transferring uk credit to u.s.?

[Collie 122]

Has anyone transferred their uk credit rating to the u.s. and had it translated into a u.s. score?

We are meeting with a credit advisory agency to repair shannons creddit and help to get mine off the ground and he mentioned this on the phone. I would be interested to hear from anyone who has done this:)

Kat

[iceyspots 0]

I've never heard about anything like that... I assumed all immigrants had to start from scratch.

[samantha_lou 0]

I had great credit back in the UK, and contacted the agencies directly to see if I could get it transferred over...with no luck. I had to start all over again - but I was told that the UK agencies will not report to the US, both Equifax and Experion told me this. Getting credit was a right pain in the rear, but I suggest starting at Target and applying for one of their little red cards, then eight/ten months later, go for a credit card.

Trying to get a cell phone for the first year was a joke, it took me about eleven months before I was finally able to get a cell phone in my name. But we actually got our first car loan earlier this year - we've had quite a few hits recently, with my phone, credit card, apartment rental checks for moving twice and the car loan, so we're waiting until the middle of next year before trying for a home loan.

Hope you have an easier time with it than me, I found the whole credit-building process very frustrating.

P.S Don't try Old Navy for a store card, they are stinkers when you're first starting out!!

P.P.S Let me know if you have better success with getting anything transferred over here, I'd be interested in knowing the process!!

[munchkins 0]

I too have heard that you cannot transfer credit rating no more than you can transfer your driviing history or anything like that

[Dr_LHA 3]

Has anyone transferred their uk credit rating to the u.s. and had it translated into a u.s. score?

Moving to American should be considered a "New Start". In both good and bad ways!

The answer to your question is no.

[luv2teach77 41]

The credit reporting agencies, even if they operate in both the UK and the US, do not share data. I too had great credit in the UK but had to start from scratch over here.

The only example I can think of where credit held in the UK could be transferred is with American Express. I beleive that if you have an AMEX card in the UK, they will look up your record and transfer the credit history to a newly issued US card.

I did hear once that mortgage lenders *may* be willing to request an international credit report if its likely to secure some business for them. Again... I think this is probably more the exception than the rule.

Generally speaking making the move stateside will mean starting from scratch in the credit department. It happens to all of us immigrants but in my experience it doesn't take a huge amount of time to get the ball rolling in the right direction. I arrived in March and had my own credit card by June.

Mark

[Anna C. 4]

My credit was transferred from Germany (Deutsche Bank) to the US (Bank of America). In the bank here in NC they said it was no problem because B of A and Deutsche Bank cooperate. I got a credit card with $5.500 credit line right away.

Who also cooperates with B of A is Barclays, PNB Paribas and some other banks. Go to your local B of A and ask!!!! I gave them my info from Germany plus my German Mastercard number, and within 5 days I had my American Visacard in mail.,...

Good luck!

Anna

oh here I found the list of banks from my old posting: The banks I think are Scotiabank, Westpac, Barclays. Those cooperate with Deutsche Bank and I believe they do also with Bank of America.

Edited September 18, 2006 by Anna C.

[homesick_american 1]

If you're new to the US, try getting a secured credit card. They're for people with no or bad credit.

[drpepper1109 0]

It can be hard because you're restricted. I guess it's a new start!

[endtroducing10 0]

My credit was transferred from Germany (Deutsche Bank) to the US (Bank of America). In the bank here in NC they said it was no problem because B of A and Deutsche Bank cooperate. I got a credit card with $5.500 credit line right away.

Who also cooperates with B of A is Barclays, PNB Paribas and some other banks. Go to your local B of A and ask!!!! I gave them my info from Germany plus my German Mastercard number, and within 5 days I had my American Visacard in mail.,...

Good luck!

Anna

oh here I found the list of banks from my old posting: The banks I think are Scotiabank, Westpac, Barclays. Those cooperate with Deutsche Bank and I believe they do also with Bank of America.

Interesting!

Thanks for the heads up on that news, I am with Bank OF America but got refused a loan because of no activity on my credit report, I wonder if they work with Natwest Bank, I was with that bank for a while back in the UK.....

Thank you

[luv2teach77 41]

I banked with Natwest for about 13 years before leaving for the US and all they were willing to give me was a letter of good standing which isn't worth the paper its written on here in the US.

The kicker here in the US is that all credit reporting is linked directly to an individuals SSN. For most credit cards and loans no SSN will almost certainly mean no credit and a newly aquired SSN like all of us new immigrants will have is almost as bad as not having a SSN at all.

The good news is that if you are careful and don't get too hasty there are companies out there who will extend credit to folks like us, even if it's not a huge amount to begin with. It was only a couple of months after I received my SSN that I began getting credit card offers in the mail. I waited for the right offer and was successful. I now get maybe 2 or 3 credit card offers every day.

Be patient and apply wisely and you'll be in a better credit situation sooner than you expect.

Good luck

Mark

[Lou Lou 1]

After over 2 years of living here I have a higher credit rating than my OH who already has a very healthy credit score. Be patient and it will happen. I have so many 0% credit card offers these days, I could decorate the whole of my house with them

[BlueRain77 0]

My question is what is the best way to pay off Credit Cards in the UK? Right now it would be difficult for my fiance to pay in full to them, but when he gets a job here in the US we can start paying more. Is it possible for us to find a loan that will pay off foreign debt? Will it be a problem since I in turn have credit cards to pay off as well in the US?