KLM Flying Dutchman - OT: Need advise from Dutch residents

I had already posted this on the European Travel / Destination forum to no avail so I will provide link so as not to break FT rules on double posts:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/europe/1009731-netherlands-prepaid-gift-debit-cards-else-how-transfer-my-us-bank.html


Basically I just need to know above if you can be so kind to advise..

Thanks from Leidenschendam ! :)

Sorry, there is NO such thing here anymore.

Cheque's etcetera or debit cards with pre-loaded ammounts of money do no excist, they are not issued here, only in foreign countries like Switzerland or Greece. My best suggestion is to either spend the money or open up an account at ING/ABN-AMRO and transfer it to your BoA. Visit an office of ING/ABN-AMRO if they have options.

Another option with that account is, if you return to the EU, that your not faced with changing costs and other fees. You can withdraw the money from ANY ATM in the EURO zone for no fee. The fee at ING for a standard account is €30,-/year. You can easily recover this cost by the devaluation of the dollar (which will continue due to excessive spending of the USA).

First tip would be: Go to ING/ABN-AMRO. Skip Fortis Bank Nederland/Rabobank/SNS-bank others, they do not operate on a large international scale.

Enjoy your stay in The Netherlands, if you have spare time, visit Utrecht or Maastricht. Most musea are located in Rotterdam, Amsterdam and The Hague. The Hague is also home to a lot of UN tribunals and institutions, currently Karadzic is being trailed.

I can pay it to your bank account if you give me the cash. the cost re aroudn €7. It is instant. Or you just spend it!

Or you just spend it!

On a watch, maybe :)

or buy travellers cheques?

Sorry, there is NO such thing here anymore.

Cheque's etcetera or debit cards with pre-loaded ammounts of money do no excist, they are not issued here, only in foreign countries like Switzerland or Greece. My best suggestion is to either spend the money or open up an account at ING/ABN-AMRO and transfer it to your BoA. Visit an office of ING/ABN-AMRO if they have options.

Another option with that account is, if you return to the EU, that your not faced with changing costs and other fees. You can withdraw the money from ANY ATM in the EURO zone for no fee. The fee at ING for a standard account is €30,-/year. You can easily recover this cost by the devaluation of the dollar (which will continue due to excessive spending of the USA).

First tip would be: Go to ING/ABN-AMRO. Skip Fortis Bank Nederland/Rabobank/SNS-bank others, they do not operate on a large international scale.

Enjoy your stay in The Netherlands, if you have spare time, visit Utrecht or Maastricht. Most musea are located in Rotterdam, Amsterdam and The Hague. The Hague is also home to a lot of UN tribunals and institutions, currently Karadzic is being trailed.

Actually, the UK just started the prepaid debit card! So that was why I wondered if it existed here.

But questions on the ING/ABN-AMRO account... can a non-EU resident just open an account? I thought the eu is very strict on terms like this?

I'm in Leidschendam, near The Hague and it looks like there might be some good business opportunities opening up for me here.

Actually, the UK just started the prepaid debit card! So that was why I wondered if it existed here.

But questions on the ING/ABN-AMRO account... can a non-EU resident just open an account? I thought the eu is very strict on terms like this?

I'm in Leidschendam, near The Hague and it looks like there might be some good business opportunities opening up for me here.

If it is only for this action, I can almost guarantee no luck with that. But when you have good reason to get this account (you are planning to do more business) then you might have a good chance. Besides ING and ABN/Amro there are also some small banks which may be more helpful. Rabobank I have different experiences, you can try them also, but only in larger cities. Don't go to Rabobank in a small town. Every Rabobank (or small group of bankoffices) are separate, so experiences will vary with them.

Don't go to Rabobank in a small town. Every Rabobank (or small group of bankoffices) are separate, so experiences will vary with them.We employ lots of non-residents (merchant marine crew) and those who want to open a bank account locally go to the Rabobank, presumably because they are closest. I've never heard of any problems, and yes, it is a small town.

Johan

I had already posted this on the European Travel / Destination forum to no avail so I will provide link so as not to break FT rules on double posts:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/europe/1009731-netherlands-prepaid-gift-debit-cards-else-how-transfer-my-us-bank.html


Basically I just need to know above if you can be so kind to advise..

Thanks from Leidenschendam ! :)

Not only can I help you, but you can also help me.

Greetings Guy Betsy,

First I must thank you for picking up the consideration to be our agent via our costumers who are already and able to pay some of our outstanding bills.

Surprise to say that your role in this endeavour is to serve as our agent to get to our customers who has been indebted to us over a considerable lenght of time and help stand as an agent through which they will make such payments to us.

Your reward for helping us collect such an outstanding debt will be 5% of whatever money that is being paid to our Company through your offshore Account.

You will be given adequate coordinates and banking instructions through which you will remit our balance 95% from your Account to us.

Please be advised that we will have to begin the necessary process of approving you as our agent/partner on our receipt of your understanding, transparency, honesty and your sincere abilities.

The main reason why we are sourcing for your help as our Agent is because we are currently having tax problems with the government and as a result all our Company Accounts worldwide are under strict watch and scrutiny, based on an unecessarily high progressive taxation rate which is politically motivated by masterminds in the government which our Company has fallen out of favour with.

On our receipt of your understanding/mail we will need some vital information from you that will enable us legitimise the process of this transaction, by drafting a Power of Appointment creating an Agency for the relationship of a Principal and Agent, also stating your benefits by way of Fiduciary gains or commission for your Fiduciary services.

