Establishing Credit History

Written on:January 19, 2012
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Credit HistoryOne thing many immigrants realize when they come to the United States is that their credit history doesn’t follow them. America is a credit-centered culture. You need good credit to buy a house, finance a car and obtain educational loans and even to get a new job. Here are a few tips to help new immigrants establish a good credit history and start enjoying the American life.

Open a Bank Account

Newly arrived immigrants should first apply for a Social Security number. Once you receive your number, open a checking or a savings account at a local bank. Keep this account in good standing to show potential creditors that you can manage money.

Get a Bank Credit Card

Obtain a secured credit card from your bank. A secured credit card simply means that the funds in your checking or savings account will be used as collateral if you don’t pay off your balance in a timely manner. Keep in mind that banks usually freeze some of your funds, typically the same amount as your credit card limit. Secured credit card limits tend to be low, but once you’ve established the fact that you make timely payments, you can apply for an unsecured credit card from your bank.

Obtain a Department Store or a Gas Credit Card

Department store and gas credit cards are usually easy to obtain. Just make sure that you make the monthly payments on time and the credit card company will send a positive report to the credit bureaus. Some gas and department store cards have very high interest rates, however, so don’t charge more on the card than you can pay off in a single month. Once you’ve proven that you’re responsible enough to make reliable payments, more companies will be willing to send you credit cards.

Use a Co-Signer

If you have an American member of the family with a good credit history, consider asking that person to co-sign a credit card or a loan application with you. Bear in mind that many people are reluctant to get into a co-signing situation because the person who co-signs takes on the responsibility for your debt if you cannot pay.

Finance a Store Purchase

Many retail stores allow you to purchase items on credit without paying interest for a set amount of time, typically 90 days. This financing is a kind of loan, so it helps you establish a good credit history if you pay off your balance on time. Try to pay off the entire purchase before the allotted “no interest” time expires to avoid paying high interest rates or any hidden fees.

Apply for a Major Credit Card

After spending about six to twelve months building up good credit, apply for a card from a major credit card company. Use the credit card comparison tool to find a card with a low interest rate. Be careful that you don’t overextend yourself on credit while trying to build your credit history. Remember that establishing a good credit history takes time and patience.

Playstation Network Hack and Identity Theft Issues

Written on:May 8, 2011
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PSN logo

The news about the severe security breach that occurred a few weeks ago were covered by almost all news and media both online and offline, so you’ve surely heard something about it already. It’s one of the greatest successful hacks in recent history in which many personal details about 77 million people around the world were obtained by a third, unknown party. The personal details that were stolen included first and…

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Protect Your Identity, Protect Your Credit Scores

Written on:April 2, 2011
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Identity theft - credit card

One of the unfortunately frequent causes of low credit scores is also identity theft. ID theft has been growing rapidly over the past years and despite constant battles to prevent and stop it will surely never go away. There are plenty of ways you can get your identity stolen today: phishing websites, dumpster diving, employee records are just some of them. When you’re applying for a loan or mortgage you…

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4 Steps To Repair Bad Credit Yourself

Written on:March 23, 2011
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Repair Your Credit

If you are struggling under a lot of credit card debts, then you should consider solutions like credit card settlement or consolidation in order to get rid of your debts. However, it is also very important for you to keep track of your credit score if you do not want to fall into any difficulties. It is essential that you maintain a good credit score as that determines whether you will get…

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How Identity Theft Happens

Written on:February 4, 2011
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Dumpster diving for identity theft

Identity theft is rapidly growing to be one of the much hyped crimes in the earth. It is very easier said than done to guard against. Legal enforcement agencies are not fully prepared to handle most of the cases, and since this type of offense is still in its beginning, most people have no idea how destructive it can be. Identity hackers dig up information from companies or other organizations…

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What is Identity Theft

Written on:February 4, 2011
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Identity theft

Safety and security is now a problem for many people these days, may it be of health or confidential information it has become a problem. The theme of identity theft is basically the theft, as by name, of a person’s identity to have access to that person’s confidential and private information. Identity theft is considered to be a criminal act in which a person’s identity is stolen to be used…

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How To Get a Free FICO Credit Score Report

Written on:September 21, 2010
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Free FICO Credit Score

Did you know you can now get a free credit score report from one of the leading financial organizations in the World which has an unmatched level of commitment and resources? myFICO.com is a division of Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) whose clients include all of the Top 100 U.S. Credit Card Issuers and 9 of the Top 10 Fortune 500 List Worldwide. FICO has sold more than 100 BILLION Credit Scores to…

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4 Mistakes That Will Hurt Your Credit Score

Written on:August 1, 2010
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Credit score mistakes

We’ve talked a bit about improving your credit score so far, but sometimes taking matters into your own hands can result in a lower credit score. This article will list the four most common mistakes people make when trying to improve their credit scores. 1. Don’t make a late payment A late or even a missed payment will hurt your credit score, even more so if it’s already high. If…

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6 Easy Ways To Improve Your Credit Score

Written on:July 23, 2010
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Credit Scores charts

Credit scores are constantly changed and re-calculated and anything you do financially can impact it, both positively or negatively. Here’s a list of a few ways you can (dramatically) improve your credit score. 1. Review your credit report It’s not uncommon for credit score reports to contain errors. Make sure you double check it and fix any mistakes as it may impact your overall credit score significantly. 2. Pay your…

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What Your Credit Score Affects

Written on:July 22, 2010
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Credit score charts

The single most important thing to note about a low credit score is that not only may it prevent you from actually receiving credit, but you will also get a higher interest rate as lenders see you as a bigger risk. The following chart will show you how a low credit score can significant affect your interest rates when applying for a car loan:   Credit Score 36-month new auto…

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