Bank account in the UK [Archive]

the letter

8th Oct 2007, 21:04

I have been given an offer of employment with British Airways and I suppose I need to set up a bank account in England. Although, not residing in the UK and intending to commute to and from London, it seems to be problematic as most banks seem to require that you have a permanent address.

Would British Airways be willing to transfer my salary to my bank account in my home country (EU-citizen)? Or would they assist me opening up a bank account with which bank they are using?

Advice on what to do would be appreciated as I am worried this might affect my offer.

Shamrock274

8th Oct 2007, 21:57

Can you not ask your employers to that for you.

Don't know about aviation but i work in the NHS and I have had collegues who are not from the UK and have been employed by the local NHS Hospital. To make it easy for them (minimise the hassle of moving etc), HR has been known to open an acount or two for these individuals so that they can be paid.

Ask to see if they can help.

Saying that though, Some banks might let you open an account as long as you have a passport and letter of employment (HSBC and Barclays usually lets first year students from abroad open accounts)

Or if you have an account in your country from a bank that has branches in the UK, they can check/verify you details from your original account in your own country (so i have been told but i'm not 100% sure), and make it easy for you to open a new account.

Last resort, Nationwide lets you open a basic account with just £1 and a passport, from there you can at least have a bank statement with your name and address to open another account or just upgrade.

Hope this helps

All the best in your new job

PS- If all fails, ill give you my account number and you can deposit you salary :E:E

cavortingcheetah

9th Oct 2007, 14:47

:hmm:
Surely at some time during your move into BA you will be asked to fill in your bank account details so that the company can deposit your salary directly into an account of your choosing?
At that time, simply fill in the details of your European bank account, wherever it may be. You will be too far down the induction process for this to matter to BA. Just make sure that the information you provide is very clearly written so that your well earned first cheque cannot go amiss. :)

Aspen20

9th Oct 2007, 15:08

I have a HSBC account. There was no drama as far as an address was concerned. I gave them my current address. ( non UK address)

the letter

9th Oct 2007, 16:54

Do you believe BA would be able to assist in opening bank accounts? It would be interesting to know how other non-UK people have done when beginning employment at the airline.

I have been in touch with several banks in the UK. They said I would need a permanent address within the UK in order to process an application. I have also been in touch with my own bank in my country of residence. They recommended me to personally visit the banks.

Or, does anyone know whether BA would be willing to deposit the salary to foreign banks? Wouldn't it be costful for them?

It feels as if I am approaching a dead-end :/

Halfwayback

9th Oct 2007, 19:08

Does your own bank have a London branch? That might be a solution to your problem.

The easiest way to get an answer is to ring British Airways payroll department, explain your position and ask them directly.

HWB

411A

9th Oct 2007, 19:48

Open up an external account at LLoyds or Barclays.
The company will pay into same, and you can transfer, as you like.

OTOH, you can have your salary posted into my external account...I only charge 2% for transaction fees...:E

What a deal.:E:E

the letter

9th Oct 2007, 20:01

No branch in the United Kingdom. Only a partner but they said I should visit the banks and apply there.

An external account, how do you set up one of those? What is required?

Very kind of both you and Shamrock to offer to deposit my salary ;)

Spitoon

9th Oct 2007, 20:50

The UK now has some ridiculous rules and regulations that apply to opening a bank account. They're supposed to help prevent money laundering but, as usual, probably do little to prevent laundering whilst inconveniencing other law abiding types. The practical effect is that banks have to have evidence of your identity in order to open an account. I think most banks will accept certified copies by post of whatever documents are required. One you have an open account I think any high street bank will put any address you want on it for the paperwork.

Shamrock274

9th Oct 2007, 21:07

As I said before

HR has been known to open an acount or two for these individuals so that they can be paid. OR
Last resort, Nationwide lets you open a basic account with just £1 and a passport, from there you can at least have a bank statement with your name and address to open another account or just upgrade.

There is no harm in asking HR or Payroll or whoever is responsible. They wont sack you for it or refuse to give you a job. . they worst they can do is say NO.

HR/payroll can either open an account on your behalf(coz you are their employee). . (this happens in the NHS with new foreign employees) or at least they can give you a letter (with BA logo) outlinning that you are a new employee and you want to open an account, you have a foreign address but locally you can be contacted via the company. . that should work.

. . . OTOH, you can have your salary posted into my external account...I only charge 2% for transaction fees.

HEy, I was the first to give the generous offer of using my account. . :E;)

wiggy

9th Oct 2007, 21:19

I moved overseas whilst working for BA a few years back - BA pay office were adamant that they would not/could not pay into anything other than an account held at a Bank with a UK sort code.We ended up keeping our UK Accounts and the banks were quite happy with a non-UK Address, so it can be done, but as spitoon has said be ready for all sorts of hurdles because of UK anti money laundering/anti terrorism/ anti fun regulations.

wingnut10

9th Oct 2007, 22:19

Try Lloyds TSB Offshore.
http://www.lloydstsb-offshore.com/international/internationalaccount

reynoldsno1

10th Oct 2007, 01:39

We ended up keeping our UK Accounts and the banks were quite happy with a non-UK Address
...except that NatWest refuse to send us a new ATM card to an overseas address!!

wiggy

10th Oct 2007, 08:03

Hi

Not wishing to be seen to advertise (forum police and all that) but since they may be down to banks' individual policies I'll name names - Barclays, and HSBC are quite happy to send ATM cards to us ( Europe) and we hold a couple of UK issued credit cards as well.

