Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
#1
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!
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!
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 766
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.
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.
#3
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.
#4
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.
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2014
Location: London -> New York
Posts: 216
Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
#8
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 147
Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
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
#9
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.
#10
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 147
Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
"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 {{ should read "something" }} 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 {{ should read "Retail" }} 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."
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!
Cash withdrawals are charged but card payments with the dollar card in the US in entail {{ should read "Retail" }} 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."
#11
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.
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.
#12
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Athens GA
Posts: 2,134
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.
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.
#14
Re: Utilities & Banking set up before moving?
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.