MCDesi

I'm having a frustrating time getting various services through the lack of having any credit history in the US. I arrived almost 2 months ago and have been trying to get things like a Family Plan mobile contract with T-Mobile.

I went into the store today and after the guy called up their main office he told me that I can have the contract but they would need a $400 deposit per line. For me that would be a total of $1200!

Clearly I'm not the first person trying to do this so wanted to know what others have done in this kind of situation? I'm also being asked for a $250 deposit by Verizon for phone/tv/Internet package.

Noorah101

What you are experiencing is not uncommon. Maybe go with a different phone, such as pay-as-you-go, for now. It will take about a year for you to have any credit history here.

Rene

Bob

There's a wiki here and loads of threads.

Basically, you should have expected to have put down a $50-600 deposit on all your utilities for a lack of credit history and be happy if you aren't asked for one.

As for the phone, simple solution would have been going PAYG rather than a family plan as they're usually cheaper and there are a lot of options in Boston.

GeoffM

$250 is what we put down for Verizon. I think we got it back after a year.

The water company was the worst - deposit, IDs, could only be done in person, etc. PITA - and that was after a year of credit history.

I've heard figures of $500 per phone on this forum so $400 is a bargain! I used my unlocked iPhone from the UK and did a PAYG with T-Mobile. We're currently on our cousin's family plan, and bought the phones outright when we upgraded from iPhone to Samsung.

MCDesi

Thanks all. I've brought over 3 phones from the UK so looks like I will just have to go prepaid on all 3 for now until I can get a decent credit history built up. I've read through other posts on this topic so now see there's no real way around it.

I paid the $250 for Verizon so that's now good to go.

Bob

That'll be applied to your next couple of bills after 12 months of service...only if you're not late on any of your payments so you might want to set up autopay for a few days before the bills are due in case they roll on a holiday, or like recently, they had online maintenance and weren't able to process billing during that weekend.

MCDesi

That's a good idea especially as I've realised there is no Direct Debit mechanism here. Thanks.

GeoffM

We just got a cheque back (eventually).

Bob

Oh nice!

Around here, they say it'll be applied to your bill following the 12 months and when we re-signed up at the beginning of the year and they had wanted a deposit after doing the Comcast flipflop.

I guess we'll find out in a couple of months or so what the reality is.

hungryhorace

Good - stay on preapaid! There is absolutely no reason to move to rip off contracts here. May I suggest Cricket Wireless? They use ATT's network so no worries with coverage.

Samxboy

To build a credit history you'll need 3 lines of credit, credit card ( hard to get) buy a car ( easy) and a store card or similar...spend, spend, spend and pay off...in no time you'll have a credit history......

Amie06

Is it easier to get credit card once married to USC and having joint account? Or is there easier way if you can piggyback on the USC's credit history?

Samxboy

I'm no expert but I believe credit history is related to SSN's. A credit card 'per se' is probably easier to get after the other 2 lines are obtained. My banker told me you need 3 lines and some are easier to get than others. You can get store cards and buy a car etc. Credit cards as such seem very hard to obtain.....sorry I can't be more positive. Needless to say some banks might be more amenable to giving you one. All I know is that I had to literally beg and then only got a derisory limit....once you get it though...spend and pay....

Amie06

That's what i thought regards SSN, oh well, just have to take the slow road i guess

GeoffM

Secured credit cards should be fairly easy to get. Go to bank, deposit $$$ in credit card account, that amount becomes your credit limit. Pay off each month etc etc.