[Leccy-Lee]

Sorry sound depressing but got a few financial problems which right now could end my NZ dream, which is crazy as there so small.

Cutting a long story short i am only on 12 mths work visa and need to find a loan or a bank overdraft if anyone has any ideas? Not even a large one, which is the annoying thing!

Reason being i have to get my Electricians license to stay in NZ and to keep my job, now i been saving for the course fees which need to be paid by the 5th of Nov at a cost of $1900 (yeah i know ouch!) plus theres books needed at $180 on top, so far my savings have only amounted to $700 and finding $1200+ in just about 2 weeks starting to scare me, thought i could save more but its been harder making ends meet than i hoped. And to add to my problems i have an overdue invoice for $300 which the company says unless i pay now they will take legal action (affect visa and PR chances?) I could pay that invoice with savings today, but then ruins even more my course fees.

So right now unless i can win Lotto or find a helpful bank, i could end up losing job and heading home all for a measly amount of minor problems :(

I only ask if anyone has ideas about loans etc, as i did enquire with some car finance companies a month back (just out interest) and to see if i could get credit on a work visa and they was all willing to lend me $10000 on a visa no problem? So why i finding it so hard to get a simple $1500 loan or overdraft on my visa?

And yes before its suggested i have considered my boss, i would happy to ask for a small loan or advance but could never ask for that much amount, he only just loaned me $600 2 months back for rental deposit (all paid back tho).

If anyone knows of a bank or loan company that would do small short-term (3-6mths or less) loans etc on a work visa please please give me some ideas. Would be a shame for all to go tits up on such a small reason.

Sigh! Always knew coming to NZ with only $4000 was going to be tough, but i got this far ok, just a little further be nice....

[zardell]

Why ask your boss for a loan - why not ask him to pay for the licence fees etc?

I know it amounts to the same as a loan, but if he knew what it was for and bearing in mind he helped you with your rental deposit, he may be prepared to help you again.

You could pay him back out of your wages.

Also Lee, are you saying that your bank has refused you a loan/overdraft or have you not asked yet? You may be pleasantly surprised.

Good luck.

Julie

xx

[Leccy-Lee]

True, asking boss for anything is a last resort, To be honest its embarrassing enough asking for advice and announcing my cashflow crisis here, without the embarrassment of my boss realizing i am struggling again, so if it comes down to it then yes, but right now i would prefer to loan something and sort it out myself if i can.
Its actually course and college fees for 2 weeks at college, he has said hes happy to pay any admin and license fees, but wouldn't expect him to pay my tuition.

Regards bank, maybe i asked wrong people? I asked the girl at the counter (ASB) if i could speak to somebody about loan or overdraft etc and she asked my visa status, when i replied she said "Sorry the bank would not be able to help, and i doubt any bank could until you have PR"

And i asked my flat-mate who works in accounts at Westpac, and she said no bank be be likely to help. But if anyone knows a more likely or friendly to migrants bank then i can always try.

Thanks julie

[veronica]

maybe daft but anyone back home who would lend it to you.

[Angelonthemove]

Without PR with 12 months work permits we got a credit card from ASB Bank plus we had a $20,000 car loan from Toyota finance. they do not like to give loans or overdrafts. But here is a way of using it to your advantage.

It's what we did to tide us over in the beginning as I lost my job. We got a joint credit card (spend it on your fees) then every month use your shopping budget to pay off some and then use it to shop again back up to the full limit. Keep this up until you are able to pay off more each month.

We got a card for $2,500 initially, I'm sure if we asked for more they would have. I even pay off weekly amounts when I get paid. Get a savings account too at the bank, makes you look good.

when we needed to buy our house we got another one for $7000 as we needed a deposit to go unconditional even though it was a 100% mortgage we needed the cash. Then when the mortgage company paid we paid it off, well that was the plan think I spent it on a few things. But we did have PR by then.

I know you probably hate to have a credit card but if you use as much spare cash to pay as much as possible and re spend the interest is not so bad.

