Hi All

Are there any credit cards that I can get in the UK that will have any bearing on my credit rating once in Canada?

I know it's a long shot!

Pennyhp

Hi I dont know that it has any Credit rating as such, but when I just went to shut down my card here in the UK and told them that I was leaving the uk, they said I should hang on to it as my 10 years of history on it will stand in Canada, now that may have just been a way of getting me to keep the account open, but if its not then I guess that would stand on any credit card that can be transfered to Canada...not sure really

In a word, no. In most cases, unless you have lots and lots of $$$ and premium accounts, your credit history in the UK is worth nothing.

I was told by the CIBC when I first arrived in Canada, that a UK credit rating carries no weight. My first credit card in Canada was a secured one, which helped me establish Canadian credit. Store cards are useful, and relatively easy to get. I even got my Sears card by using my Barclaycard as an instant credit reference! Get a store card, look after it and that will also help.

Capital One seems to be a popular card (for those with little credit), even the unsecured ones. I have one, got after living here only 1 year. I was pre-approved with one of those letters. Their customer service can be frustrating, but that`s the only grumble I can find.

I got an American Express credit card when I was in the US just for this purpose and I was able to "transfer" it to a Canadian card.

http://www.americanexpress.com/globa...nsfer_en.shtml

Your UK credit will mean diddly squat as this is not transferable to Canada.

As for getting store cards easily, maybe, maybe not. We were refused store cards when we arrived because we had no credit to check against. Best to get a secured credit card, then a unsecured unless you have pots of money.

I dont get how you can use a Barclaycard to get a Sears Card when the credit rating for it means nothing. How does sears canada check out Barclaycard, it wouldnt be on Transunion or Equifax ?

When they use a credit card for instant credit at Sear/Zellers etc. It`s exactly that, they use your credit card for the reference, it is not a full credit check. It took me about one minute from applying to having my first $500 credit. They took my name, address, telelphone and asked if I wish to apply for instant credit (basically do you have a credit card), or normal method which means (employment info, SIN, full credit check). They used my Barclaycard without a problem.

Hi,

Credit scores cannot be transfered. We opened an HSBC premier account in the UK and had our bank "behaviour" score transfered to HSBC Canada. This meant that prior to arriving we have had HSBC Mastercards issued with $10,000 credit limits (un secured) and a $25,000 line of credit. We have also had a $100,000 mortgage pre approved if required. I would also suggest obtaining a copy of your UK Equifax credit report(£8 from their website) although this carries little weight in Canada it will give any potential lenders an idea of your previous payment behaviour.
I would strongly recommend HSBC. I find it very easy to pick holes in UK banks due to previous experience, however I struggle to criticise HSBC ( apart from their moronic call centre staff!!)
If you need further info let us know.

Steve & Penny

I have a few things to say about HSBC. Their staff couldn't fill out their own forms correctly twice, overcharged me twice for the privilege and then blamed me for it! They didn't know about the offshore accounts they offer and after phoning head office they were still baffled. I felt like grabbing the phone so I wouldn't have to go through this monkey. They sent my statements to an old address for months and only got it right after asking for the 4th time! I now have my partner's name on my personal account statements even though he's not on the account. My sister closed all her accounts with them after someone had spent more than £1000 using her card number and the HSBC staff played dumb when she asked what she needed to do! The obnoxious staff seem to be in London - I'm so glad that I left! But I guess sometimes you have to play with the Devil to get things done.

Sorry you had such bad experiences. As someone who has worked in the service industry for over 15 years I am sometimes overly critical of service recieved from the likes of shops and financial institutions. I cannot, however fault the service of the HSBC premier team. I appreciate my experiences are limited to my local branch but I cannot be the only one who has recieved a highly professional and personal service from a high street bank?

stay away from HSCB. We had very bad experience with them.

I have 63p in my bank account with HSBC, and keep it there just to be bloody minded ,as I kept it just incase I did want to open an account overseas. I would not use this bank if they were the last in the world. I had so many problems in past that I withdrew all money much to their disgust and took it across the road to rival bank.

I did enquire about opening a HSBC in canada. They had not got a clue where I live as to open an account overseas, they even went away to ask someone and came back and the wiser, except for a phone number of someone who may be able to help me at head office or somewhere.
I then tried the internet, had to phone someone put on th press 12345 6 7 line. Who said it would be easier doing it in |Canada. Got to Canada and the nearest branch to me was miles away. Found RBC in Canada, and had account opened in minutes. Came home sent money through an exchange company, and now do all banking via internet.
Could not be easier.

HSBC - Hopelessly Shite Bank Company

As others have said, credit rating does not transfer unless you're with a bank like American Express.

It is worth holding on to your UK credit cards at least until you get a Canadian credit card. Although you'll pay an FX charge, it will make it easier to hire a car or book airline tickets.

If you can trust yourself not to spend the money, keep your UK cards indefinitely.

Jeremy

I have, and sometimes use, a Barclaycard. I haven't been resident in the UK since 1981. It's not efficent to use as it's billed in pounds but the only Canadian card I have is Amex and occasionally I'm in a place that doesn't take Amex. Amex was the only card I could get when I arrived and now the rest of them can keep their cards.

I'm surprised that new arrivals have trouble in getting Visa and Mastercard though. I live with someone who has no status in Canada, we've just started the process of sponsoring her as my common law spouse, for the moment she's a "visitor". She has Canadian credit cards. Someone walked up in Loblaws and asked if she wanted a bank account, she opened that with $200 and, a couple of months later, they offered the card. Once she had the first card more offers arrived. My daughter in Montreal had a similar experience, neither of these people have an income, neither were asked for even proof of address and neither required any sort of guarantor. The card limits are low but the number of cards is effectively unlimited and, if one uses the cards, the limit gets increased.