Those who moved to the US - yay/nay?

[Phonesis]

One of the biggest differences for me was the US banking system and general money culture here. Parts of the US banking system seem so behind the times. For example, you cannot just freely send money from your bank account to anyone else's bank account at any other bank in the country. Cheapest way is to write a check. A few banks, like Chase, do have ways to send small amounts of money to other Chase account holders though. Lack of two-factor auth with some bank's online systems is also particularly concerning. Landlords still want to be paid with checks (as they're free to cash), and the concept of wiring someone money to pay for stuff is totally foreign to most people I meet. Thankfully, a lot of employers seem to have finally caught onto giro credit (known as 'direct deposit' in the US), meaning you can get your salary paid directly into a bank account (or multiple, if you'd like) and not have to have physical checks sent to your home address.

This was something else I was also going to mention. Anything to do with banking/financing/insurance is generally archaic in the US compared to UK. One of the projects I'm working on at work is to help them achieve a similar system in the US to what we have in UK when taking out motor insurance online. They still have broker offices etc in US you have to physically go to in order to get insurance certificates. It's amazingly old fashioned really.

 

[D.P.]

This was something else I was also going to mention. Anything to do with banking/financing/insurance is generally archaic in the US compared to UK. One of the projects I'm working on at work is to help them achieve a similar system in the US to what we have in UK when taking out motor insurance online. They still have broker offices etc in US you have to physically go to in order to get insurance certificates. It's amazingly old fashioned really.

You don't have to go into a an office to buy insurance in the US, I have never done that. Buy online and that's it.

What they so have is actual offices for people that don't want to buy it online or over the phone, if they want to speak to a real human face to face to work out what insurance they want, and to file claims.
I consider this a big advantage over the UK, and is a sign of the much better customer service you get over here.



However, I agree that the banking is archaic. Not free online transfers, everything based on paying by checks . Only just hot a chip and pin card but no shops have a chip reader. Lots of charges for withdrawing cash from any bank apart form your own, then there are things like my savings account get 0.05% interest!

 

[jon86]

This was something else I was also going to mention. Anything to do with banking/financing/insurance is generally archaic in the US compared to UK. One of the projects I'm working on at work is to help them achieve a similar system in the US to what we have in UK when taking out motor insurance online. They still have broker offices etc in US you have to physically go to in order to get insurance certificates. It's amazingly old fashioned really.

So you're working with Farmers or Statefarm then?

 

[Phonesis]

Nah neither of those lol. They aren't that well known I don't think. Ah ok D.P. I got wrong idea with regards to the insurance infrastructure then. I'm definitely led to believe by those in the industry that there's a lot you can't do in the US you can do in UK though. Not sure of the particulars but there are limitations. I think it's more to do with aggregate websites and instant quick quoting for best deals etc.

But yeah, the banking side is in need of modernisation. Very surprising it's like that still.

 

[Skidder]

I did just under 3 years in Florida but I was a student and knew from the outset it was not going to be forever. I'm glad I did it but would absolutely not want to live in the US. I missed British humour and values. You can live very well in the US but it's not for me

 

[Curio]

Been here 10 years now. There are some things I love about the US, but I'd move back to the UK in an instant if it was just me I had to worry about. However, with a wife and little kids, settled in a really nice location, it's not going to happen any time soon.

As said, so much depends on location. We live in a city that's been described as a little bubble of sanity, so it's really great overall for a young family. Even then, the health care system here is pure evil - even if you have the best insurance. Workers rights are sadly lacking too. Politics is also frustrating beyond belief; it's basically like supporters of rival football teams, with about as much common sense and level-headedness involved.

I think that moving here for a few years on a job would be awesome. Moving over with a view to staying and making a new life would require a LOT more thought.

 

[D.P.]

Nah neither of those lol. They aren't that well known I don't think. Ah ok D.P. I got wrong idea with regards to the insurance infrastructure then. I'm definitely led to believe by those in the industry that there's a lot you can't do in the US you can do in UK though. Not sure of the particulars but there are limitations. I think it's more to do with aggregate websites and instant quick quoting for best deals etc.

But yeah, the banking side is in need of modernisation. Very surprising it's like that still.

You are probably right about it being a comparison website. Coincidentally a friend of the wifes had a job interview at a startup that seemed to be doing exactly what you are talking about, a car insurance comparisons website and app, the company was actually successful in Europe (maybe even based in the UK) and they were trying to spread out to the US. This is in Richmond, virginia in case it rings any bells.



I know progressive insurance has a comparisons tool but I assume no one trusts it with progressive's vested interest.



