| Getting credit with no credit can be | | | | then apply for a student Visa or |
| frustrating. Most creditors will not | | | | MasterCard credit card. This type of |
| give you a credit card or loan with no | | | | card is fairly easy to obtain for |
| past credit history. On your first | | | | students with no credit histories. |
| attempt to get credit, it may seem you | | | | Third, ask a lender whether you may |
| have to already have credit to get | | | | deposit funds with a financial |
| credit. Some creditors will look only at | | | | institution to serve as collateral for a |
| your salary and job and the other | | | | credit card; some institutions will |
| financial information that you put on | | | | issue a secured credit card with a |
| the application. But most also want to | | | | credit limit usually no greater than the |
| know about your past credit history on | | | | amount on deposit. If you take this |
| how reliable you've been on repaying | | | | route, make sure they report to all |
| past debts. They turn to the records | | | | major credit bureaus. Fourth, If you a |
| kept by credit bureaus or | | | | recent immigrant from another country, |
| credit-reporting agencies, whose | | | | you may know by now that credit |
| business is to collect, store, and | | | | histories and scores do not transfer |
| report information about borrowers that | | | | from country to country. One way to |
| is supplied by most lenders. These | | | | overcome this is to write for a summary |
| records include the amount of credit you | | | | of any credit record kept by a credit |
| have received and how faithfully you've | | | | bureau in your former country. Ask the |
| repaid. | | | | bank or department store in your old |
| Here are some helpful tips and advice | | | | country for the name of the agency it |
| you can take to begin to build a good | | | | reports to. Lenders may be willing to |
| credit history and credit score. First, | | | | recognize your earlier credit history |
| open a checking account or a savings | | | | outside of a country if you ask them to |
| account or both. This is not included in | | | | do so. Finally, if you don't qualify on |
| your credit file but may be checked to | | | | the basis of your own credit standing, |
| determine you have money and know how to | | | | offer to have someone cosign your |
| manage it. Cancelled personal checks can | | | | application. |
| be used to show that you pay utilities | | | | The following laws can help you start |
| or rent bills on time each month, a sign | | | | your credit history and keep your record |
| of a responsible person. Second, apply | | | | accurate. The EQUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITY |
| for a department store credit card. | | | | ACT gives women a way to start their own |
| This type of credit card is easier to | | | | credit history and identity. The FAIR |
| obtain with no credit than a Visa or | | | | CREDIT REPORTING ACT sets up a procedure |
| MasterCard unless you are enrolled in | | | | for correcting mistakes on your credit |
| college. If you are a college student, | | | | record. |