Obtaining credit in the US

[OBX 51]

Haha, of course. It's probably just me.

No it's definitely not you!

Similar to lgg's situation, my husband and I are a bit "older." He has an excellent credit score here and I did in Canada. He added me to his Chase credit card and I have been using it since I arrived yet have been denied twice for a card in my own name. I hold two accounts at Chase in my own name with higher balances than the credit limit on my husband's card but they still don't consider me suitable to hold my own card! Even the account manager at the bank was surprised they turned me down. It is very demoralizing after years in Canada with my own credit. Every once in a while I take out my CIBC card and remember the good old days!

Let us know if you eventually find something that works. Good luck.

Edited April 27, 2010 by OBX

[Flames9_RN 358]

As I stated above, there are a few different ways one can be on another persons credit card, some of those "ways" do not do nay good in gaining you any credit. I forget the "term" one has to use to get the credit to follow you. And I imagine some credit cards just don't allow piggybanking. Another thing I was told, is that 1 may have a high credit #, but if its only been for a short duration, that too doesnt much help you. The fun and games in moving to a different country

[OBX 51]

As I stated above, there are a few different ways one can be on another persons credit card, some of those "ways" do not do nay good in gaining you any credit. I forget the "term" one has to use to get the credit to follow you. And I imagine some credit cards just don't allow piggybanking. Another thing I was told, is that 1 may have a high credit #, but if its only been for a short duration, that too doesnt much help you. The fun and games in moving to a different country

I am obviously not listed on his card in one of those magical "ways." The account manger inferred that even as a secondary holder I would be able to build up credit and eventually get my own card within six months. Guess she was wrong.

I'm pretty blasé about credit here...I left most of my financial stuff in Canada.....working on convincing my husband to eventually move back one day.

Edited April 27, 2010 by OBX

[SapphireDreams 71]

No it's definitely not you!

Similar to lgg's situation, my husband and I are a bit "older." He has an excellent credit score here and I did in Canada. He added me to his Chase credit card and I have been using it since I arrived yet have been denied twice for a card in my own name. I hold two accounts at Chase in my own name with higher balances than the credit limit on my husband's card but they still don't consider me suitable to hold my own card! Even the account manager at the bank was surprised they turned me down. It is very demoralizing after years in Canada with my own credit. Every once in a while I take out my CIBC card and remember the good old days!

Let us know if you eventually find something that works. Good luck.

Are you employed? I wonder if that makes a difference. Once I found a full time job and had direct deposit regularly, I think that also helped me get a credit card. I mean, I know LGG isn't employed yet, so that might not be it... but maybe the combined family income needs to be above a certain number?

[Flames9_RN 358]

I am obviously not listed on his card in one of those magical "ways." The account manger inferred that even as a secondary holder I would be able to build up credit and eventually get my own card within six months. Guess she was wrong.

I'm pretty blasé about credit here...I left most of my financial stuff in Canada.....working on convincing my husband to eventually move back one day.

ya, i feel the same way, its not a big deal, as my wife has good credit. Took me some time to gain a credit card when i first moved down. And its not always easy to take over bills as some companies do try and look at ur credit rating--which of course u dont have,lol so then they want u to put down a deposit!

I have been here since dec 2004, and just started to work last Sept.

Edited April 27, 2010 by Flames9_RN

[OBX 51]

Are you employed? I wonder if that makes a difference. Once I found a full time job and had direct deposit regularly, I think that also helped me get a credit card. I mean, I know LGG isn't employed yet, so that might not be it... but maybe the combined family income needs to be above a certain number?

No, I'm a "young" retiree.

I think you have hit the nail on the head though. With no employment income and no debt, (hence nothing for them to base a credit rating on) regardless of my husband's' income or my assets I appear to be out of luck. I suppose I could try to apply for store cards but I don't like to carry cards that I know I won't use. I have no plans to buy a house or car here or get a loan so while I understand credit is important, in my situation, I think I'll leave it for now.

Edited April 27, 2010 by OBX

[lgg 2]

Nope, I'm not employed yet but they did want to see our joint tax returns from the past two years. I dunno, It's a mystery to me. I had already assumed that being a secondary card holder would have zero impact on my credit score -- this is just one of those odd things that worked out in our favour?

For once.

Are you employed? I wonder if that makes a difference. Once I found a full time job and had direct deposit regularly, I think that also helped me get a credit card. I mean, I know LGG isn't employed yet, so that might not be it... but maybe the combined family income needs to be above a certain number?

[Sprailenes 47]

Joint tax returns from the past two years... so this may not work for someone who came in on a K1 and is not yet married?

[SapphireDreams 71]

Joint tax returns from the past two years... so this may not work for someone who came in on a K1 and is not yet married?

