canadian credit score in us ??

[melusine 5]

did someone had it recognised ? how ?

something special to do ?

[Emancipation 2]

did someone had it recognised ? how ?

something special to do ?

As far as I can tell there is not much you can do to get it recognised..

Not even my Sears Card transferred over (they use different banks for CDN & US Sears Cards)

TD bank is here in the North East - but other than that.. I ran out of ideas here on my end.

You get to start all over.. goodie goodie...

Edited November 9, 2007 by Emancipation

[trailmix 77]

The only credit card I have seen that transfers over is American Express. Might help in obtaining other credit if you have one transferred over?

[lincoln81 0]

I had SO many problems with this when I moved back from the US to Canada. I don't think your credit can transfer. They told me here that they didn't recognize my credit score from the US so I bet it's probably the same going the other way. Frustrating eh?

[Reba 2]

If you have a credit card that has companies in both countries (such as American Express, MBNA, RBC etc) then you may be able to exchange your Canadian credit card for a US dollar credit card. American Express has information about how to do that on their website.

When I moved I had an MBNA Canada mastercard, and when I finally got a job here in the US I mailed them an application for an MBNA America card (now Bank of America) with a photocopy of my latest statement from MBNA Canada and a letter explaining my credit in good standing with their company. They sent me a US dollar mastercard.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

The only credit card I have seen that transfers over is American Express. Might help in obtaining other credit if you have one transferred over?

hey trailmix... how did you transfer your Amex? We have one with amex Canada, but it would be lovely to transfer it here!

[Reba 2]

There are instructions on their website how to transfer it.

[Vox 0]

The best thing you can do is, if you have a good Canadian credit score, go to the US before moving and apply for Nordstrom or Macys credit card at any store. They are able to verify all your info and mail you their credit cards to Canadian address.

When you move, you simply update your credit card file and with your new US address and SSN (you can actually keep both US and Canadian social security # on file) and all your credit score is transferred from Canada to US automatically.

Use your US card a few times in US, and they will start sending you a few “pre-approved” applications per day plus the rest of junk mail

[trailmix 77]

The only credit card I have seen that transfers over is American Express. Might help in obtaining other credit if you have one transferred over?

hey trailmix... how did you transfer your Amex? We have one with amex Canada, but it would be lovely to transfer it here!

Hi Len,

I haven't transferred it yet, but I'm going to when we move. I did give them a call one day to see what hoops we have to jump through to do this.

She said just give us a call when you are ready - so guess it is straight forward!

Anyway, here is the link http://www.americanexpress.com/globaltrans...ansfer_en.shtml

Gives you the number to call to transfer: 1-800-453-2639 (North America)

[Chica Yeyé 41]

The only credit card I have seen that transfers over is American Express. Might help in obtaining other credit if you have one transferred over?

hey trailmix... how did you transfer your Amex? We have one with amex Canada, but it would be lovely to transfer it here!

Hi Len,

I haven't transferred it yet, but I'm going to when we move. I did give them a call one day to see what hoops we have to jump through to do this.

She said just give us a call when you are ready - so guess it is straight forward!

Anyway, here is the link http://www.americanexpress.com/globaltrans...ansfer_en.shtml

Gives you the number to call to transfer: 1-800-453-2639 (North America)

Gratzie babe! I'll call this week.... because as is, it's a pain in the azzzz to send a cheque every month via regular mail to Scarborough!!!

[BH45 0]

I have a Citi Financial Master Card....if I'm not mistaken, I believe I saw those in Palatine when I was there last March. I must ask Larry if there are Citi Financial's there.

He just answered me and said yes....So if you have a Citi Financial MC, you may be in luck.

[JoeCanuk 3]

I have a Capital One Mastercard and am considering not paying it off anymore. I was always making payments when I lived in Canada but now that I'm not allowed to work and they won't accept payments in American money from American banks I'm about to tell them to shove it. Could I get in trouble?

[Reba 2]

You sure could. The penalities would be the same as if you were still a resident of Canada. Interest would continue to build up, and eventually your account would be sent to a credit collections agency.

Call the credit card company and make arrangements for payments. Just because it is not "easy" )ie: most of them are just too lazy) for a US credit company to look up doesn't mean that all of them won't. Your bad credit in Canada can still haunt you in the US. And if you ever decide to return to Canada to live, you'll be pretty much screwed if you leave that credit card un-paid.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I have a Capital One Mastercard and am considering not paying it off anymore. I was always making payments when I lived in Canada but now that I'm not allowed to work and they won't accept payments in American money from American banks I'm about to tell them to shove it. Could I get in trouble?

Can you transfer it to a Capital One in the US?

[Texanadian 10]

A topic near and dear to me as I have been trying to build up credit in the US as quickly as I could.

I had great credit in Canada but in the US, of course I have nothing. Tried to take out a $1,000 loan at a US bank that I already have a couple thousand dollars in their savings account. I then would have taken that money and put it in as a CD. They said since I'm not a green card holder, the minimum limit for loans is $5,000. So it looks like as soon as you get a green card, then would be the proper time to get a loan.

I did manage to get a bank credit card with a $500 limit. Good enough for now. At least with that, I can start to build up a good credit rating. By spending a maximum 30% of the card limit monthly (in my case, $150), and paying it off in full every time, it should help boost my credit rating.

Printing off your Canadian FICO score (Equifax etc) and taking it in to your US bank may let the bank manager bypass the usual US credit scoring test for a credit card.

Department store credit cards like Macy's etc are handy if could get them before you move, but that's kinda late for most of us as we've already moved. Department store cards don't build up your credit as fast as bank credit cards.

So the tips I have from from this thread and from my own experiences are as such.

1) Get a US department store card in your Canadian residence if you haven't moved.

2) Open a US bank account as soon as you get your S.S. card. (like the same day)

3) Wait a month for a pre-approved card from your bank...I waited but was denied...That same application got approved later with the $500 credit card. (It helps if it's with a bank you have a large balance in)

4) Once you get your Green card, apply for a small loan and deposit it as a CD. Pay off the loan on schedule.

5) Change your spouses name to your name on a utility bill. Pay it off in full and before the due date every month.

That's about it for getting a good US credit score and fast.