:rant: It's so annoying. I moved to the USA 18 months ago and cannot get a bloody visa card or store card because I HAVEN'T been in debt! If I'd been black listed in the past I wouldn't have a problem. :mad:

I hate being in debt and have always paid what I owe on time. Why should I be penalized for not owing people money? I hate carrying dollars around mainly because the notes all look the same and you can't see the values on the coins:suspect:

What do you mean "because you haven't been in dept"? Have you had much of a credit history? I think you can build this up by having, say, a contract mobile phone or paying a household bill in your own name...things like that.. If anyone was refused credit in the bank I used to work for then we would suggest things that would help them create a credit history so there was proof that they paid on time etc etc, sorry I'm not more help!

Hi tulip,

I sympathize with you. Having no credit in the US is as bad as having bad credit! Unfortunately, American society runs almost entirely on computers and plastic. No one carries cash anymore. I rarely have more than $10 in cash on me, and that's just to buy my boy a Slurpee, or me a coffee or taco or something. My husband is even worse!

Perhaps you could try getting a store credit card? I know Target has stores in Idaho, but I don't know what city you live in. On their home page, scroll down, and in the lower left hand corner, click on Financial Services. I believe you can apply online. Mervyn's is another store where it's easy to get credit. They are owned by Dayton-Hudson Corporation, which also owns Target and Marshall Fields on the east coast.

http://target.com/target_group/storelocator/index.jhtml

These cards are easy to get for smaller amounts of credit, say $500 or less.

Another option is a secured credit card.You deposit say $1000 in an account, and they issue you a credit card with a $1000 limit.

I don't want to get too personal, but you don't say if you and/or your husband has a checking account? If you have a checking account with an ATM card with a Visa logo on it, getting other credit cards should be a cinch. But remember, it MUST have the Visa logo. Alot of stores will decline an ATM or credit card without it.

Do you or your husband belong to a credit union? They have excellent interest rates on home and auto loans, and their checking/saving/banking services are usually free to members.

Do you or your husband have a Costco card? Costco offers American Express cards.

http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/page/0,1641,13412,00.asp

http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/Locator.aspx

Hope the info helps. I would say, the first step would be to get a checking account with an ATM card. Once you have that, the rest should fall into place.

(I'm assuming that you and your husband/SO have joint accounts) One last thing.

http://www.ftc.gov/gettingcredit/

leddi's suggestion with the phone/utility bills was a good idea as well. Keep it in mind.

Good luck kiddo,

:) Sierra

This is one of the things I really love about Sheffield Forum ....

two people both living in USA - posting and giving advice .... via a Forum in UK ....

t'Internet is a wonderful thing ...

:thumbsup:

Originally posted by rubydazzler
This is one of the things I really love about Sheffield Forum ....

two people both living in USA - posting and giving advice .... via a Forum in UK ....

t'Internet is a wonderful thing ...

:thumbsup:

Absolutely ruby!

I love the internet. Tis indeed a wonderful thing. tulip, I also wanted to say, don't take "no" for an answer. If someone tells you they can't give you credit, try somewhere else. Don't give up. Also, it should help if you have an Idaho driver's license.

Unless you've filed bankruptcy (which I know you haven't!) recently, or had some other financial disaster, you should be able to establish credit for yourself.

You'd be surprised how many people have the rules messed up in their heads, or are just having a bad day and are taking it out on you. Let us know how things work out.

:) Sierra

I love that - t'internet! My sister just visited and brought over some Peter Kay dvd's! I haven't laughed that much in ages. It has nothing to do with credit that last bit, I feel like Ronnie Corbett now.

My husband is an American citizen, we've had a joint US bank account for about 18 YEARS! When we lived in England we had a US visa card but according to the powers that be it doesn't count because we weren't living in the US.

I checked out that little visa sign at the bottom of my debit card
and now the bank says 'oh yeah, you can use that as a credit card' Funny I had to get that info from the SHEFFIELD forum - eh? The bank said we couldn't have a visa and we couldn't use the debit card as a visa until Sierra kindly told us we could. Now whats the sense in that!:rant:

Thanks all, especially Sierra! x:thumbsup: