British families.

ratechaser

gt568 said:

Riley_G said:

gt568 said:

This is windup thread right?  or a child off school??

No?

Sorry didn't realize this forum was for the select few.

I can't believe a sane adult would ask these questions.

Yup. Surprised it took so long to call 'BS' on this one.

And to the OP, if you really are for real, cheer up as this is an essential part of your cultural integration, realising that we major in cynicism... 

elsien

Just pondering whether to add class into the mix of how formal we are when meeting new partners.
And adding the Royle Family to OPs list of required viewing....

bouicca21

Surely if she is in Manchester, we have to add Coronation Street?

maman

Riley_G said:

I also hear my boyfriend talk about down south and loads of people have mentioned it, Does the north not like the south?

I'm generalising hugely but the North/South divide is a bit like the Rust Belt in the US compared with  other, wealthier parts of the country. The North (well everywhere but the South East really) has suffered from the loss of heavy industry and little being put in it's place since so people in the North feel (justifiably in my opinion) that they've been ignored and left behind. Manchester has done its best to reinvent itself as a destination city for entertainment, shopping, conferences and universities but it's not easy. The government is trying to level things up (allegedly). 

Riley_G

Hey guys, there is no need to be rude.

It seems I joined an elite forum where only the select few choose who is welcome.

I am sorry for wasting everyone's time, I'll stop posting now. 

maman

Riley_G said:

Hey guys, there is no need to be rude.

It seems I joined an elite forum where only the select few choose who is welcome.

I am sorry for wasting everyone's time, I'll stop posting now. 

You don't need to stop posting unless you really  want to. There are rude people in The UK just as there are in the US. Just ignore them. 

Aranyani

Riley_G said:

TBagpuss said:

- Meeting the parents, back home I would take a gift to them and it wouldn't be formal. I've been told here that its very prim and proper. Can anyone give me the low down?
 Depends on the family. I think that *in general* , people here tend to be a little more formal than in the US but of course there will be lots of exceptions. I would ask your boyfriend, as he's the one who knows his parents!  A  small gift such as flowers, chocolates or wine wouldn't go amiss, especially if you are meeting them in their own home. If eating out (when that is allowed again) 
- Why do I have to get a sponsor/reference to get a bank account. My boyfriend had to vouch for me at his bank. is this normal? Will I have to always get a vouch or will I be allowed to apply on my own. Do I have to pay to use a bank branch?
Because you've never lived here so don't have any credit history or address history in this country.  Once you have established some history here you should be able to go it alone. You might be able to get a 'basic' account even without someone vouching for you. (they are designed for those with poor credit, or who have been bankrupt, and normally don't allow any form of overdraft)
You don't pay to use bank branches here. You also don't normally get charged for withdrawing money from an ATM not owned by your bank, although machines in motorway service areas and convenience stores may charge you, but have to show up front what the charge will be.  Some accounts charge a fee (Normally offering perks like 'free' insurance, preferential rates for other products and so on) but it isn't standard to pay a monthly or yearly fee for a bank account. Cheques are free (but old fashioned. I can't remember the last time I wrote, or received, a personal cheque) 

- Can you get prepaid phones here? I was reading there is T-Mobile in the UK, I have T-Mobile in the states can I move my account over to the UK? My boyfriend said they became EE? He has an account at EE and he has said he will add me to his account, is that with my T-Mobile US account?
Yes, you can get pre-pay (Pay as You go) phones where you top up your credit as and when you need it. I don't know if you can move your US account to the UK - I'd suggest contacting T-Mobile directly to ask. If your boyfriend adds you I would expect that to be a new account so your number would change. You may need aa new Sim as well, depending how old your phone is. 
- Does credit work in the same way as it does in the US? I had a credit card I bought all my every day purchases on it and paid it off at the end of the month by check, I was told my score would increase, is that the same here?
Having a credit card and paying it off every month can be useful as it means you show up for the credit referencing agencies. It makes sense to ensure that you are also on the electoral roll, and on the council tax bill, too. However none of those things alone will make your score increase.
- Anything else I should know?
GP stands for General Practitioner - they are the doctor you contact in the first instance if you are unwell, and for routine things. They will refer you on to specialists if/when necessary. Most surgeries also have nurse practioners who you may see for things like  routine blood tests, cervical screening, monitoring of ongoing conditions such as asthma or diabetes (if relevant) and  may be able to see you for initial appointments sometimes.  If you have an urgent appointment you may see a different GP (at the same office) as the person you are registered with. 

You will also need to register separately with a dentist.  Seeing a GP is free (you will pay £9 per item for any prescriptions, paid to the pharmacist when you collect the medication, free for people on certain means-tested benefits, the young, the old and the pregnant) Dentists may be private or NHS (often the same dentists do both) - for NHS treatment you pay a low, set amount (again, free for some) . In some areas it can be hard to find an NHS dentist, it makes sense to find one as soon as you can, don't wait until you have toothache! 

ID - there is no requirement to carry ID. You will need it for things like opening a bank account, getting a job, or renting a car, and ay get 'carded' if buying alcohol, tobacco or knives, if you are, or look as f you may be, under 25 (you need to be over 18 but a lot of retailers have  policy of checking if someone looks under 25, and can ask for proof of age from anyone. 

Tax - as others have said, sales tax (VAT) is included on the stocker price of items in shops. However, lots of professional services will quote figures excluding VAT so you may see a quote that is (say) £500 + VAT. VAT is 20% although lower rates apply to some kinds of goods.
Restaurants - tipping is not compulsory - smaller / more casual places may have a tip jar and fancier places will generally add a 12.5% service charge (which is not compulsory, but you would need to ask to take it off id you are not willing to pay) and there is often also a charge for larger groups.  
It's common to tip taxi drivers by rounding up the fare, and if you stay in a good hotel it would be common to leave a small time each day for housekeeping staff, and to tip a porter or concierge if you use their services. However, unlike the US,  tipping isn't anything like as common and people's incomes don't depend on in it the same way. 

