Comments on: How to Build a Credit Rating in the U.S. – One Option

By: So You Want to Marry an American… | Mind The Gap | BBC America

So You Want to Marry an American… | Mind The Gap | BBC America — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:24:20 +0000

[...] whenever you go back to Blighty.4. Credit Cards Regardless of your credit history in the U.K., you’re starting at zero here in the U.S., and that means you may need to use Gift Cards, the new independent no-bank credit cards that are [...]

By: JayDeeGee

JayDeeGee — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 22:48:00 +0000

the credit system in the states is crappy…imagine building a credit without getting a credit. Whats worse is everytime you apply for credit there’s a hard inquiry on your account and that further lowers your score…now who’s bright idea was that! These Americans don’t get it do they…they are pulling money off the consumers and then they frown that economy ain’t growing!!!

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By: Seascape

Seascape — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 01:33:33 +0000

Very helpful article as if you arrive in the US with a great job and salary, you might not even think there’d be a problem getting small car loans or credit cards. It was 10 years ago, but I found getting a UK Amex and then applying for a US one worked (the Amex Blue), getting a credit card through a work organization (mine was the American Chemical Society) (even with a laughably small $ limit) worked.
The thing I wish I knew from the start is to get the US driving license very soon, instead of waiting months. This, together with the social security number, is the passport to all applications, even a supermarket loyalty card! Seriously, I was denied opening a bank savings account using my UK passport as ID, as they ‘didn’t know who I was’.
No, I haven’t got over it yet.

By: Miranda

Miranda — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 19:16:36 +0000

I work for a company that has a great model to help expatriates build credit – a social security or tax identification number is required, but established credit history is not. The company, UpgradeUSA, offers laptops on a monthly payment plan, and each payment is reported to all three major credit bureaus in the United States. It’s a flexible program that can be canceled or paid early with no penalties and it’s online-only. We are active in four states right now – California, Florida, New York, and Texas – and we hope to be live in a few more soon. Check out the website here: http://www.upgradeusa.com – you can contact someone by chat, email, or telephone and we are available to answer any questions you may have! Hope this helps in the quest for credit here in the US!

By: mary

mary — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:06:09 +0000

credit cards frighten me

Whenever teachers tried to explain how credit works in school I was like “uh peace out muthas Ima go be Thoreau in the woods now see you in a year or two”

I dunno how England works but from what I can tell America works by hooking you into horrible cyclacle debt

By: How to Handle your American Landlord | Mind The Gap | BBC America

How to Handle your American Landlord | Mind The Gap | BBC America — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 16:21:18 +0000

[...] ones. A+++. I’d recommend him to a friend. Our guy took a chance on two bumbling Brits with no credit history who, nearly a year later, are yet to master how to put the recycling out properly. To be fair, he [...]

By: dududukkkkkkk

dududukkkkkkk — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 04:00:18 +0000

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By: John

John — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 15:39:24 +0000

I work for a bank in the US and they would not even give me a card initially. I went to Capital One to get a secured card with aim of spending about 50% of it each month and paying off. Tip: to raise credit rating quicker dont Max out your card. However, i was delighted to find Capital One offered expats cards and i didnt need the secured card at all. Was given a $500 limit. 6 months later i’m inundated with other offers, admittidely at extremely high APR’s

By: MHM

MHM — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 02:55:51 +0000

James, this is a great tip, and one that Americans with low or bad credit utilise as well. My brother is in the US Marines which paid him very little whenhe first enlisted. We sometimes refer to it as a “pre-paid” credit card, but your bank will usually be happy to hook you up with it, and since it’s more like a debit card than a true credit card, you can’t go over you limit accidentally. Six months is the magic rule.
Also, the problem with most Amex cards is they are “charge” cards, not “credit” cards (except the Optima I think), and therefore must be paid in full every month. Since you are not showing a line of borrowing, you are not showing responsbile behaviour with ‘credit’ per se, and therefore an Amex card usually doesn’t count in assessing your credit worthiness. At least that’s traditionally been the case.
I would think that by now the really big banks like JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, or HSBC have enough of an international presence that they could facilitate a card if you open an account with them. Best of luck.