6 ms·

It's not easy without credit score, but there are definitely options. For example if you're in the Bay Area you can get a credit card from Tech CU: https://www.

by gst 11y ago

It's not easy without credit score, but there are definitely options. For example if you're in the Bay Area you can get a credit card from Tech CU: https://www.techcu.com/Personal/Global_Members/CreditStart_Credit_Card/ https://www.techcu.com/Personal/Global_Members/CreditStart_C... Also, if you've got an Amex card in your home country it might be possible to use it to get another card in the US: https://www.americanexpress.com/global-card-transfers/united-states.html https://www.americanexpress.com/global-card-transfers/united... In addition, you can also apply for a secured credit card (e.g., from Capital One) which will help you to get a credit score.

danieltillett 11y ago
The USA credit score system is completely crazy. When I was in the USA on sabbatical a few years ago even opening a bank account was a nightmare. In the end I was only able to do so because I had a Citibank credit card here in Australia and Citibank USA recognised me. It still took the poor banker a few hours and about a dozen phone calls to various parts of Citibank to open the account.
pavornyoh 11y ago
This above... To add to what he/she said, to maximize your scores, you need at least 3 credit cards reporting. For a newbie, you should be able to generate a score within six months. BOA, Capital One and CUs are are good place to start. Also if someone can add you as an authorized user on their cards also helps a lot. Stay way from predatory lenders like First Premier and Credit One. Once you get it, always pay your balance before statement cuts and let only 1%-9% of the balance report to the bureaus. Do this and in six months you will be qualified for unsecured cards...
- david-given 11y ago
  Leaving aside the fact that as a non-USian this all sounds completely insane... > Once you get it, always pay your balance before statement cuts and let only 1%-9% of the balance report to the bureaus. ...what does this mean?
  - pavornyoh 11y ago
    Once you get it, always pay your balance before statement cuts and let only 1%-9% of the balance report to the bureaus. ...what does this mean? A rule of thumb is to always keep utilization under 30% for a good score. The credit score like all other things are /can be manipulated. So the 1%-9% balance reporting instead of 30% is the best to get the best percentage of the amounts which is factored into getting your overall credit score. This is how scores are calculated - Payment history[35%], amounts owed [30%], length of credit history [15%], new credit [10%] and types of credit used [10%]. The balance owed counts for 30% in calculating the overall score. So the lower the balance, the better.
    - danieltillett 11y ago
      Is there a good resource for learning all this crazy stuff?
      - deleted 11y ago
        [deleted]
      - pavornyoh 11y ago
        Yes, begin here- http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Understanding-FICO-Scoring/bd-p/ficoscoring http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Understanding-FICO-Scoring/b... It has good info.
        danieltillett 11y ago
        Thanks!
  - erichocean 11y ago
    The latter means that the credit reporting agencies "evaluate" how you're doing at specific times, so instead of paying off your card when it is due, you can notice when they evaluate and pay it off right before they check. If you do, try and pay off enough to have it below 10%, but above 1%, since that'll give you the best evaluation (i.e. the highest credit score). For anyone else, pretty much anyone with income can more or less fix their credit in 6-9 months if you just work at it. It's a game, you can game it, and get a good credit score. (If you scoff at the notion of credit scores being "a game", realize that it's the whole point. People who "care" enough about their credit score to learn the game and play it are—by definition—good credit risks. So doing well "at the game" is exactly what credit providers want you to do.)

by gst 11y ago

danieltillett 11y ago

The USA credit score system is completely crazy. When I was in the USA on sabbatical a few years ago even opening a bank account was a nightmare. In the end I was only able to do so because I had a Citibank credit card here in Australia and Citibank USA recognised me. It still took the poor banker a few hours and about a dozen phone calls to various parts of Citibank to open the account.

pavornyoh 11y ago

This above... To add to what he/she said, to maximize your scores, you need at least 3 credit cards reporting. For a newbie, you should be able to generate a score within six months. BOA, Capital One and CUs are are good place to start. Also if someone can add you as an authorized user on their cards also helps a lot. Stay way from predatory lenders like First Premier and Credit One. Once you get it, always pay your balance before statement cuts and let only 1%-9% of the balance report to the bureaus. Do this and in six months you will be qualified for unsecured cards...

david-given 11y ago
Leaving aside the fact that as a non-USian this all sounds completely insane... > Once you get it, always pay your balance before statement cuts and let only 1%-9% of the balance report to the bureaus. ...what does this mean?
- pavornyoh 11y ago
  Once you get it, always pay your balance before statement cuts and let only 1%-9% of the balance report to the bureaus. ...what does this mean? A rule of thumb is to always keep utilization under 30% for a good score. The credit score like all other things are /can be manipulated. So the 1%-9% balance reporting instead of 30% is the best to get the best percentage of the amounts which is factored into getting your overall credit score. This is how scores are calculated - Payment history[35%], amounts owed [30%], length of credit history [15%], new credit [10%] and types of credit used [10%]. The balance owed counts for 30% in calculating the overall score. So the lower the balance, the better.
  - danieltillett 11y ago
    Is there a good resource for learning all this crazy stuff?
    - deleted 11y ago
      [deleted]
    - pavornyoh 11y ago
      Yes, begin here- http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Understanding-FICO-Scoring/bd-p/ficoscoring http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Understanding-FICO-Scoring/b... It has good info.
      - danieltillett 11y ago
        Thanks!
- erichocean 11y ago
  The latter means that the credit reporting agencies "evaluate" how you're doing at specific times, so instead of paying off your card when it is due, you can notice when they evaluate and pay it off right before they check. If you do, try and pay off enough to have it below 10%, but above 1%, since that'll give you the best evaluation (i.e. the highest credit score). For anyone else, pretty much anyone with income can more or less fix their credit in 6-9 months if you just work at it. It's a game, you can game it, and get a good credit score. (If you scoff at the notion of credit scores being "a game", realize that it's the whole point. People who "care" enough about their credit score to learn the game and play it are—by definition—good credit risks. So doing well "at the game" is exactly what credit providers want you to do.)