WTF? Declined on a farking secure card!

[Tauren]

Go and get a Sears card. I know they suck, but it will help you establish credit.

 

[mutex]

Hi,

I've moved to the States from Canada, too. (about one year ago) I was also having hard time getting credit card, cell phone.....etc. To get a credit card. I suggest try TDwaterhouse and Subaru master card. They check Canadian credit history if you told them that you had good canadian credit history. I got 1000 limit from both of them many months ago. Just call them to apply. Do not use internet.

Frank

 

[StageLeft]

Re-read what you said, you have no credit, work your way from the bottom, no matter how much you make.

I know I do - but if a secured card isn't the bottom I don't know what is

mutex Will look into it. Thats exactly what I need - somebody confirming my CAN history for a US card!

 

[Tauren]

Skoorb - read my post above mutex. That is truely the bottom.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Providian

18 y/o daughter was given one from them. No previous credit and 20K per year part-time and a student at local JC.

Good Luck

Also, go to your local bank with copy of pay stub and employment offer if you have one.
Talk to the local branch manager and explain situation. They may be able to slide a low limit through or have a program that can help.

 

[StageLeft]

Skoorb - read my post above mutex. That is truely the bottom.



Other people here though were declined on Sears!

 

[Tauren]

Wow! I find that hard to believe! I do, but sheesh, I thought they never turned anyone down!

 

[mutex]

providian sux......... With no credit history in the states, they only give me a card that has NO grace period with 2x% interest rate. I keep the card just because it looks cool

Skoorb, do not apply for credit too often, it can do a lot of harm to your *credit history*. Everytime you apply for a credit card, they run a credit check on you, even if they issue you a card, it will decrease your credit rating. If you are not approved for the card, it can decrease your already low credit rating very low. I tried it before, it takes couple of months to recover from it. Be careful.

Frank

 

[mutex]

Also, get a AT&T cell phone, they can also check for canadian credit history.

Frank

 

[StageLeft]

Well I ended up getting a pre-paid cellphone so I'm ok for that now. As a last resort I will call my bank and beg for mercy but I think one of those ways to check canadian history is good like TD!

 

[Adul]

You know, you are not required to giv out your SS number when you apply for credit cards. The privacy information act gives you that right and Credit card companies have to respect that.

 

[Tauren]

<<You know, you are not required to giv out your SS number when you apply for credit cards. The privacy information act gives you that right and Credit card companies have to respect that>>


True, but they have the right to turn you down for ANY reason they choose. That sounds like one to me.

 

[d33pt]

that is weird.. i had a $25k/year job and got approved for a $7500 line on a bank of america visa... just sent in the app and a week later my card came.. after that i've had no problems getting cards or any other credit..

 

[Mephistopheles]

I'm almost sure that the Canadian banks have affiliates in the States. I worked at a bank for a while. My gf just called and I gave her your scenario. She told me, "NO! We're not living in the US!" She really hates the US. But I told her it was not for me and she said something about MBNA or Citibank which are both here and in the US. She said apply on the internet. But like somebody posted earlier, too many apps aren't good.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Where did u move to, BTW?

 

And unsecured card from National one with a $500 limit and virtually no credit or background checks.
That is the bottom.

 

[StageLeft]

Mephistopheles

Based on Mutex's results I just applied for a subaru mastercard preferred. Anyway she said the limit is as low as $200 (thats good) and assured me they could check my canadian credit history. I said that if there is a problem checking it don't bother checking the SSN. She said their website was mbna.com so lets see if this works

If not I'm all over Adul's idea like a disease!

Where did u move to, BTW?

Alabama. Huntsville is as nice as it gets in this state I think but I'm not looking at this state as a long-term deal.

 

[mutex]

Skoorb,

You have already called for a Subaru Master Card????? This is fast...... Hope you get a card soon and starts to collect some subaru point on your spending.

Frank

 

[StageLeft]

You have already called for a Subaru Master Card????? This is fast...... Hope you get a card soon and starts to collect some subaru point on your spending.

Yeah called in about 15 min ago. They said they'll mail out an answer within 30 days. If they check canadian history and won't let me have a $200 card, well then damn I'm at a loss for words and i'll just have to wait like Russ said.

