches. And the weather... winter in England is cold and miserable.
Cheers.
Neil.
This is the first time I have welcomed someone to the site as if I were an old hand. Welcome to the site! You sound young and fancy free and should have a fantastic time here.
Oct 13th 2005, 6:49 am
#39
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Re: Moving to CALIFORNIA (LA). Help!
Originally Posted by Sallyanne
That is surprising. Only my husband has SS# and the bank would only deal with him.Getting a mortgage required SS# and they eventually accepted UK credit reports although it was "Computer says no" for a while.
with regards to the bank account we opened, it was with Wells Fargo, we explained that we were coming to live in America and that was it..
Oct 13th 2005, 6:51 am
#40
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Posts: 15,455
Re: Moving to CALIFORNIA (LA). Help!
Originally Posted by woodsey
my husbands employer did guarantee the mortgage though which I assume did have a lot to do with it..About half way through the whole procedure they did halt everything and say the couldn't proceed without a SS# but we just kicked up a fuss and they were fine..they eventually explained that the only reason they require it is to check that you don't have any other outstanding mortgages and as they knew we were new to the country then it wasn't required as it was obvious we wouldn't have other mortgages..I have no idea if this is standard procedure or not.
with regards to the bank account we opened, it was with Wells Fargo, we explained that we were coming to live in America and that was it..
with regards to the bank account we opened, it was with Wells Fargo, we explained that we were coming to live in America and that was it..
Maybe you had more "charms"
Oct 13th 2005, 7:23 am
#41
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Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,182
Re: Moving to CALIFORNIA (LA). Help!
Originally Posted by Sallyanne
That is surprising. Only my husband has SS# and the bank would only deal with him.Getting a mortgage required SS# and they eventually accepted UK credit reports although it was "Computer says no" for a while.
We got a joint bank account, an initial mortgage and later on a refinance mortage - even though I did not have a SSN at that point.
You need to be persistent and get to know your rights. Accept ahead of time that the people you'll be dealing with know diddly squat about what is and isn't required, and prepare to counter their misinformation with hard facts and polite English manners. Usually works. Not always, but usually
Oct 13th 2005, 7:40 am
#42
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: Moving to CALIFORNIA (LA). Help!
Originally Posted by Neilmorbs
. And the weather... winter in England is cold and miserable.
What visa type was it again?
Oct 13th 2005, 8:41 am
#43
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Location: Mid West >> UK
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Re: Moving to CALIFORNIA (LA). Help!
we got a bank account no problem without a SS number, but we did get an unbelievably crap interest rate offer on a mortgage. We ended up not getting a mortgage but stayed renting which I now regret as property prices have been rising steadily in my state since we arrived.
Woodsey did you get a descent mortgage interest rate?
Woodsey did you get a descent mortgage interest rate?
Oct 13th 2005, 8:45 am
#44
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Re: Moving to CALIFORNIA (LA). Help!
Originally Posted by ladylisa
we got a bank account no problem without a SS number, but we did get an unbelievably crap interest rate offer on a mortgage. We ended up not getting a mortgage but stayed renting which I now regret as property prices have been rising steadily in my state since we arrived.
Woodsey did you get a descent mortgage interest rate?
Woodsey did you get a descent mortgage interest rate?
Oct 13th 2005, 10:06 am
#45
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Re: Moving to CALIFORNIA (LA). Help!
Originally Posted by woodsey
4.25% company pay most of it
