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bexely2000
Joined: 28 Jul 2004
Posts: 31
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 Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 4:36 pm Post subject: Banking in Lovely Kuwait |
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Hi there,
Can anyone recommend what bank I ought to use when I�m in Kuwait?
Do I even get a choice, or does the school do most of the stuff for me? And how about transfer charges back to the UK. Does anyone have any tips to avoid being raped by charges or anything of the like?
Or are they all the same?
Again, much thanks |
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Sara Avalon
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 254
Location: On the Prowl
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 4:48 pm Post subject: Re: Banking in Lovely Kuwait |
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| bexely2000 wrote: |
Hi there,
Can anyone recommend what bank I ought to use when I�m in Kuwait?
Do I even get a choice, or does the school do most of the stuff for me? And how about transfer charges back to the UK. Does anyone have any tips to avoid being raped by charges or anything of the like?
Or are they all the same?
Again, much thanks |
You have to have a job to set up a bank account in Kuwait. You will need a salary certificate and a minimum of 100KD down. Usually, the school will advise you to work a month before opening an account. They may even advise you as to which bank you should open an account at. However, you will have to sign to open an account and obtain your card at the branch. If you do not open the account by yourself (and let the school do it) you may wind up with a branch very far from where you live, so I'd suggest opening it up yourself.
There are two banks that are widely used (and respected) in Kuwait: NBK (National Bank of Kuwait) and CBK (Commercial Bank of Kuwait). I have accounts in the latter and it's pretty good. There aren't any fees for keeping the account open.
Transfering money is another story. I'll leave that part to someone else. |
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younggeorge
Joined: 15 Apr 2005
Posts: 350
Location: UAE
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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| My account was with NBK and I found them pretty efficient and helpful. For transfers, though, I preferred to use the exchange shops - there are a couple of big chains, not hard to spot (though I do find the names hard to remember now!) and their rates and opening hours are better than the banks. Generally, banking and exchange operations are well regulated and you're not likely to have any problems. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Bex,
Banking will be the least of your problems. 
Most employers are pretty good about using the closest bank to their location. I could walk to my branch from work when I was there. But, definitely do it yourself in case there is a more convenient branch of the bank near your flat.
Transfers are easy. I always just did it through my bank. The charges weren't that outrageous.
VS |
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bexely2000
Joined: 28 Jul 2004
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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"Banking will be the least of your problems."
VS,
You don�t know how right you are. I ferreted out an ex-teacher at the school I�m off to, and he gave the most damming yet lucid account of the school. There was no ranting or raving, only dispassionate opinions.
It was quite sobering. Its one thing to dismiss angry, twisted, ex-teachers, with a manifestly obvious chip on their shoulders: this unfortunately, is different.
We�re not sure what to do now� |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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Oops... well, at least I warned you. So, I guess things now come down to how desperate you are for a job.  Kuwait is not a pleasant national bureaucracy to deal with - could you also cope with a bad employer? What is your capacity for problems - if you are thinking in terms of: 'I'll take this job for a year and get my foot in the door of the Middle East.' Only you can answer that one. I'm just glad that I don't have to make this decision.
VS |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Kuwait is not a pleasant national bureaucracy to deal with - |
But in general you don't have to.
There is one particular piece of paper you're supposed to have that requires endless visits to government offices where you are told 'bukra inshallah'.
Then at the end of nine months when you're leaving the country they fine you for not having it, even though the reason is that they never got round to giving you it.
But apart from that, no hassle.
If ypu're in the government sector you might have hassles with exit visas though. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 1:10 am Post subject: |
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Stephen
If I were really bored I could tell the story of getting my driving license... which only took 15 trips to 3 different offices (naturally on opposite sides of the sprawled out city) over 5 months... and I finally got my license about 2 weeks before I left the country. And of course, I was doing it the easy way since I could just automatically transfer my US license without any tests - and I had a uni facilitator with me.
In Kuwait, all pieces of paper require repeated visits to various offices on all sides of the city for everything. The good news is that Bex won't need an exit visa if he takes this job... but will his employer be sitting on his passport to get a signature from someone somewhere for something?
VS |
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Sara Avalon
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 254
Location: On the Prowl
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| Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 3:03 am Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
Stephen
but will his employer be sitting on his passport to get a signature from someone somewhere for something?
VS |
Exactly. Although you may not have to deal with the government directly (if you don't want to check the balance of your phone line to install internet at your apartment, or get your licence, or have your certs and other important documents authenticated...) you will have to deal with the school's mishandling of your information.
The school I work for still hasn't took out a VISA in my name, although they had kept my passport for 2 months (illegally considering I asked for it back numerous times and was told they needed it for blah blah blah.. on blah blah blah day). Or if you ask for a salary certificate, some places will try to delay giving it to you for as long as possible, even though it doesn't take an incredible amount of effort on their part..
I just think the Arab businessman is a procrastinator.  |
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rbaxter
Joined: 06 May 2005
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 4:36 am Post subject: Teaching in Kuwait |
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Well I am taking the plunge ....in more ways than one. First by finally posting on the forum... secondly by signing a contract to teach in Kuwait in August.
This will be my first teaching experience abroad... I know that reality will hit around August when I am preparing to leave. In the meantime I am reading, researching, and taking in all the information I can to be mentally prepared.
