Best way to start credit for Newcomer?

[*Robert* 2]

Well I added my wife to my AT&T Universal Card account, and luckily she already has her SSN.

I looked into making her a co-owner on my Fidelity Brokerage account, and as an immigrant, I need at least a Notice of Receipt for the I-485 along with SSN and copy of certified marriage cert. to add her!

They are realling tightening down on this stuff!

Edited July 14, 2006 by roi_aggie

[lisa71 0]

We put all the household bills in my name ie: electricity, phone, cable etc. *I* (we) paid all of them on time and within a few months I was being offered credit cards. I now have two credit cards, a Macy's card and an Old Navy Card. These all have ridiculously low limits, $300, but as I use them and pay them off, my credit limit has increased on two of them. I figure within no time I'll be your average american with a huge credit limit!

[ktun 0]

I was added to my husband's accounts and credit cards. So far, so good We have built our credit together as my husband had none when we arrived in the States. I mean literally hadn't had a credit card, loan or anything for 15 years or so. Now we have a credit card, store card and car loan. The limit on our Credit card has just been increased from $1000 to $2500, but we are nowhere near either limit on it. We are using online banking to pay all our bills ontime and now have a very good score (well, he does anyway, I'm riding off his credit since I just got my SSN two months ago). It is possible to do, just be sensible about it.

Kate

P.S. I did not think things like phonebills were reported to credit agencies, as they are not exactly extending credit to you?

[arwensun1965 0]

When Jon and I transferred to Washington Mutual all they asked me for was a SS# which I had and my Debit Card from England, I was not in debt and had a great credit history from England, they did check this. Jon and I have a joint account with debit/mastercards. As someone else has said just be careful with your cards, check how much interest they will charge you, look at the small print.

Janice