Getting new bank/credit cards from the UK

[waddo]

I have both these items held by my friend in the UK as the bank will not post them to me here. Tried DHL - no chance, UPS and FedEx just the same answer. Previously my other UK bank used to send my replacement cards through the normal mail system but as I don't use them anymore I seem to be stuck.

Anybody else have the same problems and if so how did you get around it please? Many thanks for any replies apart from "Go back to UK and get them" lol.

[alphamike]

Try and see if anyone can bring them over for you. I would do it, but my trip to UK has been postponed due to medical issues, and not sure when I'll be heading, not for another month or so anyway.
Only other thing is for your friend to post here and hope they get here by regular mail (possibly registered or some other term that I can't think of) to be uplifted at local P.O.

[waddo]

Alphamike, thanks for that, the first lost were posted in the regular mail on May 18th - lost now in the mists of time - ordered new ones again, bank (Lloyds) won't send them to here and won't use a courier service (DHL, ETC) to get them here even if I pay. Royal Mail won't let my friends send them and even if they did the new systems in Istanbul would catch them and hold them there. I know that is what happens because they even did that with our new passports and it took 12 days to get them from Istanbul DHL office to Girne DHL office (DHL Express) so I think I will be asking a good friend to bring them with him when he returns in a couple of months. Fortunately we don't actually need them to survive but they would have been nice to have.

[alphamike]

Sounds like you are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Sorry that you've had such problems. Hopefully your friend will get them across to you in due course. Any problems, drop me a PM and I'll do my best. As I said, won't be going back to UK quite yet, but later this year, and preferably before winter.

[poppy++1]

Having had trouble with our bank, they have agreed an alternative address. Do you have a family member willing to use their address, then as on here for anyone coming out willing to bring the cards to you. I would suggest using signed delivery to person bringing them at least you know they have arrived there. Then a case of the recipient arranging a meeting place with you to hand cards over.
Other than that I think you maybe stuck.

[steveodp]

Something to consider, is that if you don't activate some bank cards within a reasonable time, the bank cancels them - has caught us out a couple of times whilst waiting for a friend to bring them over.

[Jeremy S]

I'm sure you are aware that if a UK bank thinks you don't live in the UK, they will close your account(s). This can be triggered by only using your bank card(s) here.

[Hair Cut]

Stopped using my NatWest card. They gave me 6 months to close my account. I have no credit cards. I went back to the UK and agreed with my son to use his address. went to the branch with him, and they changed the address without a problem. Opened a Revolut account, which I use here all the time and set up a top-up from my NatWest. If you get your UK bank cards, do not use them here.

There must be someone coming over who will bring them. Just put out a request. I know a guy who's coming on the 1st July. Im sure he would bring them.

[jim]

I am out again on 5th July. I can bring them with me if it helps. We met many years ago outside Supremes.
Send me a private message if you want me to do it.
Jim

[waddo]

Thanks guys, problem solved, have a friend bringing them soon. Lloyds know I live here, know my address, know that I have a mail forwarding address in the UK, know that I am TAX resident in the UK which is what the banks care about more than anything. I have been using their credit cards here for years so they are well aware but are not concerned and happy with the current arrangement. Having said that, Nationwide closed our accounts and gave us days of notice after being with them for over 25 years. All because the banking panic post Brexit when they did not know what would happen so they "Suddenly" discovered that I live abroad!! Shock, horror, can't have that, closed our accounts over a Christmas period and would not tell us why. As soon as they closed the accounts they put a message on their website telling the world that even if you move abroad you can still keep your Nationwide account!!! Two faces of banking!!!

[alphamike]

Great stuff Waddo. Any problems just stick it on the forum and am sure someone will be able to help you out.

[poppy++1]

Using UK Cards here to pay for items… not a problem they tell you pay local currency.. I know people only use UK cards .


Main thing is Waddo your getting your cards brought out here…

[alphamike]

You do have to watch a bit, member on here got account closed only using UK card here all the time. I have 3 cards (UK) that I switch about every month or two, but do tend to use Revolut the most.

[benjaminbutton]

Think I might be person referred to by Alphamike and yes Halifax closed my DEBIT CARD almost overnight because of overuse here, shut CREDIT DOWN because of lack of use hence ISAs shut down overnight as well. NO British bank would allow me to transfer to them, and my UK pensions went into limbo for three months. Not to put too fine a point on it.............I was broke.

[alphamike]

Wasn't my place to mention you BB, but thought a warning about overuse of UK cards here was worth a mention. I have no idea if my strategy will work, time will tell. I am also with Halifax, they know I live here, but also have UK address. I never use their debit card here other than paying for online UK stuff, as it comes with a cost compared to Revolut and other cards I have.

[waddo]

Hmm, Looks like I should be careful then. Particularly as Halifax is a division of the Bank of Scotland, which in turn is owned by Lloyds Banking Group!! Two faces of banking again!!!

[alphamike]

Also read that Halifax branches are closing, and the brand might be going too, migrating to Lloyds. BoS will still be a brand. The Halifax/BoS debit cards have a 2.99% fee abroad with some other charges too, hence the reason I don't use them here. If you possibly can, it is worth considering getting at least one other bank account with better exchange rates. Have a look at https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/trave ... debitcards

[waddo]

alphamike, thanks but banks to us are the same as temp residency, they are both things that can be taken away in a moment and are very difficult to replace with anything else. That is the game you play when you leave the UK completely and move yourselves to here with no way of going back and starting again. Age and finance catch up with everyone so you learn to juggle very fast - lol. Our incomes are all on Government Pensions which is about as safe as it can be but it is getting them to here that is the main problem. City Bank has to take its slice of everything and exchange rates are not good unless you can choose when to use them. Banks will let you have an account sometimes then change their minds and throw you under the bus without a care. Residency is just the same if you lease or rent so it is a fun life. Of course you can always lie about your residential address I suppose - but what happens when the bank finds out????

[alphamike]

Totally understand Waddo. Hope that you get your card(s) soon.

[waddo]

Thanks, they are slowly limping their way through the postal system in the UK, finally reaching my friends address sometime this month and then will be hand carried - which seems to be the only legal way they can be transported internationally unless you are a business - to my home address in a country that is not Internationally recognised. The absolute maze of contradictory rules and regulations involved in transportation of bank and credit cards is beyond belief and I gave up trying to figure it all out - lol.

[alphamike]

What an absolute rigmarole to have to go through, plus the delivery of mail in UK is a postcode lottery these days. Take care, and if you have any problems, drop me a message, although still not sure when I'll be heading back to UK, hopefully in a month or two.

[waddo]

Thanks alphamike, at least we know where they are - they were sent "signed for", next day delivery! Sadly it seems the old "Knock and run" service is still working in the UK as delivery was attempted this morning but "Nobody home" so they will try again tomorrow - lol. My mate in the Lichfield area had to put up with this sort of service for years then he installed a camera push bell on his door and caught them at it - problem solved and new postie now in operation there - lol.

[alphamike]

I honestly don't understand why they do the knock and run, they still have the letter/package, so not reducing their weight. I've had it before, but can't remember if it was at my house or Mum and Dad's, suspect the latter as we used to have a good postie.