my NHS and Post office experiences

[xebec]

Our bank account opening experience was as expected: reading the forum meant I wasnt hopeful. Daisy started work, had already got a NI number but had to ask the employer to make the cheque payable to me. He first pay slip had a note attached asking her to get a bank account as soon as possible.
Aware that she wouldnt have a credit history but thinking that my 40 years with my bank might count for something we phoned Abbey. Having explained Daisy's situation - new in the country (well 9 months by then), no credit history - they could not offer anything over the phone; the best advice was to go to a branch and seek advice there.
I realised Daisy would probably only be able to get a very basic account but I was keen for her to have a debit card if possible - saves carrying cash.
As people's experience with the big banks has been mixed I checked the Coop bank website and their basic account includes a debit card. So we phoned them. I gave them the same background details. The woman I spoke to wasnt sure but said she would ask. After a couple of minutes she came back to the phone and said she couldnt see any problem. We spent maybe 15 minutes on the phone giving the necessary details and the only other bit of admin was to attend a branch with poof of address. That was done and the cheque book, debit card etc arrived very quickly. Card was delivered to our address, needed no activation and is on the Link network so able to be used at most banks. The account is accessible via the internet too.
My faith was to an extent restored in our financial institutions...............

[Arthur Little]

phew! all the hassle you go through in the name of love...

Don't I KNOW it! Been there, done that ...

[Arthur Little]

thats why a spouse visa as its merits

Yeah ... but even having a spouse visa "cuts very little ice" when it comes to opening a bank account, as you still have to go through the same paraphernalia ...

[Arthur Little]

... for instance, Myrna's passport was issued in her maiden name - just after I left the Phils following my first visit a year past September. So, when I returned in November to get married ... and we submitted our spousal visa application some 6/8 weeks later ... the VFS people told us it would be perfectly in order for her to have the passport altered once she arrived in the UK.

Well, to date, it remains in her own name [I mean it's costly to have EVEN this simple amendment made, so why bother when the present document still has years of "life" left?]. But it meant that any bank account (and only a temporary one at that!) had to be opened in accordance with the name appearing on the passport. And, as someone else here experienced, the fact that she'd already registered with a GP, and been allocated a National Insurance Number, made not one whit of difference to the branch I've banked with for nearly all of the 40+ years I have lived at the same address.

We "got there" in the end but, as yet, I'm still unclear about whether or not Myrna will need 'permanent residence' (ILR) before she can qualify as a "regular" customer. To further complicate matters, Council Tax bills apparently cannot be mailed to us in our joint names until the start of the next Financial Year - and even then could well be addressed 'Mr ... & Ms ... '

What a palaver!

[darren-b]

... for instance, Myrna's passport was issued in her maiden name - just after I left the Phils following my first visit a year past September. So, when I returned in November to get married ... and we submitted our spousal visa application some 6/8 weeks later ... the VFS people told us it would be perfectly in order for her to have the passport altered once she arrived in the UK.

Well, to date, it remains in her own name [I mean it's costly to have EVEN this simple amendment made, so why bother when the present document still has years of "life" left?]. But it meant that any bank account (and only a temporary one at that!) had to be opened in accordance with the name appearing on the passport. And, as someone else here experienced, the fact that she'd already registered with a GP, and been allocated a National Insurance Number, made not one whit of difference to the branch I've banked with for nearly all of the 40+ years I have lived at the same address.

We "got there" in the end but, as yet, I'm still unclear about whether or not Myrna will need 'permanent residence' (ILR) before she can qualify as a "regular" customer. To further complicate matters, Council Tax bills apparently cannot be mailed to us in our joint names until the start of the next Financial Year - and even then could well be addressed 'Mr ... & Ms ... '

What a palaver!

We got round this by showing the bank our marriage certificate as legal proof of the change of name. Though our marriage certificate was a UK one, banks might be a bit more dubious about a Philippines one.

Don't think you need ILR to be a classed as a 'regular' customer. The key things is to get a financial recor in the UK.

[rusty]

We got round this by showing the bank our marriage certificate as legal proof of the change of name. Though our marriage certificate was a UK one, banks might be a bit more dubious about a Philippines one.

My wife is on spouse visa and had no problems to register at the GP.

The bank account was a different story, despite showing the letter from the government she received with her NI number, this was not good enough.

After finally adding her to the BT bill we went to Barclays and as her passport is also still in maiden name, showing our Philippine marriage certificate was OK.

[KeithD]

The easiest way I know of is for the guy to open another account in his own name well before the girl arrives, and play with money in and out of it.