It is interesting that most insurance provides have bricks and mortar offices. I like it but do wonder at the cost. There is an auto insurance group called insurance which claims it is entirely online, no offices, no snail mail, etc. But I find the costs higher than the big names like geico.

 

[D.P.]

I did just under 3 years in Florida but I was a student and knew from the outset it was not going to be forever. I'm glad I did it but would absolutely not want to live in the US. I missed British humour and values. You can live very well in the US but it's not for me

The humor I think is more dependent on socioeconomic status in the US. I find I can get a good laugh with not very smart, minimally educated blue-collar worker in the UK, but certainly not in the US. Conversely the highly educated professors and PhD grads hat are in my social clique have the sharpest, and fastest wit I know, so much more so than similar demographics in the UK.



There are definite personality differences that are hard to adjust to though. An Americans understand of friend is very different for example. And they always give throwaway offers like invites for dinner/brunch/using their swimming pool that never come to fruition. Plus they all seem to suffer form some ind of amnesia; you can have a long personal conversation over a few beers about some personal subject mater, then a year later when its just you 2 back together over a few beers they seemingly have zero recollection of the prior conversation of the subject. I always end up hearing the same anecdotal stories again and again and again, even reminding them that you know the story wont prevent future repetitions.

 

[Raymond Lin]

When I went over 2 years a go, whilst I could use my Visa card almost everywhere, nowhere actually asked me to signed anything. They just swipe it and handed me back my card.

No wonder my card was cloned and then used in Florida on the same day I was 35,000 feet over the Atlantic.

I've not seen my cheque book in years.....

 

[OllyM]

For those planning on moving here my one main tip is apply for your social the second you land. It takes weeks to arrive and you simply do no exist without a social security number. There are very few things you can do without one, bizarrely you can rent a house but you cannot lease a car, you cannot get paid but you can get a bank account.

You need to be a bit careful - if you apply too soon you won't be in the DHS SAVE system and your application has to be manually processed which can take 6+ weeks. I waited 10 days after arriving to apply for that reason and my SSN arrived about a week later by mail.

My internet connection is Verison Fios so I get fibre to the door and can get speeds up to 500Mbps... up AND down. I elected for 75/75 since I actually don't have to obtain my US TV shows over the internet any more yay for Fios that lets me record up to 6 HD TV shows at the same time.

I struggle to find 6 things a week to watch on US TV, so recording 6 shows at once seems a bit pointless

 

[Scougar]

You need to be a bit careful - if you apply too soon you won't be in the DHS SAVE system and your application has to be manually processed which can take 6+ weeks. I waited 10 days after arriving to apply for that reason and my SSN arrived about a week later by mail.

Totally this. You pretty much have to wait about 10 to 14 days after entering via customs (as you should! lol) for you to be in the system. Once you go into a social security office (horrible places, at least around here, they are in the worst crime area), you will have to ensure that you follow up with the people there even if they say they will get back to you. I had to chase my SSN up on multiple occasions. Not helpful when you are searching for a job around Christmas and you need to get applying asap.

I found TV adverts are a bloody nightmare. Trying to watch the walking dead is horrible, and is ruined by the commercials, which is heavy with commercials thanks to it being so popular.

 

[D.P.]

You need to be a bit careful - if you apply too soon you won't be in the DHS SAVE system and your application has to be manually processed which can take 6+ weeks. I waited 10 days after arriving to apply for that reason and my SSN arrived about a week later by mail.



I struggle to find 6 things a week to watch on US TV, so recording 6 shows at once seems a bit pointless

Even if you can find 6 TV shows a week with the amount of commericalbreaks that would eb strecth out to like 40 hours of watching time.


No, US TV is a complete joke and seem to head downhill. i remember things like the discovery channel and weather were half reasonable but even they are just filled with so much crud now.

Luckily there is Netflix.

 

[thedoc46]

Thought I'd update this thread, with my experience from yesterday. Really comparing the US healthcare system vs the NHS.

Over the weekend, I was in bad pain in my lower abdominal area. Wasn't going, so decided to go to a quick care first thing Mon morning. Within 30mins I had an xray, pee'dd in a cup and had my blood drawn. Tested for everything within that facility. While waiting for the results, they were in the process of booking my CT scan a few miles up the road, while maknig me knock back a few drinks and putting in an IV for me to prepare for the scan and so that there wouldn't be any waiting around, when i got to the image diagnostic place.

Got there, literally walked right in. (felt first class, given there was a waiting room full of people) Scan was done.. Was told to drive back to the quick care clinic, to which they'd have the results by the time i got there.

Drove back, by which time the CT scan doc had called and given the results to the ER / quick care doc.

