We are retired and do not wish to get credit. We have been through all that in our 'younger days' - as most people do in order to get a good standard of living. As you get older you work hard to save enough money to be able to afford to buy whatever you need and pay off your mortgage - you don't want to reach retirement still owing any money to anyone. OK the majority here haven't reached this point yet - but I'm sure thats the point you are all heading for.

We are building our home and want to take advantage of store offers in order to equip our home and in particular our kitchen. So we choose all the appliances at this particular store and in order to get the best deal we need to take out a Store Credit Card - which will give us 20% off the total of 3 or more appliances (range - dishwasher & microwave). So we complete all the forms - the assistant taps it into the computer - and we are refused!!!!!!! The reason being we have no credit history - for heavens sake we want to pay cash - whats the problem??????????? We sold our home back in the UK we have enough to pay........ Yes we can buy the items - but because we don't have a store credit card we miss out on the 20% discount - HOW LUDICROUS IS THAT??????????

We can't get a credit card therefore even if we wanted to we can't get anything on credit - so if we can't get anything on credit HOW CAN WE GET A CREDIT HISTORY??????????????

I know - it sucks. One of the easiest ways to start your credit history is to take out a small loan through your bank. If you don't need it, even better! Then, pay it back in a timely way. You can also apply for one of the secured credit cards where you put aside a deposited amount - say $500 - and then use it to buy on credit against that amount. See if you can get a store credit card for something like Sears or a gas credit card. Do you pay utilities for your home? Regular payment on such type of accounts eventually add up with a credit rating as well. These are some suggestions anyway. I am sure others will have more. Good luck.

Most people also start with department store credit cards as well as with utilities to build their credit as Kathryn41 stated.

Since college students with zero credit get credit card offers, I can't imagine it would be all that difficult if you applied for one. Your experience in the store seems very unusual to me.

I had no credit history when I arrived in USA 18 months ago. B of A refused me for their bank credit card but instead let me get a secured card for $99 and limit of $500. I used that on small purchases (like gas) which I pay in full every month. Now I have several cards (paid in full each month) and offers of many more! It only takes one card to get a credit history – but it takes time. It’s a pain but you need a credit history here, unfortunately. It won't hurt and it’s good for emergencies (like 20% off appliances!).

I work in a store and have only one piece of advice - Ask to see the manager. If you have $$$ to spend here more than anywhere they want your $$$ and if you explain your predicament and state clearly and politely that if they dont want your money at their best deals i.e with the max credit card discount then your happy to do business elsewhere where they would like you business I believe you will find him/her happy to negotiate. Here the customer truly is king and they have plenty of room to negotiate s hold you rground don't be fobbed off and you will get the best of both worlds cash deal bottom price I see it every day just be insistent and make sure you go to the top.

Hi Jenny, I think that is sound advice from widge, I know when I had a business if some one wanted to pay cash, I was more than happy to take it, after all by doing that I did not have to pay charges from the credit company. I would do what Widge suggests and get a grip of the manager, bet you get them, with the discount, use your English charm

On a side note jenny ........12 days to go
Val

If everything is in my husband's name, how do we (the foreign spouse) build credit in this country?

Hi -
I agree with the other postings - its a big pain in the ### - but its the American way - and you just have to play the game!

I got myself a secured Visa card from the bank (I have to leave $1000 security on the account) - and i use that card all the time to build credit.
I was then able to use my SS number to get a Phone line (utility bill) in my name.

I didnt want or need either of these things - its just what you have to do

Best of luck with the house

Working in a major dept store, I totally disagree. They're giving you the 20% off because the card makes them more money in the long run. Ask for a manager. I doubt it will get you anywhere, because I've dealt with the same thing and a manager (at a store that does anything for the customers) just tells them, that's how the promotion is, basically not our problem you have no credit.

Thanks all for your input. Advice taken - we went to see the Store Manager and she was very understanding and apparently had given it thought over the weekend realising that we would make GOOD customers - so even tho she couldn't give us a store credit card said they would be happy to honour the 20% in our case.

She said this situation also happens with Canadian and Mexican customers who had good credit ratings and even the same store cards but in their own countries - the credit company didn't recognise them in the US and were unable by law to trace the credit history.

So I will get the kitchen I really want after all - thank goodness as I didn't want to start over looking for something else. BTW the appliances were the stores homebrand so I wouldn't have been able to get them anywhere else! I had already checked out other brands and the range in particular was one without an element on the bottom which most other brands have unless you want to pay much more. Having an element on the bottom makes it very awkward to clean - I know my daughter has one....

So at least thats a happy ending.....

So glad it all worked out ......... knew that $$$$ walking out the door is an inspirational factor to managers Enjoy the new kitchen

http://www.appliance411.com/ Good info on appliances, one can find out who actually made the product, as many may have the stores brand on them, but in actuality made by someone else. Sears does this all the time with their Kenmore products. Glad it all worked out.

It is basic economics. They offer the discount if you use their credit card because MOST people who do this will not pay the balance in full right away, and they will more than make their money back on the interest. If you pay cash, then they will not make the money back from you, so why should they give you the discount? It's just asking them to give money away.

Get with the modern world, and get yourself some credit. Having credit does NOT mean you have to be in debt.

Cheers!
AKDiver

Jen, glad you got your kitchen at the discounted price, but I have to say I think this is very sage advice that AK has given.

I just called one of my credit card companies to ask what my fiance could do to build credit once he moves here in a week or so and the answer I got was to add him to my credit card as an authorized user (not as a coapplicant). He only needs a social security number for this. He will receive a credit card identical to mine but with his name on it, and he will build a credit history as he uses it and I pay it off monthly (the account would remain in my name). The guy I spoke with also warned me that if I mess up my credit, that would automatically mess up my fiance's credit (which would never happen in my case). I hope this works to get him started and then he can open his own credit card.

if your s/o belongs to a credit union , join the credit union and get a secured credit card thru the credit union. Credit union has least amount of fees . and usually security deposit may start as low as $250 or maybe$500.00 ps i work for a credit card bank, so I see all of these insane fees, credit union is best, then sometimes after u build a credit history with them, you can convert to unsecured credit card

I'm not sure I understand your terminology! What is 's/o' and unsecured credit - and is credit union a company?

When you have an American Express credit card and you are not in America if you do happen to move to the states that will give you some credit.I would really even call AMEX a credit card more of a charge card because you must pay the balance in full when the bill is received.

Secured credit cards can also help.