actually I not so sure,

I tried to consult the customer service officer in the HSBC in Malaysia,

but they have no idea what is passport account,

when I email the HSBC in UK, they seems busy and cincai reply my question =(

so I read the terms and condition myself =X (maybe I misunderstood)

p/s: for mobile phone, izit cheaper in Malaysia compare with UK? same price can get better model in Malaysia?

This post has been edited by Raining: Sep 12 2008, 05:04 PM

well HSBC msia and UK has some differences in account types.

a typical online saver can get you 5.25% AER if you have not withdraw the money, or abt 2.5% if you have withdrawn some for that month.

mobile phone? it is more worthy to get a mobile phone in uk, if you can afford a pay monthly/contract phone in uk. if think you have gbp30 to spare monthly for 12-18 months and going to make use of the inclusive minutes or text messages, it is worth it, in addition you will get a free decent phones.

but if dont use a phone much, a prepay would keep you going contact-able. and with prepay in uk, you dont have to reload monthly to be able to use it monthly. as long as there is money in your prepay phone, you will be able to make a call out.

Hi youngkies,

Thank You for your explanation,

for mobile phone I think I won't be calling that often because I already taught my parents to use Skype, so won't be any issue chatting with them (I think) + I am those type which dun hav much friends . Hence, I intent to use the prepay type. In this case, will it still worthy for me to purchase a mobile phone in UK? or I should just get 1 from Malaysia before I depart?

for the medical check up, I went to Tung Shin Hospital today, they have a medical check up package for "UK Visa", which cost me RM 154 + RM 20 (for additional Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test because they suspect I am infected by Syphilis ). Damn shy when the staff there look at me with their weird expression when they heard the word "Syphilis". (of course the result shows that I am healthy )

Thanks again

This post has been edited by Raining: Sep 12 2008, 06:12 PM

*quick reply before i dash off to pick up dad from klia*
just bring a phone which you already have from home. i mean, u probably use one now, right? just bring that one. then u dont have to worry bout getting a phone in uk. prepaid sim cards are easy to get. much easier and cheaper than a phone (duh)


*gone*

well, like youngkies said, mostly are brands from korea, japan and also some are from taiwan, china and tailand. But i more prefer korea's instant noodle.. coz they are bigger pack and cheaper.. lol..


student life over here is alright. also depends on your uni and course. for example, if you are in engineering course, then you will more modules and credit hour will more compare with business student. but usually not everyday (mon-fri) will have class from 9-5. probably once or two days in a week. oh.. you will get quite a lot benefits like get 10% discount in some restuarant or shops. this is what i proud as a student.. you will get cheap stuff... lol..


well done, mushimuro.. a very details explainations.. lol.. i did the samething.. wrap all those food carefully when you are plan in import some food from malaysia. and you need to act normal if you pass by the custom, otherwise if you are not in luck caught by the officer, you will be in black-listed and you will fine.

regarding the weight allowance, it over 1 or 2kg, doesn't matter, rite?

if you have an extra phone in msia atm, just bring it over. saving you the money of getting a new one. if you fancy a mid-high range mobile phone, get it in msia, as it is cheaper.

a prepay low end mobile phone can be cheap in UK, but as cheap as well with more selection in malaysia.

---

Added on September 13, 2008, 12:20 amit depends on your luck.

1kg should be fine. but above 2kg, it really depends on your luck if the officer is letting it through.

but i also have seen passenger having trouble checking-in their luggage even with 1-2kg excess. it is either you remove some items, or pay for the expensive excess weight fee.

This post has been edited by youngkies: Sep 13 2008, 12:20 AM

i was 7.5kg overweight but I was unwilling to remove any items. I even offered to pay for the excess baggage. However, the lady who is working for MAS told me that she is too lazy to do the paperwork so I got it for free.


same goes to the in flight champagne that would have cost me about 8 USD for each glass.

The problem with the Online Saver account is that you get half the interest rate if you withdraw. However, if you have idle money sitting around, it's not so bad of an account. Online Saver and ISA is where I stick my idle money. I have another account with Egg, it's an online savings account, but it offers a 4.75% interest rate and you are free to withdraw your money. This is where I let my semi idle money sits in.

The ISA I am using is with Egg and it offers a 6.05% tax free interest. One thing to becareful about ISA is whether can you compound your allowance annually, some banks offer higher interest rate but you aren't allow to compound. Also, you usually need a savings account with the bank to get an ISA account and whilst they offer 7% interest rate, you might be getting a very low, e.g. 1% for your savings account. Finally, some offers very high interest rate for ISA but it is only for ONE year.

Compare around and the savings interest is usually about 4-5% and ISA is about 5-6%. Anything more than that, there must be a catch.

I mentioned about Egg Bank before and I'm aware there was once a news about Egg terminating people's credit card. I have had the card for a while now and Egg is one of the few banks out there offering a 1% cash back on all purchase using the card. If you pay your credit card bills monthly in full, the 1% cashback is a good offer.

Is Eggs under Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)?

I couldn't find the 1% rebate you mentioned above. Please confirm. But the purchase protection is very nice.
http://new.egg.com/visitor/0,,3_11081--View_1766,00.html

This post has been edited by Optiplex330: Sep 13 2008, 09:49 AM

that is why i stick the hsbc online saver with 5.25% considering i am not moving the money. hunting for a new ISA as well.

This post has been edited by youngkies: Sep 13 2008, 10:18 AM

What are the advantages of a UK HSBC Premier account?

you can have a look at hsbc website. premier account is where they can tailored a financial package to your need.

e.g. if you need to get a mortgage, and if you are a premier account holder, you can get better rate as well.

in this case, I think I will just get a mobile phone in Malaysia to save the hassle

Thanks for the advise

I not sure whether the Passport account and the Online Bonus Saver is the same or not, because my university recommended the Passport account, I think I just stick with this account and switch to other account in future after I know in and out about all those bank account.


p/s: for Chest X-Ray, you guys just carry with ur bare hand? I can't fit it inside my hand carry luggage (not in A4 size) and the nurse ask me not to fold it

This post has been edited by Raining: Sep 13 2008, 12:19 PM

Etihad airline told me it's RM175 per kg.

well...*blur* seems to be able to understand a little bit better now

btw, if i opened a HSBC account when i go to the UK, do I need to open the passport account or can I just open another different account? i don reli like the passport account

btw...open the online saver can be at any banks rite? coz i notice barclays e-savings reward also almost offer the same thing and it is close to imperial

edit: also i wan to ask bout ISA. can I open an account for one? or are they some conditions?

This post has been edited by Arturia: Sep 13 2008, 01:45 PM

http://new.egg.com/visitor/0,,3_78868--View_1636,00.html

Look under Egg Money for the 1% cashback. The card also doubles as a MasterCard and a Debit Card at the same time.

http://new.egg.com/visitor/0,,3_57308--View_1073,00.html

Yeap. I believe all banks regulated under FSA would have FSCS. It's written in this page as well.

About ISA, as a student you don't need to pay any tax so you get gross interest rate instead of nett. So unless if the ISA offers a better rate, then you can stick to Savings Account.

well...ISA offers better rates. 6%++ compared to 5%. juz one percent difference though. btw we have to fill in some forms for tax exemption rite?

I think at the very least you need a National Insurance number.

so do the university at uk make thier conditional offer based on the forecast results or the actual as result?i dun think i can get straight a's for my forecast,maybe aab or abb considering i did badly for my mock exams.