[quote]
[list]
[*]food
Bring lots of tea when you come.
[*]banks/credit cards
Shop around with banks, but if they're funny about your lack of credit history, go with the one your employer uses for the first 6 months. This usually bypasses the credit record thingy.
[*]insurance
[*]grocery shopping
"Paper or plastic" means what type of bag do you want your groceries in. And they pack for you.
[*]other shopping
[*]driving/cars and car acquisition
Some petrol stations have pumps where you have to lift the lever the nozzle was resting in before they will start.
[*]eating out
"PB & J" on a children's menu means peanut butter and jelly (jam) sandwiches.
[*]schools
They don't start real school 'til they're nearly 7!
[*]work
[*]healthcare
They never bill you right. Don't accept it if you disagree -ARGUE!
[*]leisure
[*]housing (buying/renting)
House inspections (surveys) when you buy here are great! They cost half the amount they do in the UK and you go round with the inspector who tells you all about your house-to-be.
[*]media inc. internet access
pricey :sad:
[*]general settling in
treat it (emotionally) like a permanent and irrevocable move, even if you have an option to go back or are only here for a few years. That way, you're more likely to give it a fair go and settle in, hence be happy :smile:
[/list:u]

I'll have a go at a few but I'm still learning as I go! So far I have found that..

..in Restaurants - always take some form of ID just in case they don't notice the grey hair, wrinkles and 14 kids at your feet and ask if you're over 21 yet!

Always ask for water by saying warder - otherwise they won't understand wot the bleedin' 'ell you're saying and ask the head waitress (sorry, server!) for assistance in a translation roll

Be wary of MSG in foods - your food from Chilli's may taste great but if you're allergic to MSG you may well end up with a headache - it took me ages to work out how come I was so pissed on a very iced and watered down glass of margaritta! (pronounced margaridda for ignorant British folk!!)

..Credit Cards - starting a US card from scratch is very tricky - not many companies actually care about the fact that you may own 17 houses in England, have an account at Harrod's or paid off all your debts 16 years ago (I wish!) - if you don't have a US credit histroy then you're worth nothing, nada, zilch. Sometimes the employing company can help by providing references, especially if you use the same bank as them.

Some UK credit card companies are very unhappy with their Brit customer being abroad for work. One company I've heard of that's particularly bad is MBNA. American Express seem to be happy to change to a US card and transfer your points and I have changed my UK address to a US one for HSBC and Bank of Scotland with no problems. We are on temporary visa's so I don't want to shut these down straight anyway just in case we have to move back.

If you have problems opening a US credit card account you can approach Capital One who only charge $99 security fee to get you started. Also check out http//www.lowermybills.com/ to make other comparisons on fees and interest rates. Read the small print to avoid getting ripped off with extra fees.

Don't forget to set up an offshore account so you're not taxed on any money in the UK and it helps you keep up with paying any left over UK bills by transferring money in every now and then. HSBC have a good place in Jersey and Firstdirect in Leeds have been happy to change our address to a US one. With that you can transfer money easily between the HSBC and Firstdirect accounts via the internet.

..Vacation time - be wary of this all UK newcomers - the minimum paid vacation in the US is only 10 days & there are many firms out there who are rather skimpy with their perks(!) Not all companies are like this but it pays to check all the niggly bits and pieces rather than take it for granted that you'll end up with European style 5 week holidays like we did! cry

Well, I'm boring the pants off you so I'll let someone else follow on from here..

_________________
Britnet Rules!!!

[ This Message was edited by murtle69 on 2002-03-25 0024 ]

Dear me, murtle, you do paint a sorry financial picture. I know you've had a rough time of it, what with your other half's company being lying wotsits and all, but it's (fortunately) not that bad for everyone!

As you suggested, we got out credit card through our bank which was the one Beest's (my other half) employers use. For the mortgage, car etc, we brought a years worth of bills and statements from every utility, bank, loan/hp and credit card in the UK to show we were good payers. This worked fine. You can also use Experion -an international credit record agency. There is another one whose name I can't remember.