Please send down the needed information;
Company name as a legal entity or your personal name acting in your personal capacity in the eyes of the law.

Contact Address, email address and tel/fax numbers.
Age, occupation and position in the Company (if you belong to a company).
A valid mode of Identification (e.g Drivers License, passport etc.) to this email id.

We will inform you on the next step to follow as regards our approval for you to be our representative, upon getting the above information from you and will also forward my own valid form of identification to you.

Note: Endeavour to indicate your reference number as above in all of your correspondence with us. Please place your $1200 in a plain blank envelope to be considered earnest money and for which forwarding instructions will be provided to you in due time. I await your immediate response and a customer will soon make payment through you to us

We employ lots of non-residents (merchant marine crew) and those who want to open a bank account locally go to the Rabobank, presumably because they are closest. I've never heard of any problems, and yes, it is a small town.

Johan

With Rabobank: YMMV. Your office is familiar with non-residents, so it is no big deal, but other are only familiar with their local agricultural clients, so then you're out of luck. Every bank is on his own, so no luck in town A? You can always try town B or C.

Not only can I help you, but you can also help me.

Greetings Guy Betsy,

First I must thank you for picking up the consideration to be our agent via our costumers who are already and able to pay some of our outstanding bills.

Surprise to say that your role in this endeavour is to serve as our agent to get to our customers who has been indebted to us over a considerable lenght of time and help stand as an agent through which they will make such payments to us.

Your reward for helping us collect such an outstanding debt will be 5% of whatever money that is being paid to our Company through your offshore Account.

You will be given adequate coordinates and banking instructions through which you will remit our balance 95% from your Account to us.

Please be advised that we will have to begin the necessary process of approving you as our agent/partner on our receipt of your understanding, transparency, honesty and your sincere abilities.

The main reason why we are sourcing for your help as our Agent is because we are currently having tax problems with the government and as a result all our Company Accounts worldwide are under strict watch and scrutiny, based on an unecessarily high progressive taxation rate which is politically motivated by masterminds in the government which our Company has fallen out of favour with.

On our receipt of your understanding/mail we will need some vital information from you that will enable us legitimise the process of this transaction, by drafting a Power of Appointment creating an Agency for the relationship of a Principal and Agent, also stating your benefits by way of Fiduciary gains or commission for your Fiduciary services.

Please send down the needed information;
Company name as a legal entity or your personal name acting in your personal capacity in the eyes of the law.

Contact Address, email address and tel/fax numbers.
Age, occupation and position in the Company (if you belong to a company).
A valid mode of Identification (e.g Drivers License, passport etc.) to this email id.

We will inform you on the next step to follow as regards our approval for you to be our representative, upon getting the above information from you and will also forward my own valid form of identification to you.

Note: Endeavour to indicate your reference number as above in all of your correspondence with us. Please place your $1200 in a plain blank envelope to be considered earnest money and for which forwarding instructions will be provided to you in due time. I await your immediate response and a customer will soon make payment through you to us

Ermmm. The above sounds just like one of those chain letters from Nigeria / Third World countries ...! You're not serious about this are you???

Ermmm. The above sounds just like one of those chain letters from Nigeria / Third World countries ...! You're not serious about this are you???

Yeah. I copied it from one of those chain letters I got. My attempt at humor. :eek:
See your pm.

Cheers klm etc.

Actually, the UK just started the prepaid debit card! So that was why I wondered if it existed here.

But questions on the ING/ABN-AMRO account... can a non-EU resident just open an account? I thought the eu is very strict on terms like this?

I'm in Leidschendam, near The Hague and it looks like there might be some good business opportunities opening up for me here.IIRC, one requires a "sofi-nummer" or "Burgerservicenummer" to open a bank account in the Netherlands (social security number). At least, this is the case for private individuals. A Burgerservicenummer is created upon registration with the county, whereas a sofi-nummer can be obtained from the tax authorities for those people who cannot get a Burgerservicenummer. One cannot get a Burgerservicenummer without valid residency in the Netherlands, and a sofi-nummer is only created with valid reasons (i.e. those needing to be socially insured in the Netherlands).

P.S. Burgerservicenummer and sofi-nummer are in fact that same number.

IIRC, one requires a "sofi-nummer" or "Burgerservicenummer" to open a bank account in the Netherlands (social security number). At least, this is the case for private individuals. A Burgerservicenummer is created upon registration with the county, whereas a sofi-nummer can be obtained from the tax authorities for those people who cannot get a Burgerservicenummer. One cannot get a Burgerservicenummer without valid residency in the Netherlands, and a sofi-nummer is only created with valid reasons (i.e. those needing to be socially insured in the Netherlands).

P.S. Burgerservicenummer and sofi-nummer are in fact that same number.

Not completely true. It is possible for EU-citizens to open a bankaccount, without living or working in NL, so then you have no BSN (BurgerServiceNumber) but can open an account. For non-EU-citizens it's harder to get an account without BSN, but it is still possible.

IIRC, one requires a "sofi-nummer" or "Burgerservicenummer" to open a bank account in the Netherlands (social security number). At least, this is the case for private individuals.

Non-resident accounts are permitted in NL and those do not require a BSN. Nevertheless, opening non-resident account is up to the local bank conditions. ABN Amro for instance wants a minimum balance of 25,000 EUR.

... ABN Amro for instance wants a minimum balance of 25,000 EUR.

:eek:

Time to raid the piggy bank!