Just sorting out finances before our house sale completes, and obviously we will get better credit score if apply from address where we've been owner occupier for some time, want to sort out spare cards now.

Can anyone recommend from experience any card providers that will issue in the UK but have either branches/administrative office in the Canada and/or will help us build a credit history that can be transferred to Canada?? Was wondering about Amex but...

SkiBunny x

I have heard that Amex is the best (and only) solution to that particular problem, but haven't done it myself. Let's wait for one of the oracles to answer....!

I believe Amex is the only one too. Didn't bother transferring mine, still got a UK account that I manage online.

Regarding Canadian card issuers, you'll find all sorts of different experiences. Some request a security deposit, against which they'll give you a small credit limit. Others won't issue you a card until you've been here x months and built up a credit history. There doesn't seem to be any set rules.

I kept my UK cards in use for about 8mths, then applied for an RBC Avion Visa, which was issued with a $10k limit and no security deposit needed. I'd had an RBC mortgage, personal and business accounts for those 8mths, so guess they had a reasonable idea about my credit-worthyness.

Along the same lines, I secured credit through John Deere and Mazda within 6mths of living here without any problems. The term of the JD credit goes far beyond the length of my work permit, but they didn't care.

On the other hand, I was in Sears over Christmas buying new appliances for the house I'm building, and was asked if I wanted a Sears card to collect the Sears points on - I said why not, and got declined due to lack of credit history. I handed them my RBC card instead and collected airmiles.

Go figure

thanks sounds like definitely amex for starters then.

funny that the Canadian stores are so concerned with your credit history over here they'll take anyone cos their rates are so bad they don't get any of the savvy spenders!

There have been quite a few similar threads before on this subject and Amex seemed to be the favourite. Once you get to Canada you can apparently transfer the card either by phone or on line.

Here is the link.

http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif..._en_nu=leftnav

Printer.

We hopped over to land at the tail end of last year and got an HSBC Canada mastercard (we've had a Canadian account with them for the last couple of years) to build a history whilst we're still in the UK (moving properly in the Summer - hopefully by then with a reasonable credit score).

Oh, and the missus has had an Amex for the past year for the same purpose.

We did have to provide HSBC with twice the amound of our credit limit in a bonded account for the first year, but as we had moved some money across to an HSBC bond anyway (for the improved interest rate), that wasn't anything we weren't already doing.

Cheers, Iain

Someone (Sarah?) said they transferred their UK MBNA card across, well, maybe not a "transfer" but certainly an introduction and a Canadian card out of it. Might be worth a look in the archive.

I haven't had any probs, got HSBC MasterCard no deposit, and Scotia Visa, no deposit.

I ran into a problem when trying to use my Barclaycard in the UK recently. Apparently some sort of passcode or PIN mechanism has been invented since I've had it. I don't need the PIN here so, if the bank told me about this, I forgot. Everywhere I tried to use the card they asked for the PIN and, when I didn't have it, they had to restart the transaction "as if I wasn't there" so as to get around the mechanism. This all seemed a bother so I used a Canadian card there and kept the UK one for use in Canada.

Yep, you've missed the whole introduction of Chip'n'PIN in the UK. You have to enter a PIN instead of signing a slip.
AMEX seem to be holding out though, and we caused problems every time we try and pay with our AMEX credit card as they haven't issued PINs.

A while before C&P was introduced I asked a British Rail ticket office thingy what people with foreign credit cards would have to do to buy tickets in future. "Use cash", was his answer.

As it turns out, there isn't a big problem. My UK-issued Amex is accepted without problem. My Canadian visa card is also OK, although I do make a point of warning people in advance. If anyone does get stroppy about it, I pay using Barclays Connect or Alliance & Leicester visa (both C&P) and then don't leave a tip.

I got an MBNA mastercard no problem on arrival in Canada, only keep the UK cards for potential future trips to the UK or Europe.

Indeed I did... just beware of the extortionate interest rate!

Actually it was pretty good for someone with no credit history

Thanks for all the replies and some different options.

Will check out HSBC too as didn't realise they also had a Canadian operation.

On phoning Marks & Spencers they said we wouldn't have to close our account as they could transfer it - they have a wonderful rate on just now - 3.95% for the life of the transfer - and no I don't work for them!!

Irene

Nationwide Visa do not charge commision on conversion. It's what I have been using over there.