UK bank says the holder has to have a permanent address

[paddypower]

a good friend has been getting income deposited into her bank for years. Now they want to close it down, because she lives here in Thiland and cannot furnish a permanent address in the UK. What to do? Its something to do with the after effects of that damned Brexit. My suggestion would be to instruct the UK rental agent to send the money to the bank account of a family/reliable friend. She has both in the UK and (ROI - Irleand). But then, it gets tricky, for a number of reasons.  Any thoughts? i think its Barclays she's heard from. . 

[brianthainess]

If she has friends or family in the UK she can change her address to theirs. simple.

[scubascuba3]

it's actually the "after effects" of them telling his bank he moved to Thailand 

[KannikaP]

3 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

it's actually the "after effects" of them telling his bank he moved to Thailand 

So tell 'em you've moved back.

[Liverpool Lou]

8 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

If she has friends or family in the UK she can change her address to theirs. simple.

Until the bank queries it!  Funny how she's suddenly got a new UK address that she's not registered at while living, with the banks knowledge, in Thailand for years!  Not so simple.

Edited March 22, 2023 by Liverpool Lou

[Liverpool Lou]

Just now, KannikaP said:

4 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

it's actually the "after effects" of them telling his bank he moved to Thailand 

So tell 'em you've moved back.

To an address that they cannot show is theirs when the bank asks them...as it will when it doesn't check out?  The bank knows that they live in Thailand.

[BillStrangeOgre]

Firstly, i would advise her not to close the account. You never know when you might need it again, they cost nothing to maintain and bank accounts are not easy to open in the first place

Contact the bank informing them you have now returned to the UK and give an address of a trusted friend or family member?

[chickenslegs]

@paddypower Can she have the income paid directly to her Thai bank account? If not, she could set up a Wise multi currency account which gives a UK sort cde and account number and can be used to receive her UK income. Then she can use the Wise app to transfer her money to Thailand.

 

There are probably other financial services companies like Wise, but I don't have any info about them.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 minutes ago, BillStrangeOgre said:

Firstly, i would advise her not to close the account. You never know when you might need it again, they cost nothing to maintain and bank accounts are not easy to open in the first place

Contact the bank informing them you have now returned to the UK and give an address of a trusted friend or family member?

She has no choice, the bank is closing the account, not her.

 

After she tells the bank that she, magically, has suddenly become UK resident again (immediately after the bank's advice) with the bank knowing that she hasn't, don't you think think that they will check?  They will.

[Crossy]

More and more UK banks are pulling the plug on "non UK residents", I thought it was actually a government directive but it seems it's really individual banks.

 

I had my Barclays account closed 10 years or so ago for "apparently not being a UK resident", this despite using my parent's address. Luckily Nationwide haven't started this policy, yet.

 

I also have a UK offshore (Isle of Man) account which does have my Thai address so if it all goes pear-shaped I still have a backup.

 

[Liverpool Lou]

37 minutes ago, paddypower said:

Any thoughts?

Chickenslegs has given you the only reasonable answer...Wise or her Thai bank.  Or an offshore account (IOM or Channel Islands)

Edited March 22, 2023 by Liverpool Lou

[Mutt Daeng]

6 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

She has no choice, the bank is closing the account, not her.

 

After she tells the bank that she, magically, has suddenly become UK resident again (immediately after the bank's advice) with the bank knowing that she hasn't, don't you think think that they will check?  They will.

Quite agree. It's quite likely that the bank will invite the account-holder to make a personal appearance at one of their branches, with evidence of the "new" address..

Edited March 22, 2023 by Mutt Daeng
slight change to wording

[Thomas KH]

Get a Revolut account. Works flawlessly.

 

 

[phetphet]

It's becoming more common now, but this has been going on since before Brexit.

 

The way I see it, there are only two options. Feel free to add more if you can think of any.

 

1. Open an offshore account. Will likely be expensive.

2. Basically lie. Use a family member's or trusted friend's address.  Bear in mind that trying to open a new account, the bank might require proof of address such as Driving Licence, or Council Tax Bill.

[Liverpool Lou]

Just now, Mutt Daeng said:

6 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

She has no choice, the bank is closing the account, not her.

 

After she tells the bank that she, magically, has suddenly become UK resident again (immediately after the bank's advice) with the bank knowing that she hasn't, don't you think think that they will check?  They will.

Expand  

Quite agree. It's very likely that the bank will invite the account-holder to make a personal appearance at one of their branches.

Yes...or ask her why her name doesn't show on the electoral register at the fake address she provides or why she cannot produce utility bills in her name.

 

In reality the bank will realise that she is obviously lying (it knows she lives in Thailand) and won't bother to investigate, it'll just send her notification that the account is closing and ask her where would she like the balance sending.

