whitemarsh

Hi Carol

 

I went into our local NAB this week and they are offering the deal we got last year. If you have a Classic Banking Account + an ISaver account you can qualify for a Credit Card with a $50 bonus! Go for it, we did and got approved.

Regards Gill

Hi Gill

Many thanks for info. We have those accounts so will give it a try

Regards

Carol

Hi Gill

Thanks for your reply.Will write to Post Office with new address now we know they send statements over here.

We already have the two accounts with NAB with a substantial balance in but they probably will not give us a credit card as we have only been here a few weeks so will ask again later, we have a debit card so it is not a problem.

your help was much appreciated.

Regards Carol.

Hi everyone,

 

In reply to one or two queries -

 

Credit Cards (UK) I used to work for a Bank in their credit card operation and knew my way around the "best deals" at that time. The Post Office credit card has never (to my knowledge) charged the foreign exchange fee and I have had one for years which I only used when abroad. How it works is that credit card companies usually charge a FE fee on top of the normal foreign exchange rate (it can be as much as 2.5% which is a heavy loading on top of the transaction value). It may be that more cards are issued now without the FE fee - I think someone mentioned Saga, but I have found personally that the PO Card has always given a very reasonable exchange rate and I have never been charged any additional fees. Obviously paying it off each month means no interest charge either (I don't actually know what the interest rate is, again having worked in the business one of the first things you learn is never pay interest!)

 

Super - My husband is over 65 and therefore, unless he could prove he works for something like 30 hours a month he cannot contribute to Super. However, being a mere young slip of a thing at 60 I can contribute, so we put as much of our surplus savings into Super in my name and because I am over "preservation age" (generally 55years,) I could make the lump sum contribution and go immediately into "pension phase" meaning I get a monthly payment from the Super. It is really just withdrawing our own money each month but what remains in the super is obviously invested and the hope is it might grow at at least an equal rate to what is being withdrawn. The majority of our money is invested in term deposits at interest rates around the 5.5% mark. We investigated a number of routes into Super but finally decided to go with the NAB which we have been pleased with so far. Certainly the personal service is better than we found in the UK and we can contact our adviser very easily for advice when things get sticky like the Greek situation at the moment which is affecting Australian investments.

 

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card - I must recommend anyone arriving in Australia to apply for a Seniors Card. We get some amazing discounts using it - particularly rail travel into Melbourne at only $12 return for two of us, and discounted entry into places like Melbourne Aquarium etc. But, do not confuse this with the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card sometimes also called a Seniors Card. This is extremely confusing because the two entities are completely different.

The CSHC is issued by Centrelink and to assist with Prescription costs and health services for pensioners. Below is the link to the relevant webpages for Centrelink. It is available to Australian residents who are not newly arrived in the country (hence the two year waiting period) and do not qualify for an aged pension. It may not be relevant to everyone but I would recommend reading the Centrelink pages below for full details.

 

http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/conc_cards_cshc.htm

 

I think that has covered the main queries - except for wicker. I don't know about furniture with wicker elements, we were certainly advised by our removers (Pickfords) NOT to even take anything wicker, I sold all my lovely baskets and units before leaving the UK. They said that anything wicker would result in Australian Customs going through the entire container. We did bring an Elephants Foot Table (gross I know!). My husband acquired it in the early 70's before animal parts were embargoed and he got the appropriate CITES certification for it. We were expecting that to be trouble with Customs but they let it through with no hassle at all, probably because we had the correct paperwork for it and Pickfords made sure it was packed in the container so that when they inspected, it would be the first available box for them to open. They also opened a couple of boxes containing shoes/hiking boots which David scrubbed clean and disinfected with Jeyes Fluid and then wrapped and sealed in plastic after they were completely dry. The plastic had been ripped open but you could still smell the Jeyes slightly so they were happy with that. We ended up paying $96 duty on three bottles of champagne that we were given just prior to leaving the country and we had no additional customs charges other than the regular inspection fee (so we were happy with the $96 in the end!) Speak to your removers about wicker/cane etc., it is a very sticky subject although I think furniture would be treated more tolerantly than say, cane baskets etc.

 

Thanks everyone for your best wishes and although I don't contribute so often now to this site, I still read it and wish and hope everyone gets to live their dream.

 

Gill[/QUOT

Hi Gill

we have just arrived in Aus. And already have a Post Office credit card and noticed that you use one too.Would you mind telling me how you receive your statements do they mail them to you in Aus? There doesn,t seem to be a way to change your address on line. We have also opened a bank account with NAB who will give us a debit card but not a credit card as we have no income here but are in the process of setting up a super fund to provide us with some income was this how you managed to get a credit card? Any info you can give us would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Carol

Hi Moira, whereabouts in Melbourne are you heading to? We are down in Torquay on the Great Ocean Road - about 1.25 hours drive from Melbourne CBD. Love it!!! Gill

Hi Gill

We have had our visa granted this morning and are going over to Melbourne in early Jan. Planning to live with our daughter for a time who has built a home down the Mornington Penninsula.

We however like the other side of the bay around Drysdale and note you are living in Torquay. Wondered what you think of the area having been there a year, all the good and Bad points would be welcome.

Carol

Can anyone help with how we supply a fingerprint card for a USA FBI Criminal History Record Check and what other proof of ID is required

Thanks in advance for any assistance

Graham and Carol