Live in France BUT work in UK ...

Blue_Max

Alf17

I have also been searching. These two do not require minimum deposits or make high charges:
Good for non-residents residents with a EEA passport.

-- RBS International Current Account
http://www.rbsinternational.com/offshore/current-accounts/g1/ipca.ashx#tabs=section1
Jersey 01534 285200
Guernsey 01481 710051
Isle of Man 01624 646464
Mon to Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm (excl. bank holidays)

-- Natwest Regular Current Plus account
http://www.natwestinternational.com/nw/offshore-banking/current-accounts/g1/regular-current-account.ashx
+44(0) 1534 282300
> Photocopy of passport. With stamp and signature of your Bank.
It should state in English, "This is to certify that this is a true copy of the passport"
> You will need to provide 3month's of present current account statements showing your salary/pension and day to day living expenses.

They asked me lots of questions when I phoned for an application form and tried to sell me a more expensive account!
Otherwise , ok so far.
Keep us posted on how you get on.

Alf17

Thanks for the information - I am heading back to the UK next week so will put together a "pack" of proof of residence and my work in the UK and see if I can sort out anything face-to-face!

Will certainly let you know how I get on.

Blue_Max

Alf17 wrote: »

Thanks for the information - I am heading back to the UK next week so will put together a "pack" of proof of residence and my work in the UK and see if I can sort out anything face-to-face!

Will certainly let you know how I get on.

Local branches in Uk do not do this account. Offshore services are based in the Channel Islands. So you might need to contact them by phone and post.
Good Luck!

BTW.
Have you found any French banks that can provide a UKP account?

Alf17

Thanks Blue-Max, I thought I would give Nat West a chance as advised by Madgagoo before I go for the offshore options which have costs involved.

Even "ordinary" accounts in France have bank charges and I wouldn't like my clients to have any perceived problems with paying me; my current "old" lady just tells me to go to the bank and see the lady there who is always nice to her, even if she can't remember her name and sometimes even which bank it is!!

If it all gets too expensive, I'll just have to stay with HSBC (I had my account with them before I moved to France) and put up with the bad service. Have you ever tried buying online when the dreaded Verified by Visa shows up and won't accept you because your French postcode doesn't work resulting in yet another phone call to the UK to have it accepted? - very frustrating and time consuming and doesn't help in reducing my debts any quicker which is why I have returned to work!

Have just remembered, following this "rant", that I have forgotten to pack my papers, so thanks for your help and I will let you know how I get on.

Alf17

I have just spent a very pleasant hour with a lady from the Nat West bank who has sorted out my banking problems! :j

I have opened a current account, with a cheque book and credit card. Nat West are dealing with my old HSBC SO and DDOs to transfer them; they gave me a letter to use to send to my pension and annuity companies as well as my clients with all my new account details needed to pay into.

Because I live in France they needed an extra piece of ID (passport and French driving licence in my case)and a utility bill that someone in the branch could understand (EDF electric bill).

The lady did also go through the other types of current account which offers such things as discounts on house insurance etc (but also have a monthly charge) but she did not try to sell these as knew they where of no benefit to me.

So everything is underway - I have even received a text to say that I have less than £100 in my account (actually there is nothing in there!!) which is one of the many "little" things that have been set up to help customers - and all the paperwork etc should be in France when I get back in a couple of weeks.

So, so far so good.

Thanks everyone for your help and advice - look forward to returning the favour whenever possible.:)

Blue_Max

Well done Alf17 :T

Is it a normal current account or is it a special one for non-UK residents?

madgagoo

Alf17 wrote: »

I have just spent a very pleasant hour with a lady from the Nat West bank who has sorted out my banking problems! :j

I have opened a current account, with a cheque book and credit card. Nat West are dealing with my old HSBC SO and DDOs to transfer them; they gave me a letter to use to send to my pension and annuity companies as well as my clients with all my new account details needed to pay into.

Because I live in France they needed an extra piece of ID (passport and French driving licence in my case)and a utility bill that someone in the branch could understand (EDF electric bill).

The lady did also go through the other types of current account which offers such things as discounts on house insurance etc (but also have a monthly charge) but she did not try to sell these as knew they where of no benefit to me.

So everything is underway - I have even received a text to say that I have less than £100 in my account (actually there is nothing in there!!) which is one of the many "little" things that have been set up to help customers - and all the paperwork etc should be in France when I get back in a couple of weeks.

So, so far so good.

Thanks everyone for your help and advice - look forward to returning the favour whenever possible.:)

Glad it all went well & that we were able to help.

And thatnks for coming back and letting us know how you got on - something that doesn't happen often on furms!

gt94sss2

Alf17 wrote: »

Have you ever tried buying online when the dreaded Verified by Visa shows up and won't accept you because your French postcode doesn't work resulting in yet another phone call to the UK to have it accepted? - very frustrating and time consuming and doesn't help in reducing my debts any quicker which is why I have returned to work!

While I hope you're happy with Natwest, I hope you didn't move just because HSBC use Visa's 'Verified by Visa' service.

Natwest use it too.. even if they call it something slightly different so you'll have the same problem.

Regards
Sunil

chambta

I know that RBS/Natwest can do it as I've personally opened accounts for foreign residents.