Good luck.

PM if I have not explained this properly

[CjChris]

maybe you've already checked on this, but doesn't the uni have student loans available, or are these tied to PR as well?

I wish I had some concrete advice...sorry for your situation. I do think that you should pay whoever you owe the 300 to so that legal action is not taken as that will forever affect your credit here, thus making car/mortgage impossible later. I would pay that ASAP with apologies so that they don't report it badly on your rating.

The banks seem pretty trusting. If you don't have an account already, open one and get a credit card, whatever they will let you have. And don't tell them ANYTHING about your story. We just went in and asked for checking and savings (and didn't have one dime to put it either account because we hadn't sorted money from US yet). We don't even have jobs, didn't even have a rental yet (at the time we were still at a hotel using a post restante as address!!) and the lovely lady at ASB didn't blink an eye. She let us open both accoutns with zero balance. (Back in the US you had to have minimum deposit before you could open anything).

So, go to ASB on Manners and see what they can do for you. :nice1

Good luck. I hope someone else has something more to offer.
Christine

[Moorf]

You could always ask your boss for advice on where to get a loan - when you tell him what it's for I'd have thought any boss worth their salt would be happy to help out assuming you'll be a better qualified employee? :)

[IanW99]

The only problem we had with getting finance was that they would not allow the finish date of the loan to be later than the expiry date on our visa, so they just reduced the time period that they were prepared to loan on.

Have you discussed the payment of the course fees to see if they will allow you to pay later or monthly etc? They are used to students not having the money available and normally have finance options.

Ian

[Leccy-Lee]

Thanks all, some great advice..
I think i will go into ASB proper tomorrow and try and speak to somebody better if i can. Sounds like some of you have had success with ASB and maybe i should speak to someone other than the teller girl?

Regards the student thing, being a 33y old tradesman i would never qualify as a student etc. And although i haven't asked the invoices say must be paid by 5th Nov or may not take course, and there was no option to pay by installments or loan etc as an overseas person. In fact course was $400 for a kiwi and $1900 for anyone from overseas! (welcome to NZ!).

Moorf, yes no doubt boss would pay it or loan it etc, but i genuinely really dont want to go there unless it is genuinely the last resort and no other option.

I will sort that invoice out tomorrow too, rather sort that out and worry about course fees, than worry about any implications of that.

Keep any ideas coming, thanks

[willsken]

Lee do you still have a bank account in the UK. We arranged an overdraft from here to sort out a rental property with no problem at all.

I do also advise you to speak with the admin department at the Uni as they always seem helpful when I've had dealings with them through school.

[Timbo]

Westpac were willing to give us a (hefty) 20 year mortgage while we were only on 18 month work permit, but I guess as they had the house as security they couldnt loose.
Keep plugging away at the banks Lee, I am sure if you give them the full story they will try and help.
Good luck mate. I sincerely hope it doesnt end in tears.

[james the mechanic]

I’ve got no advice to give, so I’m off to buy a lottery ticket for you mate.
My thinking is that if everyone on this forum did the same, one of us may actually get lucky and if we don’t, so what we’ve all only lost a pound each.
Best of luck mate:nice1
James

[james the mechanic]

As promised our numbers for tonight's (Weds UK) draw will be…
10 15 17 29 39 45
James

[james the mechanic]

Bad luck mate,
Tonights numbers 14 16 24 28 45 48 29 :no

[Timbo]

What a great gesture James, good on ya.
Your idea gives rise to another. Maybe all forum members could donate a dollar or so each, in the event that poor old lee gets stumped.

[zardell]

What a great gesture James, good on ya.
Your idea gives rise to another. Maybe all forum members could donate a dollar or so each, in the event that poor old lee gets stumped.



You can count me in.

Julie

xx

[Moorf]

Me too :nice1

[Smiler]

Me three!

Nice one Timbo :nice1

[Timbo]

OK. How do I (we) go about this one then?? Assuming of course it is still necessary.

