Credit, so fed up!!!
Jul 26th 2010, 7:06 pm
#16
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 906
Re: Credit, so fed up!!!
Also having been a victim of fraud- I have to say Amex were superb in refunding me my money.
Last edited by cranston; Jul 26th 2010 at 7:08 pm.
Jul 26th 2010, 7:58 pm
#18
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Credit, so fed up!!!
Also utilities report good paying customers as well as bad ones, so it is much easier to get a good bit of history.
Jul 26th 2010, 8:14 pm
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Avon Lake, OH
Posts: 5,270
Re: Credit, so fed up!!!
The credit card I got in the UK when I was 18 and just going off to university has the highest limit of any of the store/credit cards I have in the US and it hasn't had a limit increase in a decade.
Jul 26th 2010, 9:17 pm
#20
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 48
Re: Credit, so fed up!!!
My husband transferred to the US in March on an L1 and we just walked into a HSBC and they fell over themselves to open him a bank account and give him a credit card! (I even got a cc on my husbands account before I even applied for my visa)
I asked how difficult it would be for me to obtain my own account and credit card if I came over and was not working at the time and as he said for premium banking it would be fine and I should just come back to him and he would set it up! Not sure if it was easier with HSBC as they are a global bank?
I asked how difficult it would be for me to obtain my own account and credit card if I came over and was not working at the time and as he said for premium banking it would be fine and I should just come back to him and he would set it up! Not sure if it was easier with HSBC as they are a global bank?
Jul 26th 2010, 10:34 pm
#21
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: Credit, so fed up!!!
Irishmom, why don't you have a read through the topics in the wiki here for some inspiration: http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Catego...nancial_Topics
If your husband has an H-1B, does that mean you have an H-4? You therefore have no SSN for yourself?
I think your spouse needs to be a bit more aggressive about shopping for a credit card. There are several other banks where he'd probably get a better result. You can then become an authorized user (although without your own SSN, you will not be building up a credit history of your own).
If your husband has an H-1B, does that mean you have an H-4? You therefore have no SSN for yourself?
I think your spouse needs to be a bit more aggressive about shopping for a credit card. There are several other banks where he'd probably get a better result. You can then become an authorized user (although without your own SSN, you will not be building up a credit history of your own).
Jul 28th 2010, 6:40 pm
#22
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: England
Posts: 92
Re: Credit, so fed up!!!
Irishmom
I have to ask, was it easier to start up a credit history when you were young and without a solid work history to fall back on? I doubt that it was.
It is, unfortunately, the same now. You are in a new country which does not recognize your credit history from abroad. That is a pity because I'm sure that you worked hard to make it a good credit history by paying what you owed on time, etc.
Store credit cards, car loans (which should be easier to get because they have collateral to insure the loan) are easier to acquire.
I have to ask, was it easier to start up a credit history when you were young and without a solid work history to fall back on? I doubt that it was.
It is, unfortunately, the same now. You are in a new country which does not recognize your credit history from abroad. That is a pity because I'm sure that you worked hard to make it a good credit history by paying what you owed on time, etc.
Store credit cards, car loans (which should be easier to get because they have collateral to insure the loan) are easier to acquire.
Jul 28th 2010, 7:04 pm
#23
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: Hoboken, NJ
Posts: 54
Re: Credit, so fed up!!!
Hi everyone, I am sorry that this is another credit thread, I have read through lots of them here and most of them say the same, like going and asking for a guaranteed credit card so my story goes from there:
We are here nearly 18months and have yet to get a credit card. My husband applied through Citibank as that is where his wages are paid and they got him basically jumping through hoops just to get one, at the end of it all we are still waiting on an answer from them. I applied for one at the Credit Union, it's basically a credit builder cc so it works like a guaranteed one but they have declined me on that saying temporary residence was counted against me (we are here on a H1B visa and in the process of obtaining a greencard through my husbands company) they also said because I have no credit history that was another reason I was declined. I just don't know what to do anymore, we have one store card and we have a lease out on a car (as they did an international credit check) so everywhere we go they tell us our credit history is too light, but how the hell are we meant to build credit if banks won't give us credit cards!!!!
I am so upset and totally fed up with this country at the moment, I feel like we are banging our heads against a brick wall. We pay all our utilities on time and our rent and my husband has a great job, what can we do from here? Can anyone advise me please?
Thanks so much
We are here nearly 18months and have yet to get a credit card. My husband applied through Citibank as that is where his wages are paid and they got him basically jumping through hoops just to get one, at the end of it all we are still waiting on an answer from them. I applied for one at the Credit Union, it's basically a credit builder cc so it works like a guaranteed one but they have declined me on that saying temporary residence was counted against me (we are here on a H1B visa and in the process of obtaining a greencard through my husbands company) they also said because I have no credit history that was another reason I was declined. I just don't know what to do anymore, we have one store card and we have a lease out on a car (as they did an international credit check) so everywhere we go they tell us our credit history is too light, but how the hell are we meant to build credit if banks won't give us credit cards!!!!
I am so upset and totally fed up with this country at the moment, I feel like we are banging our heads against a brick wall. We pay all our utilities on time and our rent and my husband has a great job, what can we do from here? Can anyone advise me please?
Thanks so much
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/us...pats/index.jsp
Jul 28th 2010, 7:05 pm
#24
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Joined: Jul 2008
Location: East Bay Area
Posts: 2,192
Re: Credit, so fed up!!!
)It's a fantastic way to start history (unsecured credit card in days of arrival in the States)
Jul 28th 2010, 8:06 pm
#25
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Chicago
Posts: 7
Re: Credit, so fed up!!!
Wow, thanks everyone for all the replies. I have read through them all. Just looked at the Virgin Atlantic Credit Card website and it looks really like a good option for us, thanks THFC1 I'll let you all know how I get on 
I'll let you all know how I get on
