The Money Saga Part II

Or, How to Get a UK Bank Account if you're an International Student


I have written a post about my trials and tribulations in applying for, getting and securing my financial aid for my visa.  For some reason the UK Border Agency (UKBA) wants to make sure that students coming into their country have enough money to pay for their course fees and have enough money to pay for room and board so they don't get onto welfare.  Having succesfully secured a loan, gotten a letter of proof of funds from the university and having got here I then enjoyed the frustrations of trying to get a UK bank account.

Which is not nearly as easy as you might think.

So, for anyone planning on going to the UK for school who are going to open a checking account, please pay attention as I am about to save you a lot of walking, headaches, idiots who don't know what the heck they're doing, what you're doing or what's been done as well as save you from tears of frustration that could lead to homicidal rage-which isn't exactly pretty.

So here is my guide to getting a UK bank account if you're not a British citizen:

1.  Get a letter of introduction from the International Office.
The very first thing you should do when arriving in the UK is to go to the International Office-even before you check out the University itself.  Now, for Hull, the International Office likes to know that their students have arrived.  They even have wristbands you can wear so if anyone from their office sees you looking bewildered  they'll help you out.  I did not wear mine as I had Mark with me.  For Hull, there was a specific day where they had banks to get students bank accounts.

For me I chose Lloyds TSB simply because it's the bank the university uses and it's just down the road from both the International Office and the University-convenient eh?

When I went to open mine, I was told that I needed to go to the branch itself as they knew students were coming.  They knew students were coming and though they were willing to take down some information they still needed those letters. Which brings me to my next hint.

2.  Make sure you have your Passport & Visa on you when trying to open an account

I have seen more than one person turned away because they didn't have their passport on them.  Don't let this happen to you.  And no, a passport card or a DL isn't going to work.  You need the same passport and visa you used to get through customs.  When I went over that Tuesday they made a copy of both my passport and the visa.  They also had me fill out an application.  And then they told me to return the following day with my Letter of Introduction.

I had returned to the International Office the following day to be told quite rudely that the banks would pick up the letters directly and that I'd get an email when the account was open.  Fine, whatever.  A week later I still had not heard from the bank so I decided it would behoove of me to get a little pushy and returned to the International Office and asked about it.  Sure enough the bank had come and the letters had been given. Wonderful!  So I walked to the bank and asked about getting my account opened up!  The lady quite nicely told me that, due to the sheer press of students, they haven't gotten to them all yet (a week later) and that they might be finished on Friday.  Well... it didn't matter all that much since I didn't even have my money yet!

The original email I got said the financial aid disbursement checks would go out on the 20th only to find out that they weren't going to be disbursed until Oct. 3.  Um... that's a difference of two weeks and when you've got no money, that's a bit harsh.  But I had Mark so we were doing okay... for now.  But that brings me to my next suggestion:

3.  Make sure the bank looks at your application and tell you everything they're missing and need from you!

See, I wasn't quite pushy enough.  After I had said a merry, ok thank you and left the bank that monday (it was the 3rd) I went to the university to track down the guy who was supposed to give me my money!  grr....   He asked if I had my bank details and I said- uh, not yet so then he said that I'd be getting a check in pounds sterling and that he was putting out the info that day and the check would arrive either Tuesday (which it did) or Wednesday (when I was able to physically pick it up).

So It's now Wednesday and I had a beautiful check made out to me and I really wanted to deposit it into my bank account as I really needed that money already.  So I return to the bank, sure that I'd be able to open my account.  And no, I was not! See, they needed a letter of introduction and proof of residence.  Great.  I was told by the bank that they hadn't gotten a letter of introduction for everyone and I was one of the unlucky few.  Happily, I had gotten one from the guy in the International Office the previous Monday so I was able to give that to them right then and there.  Which bring up item #4:

4.  Make sure you have proof of residency from the Landlord or the International Office or via a Status Letter from the University

But now I needed to get proof of residency.  My problem is that, without any money, I can't afford to get onto the lease, without being on the lease, I can't get my bank account and thus no money... it's a vicious circle.  So I return to the International Office, ask them where I am to get it and, shock and surprise I can get it from them!  Only... I can't because you see... I'm not living on campus and they only have it from students living on campus.  So I had to go to the 2nd floor (what we in the real world would understand to be the third floor as the ground floor is  the first floor) of the Hull Student Union and get one from there.  And finally I got my Status Letter.

Which required yet another trip back to the bank.  Fortunately this was all that they needed and they accepted it.  Of course, it was still going to take them time to register it but they said they'd do it later that afternoon.  I was also finally able to put that beautiful check into the bank... but they have a 3-5 working day clearance so for me that's next Tuesday.  However, I should be able to access my money and get my ATM card whenever I head over there on Tuesday morning so yay!  I just need to bring my passport with me is all.  I can do that.

So, if you are going to open a checking account in the UK as an International student here's what you need on hand, with you before you go.