When she arrives, just have the bank add her name. A few months after that, take your name off it.

This also gives the girl some official ID.

[bornatbirth]

thats why you need to change the wifes name in her passport before she leaves for the uk,my wifes passport needed to be renewed so she got her name changed too.

we added her name to my account,after they took copies of everything(the natwest),after a few weeks nothing had turned up,so i phoned them up only to find out the bank had lost the info ,so we had to go back in,within a week we had her debit card and stuff

[Jay&Zobel]

thanks... he'll be visiting his bank today and will ask them to include my name into his account.. and would call tiscali to change/include my name in the bill as well, but the thing is, shall we retain our surnames or I use his surname?

You know what Florge, the best thing to do is: MARRY SOON !!!! hehehe then, it will be so easy to register in everything

[johncar54]

After finally adding her to the BT bill we went to Barclays and as her passport is also still in maiden name, showing our Philippine marriage certificate was OK.

thats why you need to change the wifes name in her passport before she leaves for the uk,my wifes passport needed to be renewed so she got her name changed too.

I have said this before but maybe there are some who did not see the post.

Anyone can change their name, first name and / or surname, in UK by simple saying, “As of now have changed my name to ..... “ (A right under Common Law)

The only situations are that I cannot choose a name which would make it appear I have a title to which I have no right. For example:- Lord John, Sir John, King John etc. and one cannot change their name for a dishonest purpose. Apart from that, yu can cal yourself wast you like.

I changed my name about 30 years ago. I got new passport in my new name and everything was changed to that name, except my Birth Certificate, that cannot be changed.

So you girls when you get married, if you want to keep your name, that's fine you DO NOT NEED TO CHANGE IT. However, if you want the same name as your husband, maybe tell him you would prefer he changes his name to yours.

[darren-b]

After finally adding her to the BT bill we went to Barclays and as her passport is also still in maiden name, showing our Philippine marriage certificate was OK.

thats why you need to change the wifes name in her passport before she leaves for the uk,my wifes passport needed to be renewed so she got her name changed too.

I have said this before but maybe there are some who did not see the post.

Anyone can change their name, first name and / or surname, in UK by simple saying, “As of now have changed my name to ..... “ (A right under Common Law)

The only situations are that I cannot choose a name which would make it appear I have a title to which I have no right. For example:- Lord John, Sir John, King John etc. and one cannot change their name for a dishonest purpose. Apart from that, yu can cal yourself wast you like.

I changed my name about 30 years ago. I got new passport in my new name and everything was changed to that name, except my Birth Certificate, that cannot be changed.

So you girls when you get married, if you want to keep your name, that's fine you DO NOT NEED TO CHANGE IT. However, if you want the same name as your husband, maybe tell him you would prefer he changes his name to yours.

That might be true, but nowadays banks like a little bit more proof than you telling them what your name is.

[johncar54]

That might be true, but nowadays banks like a little bit more proof than you telling them what your name is.

But a passport in the same surname as someone else does not prove you are related, just that you use the same surname as someone else.

[darren-b]

But a passport in the same surname as someone else does not prove you are related, just that you use the same surname as someone else.

Has anyone suggested it does? I certainly haven't..

All I've said is my wife used her passport in her maiden name plus our marriage certificate to prove that she was entitled to change her name. At no point was she trying to prove she was related to me.

[johncar54]

Sorry Darren I was not intending to criticise you. I was saying that at the idea of 'nowadays' and 'like a little more.' As its perfectly legal to call oneself anything, whether banks like it or not is their problem. When I changed my name it was only Visa who raised any problem. When I insisted they backed down.

When I was doing the paperwork to get married I had a problem with the British Consul in Manila. It resulted in him being told by the FCO to accept what I told him as I was correct.

[Florge]

@zobel: yup.. will get married soon... have an appointment with the parish priest...

i'm learning a lot with this thread... a little bit challenging but... very nice discussion.. thanks everyone!

[darren-b]

Sorry Darren I was not intending to criticise you. I was saying that at the idea of 'nowadays' and 'like a little more.' As its perfectly legal to call oneself anything, whether banks like it or not is their problem. When I changed my name it was only Visa who raised any problem. When I insisted they backed down.

When I was doing the paperwork to get married I had a problem with the British Consul in Manila. It resulted in him being told by the FCO to accept what I told him as I was correct.

30 years ago was a long time ago, lots of things have changed since then.. Actually it is your problem as they are quite in their rights to refuse you (under anti-money laundering regulations, etc) if you can't prove who you are.

