The HfP chat thread – Monday 19th April

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Boi says:

19 Apr19 April 17:40

Question for the collective wisdom. I have a friend/relative somewhere in Africa who would like to open an offshore account. Any pointers?

The economy “think african government corruption” isn’t doing very well and he wants to protect his savings.
- Alex says:
  
  19 Apr19 April 17:50
  
  I mean any country where they or their partner has nationality or family seems like the obvious choice, no? HSBC for example is very good at opening accounts in different countries for you
  - Blenz101 says:
    
    19 Apr19 April 18:15
    
    HSBC Expat is the offshore option. Will very much depend where in Africa the friend resides to determine eligibility. There will also be funding requirements.
    
    Is your friend a U.K. National as users on this site will approach from a U.K.expat point of view.
    
    If the friend is a national of another county then other options may well be more suitable / available.
    - Boi says:
      
      19 Apr19 April 18:23
      
      Sorry, I should have clarified. He is not a U.K. national and currently lives in Africa. I thought there might be something out there for his circumstances. Source of funding is not an issue as he has businesses that can be easily traced.
      - Benilyn says:
        
        19 Apr19 April 18:59
        
        Capital controls may be an issue and also FX ability.
      - Blenz101 says:
        
        19 Apr19 April 19:38
        
        Without a nationality or knowing which country your friend is resident I’m not sure anybody here can give you any real practical advice from first hand experience.
        
        By funding requirements I meant minimum deposit / balance to maintain the account offshore.
        
        If he has businesses then a Nevis branch could be an option and has good asset protection.
        
        Your friend would be better with professional advice particularly if their nationality will make things more tricky than just opening an expat type account in their home county.
Joseph says:

19 Apr19 April 17:57

Hello! I can see similar questions have come up throughout today but if I have read correctly they had a slightly different focus. I booked an avios redemption at 50% and flight is cancelled, I want to move to later in the year which IS within 12 months of booking. However I have been told that there needs to be avios availability which seems to contradict this article:

https://hfp2022.headforpoints.blog/2020/05/05/avios-flight-cancelled-by-ba-you-can-rebook-for-any-date-even-if-avios-seats-are-not-available/

Did the terms and conditions changes again or am I entitled to any date regardless of avios availability?

Thank you
- Rob says:
  
  19 Apr19 April 18:34
  
  I had another reader email today who had successfully moved to a non-Avios availability date, so I suggest you call back. Initially see if you can do it online via Manage My Booking.
  - Optimus Prime says:
    
    19 Apr19 April 18:52
    
    MMB doesn’t work. I’m on the same boat but still haven’t found the energy to call them up and argue with them…
    - Pete M says:
      
      19 Apr19 April 18:56
      
      It’s not always an argument – the Indian call centre did it for me with no issues a few weeks back.
      - Optimus Prime says:
        
        19 Apr19 April 19:03
        
        Thanks for the datapoint, it gives me hope! 🙂
  - Memesweeper says:
    
    19 Apr19 April 23:06
    
    +1 and +1
    
    I did one online OK, and another that didn’t work online via the call centre
- Lady London says:
  
  20 Apr20 April 00:11
  
  No idea why Rob is being so polite.
  
  BA are telling you rubbish as you suspect. If they cancel your flight there does not have to be an avios seat available on the later date convenient to you which you have a right to reroute to. If any seat is being sold on the date you want in your cabinclass (and not booking class which is what inaccurate agent wsd saying) you have a right to that seat.at no extra cost and no extra avios and no it does not have to be within only two weeks of your original flight as we have multiple reports of those cheeky baskets at BA saying.
  
  Call back be nice don’t refer to earlier conversation and try again.
  