As far as new accounts we found Virgin (UK) very good when it came to opening brand new savings accounts...they didn't seem to have any problems with us not having a UK address - don't know if they do Current Accounts though.

Dufo

10th Oct 2007, 11:12

It took me half an hour, letter from my employer and a passport to open a HSBC bank account. Cards arrived after four days..

i.Plane

10th Oct 2007, 14:41

How does it work the with your NI number? You need at least 3 months residence in the UK to get one. But when sombody is not living in the UK how can you get one?
I'm paying NI contributions but apparantly can't get a NI number since I'm commuting.

wiggy

10th Oct 2007, 15:29

Since you,and/or your employer are paying NI contributions surely you are "entitled" to a number, otherwise how do you prove you have entitlement to State Healthcare in your country of residence ( I'm making the assumption you live in the EEC/EEA or whatever it is now..

Shamrock274

10th Oct 2007, 15:31

. . . I'm paying NI contributions but apparantly can't get a NI number since I'm commuting.

Dunno how the above works. . when you are not living in the UK,

but here is the NI people's website, have a look and give then a ring about your situation. OR visit you nearest Job Centre, they can help

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/ni_number.asp

I know soon after you get a job, NI deductions are taken from you salary, even while you are waiting for your permanant NI number, atemporary NI number is allocated. It used to consist of TN + your date of birth and then F or M if male or female, so if you are male born 2 October 1982, it would appear on your payslip as TN021082M

I have been informed that if you are not a UK citizen and you decide to return to live in your own country you can claim back part if not most of you NI contributions (not 100% on this)

the letter

10th Oct 2007, 17:12

It doesn't state anywhere that you need to have lived in the UK for at least three months before they would grant you an NI. I spoke with DWP and they said they do prefer if you have an address in the country, doesn't necessary need to be yours, a correnspondants' would do, but it would make things easier.

Otherwise should your employer be able to help you. DWP has a fast path application process for employers and you won't even have to attend an interview.

i.Plane

10th Oct 2007, 19:17

Hi, thanks for all the answers.

Unfortunately, I did call the DPW instance today and she answered me very short that I need a 3 month residence and an address in the UK in order to apply for an NI number. I tried to explain my situation but for her the 3 months residence was the only guideline. That was it. Then I called HMRC and they passed me back to the DPW, as you realise, going in circles.
I'm a bit worried, since my pay slip actually shows that I contributed as required but at the end I won't be able to claim it when needed.
The only thing I want is being able to get the famous E106 document to proove my local health care department (in my own EEC country) that I actually conributed so I won't fall outside the system.

the letter

10th Oct 2007, 20:46

It seems to depends whom you speak to. One lady I spoke to said all I would need is an address in the UK, which wouldn't have to be mine. My employer's address could also work as they only need it to send the details to.

I will phone them tomorrow again and see if I also get the same answer as you :)

wiggy

10th Oct 2007, 21:36

OK, this is all so familiar to a Brit who moved out of the UK but who still works for a UK Company.....and then there's the E106..:ugh: as far as that is concerned have you seen this form?

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/ca8454.pdf

Forget DWP. From bitter experience nothing throws their call centre staff quicker than telling them you "work in the UK but live abroad" - it simply doesn't compute, their computer says "no" and you will get shunted from one operator to another.

HMRC can be almost as bad unless you talk directly to the people at the "Centre for Non-Residents" in Newcastle...they deal on a daily basis with the likes of crew and don't find our tax/Insurance circumstances completely outlandish...You might want to start by ringing them - there's a number on the form and they are pretty good over the phone.

i.Plane

11th Oct 2007, 11:19

Thanks very much, it's a relief that people try to help you.

I did indeed see this form as well after I started to panic last night. I tried to contact them but no reply so far. I will continue trying, every body needs a lunch break off course.

If you have an answer from the DWP for non residents I would be more then happy to recieve it, I tried to get a bit more info but there was no room for discussion yesterday.

I will keep the forum up to date...

the letter

11th Oct 2007, 11:43

I spoke to HMRC and their CNR-department. They advised me to contact the DWP office in Glasgow! Definitely a circle...

wiggy

11th Oct 2007, 13:11

Oh boy, I've run out of ideas....sorry :confused:

I gather the Centre for Non-Residents at HMRC are overun with phone calls at the moment with people ringing about the announced changes to UK residency rules - I'm not surprised you are having trouble getting through.

Good Luck...