topic Re: No access to any credit reports: "Not availlable" or other denial phrase in General Credit Topics

No access to any credit reports: "Not availlable" or other denial phrase

Anonymous — Sat, 26 Jun 2021 20:09:07 GMT

I am retired, and have been living in Mexico for 12 years. Have had nothing except US bank debit cards since 2002, when i had to declare a personal bankruptcy.

However, medical issues may soon force me to move back to the US so I can access more convenient VA medical care.

Since I will probably have to rent, I suspect my credit score, or lack of one, may become an issue. I have tried a few times in the last 10 years to access a 'free' credit report through various entities, but always get the "not available" or other turn-down.

Is this simply due to my not having any credit cards since 2002, or a result of bankruptcy records still lingering after all these years?

I can live just fine w/o credit cards, so really don't want to pursue a high interest rate card simply to 'build up' a credit score, if indeed that is the problem. And, since I have been living out-of-country since 2008, my local rent/landlord references will be worthless.

Any ideas on how to approach this issue so I can integrate back into a somewhat normal financial situation in the US?

Thanks!

MontyJ

Re: No access to any credit reports: "Not availlable" or other denial phrase

SOGGIE — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 02:17:44 GMT

@Anonymous I wish you well with your health needs. Perhaps once you have a U.S. address, and a U.S. Government-issued ID with a U.S. address on it you could:

1) Open a savings account at a credit union for as little as $5.00 to get you into the ChexSystems Banking database.

2) Open a Chime Cash Back Visa (no credit check) to get your credit profile generated.

3) Get a no credit check Self, Inc. credit builder loan with Lead Bank with payments of approximately $25/Month for 2 years.

Best of luck!

Re: No access to any credit reports: "Not availlable" or other denial phrase

Horseshoez — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 03:51:17 GMT

@Anonymous, here's my concern, you'll be in a Catch-22 situation, you may not be able to get approved for a lease on an apartment without a credit rating, and without an address in the States, you may not be able to get a credit rating. One thought would be to call Navy Federal and see if they have the ability to open accounts for ex-Pat veterans.

Regarding "high interest credit cards", I would argue why do you care? Most credit cards charge zero interest if you pay your full balance by the due date.

Re: No access to any credit reports: "Not availlable" or other denial phrase

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 13:33:27 GMT

Welcome to the MyFICO forums, @Anonymous

Here are the conditions that must be met in order to have a credit score:

At least one account opened for six months or more, and
At least one account that has been reported to the credit bureau within the past six months, and
No indication of deceased on the credit report (Please note, if you share an account with another person this may affect you if the other account holder is reported deceased)

Since you've had no credit activity since 2002 your credit records would have been purged around 2012-2013. And since you don't have an account that is at least 6 months old, or has reported to the credit bureau(s) within the last 6 months no records exists to be used to generate a credit score. The good news is that the bankruptcy would also have been deleted from your credit report.

The credit bureaus would still retain your personal information such as name, social security number, etc. but the absence of recent activity means a score cannot be generated. So while you can't currently get a "credit score" you should still have a "credit report." Have you tried pulling your credit report(s) from the Annual Credit Report website?

Re: No access to any credit reports: "Not availlable" or other denial phrase

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 18:14:14 GMT

@SOGGIE,Thanks for the pointers! Looks like a few mountains will need climbing

Re: No access to any credit reports: "Not availlable" or other denial phrase

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 18:21:32 GMT

@Horseshoez, Great points. I do have a mailbox I have used for 10 years in the states and even have a valid drivers license in that state. However, when someone does a thorough zip+4 lookup on it, they see it is a UPS store in a shopping mall; some don't care or don't check, some do. And of course I have a US passport for ID purposes.

Fortunately, there are a few "no credit check" monthly rental places where I can park while I get some semblance of credit built up.

Thanks for the comments!

MontyJ

Re: No access to any credit reports: "Not availlable" or other denial phrase

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 18:35:03 GMT

@Anonymous, It had been a couple of years, so I tried this morning to get a "credit report" through that site. Responses:

Transunion: We are unable to confirm your identity

Equifax: Online Delivery Unavailable. We are not able to deliver your free Equifax Annual Credit Report online.

Experian: We're sorry. A condition exists that prevents Experian from being able to accept your request at this time.

It may be that my 'current address' is a UPS Store...don't know. The IRS hasn't given me any issues with it in the 12 years I have been using it.

However, it would be nice to know what merchants/prospective creditors get when they access these reporting systems. I know the bankruptcy should have been purged, but 'should have' and 'has been' are two different things. They may have some arcane rule that says nothing gets purged until updated/new data is entered. Again, hard to know and they certainly won't tell if that is the case.

