Easy way to build credit

[Shep & Kali 0]

Read through the thread but I still have a couple of questions:

1. I don't get down to the States very often: are there any "regular" U.S. bank credit cards I can apply for from here in Canada to use/pay off?

2. If I get the Target card next time I go down (March), can I use it to shop online at Target? I make three trips a year, and it doesn't seem to be a very practical way of building a credit score if I'm not down there every two weeks.

[Shep & Kali 0]

Read through the thread but I still have a couple of questions:

1. I don't get down to the States very often: are there any "regular" U.S. bank credit cards I can apply for from here in Canada to use/pay off?

2. If I get the Target card next time I go down (March), can I use it to shop online at Target? I make three trips a year, and it doesn't seem to be a very practical way of building a credit score if I'm not down there every two weeks.

Actually, let me expand on that.

3. Is the "Target Credit Card" that everyone is talking about the Target VISA, or the Target-only card? The Target site says you will be considered first for a VISA and then for a Target Card. And yes, I know you have to apply in-store, but I was just seeing what you could do with their card online.

4. The AmEx credit card is worthless for building an overall rating, as it transfers "internally" and does not affect your overall U.S. credit score, yes?

Edited January 17, 2008 by Shep & Kali

[jynxNdragnfly 0]

The card I have is the Target Visa card. Yes you can use it online. I have mine set up where my billing address is my current home in Canada and I have my husband's home address in the US as an alternate shipping address.

The only 'obstacle' I've found is to pay the visa bill you have to either mail in a payment or pay it in person. I always do it in person just because I think the mail would result in late payments.

As for the 'bank/credit' card question I haven't a clue. I'm joint on my husband's account so I have a 'visa check card' which is equivalent to 1. a canadian debit card 2. a visa card in the sense that I sign like a credit card but it comes out of our account like a debit Though I'm not building credit with this card as I don't have a social security number to attach to it. It just gives me access to our account.

Hope this helps.

[Shep & Kali 0]

That is helpful! Especially squaring away the Target Visa vs. In-Store card question.

I've just made a few phone calls, and a nice woman at Transunion confirmed that U.S. and Canadian credit ratings really are two distinct files, BUT she said that any interested party can order a copy of your Canadian file from any Equifax or Transunion office, not much more expensive than ordering a U.S. credit report.

She also had the rather good idea of just ordering your own copy of your credit report to carry around with you and show people.

[carslo 0]

Ok I just wanted to share this as I know there's lots of Canadians who worry about vanishing credit or credit that doesn't transfer once they move over to the US.

I got a Target Visa quite some time ago. I used my canadian SIN, driver's licence and my cdn credit card. I applied at a Target store and had the temporary card (looks like a receipt) within 5 minutes. I got the actual card in the mail at my cdn address a few weeks later and have been using the card ever since in the US when I visit my husband.

I just got off the phone with the nice lady at the 1 800 number. I told her that within a year I would be immigrating to the US and thus getting a social security number. I asked if when I get the new SS if I could just notify them and they could replace my cdn SIN with the US SS and if my credit that I've been building with them thus far would follow onto my SS and she said YES! All I have to do is call and notify them of my new US address and new US SS and voila! I already have some credit established.

So that's a nice easy way to do it I highly recommend their card as the interest rates aren't through the roof and they've been great when I had 2 cases of 'fraud' that happened with my card. Only catch is the maximum limit you'll get is $500 at least for the first year. Oh and you also earn Target points when you use it and for every 1000 you get 10% off of one item.

Happy shopping!

I tried to do this yesterday in Inglewood, California. They were perplexed and I am supposed to call back today after they talk to some stores by the US/Canadian borders. What store did you get your card at?

Thanks,

Carslo

ps

My friend from Canada also has a Dress Barn credit card with her Cdn info.

[jynxNdragnfly 0]

It was a store in Michigan

[MrsCat 6]

I sent Suze Orman (my hero) an email about the best way to build credit when you move to the US (especially from Canada), however she never responded

[Cdn_Ali 11]

I think Suze Orman has a website with info on how to build/improve your credit. Might be worth a look.

[MrsCat 6]

I know this has nothing to do with building credit in the US, however, Alaska Airlines has a promo on right now that if you sign up for a MasterCard, they'll give you 20,000 Air miles = 1 free RT ticket. Taxes from Canada are usually $35. Probably not much good to Canadians out east, since Horizon/Alaska isn't out there - but they are in Kelowna/Edm/Calgary/Van.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I know this has nothing to do with building credit in the US, however, Alaska Airlines has a promo on right now that if you sign up for a MasterCard, they'll give you 20,000 Air miles = 1 free RT ticket. Taxes from Canada are usually $35. Probably not much good to Canadians out east, since Horizon/Alaska isn't out there - but they are in Kelowna/Edm/Calgary/Van.

Alaska airline fly into DCA!! Have to look into that!! I enjoy watching S. Orman! She stated in the Fall that people that piggyback on a spouses Credit card (being added as a authorized user) to better their credit rating is going the way of the dodo bird!! Not sure if it is in effect already.

[J&K 0]

She stated in the Fall that people that piggyback on a spouses Credit card (being added as a authorized user) to better their credit rating is going the way of the dodo bird!! Not sure if it is in effect already.

I know that some of the 3 Credit Reporting Agencies (ie: Transunion, Experian and Equifax) are no longer using the authorized user anymore in their scoring, but darned if I can remember which ones!

[trailmix 77]

The info about transferring your American Express Card is here:

http://www.americanexpress.com/globaltrans...ansfer_en.shtml

I might give them a call today and get details, will let you know what I find out.

Just an update on this posting about American Express. I called and did the global transfer today. They gave us credit that isn't as high as our Canadian card limit (no problem, didn't expect them to), however it's a decent amount (they will raise it automatically when/if we cancel our Canadian card).

Before calling you will want to look at their cards and decide which one you want. I thought they would switch my Canadian account over to a U.S. one, but they don't - they open a new U.S. account.

Things they need:

- SSN (if you don't have one they can use your passport number or foreign driver's license, however it will take longer)

- An American bank account that has your name on it and your American address (they will ask your for your U.S. bank account number - they will call the bank to verify your U.S. mailing address).

- Your total household income (you can include your spouses income).

- Your current employer

Anyway that's about it. Oh and they mail your card(s) to the U.S. address that you have on your U.S. bank account that they verify, they won't mail it to your Canadian address.

So anyway, if you have no employer in the U.S. yet or if you don't have a bank account with your name on it yet, you might want to wait and do this after you get those two things.

[carslo 0]

I know this has nothing to do with building credit in the US, however, Alaska Airlines has a promo on right now that if you sign up for a MasterCard, they'll give you 20,000 Air miles = 1 free RT ticket. Taxes from Canada are usually $35. Probably not much good to Canadians out east, since Horizon/Alaska isn't out there - but they are in Kelowna/Edm/Calgary/Van.

Hi, I thought of that also, but they give you a Canadian Alaska Airlines crdit card that has no connection to the US car

I didn't have any lluck in California, so I will try to get a Target card in Bellingham Washington, just over the border.

Thanks all,

Carslo