Building up a credit rating

[aidankari 0]

I am here on a K1 and I am wondering if I can do anyhing to build a decent credit rating. I got my name on my Fiancee's checking account but all her loans are in her name. I hope to be working by July/August and will need to get a car loan out at that stage. I have a good credit history from Ireland and some savings there. Would a letter/reference from my bank there help the situation.

Anyone have any experience in this area?

[SuperDuper! 230]

One of the easiest and most effective means of building a good credit rating is getting a secured credit card. For example, you have $500USD that you can keep in an acct at all times. You will get a credit card with a $500 limit. If you want a higher limit, just have that much more in your acct and request a higher limit. After awhile, you can apply for a real credit card after demonstrating yourself as a responsible CC user. Hope this helps. Cheerz!

[J&D 0]

Any letters or credit history from Ireland didn't matter in the US so I did what itzallgood said, got a secured credit card (with a $300 limit). I opened my own checking and saving accounts straight away without putting my name on my wife's bank accounts. I put my name on utility bills where possible. I was able to get a laptop from Dell by paying the full amount, but decided to take the little hit on interest by paying monthly instead. Before too long I was able to apply for normal unsecured credit cards and the limits of those have increased substantially over time.

Two years on and my credit rating is excellent, although now and again I suffer from a lack of credit history, even though the rating itself is excellent.