Unfortunately I have a friend who is making my salary and after being in the states for a year at same address applied for the second worst capital one card and was rejected. He can't get a sears card either.

Anyway thanks for everyone's help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mutex]

Do not apply for any credit whatever for now. you are building your credit history by not having someone checking your credit report. Apply for MBNA Subaru Card 2 or 3 months later if you cannot get it. It is the easiest entry point for Canadian to get a US credit card. Trust me, I've been in your situation before. No credit, no nothing.

 

[The Stigenator]

skoorb> I had similar problems. One thing is once you get your foot into the system your in your set. Try Sprint PCS for a phone, cause they generally give you credit if you dont. I got 250 credit from them (I had 0 credit cards) and signed up for service with them( I bought the phone - this was 4 years ago) and they signed me up for 250 bucks in credit (that means they will cover until my bill were 250 bucks and then freeze my acct).. but after a month or two of paymetns I got my first credit card.

I would suggest getting something like the "Kmart" visa card or something like that. dont bother about the high APR

Actually before you try anything try these sites.. they are sure to give you a card.

http://www.crosscountrybank.com/ccbankhtml/apply.html

Also dont apply for too many at one time.. it reduces your credit rating.. something you dont want to happen.. it makes you getting a card a lot harder.

But try that link I gave you, apparently they give it as long as you have are 18, with atleast 20K in yearly income and have a social security card.

 

[lo5750ul]

Skoorb, you could always try my approach - beat up (metaphorically) your bank manager. I spoke to my bank manager and he spoke to their CC issuing company who said if I could provide x information, they would be able to do it. I will be providing him with some paperwork and he will forward it to the CC company with the necessary information.

x = Proof of long term employment, proof of permanent residency, proof of income, and if I want to I can include credit history reports from home.

The most agravating part of this quest was when I rang the credit reference agencies early on. I explained my situation and asked them what I can do. Their answer - "Ask your bank for credit card, get a store card." and my response was - "but don't they come to you for a credit reference?"

Anyway, this was before I beat up the bank manager. When I first spoke to him he told me they couldn't help, but when I went back and discussed the issue at length with him he sorted me out.

BTW, do you use internet bill pay with your bank account?

 

[skace]

ROFL, I wish I understood the credit card system. I currently have 2 CCs, been offered dozens more, I am terrible with payments, and I got a JC Penny's card on the spot (saved a ton on a decent suit). Plus I'm only 20 and not in college. Dude, I'd think I'd be the last person they want to give a CC to... but they keep coming, I throw the CCs offers away in piles practically.

My advice to you is try to get a JC Penny's card, those seemed pretty easy to get.

 

[StageLeft]

good_guy - I'm reading that now. It seems "gauranteed". There is some mention of if you got an offer in the mail but on the form I can't see where...doesn't look like a bad deal though. I'm sure there is fine print somewhere saying I can't get it because I've not been employed long enough or something.

 

[bozo1]

Skoorb - I know a number of people with the Cross Country bank cards. I had two of them a few years ago when my credit was bad. Pay it on time and they will offer to bump your limit every 5-6 months or so. (Of course for a fee of like $100 to give you a $500 bump or so) They've changed things alot in the past year but a friend of mine just went through what you are going through and got one. They do guarantee giving you a card with a minimum of $350 limit if they can verify the information you entered. Granted it's 21% interest, $100 fee if accepted and $50 annual fee. ( Your first statement will have the $150 charge on it taking away from your available credit.) They also are VERY anal if your bill is late, will call and harass you constantly, charge you $30 for being even one day late, etc., but then again I don't blame them for that as they ARE marketing to people that are high risk and most of them have a history of not paying their bills thus the heavy-handed tactics.

The other thing here that was mentioned was to talk to the manager at your local bank. It is going to be difficult to find a company to check your Canadian history unless you can have some 1-on-1 contact. The procedures that most companies use are simply - they run your SSN and get your FIC score back and base their decision solely on that regardless of why the number is the way it is. (not had credit long enough, not at the same residence long enuf, etc.) For the most part the only time a human actually looks at your report is when you are applying for a car loan or a home loan.