Opening a new account

macgyver

HI,
I am a foreighner in UK and came here 16 months back to work. I had great difficulty in opening my Basic Bank Account with HSBC after trying all the other banks, as I needed an account to transfer my salary. Now I have a current and and a savings account with them for over an year.
Now the problem is that my wife will be starting her part time job and she also needs an account. So we went to HSBC but they said that they require a utility bill in my wifes name which she doent have coz all the bills are paid from my account. They didnt accept the appointment letter as a proof of address (which they had done for me a yr back!!!!) I thought of putting her name but the BT and british gas wouldn`t allow that as they have a direct debit from my account.
Any suggestions of what to do??

And also can I open another account in any other bank (the interest in HSBC is pants) as most banks want u to be resident of UK at least for last three years.
Many thanks

doelani

try Abbey for a new account for you. you do not have to be resident for 3 years but if you wnat your wife to open an account or be added to yours she will need address proof. Is she registered with a doctor? If so Abbey will accept her medical card as proof of her address and her passport for name .

macgyver

Thanx.
I will try at abbey. Do u know if their interest rates are any better than HSBC
Regarding my wife, yes she is registered with the GP.
So i will take the GPs card and try with them.
Many thanx again

ED

macgyver - I recommend you look at the interest rates page of Abbey's website (one of the best bank sites, in my opinion). It's here :

http://www.abbey.com/interest_rates.htm

5.10% gross is offered for £1+ in eSaver. This includes 0.50% bonus for first 6 months.

Spare £'s can be instantly swept online by the customer into his or her Abbey current account. That one pays 2.50% if £1,000 or more is deposited each month. (Deposits can be savings. They don't have to be salary.)