Building credit
#16
Re: Building credit
It's part of it, but no one cares about the score itself until they can see some history, because it is easy to get a score.
Score is only really useful when going for mortgages, after you've got a couple years of history behind it.
Score is only really useful when going for mortgages, after you've got a couple years of history behind it.
#17
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 946
Re: Building credit
Can't recommend enough that those who can get put on a spouse's card as an authorised user asap. After finally getting an SSN (so long H4 non-person status), I trotted off to my credit union and asked for a credit card expecting them to give me a secured one as I do not yet have a job. Turns out that I had a credit score even though I had no SSN. And because the credit line on my OH's card (which is not even from the same bank) is quite large, they gave a non-secured card with a $1000 limit. Happy Days! I applied for Chase and Discover online and was rejected for 'not enough credit history' so I think it helps to explain the situation in person.
#18
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 901
Re: Building credit
I got a Capital One basic credit card and one through my bank too, to get me started. Not the best credit cards, but they've allowed me to start building my credit history!
#20
Re: Building credit
I went to my bank Wells Fargo and opened a secured credit card. I didn’t have my own bank account at the time (although did have a joint account). Used it for small purchases and made sure I paid them off and my numbers soon started rising. The only issue I had with the Wells Fargo card, apart from the 22% APR, was they changed it to a secured card to a non secured card without telling me. It would have been nice to know.
#21
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 79
Re: Building credit
I would definitely talk to your bank to start with.
I've had issues with 'missing credit scores'; I bank with HSBC and when signing up to CreditKarma, I had an Equifax score but no TransUnion score. A year later, still no TransUnion score. I guess HSBC just don't report to that credit bureau. Either way, I setup with Intuit Mint for budgeting recently and they offer to add your credit information to the site. Intuit seems to only query TransUnion .. and so they just come back saying "Yeah we can't find any information on you."
It could be that whoever OP is applying for only checks a credit bureau his current bank doesn't report to.
I've had issues with 'missing credit scores'; I bank with HSBC and when signing up to CreditKarma, I had an Equifax score but no TransUnion score. A year later, still no TransUnion score. I guess HSBC just don't report to that credit bureau. Either way, I setup with Intuit Mint for budgeting recently and they offer to add your credit information to the site. Intuit seems to only query TransUnion .. and so they just come back saying "Yeah we can't find any information on you."
It could be that whoever OP is applying for only checks a credit bureau his current bank doesn't report to.
#22
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 96
Re: Building credit
Can't help but think I have had it much easier than most, despite expecting it to be difficult after reading this and many other forum topics on the challenges of building credit when arriving in the country. Fortunately having a relationship for the past few years with both Amex and HSBC really paid off...
I still don't have a credit score (I dont think) as not all my accounts have had my SSN on them for very long, but I have been here for 4 months now and I now have 3 x amex cards with $10k credit limit on each, and a HSBC premier credit card for $5.5k. I use one of these cards for every single bit of spending and always pay off as soon as possible. Obviously I don't plan to use anywhere near the total credit limit at any time, but after paying for our wedding recently the sign up bonuses that came with each card have been really helpful.
I'm assuming, that other than having a few hard searches on my account in a short period of time, this should set me up quite well for building credit in the longer term? Other than co-paying rent and our electricity bill, I don't (think I) have any other ways to build credit as I don't want/need any other loans or finance products, or require any other utilities in my name.
I still don't have a credit score (I dont think) as not all my accounts have had my SSN on them for very long, but I have been here for 4 months now and I now have 3 x amex cards with $10k credit limit on each, and a HSBC premier credit card for $5.5k. I use one of these cards for every single bit of spending and always pay off as soon as possible. Obviously I don't plan to use anywhere near the total credit limit at any time, but after paying for our wedding recently the sign up bonuses that came with each card have been really helpful.
I'm assuming, that other than having a few hard searches on my account in a short period of time, this should set me up quite well for building credit in the longer term? Other than co-paying rent and our electricity bill, I don't (think I) have any other ways to build credit as I don't want/need any other loans or finance products, or require any other utilities in my name.
#23
Re: Building credit
You need an installment loan to get anything approaching a 750+ score, credit cards alone will not do it since you are also scored on your 'credit mix'
Even if you borrow a small amount over a 12 month period, the presence of that loan will give you at least another 20-30 points and those points will increase as it is paid down.
Even if you borrow a small amount over a 12 month period, the presence of that loan will give you at least another 20-30 points and those points will increase as it is paid down.
#24
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2017
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 455
Re: Building credit
I'm assuming, that other than having a few hard searches on my account in a short period of time, this should set me up quite well for building credit in the longer term? Other than co-paying rent and our electricity bill, I don't (think I) have any other ways to build credit as I don't want/need any other loans or finance products, or require any other utilities in my name.
I have a flawless payment record, a good mix of accounts and some decent limits but it's the average age that's stopping me from getting a higher score at this point.
#25
DE-UK-NZ-IE-US... the TYP
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,854
Re: Building credit
same, despite 9 years here and every other criteria being at the top level my average age of credit is still at 4 years (multiple mortgages, refi’s, cars and additional credit cards for different rewards) I am always in the high 700’s or low 800’s depending when I clear my monthly balances. I would have to stop buying properties and/or cars for maybe 10 years to have any chance of getting in the 850 range.