[Leccy-Lee]

LOL you guys are the best! I am all embarrassed now! and James, words cannot express the kind gesture and great foresight you had with that one mate! Thankyou..

As an update, been collecting wage slips, work contract and some docs together to hope to visit bank tomorrow, although fridays at work are notoriously manic and may have to wait until saturday.

[Moorf]

OK. How do I (we) go about this one then?? Assuming of course it is still necessary.

Same as paying for TradeMe stuff? i.e online bank transfer?

[Timbo]

Dont be to shy to shout out Lee. I am sure this mottly crew can muster enough between us to keep the dream alive.

[gil]

Hi Lee, Just seen this, no advice I'm sorry but want to send you good vibes, and of course the $ should the need arise! Hope it works out,

Gil
x

[willsken]

You can count us in as well! (I assume we will be allowed to be a little more generous if we are able?):D

[Smiler]

online BT seems the way to go!

[constablechuck]

I pledge $50 to the keep Lee in NZ fund, if you need it just PM your bank details and I'll send it, now if only 39 others send the same you'll be all good.

[Silverwing86]

Count me in as well Constablechuck, just let me know where to send the $ 50 and it'll be on it's way !

Lee, it seems to me that if you have a regular income, the bank shouldn't have a problem with a short term loan, even if it's just for the duration of your visa, that would be long enough for you to sort things out, wouldn't it ?

Also, would definitely choose to speak to someone else (Branch Manager maybe ? If you do more business with the bank, you might have a Personal Banker ??) than the teller, I think you'll have a much better chance of getting it sorted.

Good luck with it and if it doesn't work out, we'll help keep you here, no worries mate :yes !

Silver

[Steadybears]

Wow what a great bunch of friends - sorry lee Im still not in NZ yet - but all the best.

Jayne

[Hippywench]

I am also willing to donate. Do you have a paypal account?

[Smiler]

I pledge $50 to the keep Lee in NZ fund, if you need it just PM your bank details and I'll send it, now if only 39 others send the same you'll be all good.

37 others now ;)

[Moorf]

36 now...

[willsken]

35.....:D

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

34.....

We need Peter Snow and his swingometer don't we!

[Leccy-Lee]

You guys are unbelievable! Sorry really not sure what to say.....
(A virtual hug might do it, yes that includes you guys!)

Did not get time with work today to visit ASB, so i am going to go in armed with some details tomorrow morning, only hope the saturday staff includes some helpful decision making folk.. Then i wouldn't have need for any charity.

Seriously stuck for words with you guys and your kind offers of help..

[victoria]

33 ... OOh I've wanted to be 33 again for ages!!!

[willsken]

33 ... OOh I've wanted to be 33 again for ages!!!

:D

[The Hodges]

32 now. We would be more than happy to help keep your dream alive. :raebanana

[willsken]

So why i finding it so hard to get a simple $1500 loan or overdraft on my visa?

Now I may be wrong but I think we may be closer to raising the money than we thought! Lee is looking to find $1500 and if we are pledging $50 each then we need 30 kind people to make this happen. Soooo we have to be on 22 not 32! victoria that makes you 23 again, even better!! The next person will be 21!!

Am I wrong, am I wrong, am I wrong, am I wrong, someone tell me! :confused:

[Leccy-Lee]

No your not wrong Nic, $1500 for my course fees:mad:

Well update: Went to ASB today armed with work wage slips, contract and my visa and anything they wanted. Did not need any of it, why? Because that bunch of ******* (sorry) are not even interested! Had a sit down meeting with "Manager" of branch and said i wanted to discuss my account options etc, explained i needed a better account with more options, maybe a credit card. And he stopped me in my tracks there asked if i was a resident at all, upon explaining that i hope to be shortly etc he said that "ASB are unable to help unless your a NZ resident, i am afraid i would like to help but its in black and white". I then mentioned that i had heard of other expats (nobody mentioned of course) that was succesful in getting finanbce and credit cards whilst still on visas with ASB, and his reply was "Thats unheard i would say, its simply not an option with our policy, A secured laon or mortgage maybe possible as its secured on home, but certainly anything else is not an option Mr.Bennett"
:wah: :mad:

So there you have it, i have a good income here, a permenant contract and everything i done so far gone through my ASB account, but they wont even look at my circumstances, just the typical talking to a robot "its policy" crap! If anyone has had joy with ASB on a work-visa any chance you can enlighten me to who or which office to call about this?