  If you hit a brick wall either HUACA again, always within the normal UK working day on a weekday earlier rather than later if you can. Alternatively spend less time checking back through this daily thread as your options and steps to take are covered every second day at least and, as in the past 3-5 days, often more than once per day. Look through posts by Jonathan and meta to catch some quickly. Good luck
  - Joseph says:
    
    20 Apr20 April 08:16
    
    Thank you all, appreciate it. Calling again this morning!
747_Brat says:

19 Apr19 April 17:59

Goldman invests in Starling Bank:

https://www.cityam.com/starling-bank-secures-50m-investment-from-goldman-sachs/
gareth says:

19 Apr19 April 18:01

For these interested you can now book the resort world Hilton Conrad LXR hotels in Las Vegas.
- Travel Strong says:
  
  19 Apr19 April 19:14
  
  So much choice, so many questions!
  I will start investigating.
  Keen to understand pool access across the 3 brands, Breakfast options across the brands – but crucially – will the whole place be properly open and ready for my planned dates!
Lady London says:

19 Apr19 April 18:04

If they’ve booked you onto something else automatically cover your a$$ by letting them know ahead of the flight you won’t be taking that option. Make sure first that it’s a different flight number as that’s what gives you effectively the cancelled flight rights.

It’s also common courtesy to let them know even if you haven’t yet sorted out what date you will be asking to reroute to yet
- Lady London says:
  
  19 Apr19 April 18:11
  
  *Above for @Vin bottom of page 1. Wordpress losing Reply positioning again
Alan Todd says:

19 Apr19 April 18:21

Trying to cancel a Flex Plus economy flight. Online only seems to give me an option to get a voucher, am I missing something or do I need to call for full refund? TIA
- Matthew says:
  
  19 Apr19 April 21:46
  
  Need to call
Luke says:

19 Apr19 April 18:28

Can anyone recommend a new bank account, not that interested in the initial switch bonus, but want somewhere with good customer service/app etc for day to day banking. I heard First Direct were good but their app/internet banking was a bit clunky? Is HSBCs app any better?
- BuildBackBetter says:
  
  19 Apr19 April 18:49
  
  Starling, Monzo are good.
  - Pete M says:
    
    19 Apr19 April 18:58
    
    Whenever I have to deal with anyone but FD I am reminded of why they are definitely the best – the advisors really know their stuff, answer straight away and, gasp, care! The app is absolutely fine.
    - Luke says:
      
      19 Apr19 April 19:00
      
      Thanks Pete, that fills me with confidence. I have heard their customer service is one of the best. Might do First Direct and Starling as a duo. Covered for free overseas withdrawals then, and the customer service side…. should we be able to travel soon!
      - Sandgrounder says:
        
        19 Apr19 April 20:24
        
        I have FD and Starling, FD for my important stuff, Starling for my surplus. FD service is top notch, Starling’s IT is market leading and you get the free overseas transactions too.
  - Luke says:
    
    19 Apr19 April 18:58
    
    I did look at Starling… they have free withdrawals abroad so that’s tempting.
  - Memesweeper says:
    
    19 Apr19 April 23:07
    
    Starling are great
- Andrew says:
  
  19 Apr19 April 19:48
  
  LBG, they’ve got 33 years experience of online home banking. It doesn’t matter if it’s Halifax, Bos or Lloyds, it’s the same core banking app and it just *works*.
  
  Plus loads of fund return offers.
  - Pete M says:
    
    19 Apr19 April 20:44
    
    But then try and change your address with them… It took me over a month as the system didn’t recognise my new address and not a single agent could identify the problem and resolve it. Took an email to the CEO and executive complaints to get it sorted!
- Nigel W says:
  
  20 Apr20 April 13:41
  
  I’ve got a FD account, mainly for the Regular Savings account which use to be very good.
  
  Also can say their service over the phone is excellent. Can’t comment on app/website as I rarely go on it.
Jenny says:

19 Apr19 April 18:40

47 cases detected on one flight from Delhi to Hong Kong, says Yvette Cooper
Labour’s Yvette Cooper, chairwoman of the Home Affairs Committee, has questioned why India was not put on the red list sooner.

“Hong Kong this week have identified 47 Covid cases just on a single Delhi flight and we have still 16 more direct flights, many more indirect flights from India to here before Friday alone,” she warned.
- KS says:
  
  19 Apr19 April 19:51
  
  49, 2 more detected earlier today.
- Chris K says:
  
  19 Apr19 April 19:51
  
  If she’s known about this evidence for ‘weeks’, why did she say it on the same day HM Government introduced the ban?
  
  Talk about being wise after the event. But then we’ve had to get used to politicians doing this over the past year.
- kitten says:
  
  20 Apr20 April 00:15
  
  47 on one plane? that must mean the rest of the plane will have got infected too.