Yeah it looks like they take income into consideration. I know on the Capital One form it asked for my "household" income - when I applied with just my husband's income, it wasn't enough - when I applied again just after I got a job with our joint household income they approved it. That was also after piggybacking. I bet it's a combination of net worth (savings) and income, along with having some credit from piggybacking.

[Rhiannercakes 14]

This would be a great idea... if my husband had good credit

I have to start over so I can get good credit, my husband's is terrible... sadly.

Oh well.

[milimelo 4,571]

I had no problem getting a credit card once I had a job for two months. Had previously issued SSN from 2001 but no credit history and yet Chase decided to approve me followed by AmEx.

Currently have higher CC limits than my husband - he just does not get that he can't go over his credit limit, took me forever to pay down his card. Plan is to get his CC closed and move him to my AmEx acct.

With the recent CC legislation it seems to be more difficult to get a CC you want - I tried out for the new card from Chase but was rejected due to not enough history (I have been here for 3 years) but great credit report score. Go figure.

So heads up!

Forgot to add: USAA seems to have good rates and low APRs for military members. We're thinking of moving our banking with them. Non-members can also join - I think it's a type of credit union.

Edited April 27, 2010 by milimelo

[Flames9_RN 358]

I had no problem getting a credit card once I had a job for two months. Had previously issued SSN from 2001 but no credit history and yet Chase decided to approve me followed by AmEx.

Currently have higher CC limits than my husband - he just does not get that he can't go over his credit limit, took me forever to pay down his card. Plan is to get his CC closed and move him to my AmEx acct.

With the recent CC legislation it seems to be more difficult to get a CC you want - I tried out for the new card from Chase but was rejected due to not enough history (I have been here for 3 years) but great credit report score. Go figure.

So heads up!

Forgot to add: USAA seems to have good rates and low APRs for military members. We're thinking of moving our banking with them. Non-members can also join - I think it's a type of credit union.

USAA opened some stuff to non-military people as well, not sure what though. As well you (or husband) doesn't have to be military, one can tag along ur parents. We got our USAA a a few yrs ago from my wifes parents, who piggy backed off his fathers,lol USAA has been great to deal with. I love how one can scan a cheque on ur home computer and viloa, the $$$ is in ur acct and no need to mail in the cheque!! Love it.

[TrueNorth 0]

Be careful when dealing with credit card companies (as if I really need to tell you but seriously they're all corrupt). I called up Discover where I had an account and asked for a card in my mom's name so I could give it to her for emergencies. They sent me the card but I ended up never giving it to her. I did get her a card on one of my other accounts that she didn't use, either. Anyway, all I had to do was call and ask for them to send the card. They even had a thing online where I could log into my account and add them and they ship me the card. They didn't ask for any kind of personally identifying info or anything!

So fast forward and my mom is going bankrupt and I'm going bankrupt. She tells me that she wants to make sure that she's "off" my card accounts so I call up and get her taken off.

My hubby also had a card in his name which he used a few times and now he has one credit report (the other agencies don't seem to know he exists?) and it's MY credit cards on it even though HE never signed anything or gave them any personal information.

So technically if you know you're going to go bankrupt, you can have a few cards made in the names of whoever you want, use them to run up purchases, then when you are delinquent it will ruin THEIR credit reports.

(There is another method of actually adding a person to your account whereby you fill out forms and have them sign etc. but the credit card reporting agencies don't really seem to care which way it's done -- your spouse, friend, family member or WHOEVER could be affected by this even if they have no knowledge of your getting a card in their name, using it and defaulting on it. Then they have to fight to get rid of it.

Technically just because I had a card in my mom's name or hubby's name should not make them responsible for the balance of the account. It is MY account, NOT theirs. I am allowing them to use it but I am the responsible party.

credit card companies are all shady so be careful. They have all sorts of ways to destroy you if you don't know how to play the game.

[Kimbear 53]

so i was browsing all the equifax sites etc and finally got hard copy paper info on credit with canada us as a dual citizen etc and equifax usa vs canada:

http://www.equifax.com/cs/Satellite/EFX_Content_C1/1172608896725/5-1/5-1_Layout.htm?packedargs=Locale%3Den_US

states down the page that:

How do I obtain my American file if I am a resident from another country or I am becoming an American resident?

You must first determine if you have an American file. If the companies in which you currently do business with are not reporting members of Equifax U.S., then you do not have an American file.

In order to establish an American file you can apply for credit with American companies who are reporting members of Equifax. Most major credit card companies e.g. American Express, MasterCard, Visa and Discover are reporting members of Equifax.

How do I merge my Canadian file with my American file due to dual citizenships?

You cannot merge your Canadian and American files. You must maintain separate credit files from each country due to various laws and/or provinces.

[Moosker 7]

Quick question LGG - when your husband added you on his card, did he provide your social with it? My hubby just added me, but they didn't ask for my social.