Moving to Canada (Amex Question)
 

Hi All
I looking to relocate to Canada in the next few months and understand on arrival my credit rating would be zero, I already have a Amex account in the UK with a good credit limit and have run the account well for several years. I noticed others have mentioned it may be possible to transfer my UK Amex account into a Canadian one once I am living in Canada. Wanted to ask if others who have gone down this route does it transfer over your complete credit file as part of the process and will Canadian banks etc have the full info on your UK credit file or does it simply allow you to open a Canadian Amex account based on your UK Amex account. The reason I ask is whilst in Canada I will still maintain a line of credit in UK via a mortgage and a small loan (i will continue to pay these) and wanted to ask if maintaining this finance would have effect any credit file I would be starting in Canada.
Hope this makes sense
Any help welcome

Re: Moving to Canada (Amex Question)
 

Your credit file cannot be transferred. It is simply a way of obtaining an Amex without a Canadian credit history. You will then begin to build up a Canadian credit history just as any person in Canada would.

Re: Moving to Canada (Amex Question)
 

Hi BTJ
Thanks for your reply, so basically your approved for a Canadian Amex not on your Canadian credit file as its zero but on you previous UK Amex history in the UK but the rest of your credit file and credit commitment information in the UK are not transferred to a new Canadian credit file record.
I have also considered a non status prepaid Canadian credit card but thought opening an account with Amex would be a better option if possible.

Re: Moving to Canada (Amex Question)
 

That is my understanding, yes.

Re: Moving to Canada (Amex Question)
 

Transferring your amex credit card is definitely the best option I found. Allows you to start buidling your credit rating right away and you don't have to do the idiotic deposit based credit card (if i'm putting a deposit for the full amount that's not a credit card!).

The only problem with amex is that it's not accepted everywhere, and if you happen to be trying to buy something online or on the phone where they don't accept amex then it's a pain because Canada's outdated interac system can't cope with paying for things online / over the phone with a debit card.

Re: Moving to Canada (Amex Question)
 

Didn't work for us, we was denied twice transferring amex uk to Amex Can despite being on good wages

Re: Moving to Canada (Amex Question)
 

We did it, although we used the UK Amex for a few months until we had a more permanent address and a few payslips under our belt and they transferred ok.