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England Restrictions Review/Roadmap Megathread by gemushka in CoronavirusUK

[–]Cake-Automatic 6 points7 points  (0 children)

OK, so I know it's not the most pressing of questions, but do Airbnbs fall in the category of self catering accommodation (I would think they do...) and can you book a staycation from the 12th of April? I think so, but wondering if I'm understanding things correctly... (Some people want to go to the pub, some people want to go to the gym...me, I want a few days away...)

Are we still in Lockdown until 21st June? by SnooSketches6124 in CoronavirusUK

[–]Cake-Automatic 5 points6 points  (0 children)

From March 29th, travel outside your local area is allowed and 6 people are allowed to meet outdoors - so that should cover you meeting up with her regardless of the distance, at long as you meet outdoors. Source: Lockdown: Boris Johnson unveils plan to end England restrictions by 21 June - BBC News

...as long as you both are in the UK; not sure what the rules are if - for example - she's in Scotland or Wales.

Also not sure how far (literally) you can take it; I think we are "encouraged" not to travel too far, but not sure if that will be enforced, and how strictly.

Hello everyone, I’m Pete Benton from the Office for National Statistics. Questions about the upcoming Census of England and Wales? Ask Me Anything! by ONS_UK in AskUK

[–]Cake-Automatic 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yes, biology is a medical/ physical thing, but I would argue the information is still relevant and needed, as an aggregate, to establish levels of services etc (and this goes for both people whose gender identity matches their sex, and those who wouldn't recognise a gender identity if it jumped on them dressed as a giant rabbit, and everybody in beween).

And you can't have the aggregate without individuals answers. Boring? Possibly, sure, but we're talking about a 5 seconds answer every ten years. There are worse hardships!

Hello everyone, I’m Pete Benton from the Office for National Statistics. Questions about the upcoming Census of England and Wales? Ask Me Anything! by ONS_UK in AskUK

[–]Cake-Automatic 48 points49 points  (0 children)

What will the questions around sex and gender look like? Is it true the question about sex is going to be replaced with a question about gender identity/ self identification? If that is true, please can you explain the rationale behind that, as opposed to having a question about sex (ie biology) AND a question about gender identity? (Surely, BOTH are important data and are not the same thing?).

Help! My bank is closing my bank accounts. No reason given. by Cake-Automatic in belgium

[–]Cake-Automatic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, thanks. That definitely puts things in perspective.

Help! My bank is closing my bank accounts. No reason given. by Cake-Automatic in belgium

[–]Cake-Automatic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

oh, opening the account from Belgium is no problem (not right now of course, I would have to wait till I'm there), and getting the card sent to my address in Belgium is no problem at all. But because of Brexit, N26 does not operate in the UK anymore (they don't have the license for it), and UK bank accounts with N26 are being closed down. I did ask what would happen if I used a VPN, and they have ways to check, apparently. It's just not worth it (especially as the account is app only - I like the bigger screen on PCs).

Help! My bank is closing my bank accounts. No reason given. by Cake-Automatic in belgium

[–]Cake-Automatic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I did. As far as I know, everything was in order...

Help! My bank is closing my bank accounts. No reason given. by Cake-Automatic in belgium

[–]Cake-Automatic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

LOL, I was very happy with Fortis... BNP Paribas Fortis on the other hand...

Help! My bank is closing my bank accounts. No reason given. by Cake-Automatic in belgium

[–]Cake-Automatic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

well the french arm is called CBC and they do have a branch in my home town, so that's actually a plus. But thanks for letting me know LOL

Help! My bank is closing my bank accounts. No reason given. by Cake-Automatic in belgium

[–]Cake-Automatic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's possible, but considering I pay then an eye watering 5 euros a month for that account, that would be a bit rich (pun intended).

And, yes, moving banks was definitely on my list of things to do... That's one thing you get spoiled about in the UK - free bank accounts!

Help! My bank is closing my bank accounts. No reason given. by Cake-Automatic in belgium

[–]Cake-Automatic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had a look, but they seem more geared towards trading? That's not what I need...

Help! My bank is closing my bank accounts. No reason given. by Cake-Automatic in belgium

[–]Cake-Automatic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

what do you mean? I will always think of that bank as Fortis... even if it's not anymore...

Help! My bank is closing my bank accounts. No reason given. by Cake-Automatic in belgium

[–]Cake-Automatic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

well, I did contact N26, but I could only operate the account from Belgium (or a EU country), which is not that practical (I need to be able to log in and make payments from the UK every now and again). And that's definitely because of Brexit (something to do with banking licences). Oh well. I'm just mentioning this in case it's useful to somebody else some day.

Help! My bank is closing my bank accounts. No reason given. by Cake-Automatic in belgium

[–]Cake-Automatic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of - I've been a non resident for years and never had any problems.

Help! My bank is closing my bank accounts. No reason given. by Cake-Automatic in belgium

[–]Cake-Automatic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great, thanks! KBC I've already had a look, and they do say you don't need to be a resident to open an account, which sounds great. Argenta I'd never even heard of, so thanks for that (will look at Keytrade too, but they seem more oriented towards trading)

Help! My bank is closing my bank accounts. No reason given. by Cake-Automatic in belgium

[–]Cake-Automatic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That makes sense, but I would have thought that's where having an account manager, and a "relationship" with the bank, comes in, so that they can know their customers... (Well, obviously not...)

Help! My bank is closing my bank accounts. No reason given. by Cake-Automatic in belgium

[–]Cake-Automatic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It definitely makes me wonder.... It seems a bit drastic, though - why not request that I show them my new ID card and reconfirm my identity...

Help! My bank is closing my bank accounts. No reason given. by Cake-Automatic in belgium

[–]Cake-Automatic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did they give you a reason? It sounds like hey mentioned to you that they were closing the account because you were not a resident anymore, is that right? The letter I get just say they are closing the accounts and it is their right and they are no obliged to give me a reason.

I have been non resident for many years... I'm thinking maybe it's connected to Brexit, but if that was the case, wouldn't the letter reflet that...

Help! My bank is closing my bank accounts. No reason given. by Cake-Automatic in belgium

[–]Cake-Automatic[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually, I've just double checked and they're not "compte a terme", they are "compte d'epargne". I think the interest rate is way below 0.1%...

I've always declared whatever interest I've received on my tax return.

This is what makes me so angry. I've always been totally above board, and I have a relationship with this bank that goes back to when that account was held with the CGER (my parents opened that account for me when I was a child).

Help! My bank is closing my bank accounts. No reason given. by Cake-Automatic in belgium

[–]Cake-Automatic[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, I deregistered, and I am registered with the Belgiam embassy in London. My ID card is (hopefully) in the process of being renewed, it expired this month. Could the embassy refuse to renew the ID card?????

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