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It is difficult and frustrating to build a credit history in US if you are an immigrant. The three CRAs namely: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, are the major credit reporting agencies in US. They aren’t Government Organizations and they do not share information with each other, which means that they are in competition with each other.
If you do have a credit history in your home country, you won’t be able to transfer that to the CRAs in US, because they won’t accept information from other overseas countries due to some legal/privacy issues. So, this means you’ll have to start from the very beginning.
Here are some tips which will make this process easier:
1. Obtain a Social Security Number
First of all, you’ll need a Social Security Number for establishing a credit in US. In the past, International Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) would have been useful, but they are no longer compatible with CRAs system. An address in United States will also be required to fill in the credit applications.
CRAs can definitely create an account without Social Security Number by matching your other identifying information but you’ll have to bear its consequences afterwords.
A SSN is important, as most of the lenders will require the number in order to check your credit report when you apply. It might be possible that you get credit without the number, but the reference of that credit won’t show up in your credit report.
2. Getting the Credit
Credit reports in US contain all of the negative and positive information of how you’ve handled the credit. Officially the history starts building when you get a credit from the lender, who reports to your account and provide payment reports to one or all of the CRAs.
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The best things in life may be free, but these days the important things certainly are not. We have taken on the role of consumers so well, that we don’t even realize that so much stuff that we are being made to pay for should be totally free. And the good news is: lots of it is. What’s lacking is awareness. And that’s exactly what I’ve brought for you here. Here is a list of 20 things that you can get totally free, without even compromising on quality.
1. Your Credit Report
All those ads online offering free credit reports are a scam, we learnt that ages ago. But what’s not is a scam is http://annualcreditreport.com. Don’t be fooled by what ever other websites are telling you. At annualcreditreport.com, you can get 1 free report from each of the 3 credit reporting agencies every 12 months.
2. Credit Card
Give me one good reason why anyone should pay the credit card companies an annual fee? First they make money by charging you interest, and then you have to pay annual fees as well. Don’t pay for a credit card annual feel. American Express has no fee cards, and many other financial institutions offer the same. Don’t pay any more credit card annual fees.
3. Banking Services
Just say NO to paying bank fees. Sign up for their free account. Switch banks if you have to, just don’t pay any fees for banking. Banks are already earning interest by holding your money, so why should you pay them more? Do your best to never pay for checks again too. Pay your bills using free bill pay services or online using your debit or credit cards. When and if you do run out of checks, have a nice friendly meeting with your local bank branch manager and ask about getting a free refill.
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