Moving to New York
Oct 19th 2010, 2:55 pm
#16
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,105
Re: Moving to New York
Hey, congrats on the H1-B, good luck with everything.
I never had a UK license so therefore do not have a US license but i've never had any problems with any ID issues.
I am kind of surprised about tht's experience at HSBC though....
i went there as i had been a customer with them for over 10 years and figured that would help me out.... it didn't, i needed all kinds of paperwork, including proof of address which i didn't have at the time, as i was staying with a friend before i found my own place, which i pretty much needed to have a bank account in order to get a place to eventually pay 6 months rent up front (non cash) plus brokers fee..... it was a catch 22, but i eventually found a place with a landlord (albeit a dodgy landlord) who gave me a signed lease agreement which HSBC eventually accepted as proof of address. They also said that they definitely couldn't access/look at/use in any way my UK checking and savings account... maybe it depends on the branch you go to....
I eventually ended up switching to Chase after they sent a promo about giving me $100 for opening an account.
It upset me that i had to pay for cheques, which is the only way i can pay rent, and pay for my dr's co-pay, which i think is terribly archaic... i thought cheques were supposed to be being phased out!!!
I never had a UK license so therefore do not have a US license but i've never had any problems with any ID issues.
I am kind of surprised about tht's experience at HSBC though....
i went there as i had been a customer with them for over 10 years and figured that would help me out.... it didn't, i needed all kinds of paperwork, including proof of address which i didn't have at the time, as i was staying with a friend before i found my own place, which i pretty much needed to have a bank account in order to get a place to eventually pay 6 months rent up front (non cash) plus brokers fee..... it was a catch 22, but i eventually found a place with a landlord (albeit a dodgy landlord) who gave me a signed lease agreement which HSBC eventually accepted as proof of address. They also said that they definitely couldn't access/look at/use in any way my UK checking and savings account... maybe it depends on the branch you go to....
I eventually ended up switching to Chase after they sent a promo about giving me $100 for opening an account.
It upset me that i had to pay for cheques, which is the only way i can pay rent, and pay for my dr's co-pay, which i think is terribly archaic... i thought cheques were supposed to be being phased out!!!
I remember once a member of their staff asking me if I paid bank charges...my answer was 'If I did I wouldn't be banking with you'...all I got was a blank expression.
Oct 20th 2010, 3:45 am
#17
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 719
Re: Moving to New York
the good news on the US drivers license front is that its ridiculously easy. It's absolutely trivial. I almost laughed when he told me I'd passed..I'd been in the car for about 7mins.
Oct 20th 2010, 4:11 am
#18
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: East Bay Area
Posts: 2,192
Re: Moving to New York
Oct 21st 2010, 6:47 am
#19
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,176
Re: Moving to New York
Hey, congrats on the H1-B, good luck with everything.
I never had a UK license so therefore do not have a US license but i've never had any problems with any ID issues.
I am kind of surprised about tht's experience at HSBC though....
i went there as i had been a customer with them for over 10 years and figured that would help me out.... it didn't, i needed all kinds of paperwork, including proof of address which i didn't have at the time, as i was staying with a friend before i found my own place, which i pretty much needed to have a bank account in order to get a place to eventually pay 6 months rent up front (non cash) plus brokers fee..... it was a catch 22, but i eventually found a place with a landlord (albeit a dodgy landlord) who gave me a signed lease agreement which HSBC eventually accepted as proof of address. They also said that they definitely couldn't access/look at/use in any way my UK checking and savings account... maybe it depends on the branch you go to....
I eventually ended up switching to Chase after they sent a promo about giving me $100 for opening an account.
It upset me that i had to pay for cheques, which is the only way i can pay rent, and pay for my dr's co-pay, which i think is terribly archaic... i thought cheques were supposed to be being phased out!!!
I never had a UK license so therefore do not have a US license but i've never had any problems with any ID issues.
I am kind of surprised about tht's experience at HSBC though....
i went there as i had been a customer with them for over 10 years and figured that would help me out.... it didn't, i needed all kinds of paperwork, including proof of address which i didn't have at the time, as i was staying with a friend before i found my own place, which i pretty much needed to have a bank account in order to get a place to eventually pay 6 months rent up front (non cash) plus brokers fee..... it was a catch 22, but i eventually found a place with a landlord (albeit a dodgy landlord) who gave me a signed lease agreement which HSBC eventually accepted as proof of address. They also said that they definitely couldn't access/look at/use in any way my UK checking and savings account... maybe it depends on the branch you go to....
I eventually ended up switching to Chase after they sent a promo about giving me $100 for opening an account.
It upset me that i had to pay for cheques, which is the only way i can pay rent, and pay for my dr's co-pay, which i think is terribly archaic... i thought cheques were supposed to be being phased out!!!
Oct 22nd 2010, 11:02 am
#20
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 41
Re: Moving to New York
I've lived in Brooklyn for 10 years and never needed a car.
