6 months in the USA - credit rating
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 8
6 months in the USA - credit rating
Greetings from NY.
I have been here for six months as a Non-resident, and am trying to build a US credit rating.
I have a prepaid credit card which I keep very much on top of, and I have been trying to access my credit report through services such as Credit Karma and Credit Sesame, but I always fail the ID validation process, where they ask questions such as:
- what are your US student loan monthly payments
- what are your US auto loan repayments
Obviously I fail these because none of this applies to me. But this means I cannot view my report.
Is there a reliable credit score service which is more tailored to new arrivals in the US? Or after only 6 months do I most likely have little credit to report at all?
Any wisdom is vastly appreciated!
Douglas
I have been here for six months as a Non-resident, and am trying to build a US credit rating.
I have a prepaid credit card which I keep very much on top of, and I have been trying to access my credit report through services such as Credit Karma and Credit Sesame, but I always fail the ID validation process, where they ask questions such as:
- what are your US student loan monthly payments
- what are your US auto loan repayments
Obviously I fail these because none of this applies to me. But this means I cannot view my report.
Is there a reliable credit score service which is more tailored to new arrivals in the US? Or after only 6 months do I most likely have little credit to report at all?
Any wisdom is vastly appreciated!
Douglas
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Temecula, CA
Posts: 4,759
Re: 6 months in the USA - credit rating
Six months is a bit of a turning point for credit history - but 12 months or more is really needed to get anything more than an existence. I couldn't get my Credit Karma report until around a year, but did start to get an endless stream of Capital One credit card offers by six months in.
#3
Re: 6 months in the USA - credit rating
www.annualcreditreport.com
That's the real one which will give you your report free once from each of the three agencies each year.
Your history is not long enough.
Also note some of the security questions always ask you about things you don't have or feed you intentionally false info. There is usually an answer option along the lines of "I do not have an account with Blogs Bank". This does not mean you have failed the security check.
That's the real one which will give you your report free once from each of the three agencies each year.
Your history is not long enough.
Also note some of the security questions always ask you about things you don't have or feed you intentionally false info. There is usually an answer option along the lines of "I do not have an account with Blogs Bank". This does not mean you have failed the security check.
Last edited by sir_eccles; Apr 14th 2015 at 8:54 pm.
#4
Re: 6 months in the USA - credit rating
www.annualcreditreport.com
That's the real one which will give you your report free once from each of the three agencies each year.
That's the real one which will give you your report free once from each of the three agencies each year.
#5
Re: 6 months in the USA - credit rating
In the end unless your history has issues due to inaccuracies or actual unpaid debt and you are looking to get a mortgage or a loan in the near future, obsessing over your score/history is rather pointless. Controlled debt, i.e. small manageable amount paid off in full each month and you'll soon be on the way to a reasonable score.
That said, length of history often trips up new immigrants and that is harder to fix other than by waiting.
#6
Re: 6 months in the USA - credit rating
Six months is a bit of a turning point for credit history - but 12 months or more is really needed to get anything more than an existence. I couldn't get my Credit Karma report until around a year, but did start to get an endless stream of Capital One credit card offers by six months in.
Amex have filled the void though, desperate to give me a Platinum Card with a $450 annual fee a silly sods obviously didn't check my nationality! Hubby Dubs upset as they never offer him one LOL
#7
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 6
Re: 6 months in the USA - credit rating
Just to let you know I had a similar thing.. I haven't been in the USA for over 15 years so I was surprised when on Credit Karma it was asking me about loans... There should be an option to say it doesn't apply, etc. They are trick questions because if you are who you say you are, you'll know you've never had these loans! Hope that helps xx
#8
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,543
Re: 6 months in the USA - credit rating
I've lived in the US for 24 years and am now retired. I tried to get my credit report for the first time recently, and failed. They asked me a question about my most recent car loan ... problem was, that was about 15 years ago. I cannot remember what bank the loan was from, and no longer have any records. Anyway, I failed the security test so no access to my credit reports. Oh well.
#9
Re: 6 months in the USA - credit rating
I've lived in the US for 24 years and am now retired. I tried to get my credit report for the first time recently, and failed. They asked me a question about my most recent car loan ... problem was, that was about 15 years ago. I cannot remember what bank the loan was from, and no longer have any records. Anyway, I failed the security test so no access to my credit reports. Oh well.
As I said above, unless you think there is something wrong with the report or you are considering applying for credit soon, no real point.
#10
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Athens GA
Posts: 2,134
Re: 6 months in the USA - credit rating
As others have said, the validation questions have the option "none of the above" when they ask about loans you have never had. These are security questions to verify that you are who you claim to be.
Credit reports via annualcreditreport.com do not provide credit scores, but are the "official" way to get credit reports once a year and check their accuracy.
Credit Karma and Credit Sesame (and others) are useful for monitoring your credit score and how it is changing over time.
Credit reports via annualcreditreport.com do not provide credit scores, but are the "official" way to get credit reports once a year and check their accuracy.
Credit Karma and Credit Sesame (and others) are useful for monitoring your credit score and how it is changing over time.
#11
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,543
Re: 6 months in the USA - credit rating
I think I was feeling guilty about never ever having seen my credit report. Certainly I never envisage applying for credit. But if you never look at your report, how do you know if other people are applying for credit in your name etc.?
#12
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: 6 months in the USA - credit rating
I've done that in the past but haven't recently. I've noticed more and more banks and card issuers are providing a score of some description for free (usually with some slightly deceptive name like FICOsomethingorother, so you're not quite sure how representative of your real FICO score it is).
In the end unless your history has issues due to inaccuracies or actual unpaid debt and you are looking to get a mortgage or a loan in the near future, obsessing over your score/history is rather pointless. Controlled debt, i.e. small manageable amount paid off in full each month and you'll soon be on the way to a reasonable score.
In the end unless your history has issues due to inaccuracies or actual unpaid debt and you are looking to get a mortgage or a loan in the near future, obsessing over your score/history is rather pointless. Controlled debt, i.e. small manageable amount paid off in full each month and you'll soon be on the way to a reasonable score.
Last edited by Giantaxe; Apr 15th 2015 at 10:51 pm.
#13
Re: 6 months in the USA - credit rating
I wasn't able to use Credit Karma but Experian gives me a score. You have to pay a monthly fee though.