Going Abroad -- How does it affect your FICO score?

[Anonymous]

In a few weeks I will be leaving to go abroad for a year. I will no longer be paying all of my typical bills (water, cable, etc.) and my student loans will be put into deferment. Will this have a negative effect on my FICO score?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Do not make the mistake that many have made. If you have time get in writting (with utilities) that all service is stopped and PIF!!   Many do not understand that a final bill comes after service is terminated.  Be sure to pay these.  Utilitie companies usually only turn over to a CA  well after missed payments....they do not report each month like other creditors.

Nothing will change on you CR or scores unless a payment for a loan is missed!!  But all your accounts will age and help you.

Message Edited by HappyDays on 12-25-2008 10:29 AM

[Anonymous]

If you plan on canceling your utility services, be sure to have pay off all balances and keep your receipt that you owe $0 balance from the company. Do not lose the receipt incase they say later on.."oh you still have to pay this and that." As long you dont have a remaining balance and it does not get sent to collections, there will be no impact on your credit score. However, if you have credit cards with balances, then you need to be sure you pay off the balance or  have ample amount of cash in your checking account to set it up for automatic bill pay on the cards.

Message Edited by Chopbrocoli on 12-25-2008 11:39 PM

[rubaty]

Definately follow the advice of Happy Days & Chopbrocoli!  When I moved overseas in 2002 I had a Sprint & Cox cable final bills that I was unaware of for 2 months.  I was lucky because all I had to do is provide them with was  copy of my orders and they removed my late fees. 

I would have all your mail forwarded to a family member that can make you aware of your mail.

As for paying your CC online, I have been able to access all of my accts from everywhere in the world except for Chase...they seem to have a problem with my German ISP. 

Where are you going to study?

[MidnightVoice]

And if you have US CCs, they may well end up closed fpr inactivity

[cobaltnv]

I would also suggest calling your credit card companies to let them know you will be overseas. Maybe mention that you are not sure how much you will be able to use their card and to please not close for inactivity? Anybody have any experience with trying this?

[haulingthescoreup]

If you have CC's (you didn't mention this in your post), you can use your Visa, MC, and AmEx cards overseas, even if they're from US banks. (I can't remember where Discover is and isn't taken.) Store cards would be trickier to keep open, I'd say. Maybe use for buying birthday presents, etc.

Be sure that you have set up online statement delivery and have had a few months practice in paying your bills online.

And as others mentioned, be sure to tell all issuers that you will (may) be using cards out of the country. If they don't know this, they may decline purchases on suspicion of CC theft or fraud.