wm@tekchips.UUCP (03/01/84)
HOW TO GET CREDIT WHEN YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN'T
99 times out of 100 it is because you don't have a long enough
credit history. Sometimes they will say it is because you
haven't been living at the same address long enough or haven't
been at your job long enough. But if you have a long enough
credit history, they will almost always give you credit. Here's
how to get that magical long credit history...
Apply for credit, get turned down. The people who turn you down
must explain to you why they turned you down. Ask them which
credit bureau they used.
Call up the credit bureau and make an appointment.
Go down and review your credit history with them (it may only
consist of a blank form at this point). Here is your big
opportunity to tell them all of your experiences with the
wonderful world of credit, and they must put them into your
credit history. Tell them about your student loans. Tell them
about the $500 you borrowed from your parents (if you have never
borrowed $500 from your parents, do so, and pay them right
back). Tell them about every savings or checking account you
have ever had, starting with the one that was opened up for you
in first grade. Tell them how much money you make, and what
demand there is for computer professionals. Tell them how many
years you have been working with computers, and include work in
school, especially assistantships. Tell them about any purchase
you've made where you didn't pay cash, but were billed later.
Be rediculous. Be creative. Just don't lie. They must put
everything in, and there is no such thing as too long a credit
history.
Note that you can go down to the credit bureau and do this even
if you have not been turned down for credit, but they will charge
you. By law, if you have been turned down in the recent past,
they must go over your record with you for free. They don't
mind you doing this, it keeps them from having to pay someone to
investigate you.
Now go out and apply for credit again. Apply at the same place
and tell them that your credit file has been updated. Every so
often, some credit card company or store will ask the credit
bureau to give them a list of all the names of people who meet
a certain criterion. You will probably be on that list. Prepare
to receive lots of mail offering you credit cards.
When I moved here and started a new job, I had them transfer
my credit history. I immediately received offers for about
8 different credit cards. I'm not bragging, anyone can have
a long credit history, it's easy.
The down side is that now the credit bureau will have all this
info on you. But if you want credit, that's unavoidable.
Wm Leler 503/627-5151
wm.Tektronix@Rand-relay
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