Credit rating in Japan / getting a credit card

[keropi]

hi,

what are the documents do i need to submit besides a copy of the alien card?

[cartecredit1212]

the post is excellent.. thanks a lot..

carte de

credit

[philchlee]

You wouldn't believe what I would be telling you. Got a Visa credit card on the same day of application.

I went to Kichijoji Muji - next to Marui. They have a Japanese sign board on 6th floor of Muji that says you can get your credit card instantly approved and get 10% discount on purchases. So I tried.

Filled the forms, then they asked me if I had the time and if I wanted to have an answer today on my application. I said yes. They took me to Marui just a few blocks away and went up to 6th floor or somewhere close above. There is an EPos Credit Card counter and they continued to speak to me in Japanese whether I would be willing to have my personal data checked. They checked my application form, my gaijin card and called my cell phone number to check if it is ringing. They then went to their computer and checked my particulars if I had any bad records.

Then, they told me I was approved for my credit card. They got my bank details for direct debit. I then had my card with my name on it and was asked to sign behind the card.

Only disappointment was that the card spending limit was just 300,000 yen. I told them I wanted more - at least 400,000 yen but they said they could not do it and may consider later after a good track record of payments. But it was just 1-1.5 hour waiting, walking to the other building. Definitely one of the fastest way to get a credit card. They also did not call my company.

I think acceptance rate for this card is pretty high. Try it. Though, you need to be able to speak and write Japanese as they insist you fill out the application by yourself. You could however bring your Japanese spouse or friend along to guide you with speaking and writing in Japanese. If in doubt, just nod. They may consider not approving the card if they think you could not understand the terms and conditions of the cards. Its one of the condition in many Japanese application form - include life insurance or other plans Japanese banks are trying to sell you. The applicant needs to be able to understand Japanese so as to be able to abide to the terms and conditions of the application.

If they do increase my credit card limit, I will add another post later.

I am a little stressed right now replacing my credit card monthly payment plans for an investment I signed up previously. My previous credit card suddenly cancelled my card leaving me with no credit card with sufficiently high credit card limit. Not sure if investment/savings plans allow deductions using 2 credit cards.

[reg13]

Almost the same story here as "philchlee", i also got the Marui EPOS card. It seems that there's a greater chance of getting a C-card if u directly go to a card center.

In almost all Marui Mall's they have EPOS card centers. It only takes about 1hour, u get the card on the same day.

Take ur
Gaijin card ( if u have Japanese driving license, show it ),
Hanko,
Bank account details,
Mobile ( because they call it during their confirmation process ).

They also might call ur employer.
Don't tell them or show them that u cant read Japanese, even if u cant just say that u can understand the terms and conditions of the card contract, because the card holder should be able to understand it.

If u ar a gaijin want to get a J-credit card, this one is worth a try.

[docomomo]

Lumine and BIC cards are from the same issuer (JR East), so being rejected by both is natural. The JR East check is not particularly tough though - there are a lot of View cards out there. Yodobashi card is from Sony Finance. For bank cards, get them from your employer's bank.

Using an alias is fine, as long as you don't do something stupid like present an alien registration card. If you are using an alias, you need a health insurance card in that name, and documentation from the place where you work in that name, and obviously the account you pay the card with would need to be the same name too.

Using an alias 'most' of the time may weaken your ability to pass credit checks, since the things that make up your ID (health insurance, taxes, phone line records, bank accounts and money) are split between your real name and your alias. Did you find yourself rejected more often or less often with your alias?

Don't forget to pull your credit records from CIC/CCB and see what's been happening. Too many applications in too short a time means you need to cool off for a while.

Sorry to dig this up from the dead but what is "CIC/CCB" and how can you check your credit records here in Japan?

I've been here for near 3 years so far, all my taxes and whatnot are paid and in order. Living at current address for over a year, same employer for 2 years (first year was a 1 year contract) and yet I've been denied at e-bank (rakuten), Mutsui Sumitomo, and Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ. (not at the same time of course) Main reason I need a CC is for ETC and it would be nice to earn some points/miles with one that I use for large purchases but yeah, so far I've had no luck at all. Most of the applications have no place to write in a guarantor so I don't know how people are claiming their spouse is on their card as one.

[JustaLurker]

Sorry to dig this up from the dead but what is "CIC/CCB" and how can you check your credit records here in Japan?

