Getting Married! Question about credit scores..

[j&j]

Assuming her credit sucks due to being late or not paying......

Address the credit problem NOW (before you get married). Although it will not effect your credit score, there is # of reason why you should do it prior to this big commitment.

a) it will give you a chance/glimpse on how you 2 will deal with serious issues
b) you will be ready for big purchase (house etc)
c) there will be less risk/chance of your credit being effected by her ways when/if you do get an account together.
d) if she is not willing to work on it/address Debt issue or even feel obligated to do so.....that's a GREAT sign for you right there prior to marriage!!!

Remember, once you get married HER DEBT IS YOUR DEBT!!! If you don't address this issue NOW, it will/might spill onto you and next thing you know..... YOUR credit sucks.....and worse case scenario you end up with HER debt.

If she simply has NO credit, that's a totally different problem that you don't have to worry about AT ALL. Building good credit is easy (I've done it for my wife, she now has a better score than me!)

Her debt is your debt is false man, anything she had before the marriage and in her name won't magically become his debt if that's what you're inferring... If you're just trying to say that he'll have to pay for it, then that's another story, but just want to be clear that any debts she has now will never be his unless he signs something saying otherwise.

 

[nickbits]

No it's not.

I moved to the US 5 years ago, and am still struggling. "You dont have sufficient long-term credit history". I have a score of >750 and got turned down for every. single. card. that Citibank offers. Branch manager said he had to make some calls to get me on the 'Simplicity Card' which is aimed for teens...

I moved to the US less than 5 years ago with no credit. I got a secured visa (BOA) for a year then a non-secured visa for a year then I had no problems getting a mortgage or anything. My wife had a bit more trouble when she moved here with no credit. They denied her for the same secured card I got with no trouble (WTF?). So I added her as a joint owner to most of my accounts and her credit is fine now. Right now I have credit limit about 25% of my annual income.. not sure what most people have.

 

[AustinInDallas]

where has it been said that she hasn't paid it back? you're making assumptions here.

Just like I am:
I assume that OP knows his soon to be wife well. I assume that he knows the full extent of her credit woes. I also assume he knows how to handle his own finances.

All that said, once the collections n'stuff fall off (and no new delinquencies since then) you guys are golden. Doesn't sound like anything you need to worry about.

pretty much nailed it

 

[highland145]

Wth???


Pics...

 

[torpid]

Texas is a community property state. Her debt will thus have implications for you as a couple going forward. I don't think it would actually affect your credit SCORE but if you want to get a mortgage it will affect you.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Her debt is your debt is false man, anything she had before the marriage and in her name won't magically become his debt if that's what you're inferring... If you're just trying to say that he'll have to pay for it, then that's another story, but just want to be clear that any debts she has now will never be his unless he signs something saying otherwise.

Depends on the state.

It's her habits that OP needs to worry about...