Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
 

Hey,

I will be in the US from the 13th of June and I have now all-but secured an apartment in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I currently do not have a bank account in the USA and I will still be paid into my UK account for the first two months of being out there so I'm wondering what the process will be to set up an account with a utilities company for my electricity and a company for my internet? I guess a cell-phone might fall into this category also?

Is it possible to pay from a UK account until I have a US account set up? Unfortunately I bank with Lloyds so I can't just set up a US account through them.

All advice welcome as per usual!

Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
 

Credit cards.........

Utilities,expect to pay a deposit .

opening a bank account is easy. find a bank ,walk in with ID job done.

in the meantime credit cards will be your friend....keep all your Uk ones, use them and pay them off from your UK account.....until you build some credit you will struggle to get any approved here.

Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
 

Thank you for the reply. Can I just use my VISA debit card instead of a credit card? From what I remember from previous visits, when I used my debit card out there it went through like a credit card.

Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
 

If it says "VISA" on it, you can use it. The utilities don't care if it is a debit or credit card.

Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
 

Awesome, cheers.

Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
 

How do you mean your debit card go through like a credit card?

Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
 

It worked everywhere, basically.

Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
 

Ask your Bank Manager about Lloyds Bank International Banking.

I walked in, spoke with him and opened the account that day. It gives me an International Platinum US Dollar account and visa debit card. Also an International Premier Visa Debit card for a UK Sterling account. The two are separate but connected.

I've not moved to the US yet, but these are set up and ready. First 3 months I think are payment free, then there is a fee if I don't ensure a minimum balance (which is not insignificant at so etching like 2k funds minimum balance but the fee is something like £25 per month if it goes below that)

Cash withdrawals are charged but card payments with the dollar card in the US in entail and restaurants for example are not charged. So it's a good stop-gap until I have a US account ready with a US bank.

Hanco

Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
 

I didn't realise Lloyds would do that. I'll go talk to someone in branch ASAP. Thanks.

Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
 

No problem, sorry about the iPad auto correct spellings!
I should also say, I think that what your salary is in your employment will also obviously impact the level of interest by the bank staff, but regardless, I would say go for it!

Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
 

The only problem I see in using a UK credit/debit card may be with the utility company being able to enter your billing 'zip' code in to their payment processing system.
I recall I had problems buying gas with my UK card when I first moved here as the pump wanted me to enter my 5 digit, numerical, 'zip'. That was 8 years ago, so it may be different now.

Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
 

I have a UK credit card registered to my US address and my zip code is my zip code. Where's the problem?

Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
 

Same here.

Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
 

When it isn't registered to the US address, it can be...and if one hasn't moved and got a US address yet, it's a bit pointless doing a change of address with the UK bank.

Also, plenty of petrol pumps still won't accept a debit/credit card if it has been issued outside of the US, same for some online retailers. So it doesn't matter what the address is.

As to the OP, opening a bank account is easy, but they usually want you to show you're a resident at the address you use, but there are plenty of threads on what to do and recommendations for banks, but using a UK wouldn't be one of them.

Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
 

The problem is the US address. He doesn't have one.