1.  Get a Letter of Introduction from the International Office
2.  Make sure you have your passport when opening up and dealing with the bank at all times
3.  Make sure the Bank looks at your application and lets you know what items you're missing
4.  Make sure you have a lease contract, statement from the landlord, a letter of residency from the International Office or a Status Letter from the University.

Only then, my intrepid friend, should you even think about opening an account!

First Day of Class

So today was the first day of lectures.  I have only one class on Mondays and my second class is on Fridays.  Let me back up.  I am getting an MA in Historical Studies at Hull and MA candidates in History have to take two core classes, the first being Historiography and the second being Research Design and Strategy.  For some reason the profs want the students to understand what it means to study and write history, to have a good appreciate what a historian is and does.  All the MA students have to take these two courses so I'll be in the same classes with the same people for the next 12 weeks.

The first class started at 4:14 this afternoon but I left earlier as I wanted to get some errands run before class started.  My first stop was the International Office.  Last week I opened up a bank account and I was told that I needed to get a letter of introduction from the IO the following day.  When I had returned the following day I was informed that they were going to send them directly to the bank and I didn't need to do anything as the bank would just send me an email with my bank information.  Well, this was over a week ago and I wanted answers.  It turns out that the bank had come over and collected the letters so I walked back to the bank and was told that with the sheer number of students who had opened accounts with them, it was going to take a while for them to finish processing... she suggested I return on Friday.  Friday... bother.

So I left the bank and tracked down the guy who was processing the financial aid refund checks.  I was told that they would go out today.  Oh, foolish me.  Though he was polite I got the impression that he was less than thrilled that I had come asking about the checks.  He asked me if I had my banking details and I said I didn't have it yet so he said that I'd be getting a check.  Yeah, I know... and please do it before the USD goes down even more!!  :(  He said he was processing it today and a check would be cut and it'd be in the financial office either tomorrow or Wednesday.  Great.

It was about 3 at this point and I decided now would be a great time to figure out where my classes are being held.  I had assumed they were in the Larkin Building-where the history office are.  But I could not find WI-L9 on the map of West Larkin so I asked.  Silly me, that W wasn't for West nor was the I a lower case L in fact it stand for Wilberforce Hall.  And the nice lady at the History Inquiries office told me what WS stands for Whisk of course!  At least I know where my classes are and as the nice lady said, at least it was a question she could answer... which wasn't the case with the people in line ahead of me.

I got to the classroom an hour early and just got online and chilled until class started.  I met an older, middle aged man named Bruce and we chatted for a bit.  The first part of class will be lecture followed by a 15 minute coffee break and then return to class for discussion.  Personally I'd rather have no break and just end early but that's just me.  During discussion today the prof was insisting that people start thinking about their dissertation and wanted to know if anyone had an idea already.  Seems I am the only one who does.  And now the entire class knows I'm from California, as if the accent didn't give it away.  But it seems as if I am not only the only American in the class but I am the only International student.  Most of the kids there had just gotten their BA and all went to Hull for their undergrad and already know each other.  I think Bruce is the only person in the class who is older than me.  The nice old man thought I was 25.  Bless.  He was quite surprised to discover that I am 32.  He'd not have thought I was that old and I told him it's the Irish in me.

Class got out a little after 6 and Bruce and I walked out.  He went his way and I met Mark who was waiting for me.  I could see him looking out for me and not seeing me.  And then he did and he pointed to his watch and informed me that it was 6:10 and class ended at 6:05.  And because he is such a dear he had brought my peacoat just in case it decided to rain on the way home.  His hip is bothering him so he's fairly sure that we're in for a drenching.  Sounds like fun.  We got home and I made him take 2 Aleve while I heated up left-over lasagna.

Tomorrow I have a Dr. appointment at the local clinic at 11.  I am sure they're going to want to run all sorts of tests to make sure I am in tip top shape.  I suppose we shall see what shall happen but that is, like most things, meant for another post.

Happy Birthday Mark!!

Today is Mark's Birthday and he has had an amazing birthday weekend I am happy to say.


Saturday Uncle Phil and Aunt Anne dropped by with a present for Mark and then we hopped into the car and drove into town.  Aunt Anne thought I would enjoy the Princess Quay (pronounced key in the UK) which is a mall with four floors that has elevators the likes of which they have on a cruise ship.  I had told Uncle Phil to just keep an eye out because I have parking Mojo.  For those who don't know, if I am in the car, great parking places have a tendency to just appear.  But as we went up one level then another with another without any obvious parking places I was fearing that my parking mojo did not work in England.  This was quite disheartening.  Eventually though Aunt Anne told Uncle Phil to go straight instead of turning to go up another level as she saw a parking spot that was cleverly hidden between a support post and a car.


