Things a Pinoy Should Do When First Arriving in the UK

There are two particularly easy ways to find yourself on the wrong side of the road - driving down a one way street and coming off a roundabout.

I won't be driving for the first few months I reckon as I would have no money to purchase/rent a car.
But I'll keep those in mind. I'll take driving lessons to get accustomed to the driving rules over there.

I'll probably get confused again the first few days, knowing where the 'right' side of the road is. I remember when I went back here to the Philippines, from Australia for a holiday, I was looking on the right side of the road first for oncoming cars. When it should be the left.

Then when I went back to Australia, I got confused again.

I'll take things slowly. Baby steps.

Does the UK also have that push toggle in the streetlights? Sorry totally clueless.

You should have countered that you are an 'Undercover Traffic Police from Her Majesty's Secret Service' sent to direct traffic in her name.

Agent 000

Actually I always aim the drivers side wheel on the roads center line so no confusion..If the steering wheel was on the right I couldn't do that,right?? LoL!

Oh yeah..Like Tony Montana said...."Dress warm"!

WTF is a "push toggle" ?

I don't know how you call it. It's like a button on the base of pedestrian light posts. You push it so that it would alert oncoming cars that a pedestrian is crossing the road. It gives you five seconds or so to cross.

Forget it. Just went on Google.

How silly of me. Of course, UK has one. First world country and all.

Just found more information about the BASIC BANK ACCOUNTS I mentioned earlier in the thread. The Co-op and Virgin Money accounts are only available once you have been in the UK for six months (at least that is what they tell me over the phone) but the Barclays account should be available as soon as you have proof of address.

Some overseas residents can even commence their application on-line before coming to the UK...

https://welcome.barclays.com/open-account

I've no doubt you'll get sorted with a bank account.

But in case you find it tricky and you're getting stressed about where to have your salary paid, HSBC have an account especially for newcomers. But it costs quite a lot at £8 per month.
Anyway it's here:-

http://www.hsbc.co.uk/content_static/en/ukpersonal/pdfs/en/passport_brochure.pdf

Its not the cost of the car here Knight you can get one of those for 35,000 piso the insurance (required) may cost you 3-4 x s that for a small low power hatch

Yea interestingly car depreciation doesn't quite work the same way as in Pinas. Even old bangers over there are expensive for what they are

The HSBC Passport account has now been replaced by the HSBC BASIC Bank Account - which is free.

But how much for a KnightRider?

Hehehe

Most customer centric services seem to have gone with the wind

It's going to be a staggering amount

Find out which parts of town are best avoided, and try to rent/buy in a decent area. Get to know the local Pinoy community and you'll soon be advised on things like that.

Yes, basically the higher the property price or rent the better area you are in, that applies throughout the country.

Only problem is though, you cannot always afford to live in a better area

Totally agree, but what I'm thinking is important is perhaps not what's regarded as a "posh" area, more areas not populated by white knuckle draggers who don't like anyone a bit different.