[Liverpool Lou]

10 minutes ago, Thomas KH said:

Get a Revolut account. Works flawlessly.

Not available in Thailand, so it doesn't work that flawlessly!.

Edited March 22, 2023 by Liverpool Lou

[mancub]

My understanding is that Barclays will be closing accounts for non-UK residents ( unless more than 100k deposited). A friend received notice to this effect. 

We decided his best option being any lump sum to deposit off-shore and his UK pension to be paid into a Wise account.

[Liverpool Lou]

10 minutes ago, Crossy said:

More and more UK banks are pulling the plug on "non UK residents", I thought it was actually a government directive but it seems it's really individual banks.

It's been the UK banks' (not strictly enforced) regulation for many years, as you found out, probably at the BoE's recommendation, so I suppose it is a government directive indirectly.

[Liverpool Lou]

7 minutes ago, phetphet said:

 Bear in mind that trying to open a new account, the bank might require proof of address such as Driving Licence, or Council Tax Bill.

That will also be the situation when a known resident of Thailand suddenly claims to have a new UK address to avoid having her account closed.

[yeahbutif]

What is classed as UK address? Does your name have to be on a UK council tax registration? Or just a UK postal address reg with bank ? Or a house hold bill?

[Neeranam]

Use a bank like Revolut.

[nikmar]

My building society k ow i live in thailand. I use my Mums address and they are ok with that..

[Eff1n2ret]

26 minutes ago, Crossy said:

More and more UK banks are pulling the plug on "non UK residents", I thought it was actually a government directive but it seems it's really individual banks.

 

I had my Barclays account closed 10 years or so ago for "apparently not being a UK resident", this despite using my parent's address. Luckily Nationwide haven't started this policy, yet.

 

I also have a UK offshore (Isle of Man) account which does have my Thai address so if it all goes pear-shaped I still have a backup.

 

Judging by comments in various threads it does seem to be Barclays more than any other bank. I have been with First Direct for decades, and they don't show any sign of wanting to close me down, but I always keep a healthy balance with them - but they won't let me open a new account any more, such as their "Regular Saver" scheme, whereby you save up to 300GBP a month for (now) 7% interest. I used to use that scheme, but they pulled the plug on me 5 or so years ago, and won't let me back in, I asked them again this morning. It's still "no" to non-residents. At that time I opened an account with Skipton in Guernsey as a back-up.

[NanLaew]

7 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Use a bank like Revolut.

 

26 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Not available in Thailand, so it doesn't work that flawlessly!.

 

[Kwasaki]

24 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Yes...or ask her why her name doesn't show on the electoral register at the fake address she provides or why she cannot produce utility bills in her name.

 

In reality the bank will realise that she is obviously lying (it knows she lives in Thailand) and won't bother to investigate, it'll just send her notification that the account is closing and ask her where would she like the balance sending.

If I live with my daughter when I go back to UK and she registered me as living there and go back and fourth to Thailand it can be done. 

Can't believe a bank would be bothered other than not having a UK address. 

[Neeranam]

Just now, NanLaew said:

 

 

I got Revolut in Thailand

[Liverpool Lou]

1 minute ago, Kwasaki said:

29 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Yes...or ask her why her name doesn't show on the electoral register at the fake address she provides or why she cannot produce utility bills in her name.

 

In reality the bank will realise that she is obviously lying (it knows she lives in Thailand) and won't bother to investigate, it'll just send her notification that the account is closing and ask her where would she like the balance sending.

Expand  

If I live with my daughter when I go back to UK and she registered me as living there and go back and fourth to Thailand it can be done.

Of course, but that's not the OP's situation.

[Eff1n2ret]

29 minutes ago, phetphet said:

Open an offshore account. Will likely be expensive.

Doesn't cost you anything, but they probably will require a minimum balance. Skipton International in Guernsey require minimum 10k GBP balance, but there's no other cost, and they're currently paying 3.5% for instant access.

[scubascuba3]

35 minutes ago, Thomas KH said:

Get a Revolut account. Works flawlessly.

 

 

i closed mine, far from flawless 

[Crossy]

Banks generally do seem to be becoming more than a bit tetchy. I suspect it's all about money laundering regulations and the like.

 

My Luxembourg bank pulled the plug some years ago as I was getting $ deposited from Hong Kong (where I was working) and transferring a significant chunk to Thailand (where Madam was spending it), other was going to the UK to pay my Visa bill which was being used in HK.

 

I really thought that was how you were supposed to use offshore banks, apparently not! And despite having a reasonably significant balance they pulled the plug ???? Luckily Lloyds on the IoM were more than accommodating when I transferred the balance ????