[somebody]

30 years ago was a long time ago, lots of things have changed since then.. Actually it is your problem as they are quite in their rights to refuse you (under anti-money laundering regulations, etc) if you can't prove who you are.

Very true Banks and all utillty companies are getting very tight both due to laws and because of fraud.

Proof of address was the biggest hurdle i think we faced.

dont forget house insurance and ring up all the companies and explain the situation Women operators in particular are normally helpful even those who lived in the UK all their lives will have had problems with proof of address if they married...

Ask if they can send a letter confirming the change even if a bill is not due.

You dont need to change your name of course but from the last 5 years or so it has been far easier having the same family name in both countries.

For example on bills its far easier and expected often to put mr and mrs and possibly intials than two different family names from our own experiences and comparing with others both british born couples and those going though the visa process.

[Florge]

Very true Banks and all utillty companies are getting very tight both due to laws and because of fraud.

Proof of address was the biggest hurdle i think we faced.

dont forget house insurance and ring up all the companies and explain the situation Women operators in particular are normally helpful even those who lived in the UK all their lives will have had problems with proof of address if they married...

Ask if they can send a letter confirming the change even if a bill is not due.

You dont need to change your name of course but from the last 5 years or so it has been far easier having the same family name in both countries.

For example on bills its far easier and expected often to put mr and mrs and possibly intials than two different family names from our own experiences and comparing with others both british born couples and those going though the visa process.

got it!... oh boy... all this paperwork...

[johncar54]

30 years ago was a long time ago,

Well with regards to Common Law, the basis of that goes hundreds of years. Anyway, if the 30 years is a problem, over those years I have known several people who have changed their name (after chatting with me) the last was 3 years ago.

As for the same name thing. That of course is not universal. In Spain it is for all practical purpose totally impossible to change ones name and that applies to a woman when she gets married: She keeps HER name.

So far my wife and I, different names, have not experienced any problems in UK (Pension increase: Medical cover provided by NHS for my wife in Spain etc).

If one has changed their name, they should be able to prove who they are, as they have documentation in the previous name and they are the same person; they will have only changed their name. That was what I found when Visa questioned it when I change my name. When I pointed out the obvious that I still the same person who had been their customer for a number of years, they saw the logic.

[darren-b]

30 years ago was a long time ago,

Well with regards to Common Law, the basis of that goes hundreds of years. Anyway, if the 30 years is a problem, over those years I have known several people who have changed their name (after chatting with me) the last was 3 years ago.

As for the same name thing. That of course is not universal. In Spain it is for all practical purpose totally impossible to change ones name and that applies to a woman when she gets married: She keeps HER name.

So far my wife and I, different names, have not experienced any problems in UK (Pension increase: Medical cover provided by NHS for my wife in Spain etc).

If one has changed their name, they should be able to prove who they are, as they have documentation in the previous name and they are the same person; they will have only changed their name. That was what I found when Visa questioned it when I change my name. When I pointed out the obvious that I still the same person who had been their customer for a number of years, they saw the logic.

I think this thread is going off on a tangent.. The issue is for a person who wasn't a current customer of a bank, who wanted to open an account, preferably in a name (ie married name) not on their passport. And the reason for opening the account in the married name rather than the maiden name is because they wanted to rather than because they felt it might cause an issue.

[KeithD]

Johncar54 & Darren-b

Are you two married?

[johncar54]

Win2Win that our secret !!!!!!!

[johncar54]

I think this thread is going off on a tangent.. The issue is for a person who wasn't a current customer of a bank, who wanted to open an account, preferably in a name (ie married name) not on their passport. And the reason for opening the account in the married name rather than the maiden name is because they wanted to rather than because they felt it might cause an issue.

Darren I tend to agree we are straying from the point, but I was trying to cover the reason why a different name on the passport from the husband's name was in law no problem.

On the passport thing: Of course in UK when one renews their passport they get a different number. In Spain that creates problems, for UK buyers when they sells property after having obtained a new passport as the number has changed. Here everyone not only keeps their name but also their numbers, thus they are always the same person on paper. Getting married does not involve any changes except showing, by the marriage cert, they got married.

OK that's it from me, not another word on this thread from now on.

[somebody]

To give my views on the passport id and proof of identity and address.

When a couple are planing to move to the UK, from my experiences and what I have learned on here.

Discuss the name change thing early on of course its the right of the woman to keep her family name and fully recgonised in both the UK and Phill.