We walked around the mall for a bit and Aunt Anne made sure to point out shops I might like.  We discussed her son's wedding while the men walked a careful distance behind us.  Eventually Aunt Anne brought me to a store called Primark that is bit like Mervyn's.  They had loads of PJs made out of flannel and fuzzy and cotton and all sorts.  And there were plenty of scarves (I was quite excited) and gloves (oh boy!) and all sorts of clothes!!  Mark was feeling a disturbance in the force.  We eventually lost the boys and then had to find them and once we collected the Guntons we went for a walk about downtown.  They showed me the old docks and the docks for the ferries that used to run across the Humber River, which is about the width of the Mississippi.  It's a river that comes off from the ocean so it has tides and when the tide is out it turns into a mud flat.  Quite cool really.


We then continued around, stopped and had a bit to drink.  Mark was able to get me a Diet Coke and once we wet our whistle we continued walking around Old Town.  It's really cool to see these buildings that were built in the 1330s that are still in use today.  We simply don't have history like that.  The house Mark and I are living in is a piece of crap working house built in the Victorian era.  And it still has most of the modern conveniences of the era too.


Uncle Phil then followed his nose and found a chain pub.  We shall not be going back as I've had better fish & chips in CA and they had no Diet Coke... I was forced to drink Diet Pepsi.  Poor Mark felt as if he were letting me down.  He's so sweet.  :)  The four of us had a lovely conversation where I tasted Pimms, what Mark referred to as a salad in a glass.  I also had a taste of a Bitter (beer) called John Smith that my sister would really like.  At one point we passed by a Beer Festival which really intrigued Mark and Uncle Phil... but they resisted.


After several hours of wondering around we returned to the mall where we got some ice cream.  Uncle Phil enjoyed poking gentle fun at me, the way the Brits do, and when we entered Baskin Robbin's he wanted to know why I choose that when we have them in CA.  I objected as Aunt Anne picked it out and gave him a dirty look which only made him laugh.  Then we met a coworker of Uncle Phil whose daughter is a freshman at Hull.  This was the first time in a week she's seen her parents.  :)  And finally we headed back to the car.


There was a father with his two little boys in the garage elevator with us and the older boy had a picker upper thingy that was a dolphin.  He was really cute and when we exited the elevator we realized that we had the perfect parking spot so it appears as if my parking mojo does work in England.  I was so glad.


And then Uncle Phil took us across the Humber Bridge.  It was, until recently, the largest suspension bridge in the world.  It is so long it follows the curvature of the earth!  I learned about it from Top Gear and decided I wanted to go across it.  Uncle Phil & Aunt Anne are Top Gear fans and are on the waiting list to be in the Top Gear audience.  They said it takes up to two years!


Once we have paid the second fee of 3 pounds we pulled over to a park next to the bridge.  We walked about the park area and just enjoyed the afternoon.  It was a beautiful day and there were a million people out and about enjoying the weather I had brought with me from CA.  Uncle Phil went off to find a restroom and I discovered someone selling Diet Coke.  Now, if you know me, you know that when I open my mouth to speak I have no idea which accent will flavor my words.  As it happens when I got to the counter an upper class English accent came out as I asked the nice guy if he had any diet coke.  He said it depended on how cold I wanted it.  He pulled out a bottle and handed it to me.  It was room temperature and I kindly asked about the cans.  He was such a dear he reached all the way into the back and brought forth a can and handed it to me.  I smiled it was perfect and I paid him and enjoyed my spoils.


I talked about it with Mark and he suspects that it because I spoke with an upper class accent that afforded me such dedicated service.  Hey, if it works I'll use it.  :)


Eventually though, we left and returned home.  It was late and Uncle Phil & Aunt Anne had to return home.  We hugged and kissed them goodbye, thanked them for a wonderful day and retired for the evening.


At some point we decided to order some take out.  Our dinner was supposed to arrive a bit after 8 and Mark had to go and collect it sometime after 9.  We will not be returning.  All in all it was a good day and we eventually went to bed.


Sunday Mark and I woke up and breakfast required a quick trip to the Tesco's Express that's across the street.  An express is a bit like the grocery department at Target without the Target.  We returned home, and I proceeded to make Mark his Birthday Breakfast.  He ate every bite.  I love feeding him.  :)  While we were finishing up his friend Simon came over and then we went off to go to a different grocery store and buy food for his Birthday Dinner.  Although I managed to find everything I required-mostly- I found that I had the largest desire for Home than I have ever felt.  I was desperately wishing for Raley's or even Target!!    Something I recognize as being a civilized shopping center!!!  Eventually though we got out of there alive and I was able to start on making the sauce for his lasagna dinner.  I had even gotten a box of toffee cake for his Afters (dessert).  I have yet to bake it but I think I shall work on that in a few minutes.  If there is one thing my boy loves outside of his family and me, it's coffee and toffee.  A smart girl knows what makes her boy happy and I plan on keeping mine delirious, even if I have to dope him with coffee and toffee cake.  


And because I love him, I even gave him veto power in the avon order I plan on making here in a few days.  Our neighbor is an Avon Lady... so nice.  :)


But our day is rapidly coming to a close and I have things I still need to do so I think I shall bid ye all a good evening.