I've been here for near 3 years so far, all my taxes and whatnot are paid and in order. Living at current address for over a year, same employer for 2 years (first year was a 1 year contract) and yet I've been denied at e-bank (rakuten), Mutsui Sumitomo, and Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ. (not at the same time of course) Main reason I need a CC is for ETC and it would be nice to earn some points/miles with one that I use for large purchases but yeah, so far I've had no luck at all. Most of the applications have no place to write in a guarantor so I don't know how people are claiming their spouse is on their card as one.

Normally, credit cards do not require a 'guarantor'. The 'spouse is on their card' people have got a 'family card' from their spouse, who applies for it on their behalf. Spouse is 100% responsible for the card, the issuer will not talk to you on the phone or accept payments from you. You don't want this, get your own card with your own credit history!

http://crefan.jp/ has everything you need, including information about application difficulty (審査難易度).

CIC: http://www.cic.co.jp/
JICC: http://www.jicc.co.jp/ (CCB merged with FCBJ to become JICC)
JCIC: http://www.zenginkyo.or.jp/pcic/

Do you have any cards at all right now? You need to stop applying for cards until you see what's in your records; also, repeated applications to the same company with the same information will usually get turned down immediately. That's a big problem, since SMBC issue a lot of 'affinity' cards (like JP Bank etc), and you have ruled yourself out of those.

Lurker's advice for credit card applications:

* Read http://crefan.jp/ and look up the card you want to apply for. Look at who is getting rejected. Look at the difficulty index.

* Get your credit information (個人信用情報) from both JICC and CIC. If you have a bank loan, get JCIC data too; get credit information in person at the disclosure office if you can, or you will need a truckload of paperwork and a registered seal.

* Get your name straight. Where do you bank? Find out what name and reading they have registered for your account, and use it. If you use a Japanese alias, even better, less chance of getting it wrong. Get your name wrong, and the card company cannot register an automatic withdrawal instruction, and will probably reject your application; they probably won't find your credit information either.

* Do not submit alien registration card information with a credit card application. If I know you have a visa that will expire (renewal is never guaranteed) I will probably refuse you a card too! Why take the risk? Send them a health insurance card or driving license. Don't disclose information you don't have to, like your nationality and other stuff that's printed on that card.

* Get a landline even if you don't use it, credit records are indexed by phone number as well as name and date of birth. List your landline and mobile number on applications. Did any credit card companies call you? It's a good sign if they did. The call to confirm your details is usually the last thing before card issuance.

* Do not make repeated applications for credit (wait for your credit information inquiry history to clear). Do not apply to companies that rejected you before until you have got a card from somewhere that reports to the credit reference agencies and used it for at least 12 months. Be careful of affinity cards - JP Bank's card is issued by SMBC, so you shouldn't apply for one of those because SMBC already rejected you.

* Never request 'cashing' service (withdraw ca$h using your card). Ask for 'shopping' only. Do not request huge limits, 300,000 yen shopping limit will be fine to start with.

* Don't apply for credit cards immediately after you change address.

* Send proof of income (源泉徴収票、納税証明書) for the last three years to the credit card company even if they didn't ask for it. Get a 在籍証明書 from your place of employment and attach it. Make sure your employer will confirm your employment if the card company calls, 'cuz they will.

* Stop applying for credit cards from banks. They don't seem to like you and it's widely acknowledged that bank cards are harder to obtain than cards from department stores, etc. If you want a bank card, get it from the bank where you are paid and keep most of your money.

* If you're still getting nowhere, go to Costco and apply for the Orico card. Issuance criteria are lax, if you are breathing when you apply, you should get the card. Use it to build your credit history, then cancel it and get the card you want. Apply for Orico first because the other big 'shinpan' (信販系) companies are owned by banks that rejected you [Nicos -> UFJ, OMC/CF/Cedyna -> SMBC]. You don't really want a shinpan card but if you've got no other choice, take it.

* Reply to this post. Help other people get what they want by sharing your own experiences.

[docomomo]

Normally, credit cards do not require a 'guarantor'. The 'spouse is on their card' people have got a 'family card' from their spouse, who applies for it on their behalf. Spouse is 100% responsible for the card, the issuer will not talk to you on the phone or accept payments from you. You don't want this, get your own card with your own credit history!

http://crefan.jp/ has everything you need, including information about application difficulty (審査難易度).

CIC: http://www.cic.co.jp/
JICC: http://www.jicc.co.jp/ (CCB merged with FCBJ to become JICC)
JCIC: http://www.zenginkyo.or.jp/pcic/

Do you have any cards at all right now? You need to stop applying for cards until you see what's in your records; also, repeated applications to the same company with the same information will usually get turned down immediately. That's a big problem, since SMBC issue a lot of 'affinity' cards (like JP Bank etc), and you have ruled yourself out of those.