However, I really want to know and be aware of the possible drawbacks of Kuwait. It isn't my first choice of a country, but the door of opportunity has opened for me and I want to walk through it.
I don't get dismayed by all the "negative" insight as I realize all experiences have positive and negative aspects , but please can someone clarify it even more for this upcoming "newbie"? What makes Kuwait second to the bottom with Saudi being the bottom?
Is it the ghastly heat, boredom, daily frustrations, alienation, staff conflict, lack of respect, broken promises, restrictions??
I want to be prepared and I am asking the recruiter questions as they arise . However I apprecite all your candid insigt..Thanks. Rbaxter |
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souk
Joined: 10 Apr 2005
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 8:22 am Post subject: |
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Hi,
I have lived in Kuwait for a long time and am familiar with all the schools and the problems of getting things done.
There are good schools and not so good schools (there are good teachers and not so good teachers)
Go into Google and find British Schools in the Middle East. This is not a definitive list, but be beware of schools NOT on it.
I know sites like this do not like comments made about individual establishments but you can contact me on [email protected] and I will do my best to answer any questions honestly and fairly.
I would advise you open a bank account withe same bank as your school (this will speed up transfer of salary) and I use the Bahrain Exchange for transfers. Quick, easy and good rates. |
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souk
Joined: 10 Apr 2005
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 8:30 am Post subject: |
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| Sorry. That should have been [email protected] |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 2:14 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching in Kuwait |
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| rbaxter wrote: |
Is it the ghastly heat, boredom, daily frustrations, alienation, staff conflict, lack of respect, broken promises, restrictions??
I want to be prepared and I am asking the recruiter questions as they arise . |
My first reaction is just to answer 'yes' to your question, but that is simplistic and not terribly helpful. Kuwait is only slightly hotter than the rest of the Gulf and less humid. So, it isn't really the weather. Nor is it really any more or less boring than the other countries - except for the fact that the surrounding desert is completely unattractive and offers little weekend fun - so you have no interesting scenery or camping possiblities as you would have in the Emirates and Oman.
I can only say why I put it on the list in that position. Compared to the rest of the Gulf, I found Kuwait City to be unattractive, and mostly ugly to be honest. It is more like Cairo than Abu Dhabi, Muscat, or Doha - without the charm and history and 'adventure' of Egypt. Refer to previous comments about my opinion of abyssmal efficiency of the Kuwaiti bureaucracy - which even the Kuwaitis complain about. So it is not that they mistreat and abuse and insult foreigners - they treat even their fellow countrymen like crap. Every single step of everything - phone - medical - visa - driver's license --- all require multiple steps in ministries at opposite ends of the city, all staffed by rude and completely unhelpful people. (Egypt, Oman, and the Emirates have approximately 10% or less of the bureacratic garbage I encountered in Kuwait.)
Staff conflict and broken promises depend completely on your employer. The restriction on alcohol bothered me not at all as I don't drink. Only Saudi presents restrictions on women, so that's not it.
I know many people that enjoyed their time in Kuwait, so if you can get a job that you like, it can be an OK place. And once you get past the first year, you have finished most of the bureaucratic hassles.
One more comment I would say is that I find the use of a 'recruiter' to be an alarm bell. Outside of Saudi Arabia that does much of its hiring with agencies, there are nothing but bad stories about the places that use outsiders to hire. There seems to be a consistent pattern of recruiters not being honest with the teachers that are hired through them. I would never use an agency and always got my jobs directly through the college or university.
Just my opinion and not that of the management.
VS |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 2:28 pm Post subject: |
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| souk wrote: |
Hi,
I know sites like this do not like comments made about individual establishments but you can contact me on recmideast @ .
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Not true Souk!! We LOVE comments about individual schools!! It is one of our main reasons for existing. We want your comments on the board here so that people who search next year or the year after will find out everything they can.
The 'restriction' is to not make your criticism too personal and name any names. For instance if you know that a place has a large turnover and many unhappy teachers, you can certainly post that on the board. The posts that get edited or deleted are the ones that go into a rant about supervisor X, who is an idiot.
I'm not too sure about posting your email on the board and you might want to edit that out. Personally I would not just because of spammers. People can send you a PM. (use the edit button in the upper right corner of your message)
VS |
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Sara Avalon
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 254
Location: On the Prowl
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| Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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| souk wrote: |
Hi,
I would advise you open a bank account withe same bank as your school (this will speed up transfer of salary) and I use the Bahrain Exchange for transfers. Quick, easy and good rates. |
I disagree with that statement. The new school I work for opened an account for me and didn't bother to transfer crap into it, they used the one I'd already opened. Now, they don't want to close it or put money into the new account.
And to the new guy who will be coming to Kuwait... what's wrong with you people?!
Seriously, I came from Canada where I've worked for minimum wage as a pizza cook, a grocery store clerk, a computer lab attendant, a chinese egg roll maker, etc... and hands down, I've never hated a job or felt so degraded than I do working as a teacher in Kuwait. But like VS.. it's such a long list, I'm tempted to just say "all of the above."
But I will say this for the ladies: if you're single, buy a cheap gold ring and a can of mace to ward off the desperate locals. If you're married, buy a few hundred cans of mace and give them to your children as well. |
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