Anyhow.... On way home the only other bank open on Sat afternoon was "The National Bank" so i figured as i had everything on me and i dressed up (yup made myself smart even) i may as well ask even though i dont bank with them at all. So i sit down with lady and explain i was looking for either a credit card or maybe a loan, or an account with overdraft etc, and she instantly sounds 10000% more helpful and optimistic and even says "I have arranged several loans and cards for non-residents i dont see why it should be a problem, you would need to move your banking to us however" (last bits not a problem after ASBs poor turnout). So she took all my details and that and punched in some figures etc, minimum loan is $3000 so had to try for that, she said it can only be short term as length of my visa, which is fine by me, wouldn't want any long debt anyhow. She worked out payments etc and looked at my weekly budget etc and promptly said "that all looks fine, cant see it being declined".
So now i have to wait until tuesday to hear verdict from National Bank credit dept. in Auckland, although she sounded very optimistic i dont wish to count any chickens yet..

So anyone for an ASB bashing session

[jubjub]

Yay for National Bank:clap , and fingers firmly crossed for a your loan being approved. :nice1

As for ASB If I had been treated that way I would move my account too, fast :exit that was just rude.

[IanW99]

Sorry that ASB are being awkward?

I for one came to NZ on a general work visa and had a credit card from ASB by the end of the first week. So no idea why they say this is not possible? I suppose that the policy may have changed since then?

Just out of interest, have you tried applying for the ASB credit card online?

Can't tell you who to call but we were with Lambton Quay branch when we applied.

Ian

[Hippywench]

I've got my fingers crossed for you. :nice1

[Smiler]

Well I've been out to count the chickens and it looks like you'll be fine Lee. Good luck! ;)

ASB bashing - ok!

We have accounts with them including a business account that doesn't carry a credit card, eftpos or cheque book, it's all online. We had to pay in a cheque as the IRD gave us a refund and I wandered up to the counter with my account details.

Lots of toffing and huffing and the teller said she would do it this once, but I should really fill in a plastic deposit bag and pop in in the letterbox. I asked where she would be working when the ASB branch became a hole in the wall and closed down through lack of custom . :mad: That's Wanganui branch.

I'd read on here of people being 'let off' annual credit card charges, and negotiating interest rates etc. Our personal money manager at the branch in Lower Hutt (yeah right) says there is no such thing. How come other people do it then?

When we first came here ASB Manners Street branch were excellent and so were BNZ on Willis, but their security sucks so we left them. :exit

[james the mechanic]

It looks like its all going to work out.:D
Well done The National Bank:clap
We bank with the National Bank they’re excellent, Dealing with them compared with UK banking is a breath of fresh air. In our experience they are friendly, helpful, flexible and quite informal, which is great as that is what we want, following years of UK banks disadvantaging me in one way or another ‘in order to serve me better’.
Fingers cross it will be ok, although I’m sure it will.
Best of luck with the course mate:nice1
James

[Moorf]

Ditto re National Bank - we've stuck with them since the day we arrived and they treat us brilliantly :nice1 - hope they come through for you Lee.

[Leccy-Lee]

Thanks, although i havent got the confidence you guys have!

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Sorry, but ASB have been brilliant with us to date, can't fault them. Different strokes for different folks I suppose.

At the moment I am doing some work which involves close interraction with a mortgage broker. The broker worked for National Bank for donkeys years before going independant and he can't speak highly enough of them.

He's been inside the NZ banking system since adam was a lad, so I guess he knows his onions. He also spends a lot of time with those on low incomes or in unusual circumstances (I think you qualify here Lee) and again he reckons National (closely followed by ASB as it happens) would be top of his list of recommended banks.