Lurker's advice for credit card applications:

* Read http://crefan.jp/ and look up the card you want to apply for. Look at who is getting rejected. Look at the difficulty index.

* Get your credit information (個人信用情報) from both JICC and CIC. If you have a bank loan, get JCIC data too; get credit information in person at the disclosure office if you can, or you will need a truckload of paperwork and a registered seal.

* Get your name straight. Where do you bank? Find out what name and reading they have registered for your account, and use it. If you use a Japanese alias, even better, less chance of getting it wrong. Get your name wrong, and the card company cannot register an automatic withdrawal instruction, and will probably reject your application; they probably won't find your credit information either.

* Do not submit alien registration card information with a credit card application. If I know you have a visa that will expire (renewal is never guaranteed) I will probably refuse you a card too! Why take the risk? Send them a health insurance card or driving license. Don't disclose information you don't have to, like your nationality and other stuff that's printed on that card.

* Get a landline even if you don't use it, credit records are indexed by phone number as well as name and date of birth. List your landline and mobile number on applications. Did any credit card companies call you? It's a good sign if they did. The call to confirm your details is usually the last thing before card issuance.

* Do not make repeated applications for credit (wait for your credit information inquiry history to clear). Do not apply to companies that rejected you before until you have got a card from somewhere that reports to the credit reference agencies and used it for at least 12 months. Be careful of affinity cards - JP Bank's card is issued by SMBC, so you shouldn't apply for one of those because SMBC already rejected you.

* Never request 'cashing' service (withdraw ca$h using your card). Ask for 'shopping' only. Do not request huge limits, 300,000 yen shopping limit will be fine to start with.

* Don't apply for credit cards immediately after you change address.

* Send proof of income (源泉徴収票、納税証明書) for the last three years to the credit card company even if they didn't ask for it. Get a 在籍証明書 from your place of employment and attach it. Make sure your employer will confirm your employment if the card company calls, 'cuz they will.

* Stop applying for credit cards from banks. They don't seem to like you and it's widely acknowledged that bank cards are harder to obtain than cards from department stores, etc. If you want a bank card, get it from the bank where you are paid and keep most of your money.

* If you're still getting nowhere, go to Costco and apply for the Orico card. Issuance criteria are lax, if you are breathing when you apply, you should get the card. Use it to build your credit history, then cancel it and get the card you want. Apply for Orico first because the other big 'shinpan' (信販系) companies are owned by banks that rejected you [Nicos -> UFJ, OMC/CF/Cedyna -> SMBC]. You don't really want a shinpan card but if you've got no other choice, take it.

* Reply to this post. Help other people get what they want by sharing your own experiences.

Lurker - this has by far been the most awesome post ever on GP! Thanks! Time to get to work.

BTW, I have no loans or credit cards at all but I am using a registered Japanese alias and I had been using my alien registration card to apply. I had assumed they were able to determine my visa status from the forms themselves but thinking back, depending on the card issuer, not all of them had that. I have a Japanese driver's license as well as health insurance cards that I will use from now on.

[docomomo]

Regarding getting a land line, am I correct to assume a Skype Japanese phone number will work?

[gocchin]

When I first arrived in Japan just over 2 years ago I was rejected for a Jomo Visa credit card and a even a Shinsei Visa Card even though my account is with them.

Since that time I have been approved for a DC Visa Card from MUFJ last summer with a limit of 500,000, and this summer a Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Card with a limit of 700,000 yen. It came with an additional ETC Card as well.

It took 1 year for me to establish in Japan and get the first card and then 2 years to get the second.

Neither were signed for by my wife who is Japanese, and in both cases I applied online by myself. In both cases proof of income was never asked for (I'm self employed and that was what was noted on the applications). I applied for both using a Japanese drivers license as ID.

So it can be pretty hit and miss, if you've been in Japan a while and pay your taxes like I do, it seems you will eventually get one if you apply to the right card. I did not however simply apply to every card I saw, only the two I was rejected for when I first landed and the two I got approved for a year later after landing as a resident. Maybe I was lucky as it does seem like there is a lot of luck involved!

[docomomo]

When I first arrived in Japan just over 2 years ago I was rejected for a Jomo Visa credit card and a even a Shinsei Visa Card even though my account is with them.