But in both countries indivduals who you deal with will often expect husband and Wife to be mr and mrs bloggs etc. Wheter its right or wrong lets be honest it does not matter its just simpler. The people your dealing with are human and not computers so dont always use simple logic and rules. But have precondtioned views and also have good days and bad days

In the italian Embassy one time they sorted out the Wifes schengen with out looking at half the paperwork another time they were far more zealous in checking the details. The rules had not changed simply the person checking. S

From our own and as I say from experiences of other male and female friends experiences from all backgrounds. It makes paperwork and battling bureaucracy it does seem to save a lot of grief with paperwork using the same name.


Brit Blokes or Ladies get your passport renewed unless its got 7 or so years on it. You dont in the middle of the long process want to have to lose your passport (well ok you can pay extra to get done in a day) Trust me its one less thing to worry about..


Far easier when going though various passport controls what ever the laws and regulations say.

When we deal with day to day processes where they need our details having the same family name was far simpler which then made it easier to add the wifes name.

We also found when opening bank accounts and adding the wife to bills vital to various stages of the process. Once they saw our names were the same they often did not even check in detail the Visa page of my wifes passport which should mention the British sponsor, which may help if really stuck for proof of ID or address with when first here.. The marriage certficate helps and if from PHill get the Phill embassy to validate, this is useful for schegen visas in particular.


Again its not just the law or rules and regs, its making people who are dealing with the paperwork feel comfortable that nothing is suspcious or may cause them hassle it seems

[RickyR]

These two websites should explain the NHS situation
http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1087.asp...CategoryID=162
http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1086.asp...CategoryID=162

Regardless of visa or entry type you are entitled to register with the NHS and entitled too all emergency treatment, whether it be through a GP, Walk-In Clinic or a A&E immediately. This includes entry on a visit visa, fiance visa, spouse visa.

Once you have permission to remain, then you are entitled to all out-patient and continous care treatment.

[abby]

i agree with you RickyR!

ive been to NHS for 3 times for check up ang was been into hospital for 3 nights because of infection and i never pay any single amount. I was a bit worried cos im on a fiancee visa and was expecting im not allowed to any benefits from NHS but i was wrong...

and now, im registered in NHS here...

[adam&chryss]

to be sure that you are entitled to what you are claiming you need those...that's just right don't you think

Or it could like Philippines where you can`t even buy something for 500 pesos from an electrical store without having to provide this and that and attend different counters
Of course you should prove you address and its good that they check.
As for the currency, well you have to accept that here in Uk people don`t really change money that much. Usually they go to the bank and withdraw their wages! Job done.
In The Philippines its normal to receive money from family or someone overseas whereas here its not so other than going/returning to/from holiday then changing money isn`t usual.

[Florge]

ok now .... here's the update on this issue:

well, I'll be registered with the NHS soon... my fiance finally decided to call Manchester council and ask them to have my name included in the council letter.. apparently, he doesn't have to pay extra even if he got a 25% discount on council tax.. they would just need a copy of my passport and visa... would be getting my proof of address soon and use it for the NHS registration...

As for the bank account, we're hoping to get an account with halifax but the application came back since I "failed" to answer a section in the form that asks what my previous address was and how long I live in that address... I submitted the form with copies of my passport and visa, indicating that I don't have a previous UK address as I am on a fiancee visa.. could be my mistake since I deliberately didn't put anything as I don't have a previous address in the UK (the form is seemingly telling the applicant to fill in a UK address as it was formatted as such)... anyway, the form came back this morning telling me to write on that area and I wrote my address in the Philippines.. let's see what they will say about that!

[happydoc]

the weather seems okay thus far.. not too cold... hehehe... hope it will remain until the end of winter ( I wish lol)!

hehehe ...current weather not quite the same as October ! Hope you have hat, scarf, gloves, coat, second coat...

[happydoc]

ok now .... here's the update on this issue:

well, I'll be registered with the NHS soon... my fiance finally decided to call Manchester council and ask them to have my name included in the council letter.. apparently, he doesn't have to pay extra even if he got a 25% discount on council tax.. they would just need a copy of my passport and visa... would be getting my proof of address soon and use it for the NHS registration...

As for the bank account, we're hoping to get an account with halifax but the application came back since I "failed" to answer a section in the form that asks what my previous address was and how long I live in that address... I submitted the form with copies of my passport and visa, indicating that I don't have a previous UK address as I am on a fiancee visa.. could be my mistake since I deliberately didn't put anything as I don't have a previous address in the UK (the form is seemingly telling the applicant to fill in a UK address as it was formatted as such)... anyway, the form came back this morning telling me to write on that area and I wrote my address in the Philippines.. let's see what they will say about that!

Well done on persevering ! with the snow and sub-zero weather..and teh hassle our NHS admin staff have given you...it could hardly be described as a warm welcome!