Ok , so credit seems to be a pretty common theme. SO, I got to thinking.....If anyone knows of specific U.S. companys/banks that will either, allow you to use your Canadian credit, check your Canadian credit report, verify credit with their Canadian affiliates etc , maybe we could gather a list in one running thread. Any info that is available would be good , i.e. web addy, phone number, physical addy etc.

Personally ........I got nothin !!!!! Hence this thread ......lolololololol

As far as I am aware, Canadian credit doesn't give you anything in the US!! I looked into this a while back and basically you have to start from scratch. Getting on your fiance's credit card is a good way to start, or open a joint account.

For the most part Canadian credit does not count for anything. You may find that you have some mixed success with some of the major banks.

The best bit of advise that I was given was to get an American Express card while still in Canada. When you move to the US they will transfer the card and convert the limit. At least this way you will have one card with a reasonable limit that you can then use to build on.

For what it is worth, another good thing to do is to see if you can not get a copy of your driving record as a lot of insurance companies will want to treat you as a new driver and may be reluctant to take your Canadian history into account. However with a copy of the history and the willingness to make a lot of phone calls you should be able to find someone willing to accept it. (I had thought that as I had all state in Canada that all state here would just accept my previous history - I was wrong).

State farm was able to look into my Canadian driving record with no problems. I was added to my wifes account and I belive it actually went down. Best of luck

My good Ontario driving record was useless for getting insurance in New Jersey, even though I paid for an abstract. No one would look at it.

My excellent Canadian credit rating was also useless, even though I paid for a print out. No one would look at it.

The U.S. credit checking companies simply do not have the capacity to check foreign credit ratings. So after 6 months of getting nowhere, I got a secured credit card. Then, I found MBNA, which was willing to check my Canadian history, but only after I persisted.

My advice: if you can get an MBNA while card in Canada, it will be easier to get one in the States.

If you have an American Express credit card go to this link and transfer it after you move and get SSN - http://www.americanexpress.com/globaltrans...ansfer_en.shtml

Also, while living in Canada (or visiting the states), you can apply for Nordstrom VISA credit card, I just got mine approved with USA$ 5K limit, I applied online. Apparently they’ve been issuing their credit cards to Canadians living in Canada for years.
http://about.nordstrom.com/aboutus/credit/visa/visa.asp

Thanks for that advice. I'm a persistant little bugger sometimes, so hounding people, and talking to higher ups at MBNA might help when applying for a card. I've had an MBNA card here in Canada for 6 years and they just pre-approved me for a platinum card (which I'm going to take advantage of)...who knows, maybe it'll help.

My biggest problem right now is my fiance has terrible credit, so adding me to his account wouldn't do me any good
I will be the financial advisor of the family and can't wait to take over his money...uh, I mean Our money

I opened a bank account here with Wells Fargo. I then went into the bank and talked to a real person. They told me that they COULD check my Canadian credit score but to do an international credit check it costs them $140. She said unless I was applying for a mortgage no one was going to fork over that kind of money to check my perfectly good Canadian history.

I ended up lucking out.

After I pointed out to this personal Banker that I had worked for the same company for 18 years, lived in the same home for 11 years, owned my house, had a line of credit, multiple credit cards and owned my car ... she said "let me see what I can do".

She then entered a bunch of things into her computer and "Voila" an approval for a credit card.

I think sometimes it just takes a person with the right access and their head screwed on straight to know what to do in order to get the job done.

Thanks for the advice on being able to transfer over an Amex card from Canada to the US. Do you suppose it will matter that I have only had it a few months when I have it transferred to a US one as I just applied this week and hopefully will be able to transfer it over early next year?

wel, I can't say for sure, but its worth a try. Keep the Canadian AMEX active after you move. Change yoru address so they send your statements to the US, and don't bother applying for any US credit until you have a job.

Also, I received an email this morning that apparently RBC Centura banks in the US will take into account Canadian credit histories, so if there's an RBC near you try there for a credit card. They're all over the place these days.

It should not matter if you have only had it for a few months.

In my case I had the card in Canada for about a year and had no problems.

Good luck.

In my case I have bad Canadian credit. My ex helped screw me up and being left with 3 kids on my own I never really got it fixed.

This is like a fresh start for me.

That is a great thing Christy, and it does't seem to take long to do it there which is a good thing. I myself have just in the last few years regained my good credit from being screwed over as well so that is why I am sad to be losing it.

The only "problem" with getting an MBNA credit card nowadays is that MBNA and Bank of America merged, or rather, Bank of America took over MBNA. I had an MBNA Platinum Plus World Points Visa, and got issued a new Bank of America Platinum Plus World Points Visa recently and was told to destroy the old card.

In fact, starting October 23rd, 2006...you'll have to log into Bank of America's website in order to see your online statement and pay your bill online, as well as redeem points and do other stuff.

So if you're looking to get an MBNA credit card, you might want to rethink that plan of action. I don't know how Bank of America works for Canadians, but that's pretty much what all MBNA cards have turned into or will turn into eventually.

If I'm wrong about this, well...then that's great, but I don't think I am.

I have an MBNA America mastercard with Air Canada Aeroplan. They haven't sent me a new card for BoA, but I did get the notice (somewhere) that I can access my account on the BoA website.

Side issue: Macy's (department store) issued me a store credit card while I still had a Canadian address. Apparently they have stores somewhere in Canada. When I moved to the U.S., I simply put in a change of address.

American department-store cards can help build your U.S. credit profile. Buy something every month and pay it down to zero. They charge loan shark rates of interest!

You might also consider taking out a small bank loan for nothing other than building a credit history.

I hate to say this, but life is unpredictable. The sooner you can build your own score (instead of piggybacking on your spouse) the better.

Hi,
farmers Ins. (California) took my driving record from ICBC,(Vancouver) and gave me a unbeliveable rate, also, long time ago AT&T checked my credit with Rogers, after I asked for supervisor, and gave me new acct and everything. dont' know about now since they are cingular.
also if you look around and find a good mortgage broker, they can use your canadian credit towards purchasing a house.
for buying a car, I know in california they will do anything to sell you a car, so don't even worry about that one, I don't know about other states.