Being Relocated to Reading from TX (mortgage, appliances, credit card)

[HHHMom]

My husband is being relocated to Reading at the end of the year and we will be moving with 3 children (4, 7 and 9). The move is only supposed to be for 9 months so we are planning on enrolling the children in an International school so they don't have to deal with such a drastic change in curriculum.

I am hoping that the company (that will pay for a furnished home for us) will put us near the school as we will only have one car. I'm not sure about what types of items I should be acquiring before we leave. I know we will need clothing for the colder weather. I'm mainly concerned about our electronics and what we will be able to bring and operate while we are there. I am looking at purchasing a new computer before the move and don't want it to be fried with the change in electrical outlets.

I also am concerned about how to set up banking so that I can transfer money to our US account to pay our mortgage and maintenance fees here. Is there a bank that operates in both the UK and US that I can open an account before we leave?

I am very nervous about our move and like to have everything planned out in advance.

Thanks

[maheel]

HI i guess TX is Texas USA?

well your appliances run on 120 (?) electricity volts don't they?

england run 240 volts so they will not work at all

some new digital cameras and laptops can run on both, check your powersupply of course so consider a laptop not a desktop

hope that helps but of course you need to confirm more

i am going from australia to england and have a few of the same problems

as for banks HSBC i think are international there might be one in texas that you could open an account

but you will still have to do an international transfer (most likley ) then transfer from HSBC to your loan via internet banking
eg HSBC england ---> to HSBC texas (USA) ----> usa loan bank

have not seen one that allows your to go international without a int trans

[chicagocubs]

Originally Posted by HHHMom

My husband is being relocated to Reading at the end of the year and we will be moving with 3 children (4, 7 and 9). The move is only supposed to be for 9 months so we are planning on enrolling the children in an International school so they don't have to deal with such a drastic change in curriculum.

I am hoping that the company (that will pay for a furnished home for us) will put us near the school as we will only have one car. I'm not sure about what types of items I should be acquiring before we leave. I know we will need clothing for the colder weather. I'm mainly concerned about our electronics and what we will be able to bring and operate while we are there. I am looking at purchasing a new computer before the move and don't want it to be fried with the change in electrical outlets.

I also am concerned about how to set up banking so that I can transfer money to our US account to pay our mortgage and maintenance fees here. Is there a bank that operates in both the UK and US that I can open an account before we leave?

I am very nervous about our move and like to have everything planned out in advance.

Thanks

HSBC is one, Bank of America which has ties to Barclays, I believe...and there are always the Internet banks, too...

[Hobokenkitchen]

Don't buy a new computer right before you move, as you won't be able to use it in the UK at all.

We use HSBC for international transfers - as premier customers the accounts link directly and it's as easy as doing an online bank transfer from one internal account to another. Super simple and no fees! I think you have to have quite a high balance to qualify for premier. If you don't have a high enough balance it's worth asking them how it would work as a regular customer - maybe it's the same?

[backtotx]

We have UK and US computers. The US ones work in the UK and the UK ones work in the US. Hubbie who is IT consultant isn't around here at the moment to give the technical term but there is a switch at the back of the pc to change the voltage for either country. Obviously you then need to use a different power cord but honestly, it is no big deal. TVs, fridges, washers etc aren't going to work but trust me, you will have no probs with your computer.

We have a bank a/c in the UK and one in the US. We have used HIFX to do money transfers as this has been the cheapest route for us. Having a/c's in both countries makes sense as I buy presents for folks in the UK using my UK credit card so I avoid the currency transfer costs.

Good Luck.

[markg67]

Both HSBC and Barclays are friendly to citizens of other nations (ie its easier to open an account there than at other banks). The fee for international money transfer bank a/c to bank a/c via HSBC's online system was £11 last time I did it.

[Raggy dee Ann]

I have posted this link in the past so I'm sure it's allowed on this forum.

UK Yankee - Expat Americans Living in the UK and Moving to the UK

It's a great site for expats moving here. You have all the information on computers, voltage, banking, moving your pets and much more.

Personally I was able to transfer money from Bank of America and Wells Fargo to my Barclay account with no problem.