Anyway, it looks like I am just going to have to slug it out with the credit bureaucracy to get reestablished.

Thank you for the comments!

Re: No access to any credit reports: "Not availlable" or other denial phrase

KLEXH25 — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 00:37:11 GMT

I went without credit cards for about 15 years, and before I got my "first" credit card again 3 years ago, I couldn't access my credit reports either. And I tried a few times for years. Once I got that card, I was finally able to access my credit reports. It seems that without any active credit accounts (with a US address associated to it), your reports kind of go into limbo. At least that was my experience.

Re: No access to any credit reports: "Not availlable" or other denial phrase

Anonymous — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 00:45:20 GMT

@KLEXH25, Yep, seems that is the consensus on this issue. Guess I will just have to bow to the man and get a CC to appear human in our modern world

Thanks!

MontyJ

Re: No access to any credit reports: "Not availlable" or other denial phrase

USMC_Winger — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 11:41:17 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous, It had been a couple of years, so I tried this morning to get a "credit report" through that site. Responses:

Transunion: We are unable to confirm your identity
Equifax: Online Delivery Unavailable. We are not able to deliver your free Equifax Annual Credit Report online.
Experian: We're sorry. A condition exists that prevents Experian from being able to accept your request at this time.

I had the same problem. I was advised to mail in a copy of my driver's license, social security card, and proof of my address. That didn't get me anywhere. I tried again several months later, and got the same advisories. A second mail-in didn't result in access to my CRs, either. Tried again nearly a year later. Same dead end.

Then I discovered WalletHub. I was able to identify myself online, and it checks my TU CR daily for me. After my 1st CC reported to all 3 CBs, I was able to open accounts at Experian, TU, and EQ, so I now have free access to those CRs, too.

It may be that my 'current address' is a UPS Store...don't know. The IRS hasn't given me any issues with it in the 12 years I have been using it.

I don't think it's your current address. It's the lack of credit activity for a long, long time. To identify you, EQ checks your CR for accounts, doesn't find any, gives you alternate questions to prove your identity, and no matter what your answers are, you get the "Sorry. Can't help you. Mail in your identifying documents to prove who you are." I think EQ immediately notifies the other CBs and annualcreditreport.com that an imposter is trying to access your CR, and you get the "We're sorry. A condition exists that prevents Experian from being able to accept your request at this time" and similar blocks for the other free CRs.

Since you're a military veteran, try applying to Navy Fed for the secure nRewards CC. That's what finally got the ball rolling for me.

Re: No access to any credit reports: "Not availlable" or other denial phrase

Anonymous — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 13:42:18 GMT

@USMC_Winger, Sounds like good advice, thanks!

One issue I ran across already is that Chime requires a cell phone to apply for a CC. I have one but of course it has a Mexico area code so another road block. Sigh.

I did have a prepaid AT&T cell phone account in Tucson many years ago but dropped it because it was rarely used. I may have to try to get a new SIM from there again.

Will keep plugging away...

MontyJ

Re: No access to any credit reports: "Not availlable" or other denial phrase

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 17:48:56 GMT

Update: I did try Navy Federal, but wound up in a catch-22 situation with cell phone approval. Something happened that I had could not login and to get a new password I had to call their support. They insisted on sending me a code via text msg. Well, the cell phone is a Mexico area code so that did not work. They now have $50 of mine in a savings account and my only way to access it is go to a local office (none in Tucson, only Phoenix!) or send them a letter. It is like the 19th century security if you don't have a freaking cell phone!

Anyway, put Navy Federal on hold and went for the Capital One secured card. Went through w/o a single bit of trouble. No cell phone text nonsense, no phone calls. They took $99 out of my bank account as security and a $200 limit CC is supposedly on the way. So that looks to be a great way to get started with credit reporting.

Thanks to all for the various pointers and tips!

Monty

Re: No access to any credit reports: "Not availlable" or other denial phrase

USMC_Winger — Sun, 11 Jul 2021 05:50:15 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Update: I did try Navy Federal, but wound up in a catch-22 situation with cell phone approval. Something happened that I had could not login and to get a new password I had to call their support. They insisted on sending me a code via text msg. Well, the cell phone is a Mexico area code so that did not work. They now have $50 of mine in a savings account and my only way to access it is go to a local office (none in Tucson, only Phoenix!) or send them a letter. It is like the 19th century security if you don't have a freaking cell phone!

Anyway, put Navy Federal on hold and went for the Capital One secured card. Went through w/o a single bit of trouble. No cell phone text nonsense, no phone calls. They took $99 out of my bank account as security and a $200 limit CC is supposedly on the way. So that looks to be a great way to get started with credit reporting.

