Bank Accounts

Hey it's me again. When I was finally able to open a bank account, I was only given a basic account with no extras. I then applied for a Smile Account. An online banking company, in 1 week I had a 500 pound overdraft, switch/VISA card and a current account. You can only apply for this account once you have a regular UK bank account.
You can apply at www.smile.co.uk
They are great and have won lots of awards.

apparently tenancy agreements don't prove anthing. it has to be a @&**# bill with your name on it. though i haven't tried hsbc, yet.

p.s. i heard that a little crying helps too.

I went to the trouble of having RBC sending me a "letter of introduction", but in the end it was useless! All Nationwide needed was my proof of address here in London.

Yea, everywhere wants a bill with your name on it, even the library and Blockbuster Video. But if you have an HSBC account in Canada just get them to send your statements to you in the UK. And then apply for an HSBC account in the UK. That is what worked for me.
Also I had my RBC statement there when I applied for my UK account and she said that would work if I had my bank card, but I didn't. Yea and crying helps.
And then the library and video store also think the HSBC statement is from the UK and you can use their services without a bill in your name. Sneaky...I know. PS Mobile bills don't work anywhere.

Natwest will also accept canadian bank statements sent to your new address in the UK. (along with a passport and letter of employment)

[quote="wanderlust"]apparently tenancy agreements don't prove anthing. it has to be a @&**# bill with your name on it. though i haven't tried hsbc, yet.

p.s. i heard that a little crying helps too.[/quote]

Ya- just tried the tenacny agreement thing myself and I cried, well not really, but got teary- didn't help!

I know have my staff ID and apparently the council has an arrangement with Llyod's. It's insane!

Get your boss or HR manager to help you find a bank. Most companies (if not all now??) prefer your pay to be deposited into a bank account. Mine referred me to a local branch - all done within a day. But when I first arrived - I couldn't get an account and so had to carry all my travellers checks for 6 months - scary. But once I got the job I wanted and settled in - it was very easy. But be patient - it take over 6 months to build a credit rating in the UK. Once you start paying bills (council tax, water, phone etc) it gets much easier!

J

Can someone please just clarify for me what is the best way to get a UK account set-up?