We just sent our change of address to the UK credit card and they had no problem. -It's set up to be paid automatically out of our UK bank account, which is still current.

You're right about the holidays -fortunately we knew what we were in for before we arrived!

Didn't assume it's that bad for everyone, just showing in full glory my experiences so that people have a fair idea before they jump in with both feet - not that everyone would, but ex-pat life is not always so easy as one expects when one thinks of a dream lifestyle in sunnier climbs! Didn't mean to sound miserable tho' - just informative!! grin

Also it's fair to add that our problems with the US company have been a) over salary and b) over the fact I cannot work, and the both of these haven't once been mentioned in my text above. In fact when it came to opening bank accounts and buying a car, the company helped us immensly by setting us up with someone elses SS number until we got one sorted, helping finance the car through the company and the boss even owns the house we're living in.

My very first topic on Britnet was one asking about transferring UK credit cards to the US so my thoughts on that was also relating to what people said in reply to my topic. http//www.british-expats.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=167&forum=2

So there! razz

[ This Message was edited by murtle69 on 2002-03-25 0109 ]

sorry murtle

didn't mean to upset you, just trying not to scare off newbies cry

(some of us don't have much choice about coming)
_________________
monster

---think---

[ This Message was edited by monster on 2002-03-25 0110 ]

s'alright! grin

This is starting to look like a monster/murtle double-act!

I originally put the "one thing" about each subject in italics to try and keep the topic light and inviting, but changed it so as not to be too "bossy". Your posts have reminded me that moving here is a very big thing that's so different for every one, and sometimes you can't put experiences/advice in one-line nutshells. But for those who can, please don't be put off! An essay is not required here (although just as welcome).

Me, I just try to make the best of it....and it seems to be working smile

OK, I'll add my two pennies worth now grin

Our experience seems to be in the middle of Monster and Murtle's. I have spoken to other Europeans, one who had a 'relatively' easy time, similar to how you have described yours, Monster. But quite a few with problems on the credit side like Murtle's.

I didn't know you could bring details of your UK credit across here and that it works. A very good tip, Monster.

We were given the name of a company called International Autosource. They helped us get cars and insurances for car and household. You have to use them before you enter this country though. Once you are here they can't help in anyway. And they only deal in new cars. Buying or leasing. We used them and in less than a year we had a good credit rating and could get a credit card. In less than two years we were able to get a mortgage without my husband's company having to buy the house for us. And we don't have a green card. We were given big restrictions (limit on amount to borrow and a larger deposit than normal) but when they did our credit rating we had a very good one. From what we have been told, we had done very well on this.

I have heard people coming over here and having to put money down up front just to get insurance for their belongings! Having to pay cash for cars. And that doesn't help with gaining any credit rating.

My advice to anyone new coming over here is make friends with an American straight away and ask them to take you shopping the first few times. 1) you learn the quickest route to the shops. 2) you learn the lingo and can have a giggle without being on your own. 3) you learn the routine of packing, paying and any other quirks very quickly. Do it with food and clothes and anything else you think of. I made friends with a neighbour and mentioned I didn't have a car (I had to wait for it for a couple of months) so whenever they were going shopping they just called me up and asked if I wanted to go. grin

One other thing I would say is, if you are a very British person - by that I mean not a confrontational person like the Americans - try to develope a more positive attitude when dealing with people in schools, healthcare and customer service places. Don't just accept what they say if you aren't sure or you wouldn't have that happen back home. Be strong and ask why! If you still aren't happy with their answer, tell them you will be back and go away and ask someone else what they would do. It helps to have support.

You learn to become more American, especially if you want to survive. But never lose your sense of humour. It may be the only thing that gets you through the tough times.