Thanks to all for the various pointers and tips!

Monty

@MontyJ: The next time you need a US phone number for text messages, Walmart.com sells the Tracfone Alcatel MyFlip, 4GB Black, Refurbished Grade A, Prepaid Smartphone for $14.88 plus tax & shipping. You could order it from Walmart.com, have them ship it to your UPS address, pick it up next time you're in town to pick up your mail (or have it forwarded to your address in Mexico), and register your new phone to the same address on your US drivers license (or a US relative's or friend's street address if the UPS address is unacceptable). The Tracfone should come with an initial 10 minutes for phone calls and text messages. Each text message uses 1 minute. When your 10 minutes are used up, you can purchase a 60-minute Tracfone phone card at $19.88 plus tax in-store ($19.99 online), good for 90 days after activation of the phone card. Your Tracfone will automatically double (sometimes triple, depending upon which Tracfone is purchased) the minutes on the phone card.

Re: No access to any credit reports: "Not availlable" or other denial phrase

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Jul 2021 15:09:19 GMT

@USMC_Winger,

Great option, Thanks!

I am trying out a virtual phone service called OpenPhone. For $10 a month, you get a US phone number (you can chose one in most all area codes) with unlimited VoIP voice and text service. It works in a browser (great for text msgs!) or through their app on a smartphone.

I have tested it by having my dau in PA text me from two different phones. So you do not have to 'register' or list a phone number first in order for anyone to call or text you. Bottom line is it is like the Ooma VoIP service except it has text messaging thrown in.

So I get not only texting while in Mexico, which was my need, but also US cell phone service w/o a dual-sim or new phone setup. I can cancel any time since it is on a month-to-month basis.

It is designed for marketing and keeping in touch with a ton of clients/customers via text and phone. The low-end service I use is adequate for my needs, but there are more expensive plans that have more fully-featured business capabilities. And you get a 7 day free trial to check it out!

So for now I am covered phone/text message wise!

Monty

Re: No access to any credit reports: "Not availlable" or other denial phrase

USMC_Winger — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 04:19:22 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@USMC_Winger,

Great option, Thanks!

I am trying out a virtual phone service called OpenPhone. For $10 a month, you get a US phone number (you can chose one in most all area codes) with unlimited VoIP voice and text service. It works in a browser (great for text msgs!) or through their app on a smartphone.

I have tested it by having my dau in PA text me from two different phones. So you do not have to 'register' or list a phone number first in order for anyone to call or text you. Bottom line is it is like the Ooma VoIP service except it has text messaging thrown in.

So I get not only texting while in Mexico, which was my need, but also US cell phone service w/o a dual-sim or new phone setup. I can cancel any time since it is on a month-to-month basis.

It is designed for marketing and keeping in touch with a ton of clients/customers via text and phone. The low-end service I use is adequate for my needs, but there are more expensive plans that have more fully-featured business capabilities. And you get a 7 day free trial to check it out!

So for now I am covered phone/text message wise!

Monty

@Anonymous: That's great news! Wait at least one business day (might take longer to update official records), then call Navy Fed and explain to the CSR that you just opened a new account, but couldn't log in. You needed a US phone number for Navy Fed to text the confirmation code to, but you accidentally signed up for your Navy Fed account with your Mexico phone number. See if Navy Fed will allow you to update your account phone number to your US phone number over the phone.

Re: No access to any credit reports: "Not availlable" or other denial phrase

GatorGuy — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 12:36:13 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@USMC_Winger,

Great option, Thanks!

I am trying out a virtual phone service called OpenPhone. For $10 a month, you get a US phone number (you can chose one in most all area codes) with unlimited VoIP voice and text service. It works in a browser (great for text msgs!) or through their app on a smartphone.

I have tested it by having my dau in PA text me from two different phones. So you do not have to 'register' or list a phone number first in order for anyone to call or text you. Bottom line is it is like the Ooma VoIP service except it has text messaging thrown in.

So I get not only texting while in Mexico, which was my need, but also US cell phone service w/o a dual-sim or new phone setup. I can cancel any time since it is on a month-to-month basis.

It is designed for marketing and keeping in touch with a ton of clients/customers via text and phone. The low-end service I use is adequate for my needs, but there are more expensive plans that have more fully-featured business capabilities. And you get a 7 day free trial to check it out!

So for now I am covered phone/text message wise!

Monty

Just so you're not surprised, there are many people on here who tried that virtual route for text message authorization and it fails. Either the system recognizes it as not a normal number and doesn't want to use it or something just goes wrong in the process.

Good luck!