jericho

I've started refusing, and no bank has said they wont deal with me.
The problem I was finding is that by disclosing it, it was an immediate red flag.

Miss Clinique

I think I will take a leaf out of your book and not give it next time I am asked and see what happens.

Alanandson

I was told by a friend that the only people who should have your SIN other than you is your employer. Having said that, I too replied 'yes' when the guy at TD asked if my SIN started with a 9.. damn it. Secured Visa only for me..

The4BellsLondon

hmm - we had HSBC premier account in Uk - came here and was offered & given HSBC credit card with $5k limit without even asking!

Brownstar

I had a First Direct account and mortgage in the UK so signed up with HSBC out here and got an unsecured credit card easily too

ibbye13

HI guys

I just came to Calgary this January and I am with TD bank. I have got only one credit card with them and i have to put 2500 C$ as collateral on it. I have tried about 5 different banks to get a credit card with no deposit but no success. They all said cos of me being from the UK and no credit history here in Canada.

In the meantime i have bought a new car on instalments with Scotia bank...i can buy a new car on credit but cant get a credit card. It was good that I brought my UK credit card so that i can use it here.

Ibby

Square

We have just been given an MBNA Credit Card with a limited of $1,500 with no deposit as we had an MBNA in the UK. We tried to contact Visa & Mastercard but to no avail. TD also wanted a deposit as did Capital One! We are just happy to have a card so we can now start our credit rating!

Ramsey

If you look at the application forms the SIN number has "optional" beside it.... they use it for your credit check as an unambiguous identifier, i.e. to separate two John Smith's... But they can do that anyway as long as you provide enough information.

Legally, you do not have to provide it to them, nor can they impose it as a condition of acceptance.

Miss Clinique

My husband spoke to the branch manager, and she agreed on a smaller credit limit with no deposit.

We were happy with that, we didnt want the credit, we only wanted to build our credit rating.

JAJ

You don't have to give your SIN - and they don't have to give you credit. As far as I know.

Alanandson

haven't tried for car credit here as as I'm on a TWP I just assumed I get told .. and the fact I only have one month of credit history

DaveLovesDee

I'd venture that every new immigrant to canada has a zero credit rating in Canada, regardless of how their rating was in their previous country.

Banks are only legally required to obtain your SIN if you're applying to open any accounts on which interest will be paid, so that Canada revenue Agency can asses this as income earned.

Instead of applying for a secured or regular credit card, all I did was apply for a BMO prepay Mastercard. I load my money onto it, and it's enough for me for now.

As was mentioned earlier, only your employer and Canada Revenue Agency are entitled to ask for your SIN, and your employer only after you've been offered employment with them. They can ask if you have one before then, but not whether it starts with a 9 or not.

Another thing I found was that if you give them a SIN beginning with a 9, they want to see the Temporary Work permit as well to verify the date your temporary SIN number runs out. I believe this is okay.

AndyBCbound

Did you contact MBNA canada or MBNA uk??

G77

Got a $5k HSBC unsecured Mastercard before coming over, but recently applied for an AmEx (after 10 months being here) and got declined - see thread I started on this for more detail...

AndyBCbound

Do you have a link?