I bet I will think of more as this board continues lol

It is very easy in the beginning to let the bad times outway the good and you do wonder if you will ever get through. There can't be many Europeans who didn't have this feeling at one time or another, even if their experiences were easier than others. grin

We had quotes for cars from International Autosource and this company is just a rip-off. The prices they were quoting were far above prices we were getting from local dealers; we actually found an internet site where you request the car you want and the dealers come back to you with their best prices. They were far cheaper than IA. The only useful thing we did get from them though, was the name of an insurance brokerage that provides cover for international arrivals.

Also we are here on three-year L1/L2 visas and still managed to get a mortgage immediately. The realtors just did an international credit search, and like Monster we had all our bank statements and credit card bills going back for a few years. If you move here from the UK then yes, the credit reports from Equifax and Experian are excellent things to bring with you (assuming you have a good record!).

[list]
[*]food (& drink)
Beware, Coke just don't taste the same here.
[*]banks/credit cards
Marry an accountant with immaculate credit :smile:
[*]insurance
Read the terms thoroughly, if you don't understand something - call them.
[*]grocery shopping
Don't give the cashier your debit/credit card, see that little calculator looking thing sticking up? Learn to use it (watch someone else do it first if you need to).
[*]other shopping
Remain sceptical, American sales people are not your friends, no matter how much they appear to be (more appropriate to bigger things like cars and houses).
[*]driving/cars and car acquisition
Learning to drive is worringly easy.
[*]eating out
Ask for the 'check', you will get a receipt, place card with receipt (possibily in a little holder) the waitress/waiter will take it and bring it back with two more receipts. Put tip amount were displayed. Leave one copy of the receipt on the table and take the other. Sounds simple, but I get this wrong so many times.
[*]work
Research the salary for your kind of work, Americans get paid much more. Try not to reveal previous (UK) salaries unless you need to.
[*]healthcare
Be prepared to pay $10-$15 for every doctors appointment.
[*]leisure
Try to do things similar to what you did back home (eg, Join a football/rugby team; walking club; crafts club etc), it will help you make friends and deter homesickness.
[*]housing (buying/renting)
Renting - stand your ground; complain, complain and complain until what you want is fixed.
[*]media inc. internet access
Find a BBC news broadcast to find out whats really going on in the World (America included)
[*]general settling in
Keep focused on why you came here, this will help with homesickness. I keep the lyrics from the Beatles "In My Life" on my wall at work for this very reason, it may help to find something like this to help you focus.
[/list:u]

[ This Message was edited by: Beng on 2002-03-25 09:14 ]

Coming over here as I did, having married an American on relatively brief acquaintance, I wish I had been more prepared for his little quirks. However.....

My difficulties and observations arose from my husband being completely familiar with everything and forgetting that I was not, and sending me off to do/get/buy things all alone while he was at work - and in fact, he left me for a business trip two days after I arrived!

[list]
[*]food: Had to learn about Mexican food - hubby likes everything smothered in jalapenos and I didn't know what a jalapeno was.

[*]banks/credit cards: No probs here - just rode along on hubby's credit history until the offers started coming in addressed to me. Banks here keep selling out to other banks - our present bank is now in its fourth incarnation in seven years. No such thing as cheque-guarantee cards here.

[*]insurance: what's that? :wink:

[*]grocery shopping: A huge array of brand-names you have never heard of, and Heinz beanz are different over here. Also had to go back to paying by check and having to get a store-card so they would accept them. TG they now all take credit cards.

[*]other shopping: clothes are cheap but underwear is poor quality. Took me forever to figure out my knicker-size and my shoe-size. American tights don't fit, unless you buy three sizes too big, and then they still don't fit!

[*]driving/cars and car acquisition: Wish I had known about mini-vans, that I was going to end up with three children and that when hubby buys a car it is for the rest of his natural life when I agreed to a four-door Honda in 1993. Still driving it. He still drives the Chevy his dad bought new in 1975....

[*]eating out: Had to stop myself laughing every time I heard "Hi I'm ........ and I'll be your server today!" Restaurants serve mysterious items such as "Eggplant Parmigiana", "grinders" and "calzones". I spent a lot of time asking what everything was. Also had to get hubby to translate my English for the server ('water' being the biggest problem)

[*]schools: in the dark ages in many ways - when I left teaching in the UK, much was made of 'differentiated learning'. Here it is 'one size fits all'. Summer vacation too long, Easter too short. Too much homework for young children. Not enough recess and inadequate gym time.