Turns out i have some rare inflammatory colon / appendix condition, that's not going to kill me, requires no surgery and nothing to worry about for now.

Cost was $20 for the quick care and $150 for the CT scan.. Yes i have insurance, but the good thing about the entire ordeal was the speed and efficiency.

Left home at 8:30 and by noon I was back home, with all the results.

Yes I was out of pocket of $170, but when you're experiencing a pain, thats not normal like that, and thinking the worst, its the best $170 you'll spend to get the answer you want then and there.

Im guessing it would have been weeks to get the same answer from the NHS. While i appreciate some of the benefits of a socialised health care system, it fails in so many others.

 

[D.P.]

You could also reduce that co-pay if you set up an FSA so you pay it from gross salary.

Your story reminds me of when I needed to get a chest x-Ray to get my greencard. I assumed it would take weeks to get appointment but got an appointment within 30 minutes, drove over, walked in, no waiting room, straight to a state of the art modern x-Ray center. Hot chick takes the x-rays and 20 minutes later I have the results. Since this wasn't a medical condition there is no insurance so I had to pay full retail price, with all the so called horror stories I was expecting 2k or some such due to the whole series of chest x-rays and a doctor,to examine it, in the end the total was $150.

The whole greencard medical examination was similarly cheap. I had a full hour physical examination, interview about lifestyle, examination of foreign medical and vaccination records, and several vaccine boosters. Total cost was around $200, again no insurance because it was medically needed.

 

[J.T]

Thought I'd update this thread, with my experience from yesterday. Really comparing the US healthcare system vs the NHS.

Over the weekend, I was in bad pain in my lower abdominal area. Wasn't going, so decided to go to a quick care first thing Mon morning. Within 30mins I had an xray, pee'dd in a cup and had my blood drawn. Tested for everything within that facility. While waiting for the results, they were in the process of booking my CT scan a few miles up the road, while maknig me knock back a few drinks and putting in an IV for me to prepare for the scan and so that there wouldn't be any waiting around, when i got to the image diagnostic place.

Got there, literally walked right in. (felt first class, given there was a waiting room full of people) Scan was done.. Was told to drive back to the quick care clinic, to which they'd have the results by the time i got there.

Drove back, by which time the CT scan doc had called and given the results to the ER / quick care doc.

Turns out i have some rare inflammatory colon / appendix condition, that's not going to kill me, requires no surgery and nothing to worry about for now.

Cost was $20 for the quick care and $150 for the CT scan.. Yes i have insurance, but the good thing about the entire ordeal was the speed and efficiency.

Left home at 8:30 and by noon I was back home, with all the results.

Yes I was out of pocket of $170, but when you're experiencing a pain, thats not normal like that, and thinking the worst, its the best $170 you'll spend to get the answer you want then and there.

Im guessing it would have been weeks to get the same answer from the NHS. While i appreciate some of the benefits of a socialised health care system, it fails in so many others.

So what you are saying is living in America has made you soft?

If it had been here you would have manned up chucked some pain killers down your neck and got on with it without going to the docs... j/k

 

[DampCat]

I feel qualified to answer, half my family lives in San Francisco and i spend 6 months of the year there.

I say Nay.

But, its a tough call. I love San Francisco, or specifically Marin County. The people are ludicrously friendly, the weather is tip top for 9 months of the year, the food and views and drives are all amazing.

What it comes down to is that i'm 31 and starting to think about kids, etc. I like where I came from, i like the education i received and the way I grew up to be a tolerant person. I like the UK school system and although its not perfect, it does allow you a great start in life.

What worries me about the US, and this may sound like a generalisation, is the identity crisis they have. Everyone is African American or Italian American or Irish American or Latin American. You ask a black guy you went to school with what his nationality is he'll say "British". And i think thats how it should be. It's a weird form of segregation and I dont think its healthy.

Additionally, the healthcare system is kinda wonky. Obviously there's the price, but actually its the insurance companies who are the biggest issue. Although both times i had surgery in the US i walked in immediately and got super care. But it was expensive.

But otherwise... it's a tough call for me. I suspect it depends hugely on WHERE in the US you're looking at. Marin is an affluent low crime area in a picturesque location. Philadelphia may make you wretch.

 

[Skidder]

Thought I'd update this thread, with my experience from yesterday. Really comparing the US healthcare system vs the NHS.

Over the weekend, I was in bad pain in my lower abdominal area. Wasn't going, so decided to go to a quick care first thing Mon morning. Within 30mins I had an xray, pee'dd in a cup and had my blood drawn. Tested for everything within that facility. While waiting for the results, they were in the process of booking my CT scan a few miles up the road, while maknig me knock back a few drinks and putting in an IV for me to prepare for the scan and so that there wouldn't be any waiting around, when i got to the image diagnostic place.

