I just wanted to see if everyone else had a hard time getting things like there cell phone connected like I did because of a LACK OF CREDIT HISTORY

I do remember having difficulties in getting a car (and US-based credit cards) in 1994 due to lack of US credit history. I wound up leasing a then-new loaded Ford Taurus (big mistake, as I found out later) to establish it.

As I had a Canada-based (but unusable IN Canada) US$ card, it was somewhat easier. For renting an apartment, I had a history (without SSN) at a US university (during grad studies) of on-campus rental--which "greased" me in.

The irony was that one year of renting would have been adequate, and I didn't really need to lease the Taurus (residual value of Ford drops through the floor immediately) as I could have driven my own car (1986 model sold in Canada but not US--due to fuel issues) from Calgary (after getting a multi-year Alberta tag) by telling the inspecting officer at the border that it was only for the temporary work (as indicated in the offer letter). Although this could cause further issues down the line, I would have probably saved over $6,000 (lease payments, extra fuel) in that year which could (theoretically) have been used towards purchasing a new or used car in 1995.

I did have problems establishing credit in the US, though I think mostly my problems were in my mind. Ok… that didn’t sound so good, let me rephrase. There is quite some challenge in getting credit established in the US, trying to get a cell phone in my own name or trying to get my name on the utility bills was murder, everyone kept asking for HUGE deposits that I was not willing to pay. The mental problem, was adjusting to the fact that I had left my credit cards and all my well established history behind, and that royally sucked!

Now, following advice from other VJ members, and since my hubby’s credit history was not the greatest, I got myself a secured credit card with National City. That put me in the credit map. I got that card in April 06, and have been using it mostly for my traveling expenses for work, so it has a pretty decent turn-over. Then we got a Capital One card, and it was then when the other credit card offers started to arrive like crazy.

In December 06, I got credit extended to purchase a home in my name, its an FHA loan, so its for people with no credit history, and also my mother in law co-signed the purchase of my new car. Pretty decent rate on the house, obscene rate on the car (well, not so, but Im feeling whiny today). So it took me 8 months after the secured credit card to be able to do all this. It takes time and patience. Hang in there…

Ana

Some minor problems, but mainly a lot of lenders (Bank of America, my apartment, phone provider, Volkswagen credit for my car, and American Express) were all willing to look at my Canadian Credit history through Transunion and Equifax. Some of them ordered it themselves becasue they were able to use their Canadian counterparts (VW for instance). Some of them required a letter from my employer showing employment and salary info. I also got copies of my Canadian credit report and showed them the score, and this helped out a lot. Now what was really difficult was getting utility connections (gas, water, and power) becasue I didnt have a utility history in the US and they were unwilling to look at my Canadian history. So I had to provide huge deposits in order to get these (almost $350 for each) which was really annoying. Anyway if you can get old credit history statements they might help out even though they alone wont do.
Muraari

STewart got here in April '06. He just bought a car with his own credit a month ago.

His credit is up in the 700's....

I had pretty bad credit when G. moved here (we got turned down by the first apartment complex we applied to, in July 04--lack of credit was okay, but my bad credit was a deal breaker), but he was able to piggyback off mine enough to get his own credit card after a while (March 05 I think), then I was able to piggyback off his. His is still about 30 points higher than mine, but we were able to get a top rate when we bought a house last month, and that's all that really matters unless and until we decide we need a second car.

When I came to the US in 1997, it was very difficult to get any credit. I did not have anyone to co-sign for me and I started to build my credit myself. I had enough credit to buy a car after 4 years.

i got a Victoria Secret credit card.. does that count?

We saw my husband's credit report yesterday. It's as long as mine (all my info is picking up on his) but he only has ONE score - the Beacon score. The other two are zeros. The loan officer thought it was weird.

When we switched cell phone providers, we were unable to open up the account in his name. Had to do it in mine.

He was just turned down about two weeks ago for a Discover Card because of insufficient credit history.

I came over in feb 2005 and by april I had a checking account and was a card holder on my husbands credit card even with no SSN.... since then I have 2 creditcards in my own name, a mortgage in my name (husband is disabled so no income) all our utilities are in joint names, life insurance, investment plans and saving accounts...

My credit score is in the high 700's so not bad for 2 years...

Kez

I got a Chase Amazon Card a few months ago... my very first credit card.... it had a 600 dollar limit and then a few days after I received and activated the card they bumped it up to a $800 limit

I had zero credit history...

Although all the utilities right now are in my name but I am not sure if that counts against your credit....

My first card was Chase Platinum, on the basis of hubby's income cuz at the time I applied for it I didn't have a job yet.

We checked into getting my husband a cell phone. Due to the lack of credit history here (no duh!) Cingular says he will need a $500 deposit to get a cell phone.

Y ou have to understand the system, it's nothing personal everything is based on the credit score. Right after we got married, I added my wife to my credit card, when I bought the house, it was under both of our name, soon after she keep getting those capital one credit cards, we never apply for them, a year later we check her status from
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

So within a year she had a record and less than 2 year her credit score went from 0 to over 720+, she got a card by herself on her own merit.

I have no credit score even though I have bills in my name, some in my name alone. Nobody is willing to check my canadian score. I was lucky enough to be able to get Directv although I had to buy the equipment. I tend to remember companies who give me a break, and make judgements on more than just a credit score.