johncar54
24th February 2015, 08:39
I appreciate this will be of little interest to most here, but I am so annoyed that we, those living outside UK too, have been encouraged to take advantage of the 'great deal' (another election bribe, like the winter fuel allowance was) which I have now discovered is worthless.
I decided to take the offer:-
I called from Spain to purchase both the 3 year and 1 year bonds.
I could not make the application on the phone, so they sent 2 application forms each marked with a unique number. I had to return the forms in the post using separate envelopes.
I checked my bank account one cheque cleared.
Today I got two letter from NS&I. The cheque which had not been cashed was enclosed as was the application form for that application.
In both cases I am now told I must provide a certified copy of my passport, and a certified copy of a letter from my local tax office in Spain, which must show my name and address.
The passport OK I have that.
My tax returns are done online with a gestor so no letters sent to me.
The certificates on each document must be by an Embassy, or a lawyer. As we know the British embassy charges a substantial sum for anything and a lawyer is not cheap. And, I will need 2 certified documents for each application as they are dealt with by different offices..
If I ever get the interest, 20% is stopped in UK, but as I pay tax in Spain, I must claim (R43) that 20% back from HMRC so that I can pay the tax in Spain. And the benefit is the difference between the 1.5% I am already getting on the £10,000 and the 4% gross from NS&I
I made a 140 mile round trip to Gib., 3 hours waiting in and out, to get cheques for the investment.
It will probably cost almost all the interest in certifications, tax, not the mention my trip to Gib, postage, several 45 min plus phone calls to UK, and the aggravation. And even then I have to live 3 year to ‘enjoy’ the bit that I might end up with.
Had I known I would not have bothered, and even now I think I will abandon the exercise, that way I might actually live the 3 years !!!
PS I just called the Premium Bond number. I have £20 worth. If I win a million this week they will send it to my bank without any paperwork to prove who I am. But that does not mean I can buy the 65+ bonds without all the above paperwork to prove who I am.
PPS. When my wife renewed her Residencia 6 years ago, she is non EU, I had to prove we were still married. Not really possible. Can prove one is divorced but not still married. So I got a leter from the British Consul saying I had told them we were still married. That took a few minutes and cost 325 euros. 2 copies of passport and 2 copy letters for the 65+ Bonds, I don't think so !!!!!
I decided to take the offer:-
I called from Spain to purchase both the 3 year and 1 year bonds.
I could not make the application on the phone, so they sent 2 application forms each marked with a unique number. I had to return the forms in the post using separate envelopes.
I checked my bank account one cheque cleared.
Today I got two letter from NS&I. The cheque which had not been cashed was enclosed as was the application form for that application.
In both cases I am now told I must provide a certified copy of my passport, and a certified copy of a letter from my local tax office in Spain, which must show my name and address.
The passport OK I have that.
My tax returns are done online with a gestor so no letters sent to me.
The certificates on each document must be by an Embassy, or a lawyer. As we know the British embassy charges a substantial sum for anything and a lawyer is not cheap. And, I will need 2 certified documents for each application as they are dealt with by different offices..
If I ever get the interest, 20% is stopped in UK, but as I pay tax in Spain, I must claim (R43) that 20% back from HMRC so that I can pay the tax in Spain. And the benefit is the difference between the 1.5% I am already getting on the £10,000 and the 4% gross from NS&I
I made a 140 mile round trip to Gib., 3 hours waiting in and out, to get cheques for the investment.
It will probably cost almost all the interest in certifications, tax, not the mention my trip to Gib, postage, several 45 min plus phone calls to UK, and the aggravation. And even then I have to live 3 year to ‘enjoy’ the bit that I might end up with.
Had I known I would not have bothered, and even now I think I will abandon the exercise, that way I might actually live the 3 years !!!
PS I just called the Premium Bond number. I have £20 worth. If I win a million this week they will send it to my bank without any paperwork to prove who I am. But that does not mean I can buy the 65+ bonds without all the above paperwork to prove who I am.
PPS. When my wife renewed her Residencia 6 years ago, she is non EU, I had to prove we were still married. Not really possible. Can prove one is divorced but not still married. So I got a leter from the British Consul saying I had told them we were still married. That took a few minutes and cost 325 euros. 2 copies of passport and 2 copy letters for the 65+ Bonds, I don't think so !!!!!