The first of many!

[zummerzet_lou]

Hiya everyone,

Instead of trawling the web, I figured you'd all have the answers, and that they might help others so here goes:

1) Can I, and should I obtain a copy of my credit history? If so, how?

2) Having just bought an eternity ring (yep, Jon lost!), I believe I can claim the tax back as we are leaving the country? How?

Off to think of some more ....

Lou
We fly out 10 weeks today!!

[MotherBear]

Hi Lou,

If you want to check your credit report you can do so with with companies like this. I get the impression though that NZ doesn't bother much with immigrants' credit status so it's up to you whether you get one or not.

To claim VAT back you will need a special VAT receipt that shows the VAT element clearly, which the shopkeeper should be able to provide you with.

How to claim back VAT (This is from a computer sales company advising potential customers about claiming VAT back)

When leaving a country or the European Union, simply show your purchases, receipts and passport to Customs officials and have the form stamped (it is advisable to contact the airline/shipping company in advance in the case of purchases that cannot be taken as hand baggage).

There are several options for collecting the refund: immediate cash at a cash refund office (including airports and the Britain and London Visitor Centre, 1 Regent Street, London), the direct crediting of a chosen credit card of a UK bank account, a bank cheque sent to a chosen address or, for certain countries, a cash refund when you return home.

Note: Visitors leaving Britain for a final destination within the EU are not eligible to receive VAT refunds under the scheme. Eligible travellers buying goods under this scheme must be leaving the EU with the goods before the end of the third month following that in which the goods were purchased. For example, goods purchased on 31 March would have to be exported by 30 June.

Some reading .
And some more . Click on the second item down.
HM Customs has a link to exactly this topic but it's not working. Bah!

It may be that you would have to prove in some way that you are leaving the UK permanently rather than just going out on an extended holiday and are trying to fiddle the VAT.

I once tried to claim VAT back, believing that I could do it on the way out of the country. Just before I left the UK I was then advised I had to do it through the tax office, which wasn't convenient because I didn't have time to get there. Looks like I might have been misinformed and lost out because of it.

[Taffy]

Hi Lou,

Your credit history doesnt follow you to NZ, good or bad, you just get a clean slate no matter what (excluding bankruptcy or fraud!). No one has ever said to me that foreign past history would have helped an application so it's probably not worth the cost. As long as you have a job and are resident, that's usually good enough.

[zummerzet_lou]

Life Insurance:
Both Jon and I have exisiting UK life insurance policies. Do we cancel these? Get NZ ones? Just keep UK ones until we are more settled?

Travel insurance:
Can we get travel insurance to cover a one-way trip?

ps. Thanks MB for the links .. I think I "nearly" understand the VaT return ... would be nearly £70 so am going to try and persue it! If we manage it, that's one nights accomodation paid for ;-)

[Ginabridget]

Hi Lou, we've bought travel insurance from the Post Office, it's family cover and is just to cover us while we're traveling from UK to NZ, we've got 3 days for £26.

We've also got life insurance in the UK which we're leaving in place until we get some sorted out in NZ.

Hope that helps.
Gina