So, good luck with it all. I still have my $50 at the ready should you need it, but i'm sure you won't.

[Albertz]

We bank woth both (long story) and we've had good service from both, $50 here if you need it :nice1

[Leccy-Lee]

Guys what can you say about such an awesome bunch of people, over $500 pledged to help me out, words cannot express my thanks, they really cant!

BUT, i think we have some positive news and you can save your pledges.. (sorry i am never optimistic until the chickens have actually hatched out in front of me!).

National Bank called me today (9.05am very keen and prompt) and the man from le' bank he say "approved in principle Mr.Bennett". I was told that if i go and see him tomorrow he can open up an account for me which was a condition they speciified of course, arrange for my wages to be moved, and once my first wages go in on friday i "should" be able to draw the loan out then! So told boss i need an hour off in the morning and i hope to get it all sorted out tommorow.

:cheers The National Bank...

PS: Me totally close my ASB account and hand deliver the cut in two card back to the manager from saturday?? Would I ? LOL :p

[jubjub]

:cheers The National Bank...

PS: Me totally close my ASB account and hand deliver the cut in two card back to the manager from saturday?? Would I ? LOL :p

:laugh , I dare you..... go on......

And yay to your loan! :clap

[Smiler]

YAY!!! Great news Lee! :clap

Get yourself down to the bank at 9.am and then down to the ASB at 9.05! Give them back their card with knobs on! :laugh :laugh

You'll be fine, but the offer still stands if you need it.

[Moorf]

Great news Lee :nice1

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Brilliant. All that finger crossing across the nation really worked then.

[willsken]

Well done Lee, so pleased it worked out for you!:clap :clap :clap

[Albertz]

:nice1

[CjChris]

yay!! Such great news! What a relief for you!! I'm glad it's working out!

:clap :clap

[victoria]

Great news Lee .... um ... can I still be 23? Can I ... can I ....?

[lockstock]

Brillliant news Lee - I've been too scared to watch this thread. Can I open my eyes now? £50 here if you need it too.

[Hippywench]

Oh I'm so glad it worked out for you. It would have been such a shame to have to give up on everything you'd worked for!

Have a banana :raebanana

[Leccy-Lee]

Final update:
:raebanana :raebanana :raebanana

I can now count my little chickens!
Loan and new accounts with National Bank all sorted, have a healthy looking account balance for once and i went and paid my $1500 course fees in full today! :nice1

So once again a HUGE THANKYOU (literally) to everyone for kind help and incredible offers of donations, you guys are unbelievable its untrue. Can i take the pledges anyway for a knees-up celebration? LOL Only kidding! Although if anyone has a couple dollars spare to sponsor my mustache effort please see my signature below!

Thankyou, thankyou and thankyou for everyones help.

[jubjub]

That deserves a few of these :cheers :cheers :raebanana :raebanana

Hope you pass your exams and you can stay here for as long as you like!

[james the mechanic]

That’s fantastic news mate,:clap
:cheers Best of luck with the exams and the moustache:cheers
James:nice1

[Silverwing86]

Brilliant news Lee, congratulations :clap :clap:raebanana:raebanana!

So glad everything's sorted now and your dream is safe. Will wait with bated breath to hear of the successful completion of your studies !

Good luck !

Silver

[Timbo]

I am so glad you got things sorted Lee, well done mate. Great to see you entering into the spirit of "Movember" too. I will go to your link right away and pledge some $$ for an excellent cause.

[gil]

Brilliant news Lee, and well done! :cheers:cheers You're an inspiration to everyone: never give up!

So glad it's working out for you!

Gil
x

[Hippywench]

Did you get my donation? I'm not sure it went through properly.

[Leccy-Lee]

Hippy, no i havent seen one? (i assume you mean the sponsership?)
Tim, you will indeed see pics and thankyou my friend, in fact i do weekly pics in the Lounge..

And thanks everyone for everything