Open your UK bank account from home!

Opening a bank account can be a bit of a drama in the UK if you're a foreigner. I opened mine from New Zealand as my local bank ASB had an association with the HSBC in the UK and they did some sort of referral for me. I went in on my first day there and was welcomed with open arms (so to speak).

I then viewed it from the other side when the boyfriend at the time didn't arrange it from New Zealand and just bowled up to the counter expecting to be welcomed gladly. Ha ha, no. He had weeks of drama, with things having to be posted etc, which convinced me I'd done the right thing by organising it from home before leaving NZ.