Got there, literally walked right in. (felt first class, given there was a waiting room full of people) Scan was done.. Was told to drive back to the quick care clinic, to which they'd have the results by the time i got there.

Drove back, by which time the CT scan doc had called and given the results to the ER / quick care doc.

Turns out i have some rare inflammatory colon / appendix condition, that's not going to kill me, requires no surgery and nothing to worry about for now.

Cost was $20 for the quick care and $150 for the CT scan.. Yes i have insurance, but the good thing about the entire ordeal was the speed and efficiency.

Left home at 8:30 and by noon I was back home, with all the results.

Yes I was out of pocket of $170, but when you're experiencing a pain, thats not normal like that, and thinking the worst, its the best $170 you'll spend to get the answer you want then and there.

Im guessing it would have been weeks to get the same answer from the NHS. While i appreciate some of the benefits of a socialised health care system, it fails in so many others.

I'm glad for you, but you are not comparing apples with apples. You chose to pay beyond your insurance (avoiding all the form filling, debate about what is and is not permissible etc.). In the UK you can also choose to pay with similar results.

 

[Amp34]

You could also reduce that co-pay if you set up an FSA so you pay it from gross salary.

Your story reminds me of when I needed to get a chest x-Ray to get my greencard. I assumed it would take weeks to get appointment but got an appointment within 30 minutes, drove over, walked in, no waiting room, straight to a state of the art modern x-Ray center. Hot chick takes the x-rays and 20 minutes later I have the results. Since this wasn't a medical condition there is no insurance so I had to pay full retail price, with all the so called horror stories I was expecting 2k or some such due to the whole series of chest x-rays and a doctor,to examine it, in the end the total was $150.

The whole greencard medical examination was similarly cheap. I had a full hour physical examination, interview about lifestyle, examination of foreign medical and vaccination records, and several vaccine boosters. Total cost was around $200, again no insurance because it was medically needed.

I think I paid about £200 for a full medical, including chest xray, blood and urine tests. That was booked at my convenience for about two days after I rang up. It's easy when it's private health, whether in the U.S. or UK. Tbh private healthcare isn't that expensive in the UK either.

 

[Curio]

Thought I'd update this thread, with my experience from yesterday. Really comparing the US healthcare system vs the NHS.

Over the weekend, I was in bad pain in my lower abdominal area. Wasn't going, so decided to go to a quick care first thing Mon morning. Within 30mins I had an xray, pee'dd in a cup and had my blood drawn. Tested for everything within that facility. While waiting for the results, they were in the process of booking my CT scan a few miles up the road, while maknig me knock back a few drinks and putting in an IV for me to prepare for the scan and so that there wouldn't be any waiting around, when i got to the image diagnostic place.

Got there, literally walked right in. (felt first class, given there was a waiting room full of people) Scan was done.. Was told to drive back to the quick care clinic, to which they'd have the results by the time i got there.

Drove back, by which time the CT scan doc had called and given the results to the ER / quick care doc.

Turns out i have some rare inflammatory colon / appendix condition, that's not going to kill me, requires no surgery and nothing to worry about for now.

Cost was $20 for the quick care and $150 for the CT scan.. Yes i have insurance, but the good thing about the entire ordeal was the speed and efficiency.

Left home at 8:30 and by noon I was back home, with all the results.

Yes I was out of pocket of $170, but when you're experiencing a pain, thats not normal like that, and thinking the worst, its the best $170 you'll spend to get the answer you want then and there.

Im guessing it would have been weeks to get the same answer from the NHS. While i appreciate some of the benefits of a socialised health care system, it fails in so many others.

Don't you find it's more than a little disturbing though? I mean, every single clinic here in the US is like a 5-star resort, the hospitals don't want for anything and they can build state of the art facilities on a whim. All that money made from people's health needs. And it's not like the US healthcare is even very good - the WHO ranks it quite low, and not just based on the cost.

 

[randomshenans]

I've just relocated my business to the US, though I'm not based there, the company is. I'd move over here (currently working 2 weeks in Salt Lake City) but would be West Coast somewhere. I'm used to having to pay for healthcare in France/ Switzerland so for me that's nothing new.
My wife isn't too sure about relocating out here now (doesn't want to leave friends and Switzerland is beautiful, so much to see) but I would potentially split my time here. Another thing is schooling which she isn't too sure about, but equally we think the French school system sucks as well, so hey.