Credit score

[lilly1986 5]

hey everyone, i recently got married to a USC. I got here on a K1Visa. We are trying to build my credit by putting bills in my name. we just tried to get the cable bill in my name and once again we got the answer: we are sorry, we cant put in ur name, because we cant access ur credit record. So they are not turning it down because its bad or there is none at all but they cant access it. I have a SSN since 2006 (was here as a student). I tried to check my credit on my own but i cant. they ask for ur current address and then they ask if i live there for 2 years. My answer: NO. then they ask for my former address (which is in germany) but they only allow to fill in a US address. since i can not file that part out they dont show me my record...... someone knows what to do?thx in advance.

[lilly1986 5]

hey everyone, i recently got married to a USC. I got here on a K1Visa. We are trying to build my credit by putting bills in my name. we just tried to get the cable bill in my name and once again we got the answer: we are sorry, we cant put in ur name, because we cant access ur credit record. So they are not turning it down because its bad or there is none at all but they cant access it. I have a SSN since 2006 (was here as a student). I tried to check my credit on my own but i cant. they ask for ur current address and then they ask if i live there for 2 years. My answer: NO. then they ask for my former address (which is in germany) but they only allow to fill in a US address. since i can not file that part out they dont show me my record...... someone knows what to do?thx in advance.

[Operator 1,927]

Good question! Talk to your bank, they might be able to help. You can apply for a secured credit card to start building credit.

[F & J 21]

Hi! If they can't add you to any of your utility bills, you can still apply for a Secured Credit Card which will allow you to build credit history.

Secured credit cards are “secured” with a deposit that's kept in a savings account and used only when you default on your payments.

http://credit.about.com/od/usingcreditcards/bb/securedcard.htm

10 questions before getting secured credit cards

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/10-questions-before-getting-a-secured-credit-card-1.aspx

Edited January 5, 2012 by Fatima and Jim

[Robert&Karen 264]

Maybe merge with these 2 dupes:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/345614-credit-score/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/345613-credit-score/

[Fede&Kendra 5]

hey everyone, i recently got married to a USC. I got here on a K1Visa. We are trying to build my credit by putting bills in my name. we just tried to get the cable bill in my name and once again we got the answer: we are sorry, we cant put in ur name, because we cant access ur credit record. So they are not turning it down because its bad or there is none at all but they cant access it. I have a SSN since 2006 (was here as a student). I tried to check my credit on my own but i cant. they ask for ur current address and then they ask if i live there for 2 years. My answer: NO. then they ask for my former address (which is in germany) but they only allow to fill in a US address. since i can not file that part out they dont show me my record...... someone knows what to do?thx in advance.

I know I'm a USC and it may be different, I am 23 and started to build it up when I was 20 and I had a hard time so I went to stores like Victoria secret and started there with little purchases, then would pay it off then I got a student credit card and now I was able to have my own phone bill....you could try it that way. Good luck!

[lilly1986 5]

thx for the answers but its not about BUILDING a credit score the question is why is not possible to CHECK mine?

[F & J 21]

thx for the answers but its not about BUILDING a credit score the question is why is not possible to CHECK mine?

Most likely because you don't have a credit history yet?

[Operator 1,927]

thx for the answers but its not about BUILDING a credit score the question is why is not possible to CHECK mine?

This may sound like a stupid question (sorry) but do you have any credit history? The address may be the issue, you could try using dummy dates to see if something comes up. If you have no history there won't be anything to see, right?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You can check your own score for free at myfico.com.

A cable bill (or any bills) won't build your credit. There are credit cards for new immigrants. Get one and make little purchases and pay them off every month. Good luck.

[Dave&Roza 748]

The best way is for you and you husband to get a joint CC and joint bank accounts. My wife had no credit history and now she gets all of those CC offers from Capital One and Discover. If your husband's credit score is good than it will trickle down to you. It may take awhile.

Good luck,

Dave

[Robert&Karen 264]

Check your score, if you have one, at creditkarma.com for free. Best places to get credit are cheap jewelry stores where they sell $100 jewelry for $200 with $100 down. Places that advertise credit to anyone who ALSO report to the three major bureaus. Some car dealers will give you a car with 50% down. You cal also get a secured bank loan. Put $1,000 in the bank and borrow $1,000 against it and pay it back on time. You will pay the interest and loan charges and have credit soon after.

[Ban Hammer 13,349]

duplicate threads have been merged. a third sent to the graveyard as it had no replies.

please do not start duplicate or triplicate threads about the same topic.

[venusfire503 54]

Try checking the box that you've lived at that address for at least 2 years if your husband has. If not, put whatever address he had before your current one. Maybe that will work?

I hate when online forms don't allow foreign addresses. My husband wasn't able to apply for some jobs because of that. It's annoying.

Good luck!

venusfire

[AmericanAussie 1]

Hello,

Building credit can be difficult...I'd suggest a mix of a few things, as mentioned above and also including perhaps a store card such as Macy's. Usually they are given with a small limit for use in the Macy's store only and by making regular payments, this will help to build a credit score (they may end up offering you a Macy's branded Visa credit card down the line - as long as regular payments of the bills are made).

Also perhaps joining a gym with a regular membership, such as Bally's (if that's your thing) can help, as they will post it on your credit history with the organizations mentioned.

Ofcourse, it almost goes without mentioning, but big ticket items such as TVs with in-store financing or car loans are another (dangerous) way to go, and I would not recommend either of these - for anyone considering these, be very wary as usually without a decent credit score, they will charge some seriously high interest, even then the contracts are pretty tight. Nobody wants a repo man on their doorstep.

Most importantly however, to build the credit history, you have to actually do that - build it. No use in getting a loan, then not paying it off - you'll end up having terrible credit and may need to declare bankruptcy and never get a loan again for anything.

Other than trying to get a mortgage for a house, if you can't pay for it now (from savings) my policy is to always ask myself do I really need it? If it helps me sure...

Best of luck!