[*]work: Never worked.

[*]healthcare: Still don't understand the arrangements with our HMO. All a big mystery to me. Also hope that none of us ever find ourselves with "a pre-existing condition". I dread getting old and ill here.

[*]leisure: miss having places to go without having to drive a distance. Miss having interstesting scenery to look at on long drives. Wish to goodness there were "leisure centres" like in the UK. There are no public indoor pools here at all. Swimming here is mostly in town-operated lakes or in yucky pools at over-priced private health clubs.

[*]housing (buying/renting): House inspectors here get paid less because they are less-qualified. A survey in the UK is done by a highly qualified person who can tell you a great deal more than a home inspector. No gazumping allowed here. Property sellers are required to 'disclose' problems with the house instead of hiding them from the buyers.

[*]media inc. internet access: no probs here

[*]general settling in: took me many years. Helps to have children. Helps even more to have a job. The best is either having a British spouse or at least one British friend who understands what your problem is.

[*]weddings: have never been to one, but I understand they have multiple bridesmaids, multiple best men, are often in the evenings, guests wear evening dress and they are way too elaborate and expensive. Bridesmaids pay for their own dresses.

[*]showers: had baby showers - like that idea, but where were all those kind people when I wanted visitors after the babies were born :sad:

[*]funerals: another mystery to me - hate the open-casket idea, and 'visiting hours'. Have never been to one though and hope not to have to follow US tradtions if hubby goes first.
[/list:u]

Quote:

On 2002-03-25 08:41, Dawn wrote:
We had quotes for cars from International Autosource and this company is just a rip-off. The prices they were quoting were far above prices we were getting from local dealers; we actually found an internet site where you request the car you want and the dealers come back to you with their best prices. They were far cheaper than IA. The only useful thing we did get from them though, was the name of an insurance brokerage that provides cover for international arrivals.

Also we are here on three-year L1/L2 visas and still managed to get a mortgage immediately. The realtors just did an international credit search, and like Monster we had all our bank statements and credit card bills going back for a few years. If you move here from the UK then yes, the credit reports from Equifax and Experian are excellent things to bring with you (assuming you have a good record!).

We didn't find them a rip off because when we arrived here (we came on H1/H4 originally) we went to the local garages and they told us they couldn't have done any better. We didn't try the internet for other sources, though. And, like I did say, we didn't know you could bring your credit rating over with you. That is a very good tip for people to know.

When we first enquired about a mortgage no one would entertain it because we were foreign. We do have a very good credit rating back home and the realtors we went to didn't tell us they could check internationally and accept that. It was only after being here over a year that a mortgage broker actually found a bank that would do a mortgage for us. They took into account our credit rating in both countries, but they said the most important one was the one here.

It may be worth you putting details up regarding which realtors you used etc. for others coming over. We have met a lot of europeans who, at some point, had the same problems we had and some had it much worse.

I actually felt very fortunate to get as far as we had until I read how easy some of you have had it :smile:

Kengirl, you made me laugh when you mentioned differentiated teaching lol

My children were brought up with this back home and I know it is hard work on the teachers but, I feel, great for the kids.

They have decided to bring it in here grin And the teachers are hating it. The Principal came to me at a meeting and said "I bet you're not really understanding what all this is about". grin I did correct her on this.

A lot of the parents don't like it either. They get quite a shock when I tell them it is what we are used to back home. grin

Ben - I think it is about to happen here too. Of course the teachers hate it, but I had to do it for a class of 35 - my daughter's class has only 22 and her teacher has an assistant! Let them tell me it is hard! HAH!

I remembered something else that I really wish someone had warned me about. Winter itch! Dry itchy skin caused by long cold dry winters. Thank goodness the past two winters have been mild ones.

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British Expatriate Network

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