Since that time I have been approved for a DC Visa Card from MUFJ last summer with a limit of 500,000, and this summer a Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Card with a limit of 700,000 yen. It came with an additional ETC Card as well.

It took 1 year for me to establish in Japan and get the first card and then 2 years to get the second.

Neither were signed for by my wife who is Japanese, and in both cases I applied online by myself. In both cases proof of income was never asked for (I'm self employed and that was what was noted on the applications). I applied for both using a Japanese drivers license as ID.

So it can be pretty hit and miss, if you've been in Japan a while and pay your taxes like I do, it seems you will eventually get one if you apply to the right card. I did not however simply apply to every card I saw, only the two I was rejected for when I first landed and the two I got approved for a year later after landing as a resident. Maybe I was lucky as it does seem like there is a lot of luck involved!

Sounds more like using you Japanese DL as proof ID is crucial. I've had a DL here for 2+ years but I hadn't considering using it when applying as I had just assumed the credit issuers already had access to visa info. Seems like they are limited to what you give them so after I get my credit reports, I'll be using the DL to apply for whatever issuer I haven't tried in the past 6 months.

[JustaLurker]

Regarding getting a land line, am I correct to assume a Skype Japanese phone number will work?

No, and it could damage your application. A Skype phone number has the prefix 050 and can be obtained by anyone anywhere. You want one with a geographic prefix (if you are in Tokyo, 03; if you are in Nagoya, 052, etc).

[docomomo]

No, and it could damage your application. A Skype phone number has the prefix 050 and can be obtained by anyone anywhere. You want one with a geographic prefix (if you are in Tokyo, 03; if you are in Nagoya, 052, etc).

Understood. Guess I'll hold off on that.

Today I paid a visit to the CIC and JICC. Looks like my problem with credit history is I have none. Both companies reported 4 entries, applications for credit cards. Nothing else.

It looks like your cell phone and other such contracts are not reported on your credit reports here. Interesting, seems like literally only credit cards and loans get on here. My guess is i was denied because i was using my alien registration card as ID when applying for those cards.

Next step, apply for a card that is not associated with those 4 rejections, using D/L and additional info as you described. Lets see what happens...

[sakaya]

* If you're still getting nowhere, go to Costco and apply for the Orico card. Issuance criteria are lax, if you are breathing when you apply, you should get the card. Use it to build your credit history, then cancel it and get the card you want. Apply for Orico first because the other big 'shinpan' (信販系) companies are owned by banks that rejected you [Nicos -> UFJ, OMC/CF/Cedyna -> SMBC]. You don't really want a shinpan card but if you've got no other choice, take it.

Well I applied for the Orico card and got rejected. This is my third rejection. Pretty ready to give up for now if this is supposed to be the easiest card to get. I am a permanent employee of a solid IT firm..go figure. I too am starting to get paranoid as to whether I have a black mark against me somewhere. The only thing I can thing of is that I've only been at my present firm for 6 months. Some people have told me you need to work in a firm for over a year to stand a chance of getting a card. Then again, I hear so many stories about people off the boat picking up cards right away. So frustrating!

[Effected After]

Took me seven years in Japan before they gave me one. At one point, I had been at my job for five years, had a land line, and made more money than the average salary for my age group.

I eventually got one through Ito Yokado. And once I had one, others were easier to get.

[Andun]

Any updates? What's the best place/places to apply for a credit card these days?

[Andun]

No replies, but never mind. The MARUI deal still stands. I walked in and had a credit card half an hour later!

[sahu]

hi all,
i have been following this thread, since i'm interested in getting a credit card for myself.
i have been denied by two banks with which i hold savings accounts.
from these posts, looks like 'Marui card' is one option for me now.
Can someone please let me know more about this card - as in, where to get, what are the criteria, credit limits etc..?
My husband can speak Japanese, but i cant.
Moreover its been about 3months since i've come to japan, and i have been working for an MNC in a permanent position.
Any inputs appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

[Andun]

hi all,
i have been following this thread, since i'm interested in getting a credit card for myself.
i have been denied by two banks with which i hold savings accounts.
from these posts, looks like 'Marui card' is one option for me now.
Can someone please let me know more about this card - as in, where to get, what are the criteria, credit limits etc..?

Go to a Marui near you and ask. Here is the Marui English language page.
http://www.0101.co.jp/stores/languag...om=01_top_left
I went in Shinjuku and made my card in half an hour. They have a credit card service center there and will check everything on the spot.