Job Discussion Forums

StrayCat · Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 21

I'm in the process of trying to land a job with BAE. I think I'm halfway there. Well... I can dream, can't I?

Sorry for babbling on there. I noticed when they advertised they mentioned that the salary is paid into a UK bank account. I've been working for many years in Asia & the last time I was in the UK Maggie Thatcher was in power.

I have no intention of returning to the UK for many moons to come. So, is it possible to open a bank account from abroad or can a family member do it for you in the UK? Or do some BAE chaps have their loot paid into whatever bank wherever?

I just went back to the old avert & noticed this recently, and became a little concerned. Mind you, I don't really expect to get the job but then again, someone has to...

also in saudi · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 137

I've noticed that BAE advertises jobs that don't really exist. Perhaps they're just collecting resumes. It's a very strange outfit.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Banks in the Channel islands and Isle of Man specialise in the business of dealing with people in your situation.

Opening a bank account on Mainland UK is very difficulot - even if you are physically in the UK.

They ask for weird things like Gas Bills. I suppoose drug dealers and terrorists don't have Gas Bills.

Cleopatra · Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 6:43 am Post subject:

Tomton · Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 66

Yes, and it's also different in Her Britannic Majesty's realm.

Van Norden · Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 409

The HSBC Offshore sterling account is probably your best option. It's not a bad deal (going by what I've read and been told) but you're required to maintain a �5,000 "relationship" with them. Dead money IMO. And don't be tempted to put that �5k into one of their poor-value investment products.

You may as well wait till you're accepted by BAE before you go to the trouble of setting up the account.

007

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Thanks for the link to Lloyds. This is looking a lot cheaper than the $10,000 HSBC Bahrain wants (I have a US dollar account with HSBC Lanka but they don't pay any interest, don't give you an ATM card for it, and don't let you access it through the internet).

I doubt if it helps the OP though;I think BAE will only pay into a UK bank account, not an offshore one. It is best to check with them. If you are a British citizen who previously lived in the UK then it is a nuisance to open an account, but should be doable.

007 · Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 3:04 pm Post subject:

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Perhaps I should have followed my own advice.

Lloyds requires one of the following as proof of address; a phone bill, not mobile, a gas bill or an electricity bill, and they must not be sent to a post box number.

My Saudi address, like nearly all in Saudi, is a PO Box number. Electricity and Water are paid by the employer; the phone bill is deducted directly from my payslip.

Oh well!

(the advice you quoted referred to what you wrote on that thread; it did not exclude the possibility of redemption, or that your attack of insanity was localized).

Van Norden · Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 409

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

They do allow withdrawals, but I have to present myself at the bank to do it.

I got the account because I didn't want to keep money for building in Lankan rupees. I've been expecting the rupee to crash for the last two years, and, even though the money was being spent in building work in rupees, I wanted to play safe with dollars. I was inbetween jobs in Saudi, so I didn't trust the bank there to keep a load of my money.

Lanka has quite strict exchange rules, like many third world countries. Getting a bank account as a non-resident foreigner is a lot paperwork and restrictions, even though for renting, buying property, and setting up phone gas, and electricity accounts, getting planning permission and paying property tax is no problem at all.

Balzac · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 266

Hi StrayCat,

Balzac · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 266

Wow straycat,

Bebsi · Joined: 07 Feb 2005 Posts: 958

I don't know if it would be acceptable to BAE (probably would as it's in the EU) but why not open a non-resident bank account in Romania? You can do it in Stg, Euro or USD, there is no minimum amount (well, there is but it's about 10 euro), and it is perfectly safe. No-one can access it except yourself, and the banks in Romania absolutely operate to EU standards, with most of them western-owned, e.g. Raiffeisen, BRD etc.

No one can access it (except the Romanian revenue people but as you're not resident here tax regs don't apply to you in any way) and all that's needed to open it is a passport and a foreign address, plus a small amount to lodge in there. You don't have to show proof of foreign residence or address, just have an overseas address for correspondence purposes.

I was using this for a number of years before coming to live here, and never had any probs.

Don't expect to make much interest, although I understand it's not the interest that worries you as such, as you can transfer out to various investments as easily as in, but having an account in a civilised place, i.e. EU jurisdiction, for salary payment purposes.

PM me if you like.