Do you trust your bank abroad? Tell us and win an iPad!
Posted in United Kingdom forum 07 Nov 2011, 15:06
We’re sure you’ve already completed our two-question poll on expat banking (sponsored by Lloyds TSB International) by now. Now’s your chance to tell us your stories and win an iPad!
Just tell us about your experiences with banks abroad. Do you trust them? Prefer to bank at home? Got a funny story? We want to know!
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Do you trust your bank abroad?
posted by Marta Vincenti in United Kingdom forum 07 Nov 2011, 16:39
I moved to Lisbon to study 1.5 years ago and I got my wallet stolen in the second week! I immediately called my Italian bank to block the credit card. At that time I thought the best thing to do was to open an Erasmus account with Lisbon's BPI bank and to transfer the money to this new account. BIG MISTAKE!!! BPI's "quick and straightforward procedures" turned out to be three weeks of hell! I had to survive with 30 euros in my pocket, going to the bank every day while the bank's employees were giving me different and contradictory instructions. It seemed like the required documents to open a simple bank account were changing depending on the day of the week or the employee. When I finally succeeded in opening the account my trust level toward BPI was nearly zero so I ordered a new credit card at my home bank.