[caz]

We have an account with Nationwide Building Society, we changed our address to my sister's house because the local branch manager said we could not use our NZ address or any address abroad. I know there are some members out there who have said how good NWBS is but has anyone changed their address to NZ and did they have any problems or have they had to do what we are doing and using a relatives address.

[jubjub]

We did it and they didnt bat an eyelid.... we still get our paper statements as normal...

[gpbenton]

I use my New Zealand address for all my bank accounts (both in US and UK).

The only problem was that one of them wouldn't let me use a P.O. Box in New Zealand.

[wiki]

OH couldn't change a Lloyds account to a NZ address, but Royal Bank of Scotland were fine with mine - but I did cut my statements down to one a year. I just ring up on telebanking and check the balance when I pay off any Amazon bills ;)

[tim&em]

We've got nationwide bank accounts and a credit card. We phoned them as we're about to leave for NZ in the middle of April (finally!) and they said a NZ address would be no problem. I also asked about replacing cash cards when they expire and they said that they would happily send them to a NZ address too. Maybe there's a difference between what they say in the branch and the national customer service? If so, I would suggest talking to customer service to clarify.

[Red Devil]

I'd definitely recommend popping into your local branch to sort out forwarding address details... ringing the national 'hotline' customer service number tends to bring negative answers based on 'old' rules & regulations.

Spare a thought for those poor banks though... they're feeling the pinch of the worldwide credit crunch too and having to forward on paper statements to customers on the other side of the world is only going to have a further effect on their poor profits ;) :p :D

[caz]

thanks for your replies, I will give customer services a ring.:clap

[chocolate cake]

We have an account with Nationwide Building Society, we changed our address to my sister's house because the local branch manager said we could not use our NZ address or any address abroad. I know there are some members out there who have said how good NWBS is but has anyone changed their address to NZ and did they have any problems or have they had to do what we are doing and using a relatives address.

I had a similar response when I popped into my local branch before emigrating a month ago. Nationwide offer great banking facilities and unbeatable rates but some of the branch staff can be so wrongly informed, though it's not restricted to Nationwide I originally had similar difficulties at Barclay's too until I went went through their Customer Service centre.

I've currently left my UK address unchanged as I've got my mail redirected through the Post Office, but I'll need to do something soon, so will be interested to see how you fare.

[cappuccino]

This is interesting because before I left the UK in February, I went into my Nationwide branch and they said I could not have a UK bank account if I was living overseas. I changed the address to a relative's address in the UK via the online banking page and didn't go back to the branch again.

As an aside, has anybody managed to get their interest paid gross by completing a form to not withhold tax in the UK?

[jubjub]

As an aside, has anybody managed to get their interest paid gross by completing a form to not withhold tax in the UK?


Not with nationwide, they wont do it, they dont accenpt the 105 forms. You have to claim it back from the Inland Revenue, it doesnt take too long though, its just a pain!

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/tdsi/claim-tax-back.htm

[incredible hulse]

I get my interest from Nationwide tax free - it's just a case of filling in the R85 rather than the 105 (Not correct I know but it works)

[cappuccino]

I get my interest from Nationwide tax free - it's just a case of filling in the R85 rather than the 105 (Not correct I know but it works)

Do you mean the P85? I have completed both and am ready to send off but I wont send the R105 if the P85 covers both refund of Income tax and savings. Would I have to do this every year to ensure continuity or once only?

[incredible hulse]

Do you mean the P85? I have completed both and am ready to send off but I wont send the R105 if the P85 covers both refund of Income tax and savings. Would I have to do this every year to ensure continuity or once only?
Probably the P85 (it's definitely the 85 one ;) ). We filled them in before we went and have now received interest for 2 years tax free. Just make sure if they are joint accounts you both fill them in. Technically you should fill the 105 form in though as the 85 is for UK tax residents I believe; it will not cover any refunds for tax already taken

[Carey]

So if the P85 is meant to be for UK tax residents, will not someone twig that you are not?! Sorry not meaning to be a kill joy but rather wondering what we will do with our accounts.

What is the R105 form? Can you explain that one please?

[nellyt]

See the HM Revenue & Customs web site

R105 is a form for non-residents requesting their banks to pay interest gross rather than taking the standard default level of tax (22%) off and paying you net (as they do now)

R85 looks like it achieves the same thing but is for UK residents (i.e. presumably intended if you come below the the basic rate of taxable income ~ 2.2k UKP)

You have to separately tell the HMRC that you are leaving the UK on a P85 (hence possible confussion with 85 numbers).

R105 is the correct form if you are coming to NZ.

Both Halifax and HSBC accepted our R105's. Egg just require a tick in a box on their online banking.

We found the main issue with addresses was people not liking the use of PO Box numbers.

HSBC UK allowed us to change our address to a NZ PO Box.
Pretty sure Halifax did too, but those statements come online.

Sorting out these bank issues often takes several calls until you manage to speak to someone who knows the rules. (i.e. several places told us we had to close ISAs which is false)

[Carey]

Very useful info. Thanks!

[cappuccino]

several places told us we had to close ISAs which is false

I was of the understanding that you don't have to close the ISA, but not allowed to add any more to it. Is this correct?

[nellyt]

I was of the understanding that you don't have to close the ISA, but not allowed to add any more to it. Is this correct?

Thats my understanding too. Once you have left UK it is really no different to a bank account which you have changed to pay gross interest (except the rates my be better). You can no longer contribute, but if you return to UK within 5? (think thats the number) years having decided NZ isn't for you then your "ISA" is still an "ISA" and will start working as a tax free investment/saving again.
After that time is up I think you have to take the money out, thats too far away at present to of investigated.
If you take the money out, even temporarily than any potential future tax (in the UK) benefits will be lost.
Same rules apply to cash ISAs and stock ISAs.

Two places that hold cash ISAs for us told us we could no longer have them. Don't take them at their word. I just explained the rules back to them and they shut up!

[Tia Maria]

I was of the understanding that you don't have to close the ISA, but not allowed to add any more to it. Is this correct?

That's correct, we wrote to Virgin, our ISA company, and have this in writing.

This really is the safest thing to do - get everything in writing. As others have said there is a lot of bad info out there, whether its from the branch or via phone centres and you end up getting into constant arguments saying "but they told me at the branch .... " and them replying, "sorry, you were told wrong". At least if you have it in writing you can pursue any complaints.

We've had no end of problems/bad advice from Nationwide, (although we seem to be the exception), and the funny thing is no matter how hard we try we can't even close the bl**dy account.

Cheers

Tia

[Carey]

Went into Nationwide today; told no can't have NZ address for accounts. Went to Britannia; told yes you can , then had to go in again and told no you can't!
Very confused now and wondering what we can have! Will ring Customer Services and I agree Tia, get it in wiritng but our insurance co has already told us it can't (when asking about refund for unused car insurance) in case their policy changes!!

[chocolate cake]

Thanks for the advice above on ISAs, useful as I have some share ISAs. I closed my ISAs to pay off abit of mortgage, after being advised (wrongly it seems) by Nationwide that I'd need to close it anyway if I went abroad.

Not to worry though, interest rate was less than my mortgage so no great loss, but certainly don't want to cash in my investment ISAs at the mo with the stock market as it is.