Thank you! So helpful!

gt568 said:

Riley_G said:

gt568 said:

This is windup thread right?  or a child off school??

No?

Sorry didn't realize this forum was for the select few.

I can't believe a sane adult would ask these questions.

I didn't mean to come in to this exclusive group. I am sane thank you for asking. It seems you don't want me here.

Don't take it personally, you do seem very naive though, I'm a bit worried about you to be honest! 

Whereabouts in Manchester are you?  

Riley_G

Aranyani said:

Riley_G said:

TBagpuss said:

- Meeting the parents, back home I would take a gift to them and it wouldn't be formal. I've been told here that its very prim and proper. Can anyone give me the low down?
 Depends on the family. I think that *in general* , people here tend to be a little more formal than in the US but of course there will be lots of exceptions. I would ask your boyfriend, as he's the one who knows his parents!  A  small gift such as flowers, chocolates or wine wouldn't go amiss, especially if you are meeting them in their own home. If eating out (when that is allowed again) 
- Why do I have to get a sponsor/reference to get a bank account. My boyfriend had to vouch for me at his bank. is this normal? Will I have to always get a vouch or will I be allowed to apply on my own. Do I have to pay to use a bank branch?
Because you've never lived here so don't have any credit history or address history in this country.  Once you have established some history here you should be able to go it alone. You might be able to get a 'basic' account even without someone vouching for you. (they are designed for those with poor credit, or who have been bankrupt, and normally don't allow any form of overdraft)
You don't pay to use bank branches here. You also don't normally get charged for withdrawing money from an ATM not owned by your bank, although machines in motorway service areas and convenience stores may charge you, but have to show up front what the charge will be.  Some accounts charge a fee (Normally offering perks like 'free' insurance, preferential rates for other products and so on) but it isn't standard to pay a monthly or yearly fee for a bank account. Cheques are free (but old fashioned. I can't remember the last time I wrote, or received, a personal cheque) 

- Can you get prepaid phones here? I was reading there is T-Mobile in the UK, I have T-Mobile in the states can I move my account over to the UK? My boyfriend said they became EE? He has an account at EE and he has said he will add me to his account, is that with my T-Mobile US account?
Yes, you can get pre-pay (Pay as You go) phones where you top up your credit as and when you need it. I don't know if you can move your US account to the UK - I'd suggest contacting T-Mobile directly to ask. If your boyfriend adds you I would expect that to be a new account so your number would change. You may need aa new Sim as well, depending how old your phone is. 
- Does credit work in the same way as it does in the US? I had a credit card I bought all my every day purchases on it and paid it off at the end of the month by check, I was told my score would increase, is that the same here?
Having a credit card and paying it off every month can be useful as it means you show up for the credit referencing agencies. It makes sense to ensure that you are also on the electoral roll, and on the council tax bill, too. However none of those things alone will make your score increase.
- Anything else I should know?
GP stands for General Practitioner - they are the doctor you contact in the first instance if you are unwell, and for routine things. They will refer you on to specialists if/when necessary. Most surgeries also have nurse practioners who you may see for things like  routine blood tests, cervical screening, monitoring of ongoing conditions such as asthma or diabetes (if relevant) and  may be able to see you for initial appointments sometimes.  If you have an urgent appointment you may see a different GP (at the same office) as the person you are registered with. 

You will also need to register separately with a dentist.  Seeing a GP is free (you will pay £9 per item for any prescriptions, paid to the pharmacist when you collect the medication, free for people on certain means-tested benefits, the young, the old and the pregnant) Dentists may be private or NHS (often the same dentists do both) - for NHS treatment you pay a low, set amount (again, free for some) . In some areas it can be hard to find an NHS dentist, it makes sense to find one as soon as you can, don't wait until you have toothache! 

ID - there is no requirement to carry ID. You will need it for things like opening a bank account, getting a job, or renting a car, and ay get 'carded' if buying alcohol, tobacco or knives, if you are, or look as f you may be, under 25 (you need to be over 18 but a lot of retailers have  policy of checking if someone looks under 25, and can ask for proof of age from anyone. 

Tax - as others have said, sales tax (VAT) is included on the stocker price of items in shops. However, lots of professional services will quote figures excluding VAT so you may see a quote that is (say) £500 + VAT. VAT is 20% although lower rates apply to some kinds of goods.
Restaurants - tipping is not compulsory - smaller / more casual places may have a tip jar and fancier places will generally add a 12.5% service charge (which is not compulsory, but you would need to ask to take it off id you are not willing to pay) and there is often also a charge for larger groups.  
It's common to tip taxi drivers by rounding up the fare, and if you stay in a good hotel it would be common to leave a small time each day for housekeeping staff, and to tip a porter or concierge if you use their services. However, unlike the US,  tipping isn't anything like as common and people's incomes don't depend on in it the same way. 

Thank you! So helpful!

gt568 said:

Riley_G said:

gt568 said:

This is windup thread right?  or a child off school??

No?

Sorry didn't realize this forum was for the select few.

I can't believe a sane adult would ask these questions.

I didn't mean to come in to this exclusive group. I am sane thank you for asking. It seems you don't want me here.

Don't take it personally, you do seem very naive though, I'm a bit worried about you to be honest! 

Whereabouts in Manchester are you?  

Why do you ask? I don't feel comfortable telling that information

suejb2

Someone bored in isolation?

Riley_G

suejb2 said:

Someone bored in isolation?

Excuse me?